Odd feature in $2 million Cleo Smith interview on 60 Minutes
An odd detail has been revealed surrounding Channel Nine's reported $2 million interview with the parents of four-year-old-Cleo Smith who was abducted from a Western Australian campsite.
Last month it was confirmed 60 Minutes had secured the exclusive rights to interview Cleo's mother Ellie Smith and stepfather Jake Gliddon.
It has been speculated Nine paid $2 million for the interview, which is reportedly a quarter of 60 Minutes' annual budget, The West Australian said.
However, with Ms Smith and Mr Gliddon in Western Australia where the border remains tightly shut due to Covid, the show's producers were faced with a problem.
According to The Australian's Media Diary, the Nine Network had to choose whether the interview would be done over Zoom with 60 Minutes' Tara Brown or have a local reporter from Western Australia do the interview in person.
Nine ended up choosing to go with Ms Brown, a veteran reporter for the network, meaning the exclusive interview was done over a video call.
Journalist Neil McMahon took to Twitter to share his surprise over the detail, saying it's "one helluva costly video call".
Nine's very expensive 60 Minutes interview with Cleo Smith's family? It was done via Zoom due to WA border restrictions! That's one helluva costly video call. Via the Oz Media Diary... pic.twitter.com/ztuPxsbjWP
— Neil McMahon (@NeilMcMahon) February 1, 2022
The Australian also revealed the 60 Minutes interview will not feature Cleo, though vision of her will be used.
Cleo's abduction captivated and horrified Australia last year — after she was taken from a tent while her family camped at the Blowholes campsite in Western Australia.
She was found alive, 18 days later after an extensive search and investigation in a home in Carnarvon, where she and her family live.
In a preview of the interview, Ms Smith reveals what Cleo said to her after she was rescued from the home.
"She got on to the phone and she's like 'hi, Mummy!', and I was like 'hi, baby!'," Ms Smith is heard saying in the preview.
"It was such a beautiful moment."
WA Police not taking part in 60 Minutes program
According to The West Australian, WA Police will not be partaking in the program and won't be providing any further details to 60 Minutes.
A source told The West Australian they could understand why Cleo's family took the deal, however they believe airing the details could impact the outcome of the ongoing court case.
As for Western Australia's borders, Premier Mark McGowan has not yet set a reopening date, after announcing they would remain shut beyond February 5, the initial reopening date.
Mr McGowan said reopening his state would be "reckless and irresponsible" as Covid cases in the east increased largely due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.
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