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# NameComments
651 Appio C. BlasiThis is no way to treat a decent and clever lady. After 27 years of loyal and highly professional service, Mary Kostakidis is being treated by SBS like the most incompetent of nincompoops. It’s despicable! Mary’s flawless performance in the job and unreserved loyalty to her employer deserve to be public acknowledged and justly rewarded.
652 Anne RoweTo quote someone I know in broadcasting... "Mary Must Reign and they must depose the evil regime who have taken control of what's supposed to be a multicultural public broadcaster... not some re-heated version of channel 10..."
653 AnonymousI worked at SBS with Mary for many years and I am apalled at the way SBS management have treated her. The contempt with which staff are treated at SBS is exemplified by the shoddy and duplicitous way Mary has been treated. Good luck Mary!
654 John McBeathBring back Mary!!!!!!
655 AnonymousMary is far and away the most eloquent, classy and least commercial and puppet-like of all Australian newscasters. For SBS to disintegrate into another Murdoch-like commercial sideshow and allow her to leave would constitute a true mistake.
656 AnonymousI support Mary. I want her to read the SBS news - by herself. I've seen the destruction of standards on New Zealand television and am deeply concerned the same failed policies have been imported to SBS by this current management team. I support properly funded, free-to-air, multimultcultural public broadcasting in Australia. SBS has been unique and world class but now it's beginning to look ragged, Anglo-Americanised and second-rate. It's vital that SBS returns to its charter obligations and that its management cease from turning the network into another commercial channel. It's time for SBS management, the board and the federal government to realise they are tampering with a great public asset and are losing community support. Bring back Mary!
657 George M HornerFull support for this initiative. It's essential for SBS to retain a credible value system in light of commercial TV.
658 Andrew DoddsI have emailed SBS on the complementary subject of the value of Mary Kostakides and their downgrading of the national news broadcast to an hour long blether. Also the spate of advertisements. It is all a recipe for disaster for us!
659 Deborah HORNERI support Mary Kostakidis in her position with respect to her views on SBS news. It was previously an excellent news half hour...and Stan Grant is not great addition, nor is the extra time...I am less inclined to watch it. Mary has been terrific and I shall miss her...and maybe get my news elswhere...
660 Samantha O'HalloranMary has stood up and been seen and heard to support an issue we should all be behind.
661 Patricia ByrneStan the man is a real turnoff. 'have been watching Mary for years and would like this to continue for many more years. SBS has become very tacky without Mary.
662 Marina De MarchiSidelining Mary is just another example of how SBS has deteriorated. It is very sad to watch what has happened to a station that was such a ground breaker so many years ago. The current management and board should be tossed out into the real commercial world - the one where you have to run a TV station without government funding! It's easy to play corporate with government money. They are a complete disgrace.
663 Michael J. BaylyI'm an ex-pat living in the US. I'm very disappointed that SBS is becoming more commercialized/Americanized - to the extent that the admirable Mary Kostikidis has felt compelled to leave the station. I've written about this unfortunate turn-of-events on my blog: http://www.thewildreed.blogspot.com.
664 anastasios velkouThe commercialisation of SBS at the expense of quality programming is a disgrace
665 margaret velkou
666 maria velkou
667 katina velkou
668 Michael LeeSBS is a disgrace. I will not watch it again until Mary is reinstated on her terms and advertising is dropped
669 Lyn HopperA serious journalist being usurped by by a tabloid journalist - shame on you SBS you have lost your standards
670 Anonymous
671 Anne Chamberssent to comments@sbs.com I have been watching SBS news since its inception, because I have always felt it gave a far broader and less biased coverage than either the ABC or the commercial channels. One further reason to watch SBS news was the professionalism and expertise of Mary Kostakidis; a bonus was that there was no coverage of sport and the commercials came at the beginning and end of the bulletin. I recently returned from two years as a volunteer overseas and was horrified to find that the news format had altered; the programme was now an hour long and included sport and commercials. It's not quite as bad yet as news on the commercial channels, but it's getting closer. I gather Mary feels much the same and I fully support her stand.
672 Gail & Albert Kaminsky
673 Jennifer CahillStan is appalling!
674 Andrew Faith
675 Erlinda HillAll good wishes to Mary Kostakidis in her breach of contract case against SBS. Good on you, Mary for walking out. More power to you.
676 Anonymousthis part of a conspiracy to create a dumbed down, bloodsucking dictatorship.
677 Barbara DuttonFrom the start I always watched SBS news for a good worldwide news coverage and then ABC for local news. Since SBS introduced their hour long "show", I watch only ABC. Mary Kostakidis is a national treasure.
678 jane taylorWake up SBS! Mary is winner and you'll be the losers with such stupid decisions. And get rid of the ads.
679 Dr Peter WebsterCurrent mistreatment of Mary Kostakidas, is just one more example in a plethora, such as interrupting programming to advertise ... SBS is almost as bad as TEN now, in a litany of appalling decisons made by current SBS (mis)management. SBS should publically apologise to Mary, reinstate her (on more pay than whatever she is earning now) and realise that Mary is an Australian Icon and an invaluable asset to honest, authorative and intelligent (not to mention lovely) news-reading. Also, get rid of Stan Grant, there is no room on SBS for a 'personality interviewer' who appears more concerned with his appearance than the actual interviewee. He may be impressed by himself, but I am not.
680 Catherine Atherton
681 paul tait
682 David Luck
683 Paul HarrisGet rid of Shaun Brown now, and bring Mary back
684 Ben
685 Chandra ShahGet rid of ads on SBS and bring back Mary
686 Joshua RooseIt's good to know Mary still has integrity, even if SBS has started going to shit!
687 bernadette
688 Chris WoodI think that Mary is a great loss to SBS. Her concerns should have been taken more seriously by the station. The standard of news reporting has changed for the worse.
689 Gill ReadThis is quite a disgrace. Mary is a classy and insightful reporter. She often made me think of my dear father who kept a signed photo of her on our fridge for many years in the 90s. He would be turning in his grave if he knew how badly she had been treated.
690 Ian WatkinsI support Mary in the stand she has taken and request that SBS management support her in improving the standard of the news coverage.
691 Katalin Mindum
692 Belinda Smaill
693 AnonymousThe news service is nowhere near as good since Mary left.
694 Julio SoriaSBS: do not destroy the best Australian world and Australian news on TV! Mary Kostakidis is RIGHT - SBS is WRONG!
695 AnonymousI support Mary in her stand against commerialism at SBS.
696 Natalie KullI wish to show my support of Mary Kostakidis and her decision to walk out on SBS.
697 Mithra CoxMary is the best newsreader at SBS (equal first with Anton Enus). Don't lose Mary, or I'l switch over to ABC news.
698 Carol AppeltThe ad interruptions have really lowered my enjoyment of SBS. Good on Mary K for standing up to the commercialization process and lowerin of standards
699 dan wollmeringIt is sad that such a respected and professional presenter had to walk away from SBS due to the current climate heading towards the lowest common denominator in not providing rigorous and quality journalism. Does SBS have to head in the same predictable direction as all the others??
700 vivienne bryant