From The Eye
April 17, 2003
60 MINUTES has won the intense media battle for the tabloid tale of the year, the bizarre story of runaway Natasha Ryan.
She disappeared from her Rockhampton home in 1998 aged 14 and a man was on trial for her murder.
More interesting, however, is that the Channel 9 flagship will screen the interview on Sunday, April 27, putting it up against the premiere of the new Big Brother series.
A source inside Big Brother said it was amusing that Nine had paid a rumoured $250,000 for the story to try to spoil BB.
The two shows will attract very different audiences, but there’s no doubt BB will beat or come close to 60 Minutes.
Nine yesterday confirmed that Tara Brown had landed the story, but was tight-lipped about who she had interviewed or any detail about the story.
The station won’t play the interview this week, as it’s a non-ratings period because of Easter.
Talking of Big Brother, none of the housemates have been confirmed or leaked yet, but a spy told us there’s a man who works in a shop in Chapel St who has a good chance of entering the house.
All prospective housemates have had their photos taken, and all are sworn to confidentiality.
Herald Sun