CHANNEL 9 has reignited the Sydney versus Melbourne feud, promoting national program A Current Affair by trashing Sydney as out of touch with the rest of the country.

Nine this week launched a “made in Melbourne” campaign for ACA, claiming it as a Victorian show, despite executive producer Grant Williams and senior staff working out of the network’s Willoughby head office, its base since 1971.

Down south the ad declares ACA to be a Melbourne program and says “the other 6.30pm shows all come out of Sydney – so how can they possibly understand the issues affecting us?”

The attack on rivals Today Tonight and 6.30pm With George Negus has astonished some, as it trashes ACA’s brand in Sydney and Brisbane, from where most of the stories are produced.

Tracy Grimshaw has presented ACA from Melbourne for the past two years.

Looking at the past seven episodes, Sydney was the source of 15 stories, nine came from Melbourne’s Docklands office and eight from Brisbane.

Williams was upset when contacted yesterday, saying the promotion was only meant for Melbourne viewers and would insult the Sydney audience.

“Tracy is based in Melbourne and all we’re doing is promoting that,” he said in Willoughby before refusing to comment further.

Staff at Today Tonight were incredulous. “Grant is based in Sydney along with so many senior reporters and staff,” one said.

“So why treat Melbourne viewers as dills by telling them Sydney is irrelevant when the show is exactly the same around the country?”

For more on the feud between A Current Affair and Today Tonight and the Sydney versus Melbourne feud go to The Daily Telegraph.

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