Nine sorry to Gina for show

CHANNEL 9 chief executive Hugh Marks has apologised to Australia’s richest woman Gina Rinehart for an “inaccurate and distorted” TV miniseries on her family.

Mrs Rinehart sued Nine over the House of Hancock miniseries, furious at its “disgraceful” and “false” portrayal of the Hancock family, including her parents, Hope and Lang Hancock and her husband Frank Rinehart.

Despite the apology being written a week ago, Mrs Rinehart only received it yesterday.

“Mrs Rinehart and others who truly knew the Hancock family and Mrs Rinehart, were disappointed such an inaccurate and distorted miniseries against their family, family members who greatly contributed to our country, was aired by Channel 9, which did not depict the actual people, and is pleased that she has received a public apology,” a spokeswoman said.

The settlement was confidential but the Bulletin understands Channel 9 will no longer be able to on-sell the miniseries. In a signed apology letter, Mr Marks said the two-part miniseries was a drama not a documentary and said certain matters were fictionalised for dramatic purposes. “Nine and Cordell Jigsaw accept Mrs Rinehart had a very loving and close relationship with her mother, father and husband, and has with Hope and Ginia,” Mr Marks said.

“Nine and Cordell Jigsaw accept that Mrs Rinehart found the broadcast to be inaccurate. That was certainly not the intention of Nine or Cordell Jigsaw, and each unreservedly apologises to Mrs Rinehart and her family for any hurt or offence caused by the broadcast and its promotion.”

Mrs Rinehart’s spokeswoman said the legal action was not about money, but correcting the record.