And finally tonight to the wonders of technology.

See if you can guess what this recent one-hour special on Channel Nine was selling;

"This is the day I've been waiting for." "I never thought it would get this big" VOICE OVER: True heroes using technology. "Does that feel good with that being a bit tighter?" "That's looking much better" "This is quick for us. This is really good." VOICE OVER: To make a big difference. "It is extremely exciting. It is insanely crazy." VOICE OVER: Changing lives "And then up, nice soft knees." "I've kicked some goals, yes, I'll say that." VOICE OVER: And saving lives "Do you have any medical issues we should know about?" "I do." VOICE OVER: Right across the country — Channel Nine, Everyday Innovators, 12 April, 2017

Yes, it was spruiking the marvels of the much-maligned National Broadband Network, oft described as a joke, a disaster, a colossal waste of money, or all of the above.

But Nine's glossy upbeat Everyday Innovators had a very different tale to tell, with stories of how the NBN was bringing joy wherever it goes, from Puruma Island in the remote Torres Strait;

VOICE OVER: Today the NBN network has arrived on Puruma. The locals will have fast broadband for the first time. — Channel Nine, Everyday Innovators, 12 April, 2017

To our capital cities

ASHLEY: Isn't it amazing that I can do all of this from Gold Coast to Melbourne? JULIA: You've done a great job getting to the point you are now ASHLEY: Thanks Julia, see you later. — Channel Nine, Everyday Innovators, 12 April, 2017

And in the outback

Great ideas and business opportunities exist for people all over this country and in every location — Channel Nine, Everyday Innovators, 12 April, 2017

And everyone but everyone in this hour-long anthem had good things to say

So how come? Well, as you may have guessed, Everyday Innovators was paid PR puff

NBN Co told Media Watch;

The content was produced by Nine on our behalf. We paid for a marketing campaign package with the network ... — Philippa Perry, Public Affairs Manager, NBN Australia, 20 April, 2017

According to Ebiquity NBN Co has spent $2.2 million on advertising with 9 since Australia Day. So what part did it play in shaping the program? Well, NBN provided case study suggestions to 9 and then;

nbn provided sign-off on the content ... — Philippa Perry, Public Affairs Manager, NBN Australia, 20 April, 2017

Which is why we only heard from happy customers and not from any of the 13 thousand people who complained to the Telecommunications Ombudsman last year about NBN services.

Citing problems like:

.... slow data speeds, unusable services and drop outs. — Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, 2016 Annual Report, p15

And which is also why stories like this one were ignored

DAVID SNEDDON: So when the NBN goes down we don't get great mobile phone coverage. The NBN went down last week for six days. So we get a dongle, pop it in a plastic bag, we clip it on to a rope, that's been slung over a tree ... ANDY PARKS: This is quite high tech. Jungle internet. — ABC 7:30, 6 December, 2016

They say you get what you pay for.

So NBN Co got a full length glossy good news plug in prime time, with not a naysayer in sight.

But what did Nine's audience think of it all?

Is this Everyday Innovators show on 9 just an ad for the NBN? — Twitter, @Danfogarty80, 12 April, 2017

Answer yes. Next question.

Who the hell is paying for this rubbish? I haven't seen a single disclaimer saying "This advertisement has been paid for by NBN Co or the Govt or anyone else". Surely you can't just run these advertorials without some kind of disclosure. — Whirlpool Forum, 'migster', 12 April, 2017

Well, you'd hope not, but you can get pretty close.

There was no disclosure at the start of the show.

Nothing during the program.

And nothing on Nine's website.

So what about the end credits?

Ah, yes, there it is. The NBN watermark.

And believe it or not that was it.

No words, no voice over, no signposting, and it's all within the rules laid down by the Commercial TV Code of Practice which in this case is a joke.

And there are more programs like this on Nine as the network was happy to admit.

We regularly have such content marketing partnerships in our schedule and believe that through 9Productions, Nine's in-house TV content production and distribution division, we are well positioned to help brands tell compelling stories ... — Nine spokesperson, 21 April, 2017

Compelling maybe. But not for viewers who numbered only 169,000 across the capital cities, which saw Everyday Innovators beaten by 50 other shows that day, including a late-night repeat of Hawaii Five O on 10.

And you can read more about tonight's stories on our Facebook page or our website, where you can get a transcript and download the program.

You can also catch up with us on iview and contact me or Media Watch on Twitter.

And don't miss Media Bites, every Thursday on Facebook, Twitter and our website. And also on iview.

But for now until next week, that's all from us. Goodbye

Read a response from NBN Co

Read a response from Channel Nine