On Friday morning, ABC Radio Melbourne presenter Jon Faine had some choice words for his bosses. He even went as far as to suggest the technical glitch was the result of funding cuts at the public broadcaster. Beloved ABC newsreader Ian Henderson's final bulletin was ruined by a technical glitch. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui "You're going to have to do a fair job of persuading us that's got nothing to do with this," he said. "I don't believe you and I don't believe our listeners do either. "Why does the Sydney news never go off-air? There was an epic fail of technology, and an epic fail to the audience to communicate that something had even gone wrong." The ABC's executive editor, Craig McMurtrie, fronted Faine's program to apologise to viewers. However he soon found himself facing some pointed questions and was forced to deny that funding cuts had played a role in the technical failure.

"That's got nothing to do with this," he said. "The techs were saying last night they've never seen something like this before. It's just one of those things. Loading "Ian [Henderson] is such a graceful guy. He just shrugged it off and said he'd come back tonight. And that's why all I can say is I'm embarrassed by what happened and apologise to all our 7 o'clock viewers." But Faine wasn't having it. "How many people work after hours for IT backup now in Sydney's Ultimo headquarters?" he asked.

"I'd have to get back to you," McMurtrie replied. "I can tell you," Faine snapped back. "Nobody. We have to call somebody in if something goes wrong for TV or radio. It's ridiculous, Craig. Management either don't listen or don't have the money anyway." Henderson is due to farewell ABC viewers properly on Friday, October 12 from 7pm. Hendo told Fairfax Media it was unfortunate he wasn't able to tell Victorian viewers what was happening due to the technical difficulties.

"They're the perils of live television," he said. "And last night we saw it [in action]. We will have another crack at it and we will do it properly this time."