Like the Liberal party, the Nine Network is in a quicksand – of old ideas and rotting arrogance. On the same night the public kicked out the Liberals it punted another “old firm” unable to come to terms with the modern world. The Willoughby bunker not that long ago used to ridicule Channel Seven as “Channel Second”. On Saturday night Nine was Channel Fourth – beaten not only by the ABC and Seven election coverages but by a geriatric Darth Vader on Ten.

It was what should be the last gasp of the Old Guard at Nine. Not necessarily Ray Martin and certainly not Laurie Oakes who is showing that age is no impediment. But the mental old timer John Westacott, its head of news and current affairs and others responsible for organising the election coverage.

Like election EP Rob Hurst whose toughest task seemed to be to remove the cobwebs from the 90s and 80s election night rundown. Except for lame attempts to match Seven’s informality with a candidate “shredder” and, gee whiz, a boxing bell to denote changes of seat, Nine’s coverage was, well, as tired as John Howard.

The gimmicks were like Howard’s ridiculous attempts to be cool through YouTube. The format was the same as when Howard won in 1996 – and even earlier. So was the set. So were the principal talents alongside Ray and Laurie, Michael Kroger and Robert Ray, as dour, sullen and sniping a duo as one could imagine. Both are irrelevant to their parties and the public.

At the other end of the spectrum, reporters on location like Peter Overton looked pathetically and dangerously out of place away from their usual fare of Hollywood and gossip. Overton got a tad excited at a routine security check and declared to the world that there was a bomb scare at the Wentworth! Perhaps Overton and others were there to deliver the circus side of the bizarre Big Tent Nine promos Westacott commissioned. Overton should never be allowed near anything serious, without an autocue or a producer’s script. Exclude Ellen Fanning, of course, from that criticism.

That Hurst and Westacott didn’t stop for a moment to think of the relevance in 2007 of Kroger and Ray is astonishing but sadly indicative of people still living off the old ratings-with-a-bucket-of cash era where Nine won by rote and, often, by default with a massive advertising budget and a stable of magazines to indoctrinate the electorate with its “credibility”. The first time it got commercial opposition, it crashed.

The unwashed went for Seven’s silly but obviously flippantly attractive alternative. The ABC as always was the most credible alternative for serious political junkies and deservedly got the numbers. If, like most of Australia, you missed an even worse debacle in Nine’s Friday night attempt at an election special, then you missed another example at what is wrong at the once proud network.

Glenn Dyer wrote of the dreadful ratings for this 6.30pm special which Westacott insisted on running in the ACA slot. Never mind that Seven’s TT had proven earlier in the week the public were sick and tired of election talk. Age is no barrier to new ideas but Westacott, Hurst and few others are proving that stultifying longevity at Willoughby is.

Nine should – from today – start promoting some of its smarter young women (and men) to be a part of the next election coverage. People like Alison Langdon and Kellie Connolly for on-air for example. And bring along some fresh people to produce from the gallery. If they’re not to be found internally due to the Old Boys club’s iron grip on the plum gigs for so long, recruit them in. Now.

The knee-jerk reaction should not necessarily be to dump Uncle Ray. After all, Kerry O’Brien proves that people respect experience. Just get leaders and producers who know how to use talent instead of use them up.