Peter Blasina
Encyclopedia
Peter Blasina, otherwise known as "The Gadget Guy", appears weekly as the Hawaiian shirt-wearing technology reporter on Channel Seven
's Sunrise breakfast program as well as occasional appearances to provide reports on technology events such as Cebit
and other technology fairs. His weekly segment profiles new technology and explains the background to the way different technologies are being integrated into the average consumers’ lives as well as providing technology advice in a simplified manner with a target audience of average consumers rather than technologically savvy users.
He has appeared regularly on the Small Business Show, a Channel Seven show hosted by Sunrise presenter, David Koch, providing advice to small business owners on cheap options to enhance new small businesses.
Peter presents at events such as sponsored technology seminars, for fees ranging between $5,000 to $10,000 AUD.
Peter can be heard on ABC Local Radio
program, NightLife
, every month with Tony Delroy
, where listeners can call in and ask technological questions.
magazine as its non-frontal nude male centrefold model for the month. The photos were published in 1981
and Samsung
. His appearances on the My Business Show typically feature him presenting recommendations to business owners that appear on face value to prioritise low initial cost rather than best practices or value.
Though his actual technical knowledge has been questioned from time to time, on 28 April 2009 Peter covered for the Sunrise program the issue of the "Internet Filling Up". During the segment there was a reference to the infamous internet tubes, a statement that the internet
was founded in 1996, and a strong push towards naming Cisco
switches
as a solution to the crisis, Cisco being a company Peter has known connections with via the ZyNet television show. This segment has been debunked in the media and by technology specialists, including the Australian political site Crikey
. The original source for the segment is a report by Nemertes Research
, which in itself has also been heavily criticised for being factually incorrect.
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
's Sunrise breakfast program as well as occasional appearances to provide reports on technology events such as Cebit
CeBIT
CeBIT is the world's largest and most international computer expo. CeBIT is held each year on the world's largest fairground in Hanover, Germany, and is a barometer of the state of the art in information technology...
and other technology fairs. His weekly segment profiles new technology and explains the background to the way different technologies are being integrated into the average consumers’ lives as well as providing technology advice in a simplified manner with a target audience of average consumers rather than technologically savvy users.
He has appeared regularly on the Small Business Show, a Channel Seven show hosted by Sunrise presenter, David Koch, providing advice to small business owners on cheap options to enhance new small businesses.
Peter presents at events such as sponsored technology seminars, for fees ranging between $5,000 to $10,000 AUD.
Peter can be heard on ABC Local Radio
ABC Local Radio
ABC Local Radio is a network of publicly owned radio stations in Australia, operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.ABC Local Radio stations broadcast across the continent using terrestrial transmitters and satellites...
program, NightLife
NightLife
NightLife with Tony Delroy is a popular late-night talkback show across ABC Local Radio, broadcasting from the 702 ABC Sydney studios in Ultimo, Sydney, Australia. It offers a mix of both news and current affairs, lifestyle and entertainment. Each night there are regular features and presenters...
, every month with Tony Delroy
Tony Delroy
Anthony Eric "Tony" Delroy is an Australian radio presenter and host of Nightlife on ABC Local Radio.After joining the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Delroy worked on-air in Bathurst and Launceston before going to 702 ABC Sydney in 1987 and taking over the Nightlife program...
, where listeners can call in and ask technological questions.
Personal
Blasina was married to a school teacher with whom he has four children. They separated in 1997. Blasina subsequently met journalist and publisher Anika Hillery, who has since taken up the role of Editorial Director at Blasina's company The Gadget Group. Blasina and Hillary have a child.Earlier career
In the early 1980s Blasina was a school teacher. He supplemented his income by working part time as an aerobics instructor. During this time he was invited to do a photo shoot for CleoCleo (magazine)
CLEO is an Australian, New Zealand, South African, Malaysian, Singaporean, Thailand and Indonesian women's magazine.Aimed at an older audience than the teenage-focused Dolly, the magazine is known for its CLEO Bachelor of the Year award....
magazine as its non-frontal nude male centrefold model for the month. The photos were published in 1981
Criticisms
Peter, not unlike other technology media personalities, has attracted criticism for a thin technical background in the technologies he showcases, and for not disclosing affiliations with particular companies and brands such as PhilipsPhilips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
and Samsung
Samsung
The Samsung Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea...
. His appearances on the My Business Show typically feature him presenting recommendations to business owners that appear on face value to prioritise low initial cost rather than best practices or value.
Though his actual technical knowledge has been questioned from time to time, on 28 April 2009 Peter covered for the Sunrise program the issue of the "Internet Filling Up". During the segment there was a reference to the infamous internet tubes, a statement that the internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
was founded in 1996, and a strong push towards naming Cisco
Cisco
Cisco may refer to:Companies:*Cisco Systems, a computer networking company* Certis CISCO, corporatised entity of the former Commercial and Industrial Security Corporation in Singapore...
switches
Network switch
A network switch or switching hub is a computer networking device that connects network segments.The term commonly refers to a multi-port network bridge that processes and routes data at the data link layer of the OSI model...
as a solution to the crisis, Cisco being a company Peter has known connections with via the ZyNet television show. This segment has been debunked in the media and by technology specialists, including the Australian political site Crikey
Crikey
Crikey is an independent Australian electronic magazine comprising an open access website and an email newsletter available to subscribers. Well known in Australian political, media and business circles, Crikey was described by former Federal Opposition Leader Mark Latham as the "most popular...
. The original source for the segment is a report by Nemertes Research
Nemertes Research
Nemertes Research is a research-advisory firm that specializes in analyzing and quantifying the business value of emerging technologies headquartered in Mokena, Illinois...
, which in itself has also been heavily criticised for being factually incorrect.