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Conroy announces ABC / SBS inquiry

Following job losses at the ABC and a public campaign for SBS funding, the government is to look at the role of our national broadcasters.

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Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has announced a public inquiry into the role of national broadcasters, ABC and SBS.

The inquiry, the first since the previous Coalition government set up a review of the ABC in its first year of office, will be conducted by the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.

Today the department will release a discussion paper, “Towards a Digital Future”, with the inquiry’s terms of reference.

The inquiry comes after SBS submitted its case to the Government for increased funding and with the ABC due soon to make its submission.

The two national broadcasters are funded triennially by the Government; the next funding period starts next year. The ABC and SBS are struggling to exploit new digital media within their budgets, and have been forced to cut programs and staff.

“Broadcasters such as SBS play a vital role in protecting and promoting Australia’s cultural and creative identity and I welcome the chance to take part in a national debate around our role and our contribution,” SBS Managing Director Shaun Brown said.

The deadline for public submissions will be the end of next month.

Source: The Age

4 Responses

  1. I read this very differently to some of the other comments :”The inquiry comes after SBS submitted its case to the Government for increased funding and with the ABC due soon to make its submission.”

    This is not to say that the inquiry is actually about funding. I’m sure this will be a major (an contested) part of the inquest, but it is much more complicated than simply funding. I also think looking at the table of contents for the discussion paper would clarify it’s actual purpose: here

    # 1: The role of national broadcasting
    # 2: Harnessing new technologies to deliver services
    # 3: Informing and entertaining Australians
    # 4: Education, skills and productivity
    # 5: Social inclusion and cultural diversity
    # 6: Presenting Australia to the world
    # 7: Efficient delivery of services

    There are very serious questions to be raised about what role a public broadcaster fills in media and social landscapes. The position of a “PubCaster” isn’t just “is it worth having around”, but more “what affect is this organisation having, and what else can it be doing?”. I feel this is the more important point to the inquiry.

    I think the issues that were brought up @ MediaSpy should be addressed here as well, as it is just as much the context for the inquiry as the funding. Meanwhile, Senator Conroy also anounced today that board members for both broadcasters will be chosen by an independent selection panel.

  2. SBS advertises Tony. But whining they don’t ear enough

    More likely outcome would be to merge the two into one corporation. Most likely stronger ABC name and would no longer exist, All of SBS would become ABC4 and ABC5 for 24/7 news service

    Moving more of the direction of the BBC model

  3. Seriously, without ABC, ABC2 and SBS, what the hell are all the intelligent Australians going to watch for anything informative? Today Tonight? A Current Affair?

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