Conroy rallies behind ABC and SBS

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has publicly signalled his support for increased funding of the ABC and SBS, saying, “We have to strengthen our public broadcasters if they are to succeed in the digital future.”

Speaking to The Age, he indicated the Labor Government was sympathetic to the challenges of keeping pace with commercial networks, audience tastes and technology.

“We are very committed to strengthening our public broadcasters because if you want to guarantee Australian voices and Australian stories you need to fund the ABC and SBS.”

In fact, last week 14 of the week’s Top 20 shows were Australian-made, but only two were narrative drama.

Conroy’s comments are his first since the broadcasters submitted their triennial funding proposals, with SBS asking for $70 million more each year and the ABC seeking an unspecified amount to set up a series of new channels. A review of the two networks was recently announced with many observers anticipating some merging of administrative roles.

Conroy says the public broadcasters have been doing a great job while being starved of funds by the previous government.

“The ABC has been doing some ground-breaking work on an incredibly tight budget, especially with its iView player,” he said.

“If you want to talk about the future of Australian voices and Australian drama, it is ultimately going to be coming from the public broadcasters. And that is why it is so important that the public broadcasters get a chance to compete in the digital world.”

Senator Conroy said the federal cabinet would have “a very healthy debate” about the next round of funding for the public broadcasters.

“I will be going in hard in the next budget debates, saying that the future is dramatically shifting,” he said. “The ABC and the SBS have a responsibility to step up to the plate, but to do that they will need new funds, and Kevin Rudd and the Labor Government understand the changing nature of the media.”

No doubt there are a few more smiles in Ultimo and Artarmon today…

Source: The Age