ABC Managing Director Mark Scott’s vision of an expanded ABC is copping plenty of comment.
At Sydney’s Media140 conference Scott laid out a vision for the broadcaster’s international future that includes opening five more bureaus in the Asia-Pacific region and launching services across Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. He also wants to merge the ABC’s international TV and radio services, Australia Network and Radio Australia.
But there are questions being raised about the ability of Australia Network, its international satellite television service, to remain independent when it has funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Glenys Stradijot, spokesperson for Friends of the ABC (Vic) said, “Australia Network relies on revenue from commercial advertising and funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The ABC is forced to win favour with DFAT to operate Australia Network.
“Since the former government’s failed efforts to hand the ABC’s international television service over to commercial operators, the ABC has to compete with them in a tender process to provide Australia Network.
“Governments have a strong desire to influence the ABC editorially. And DFAT’s capacity to do so is great while it funds a specific ABC service which it forces the ABC to compete for in a tender.”
Meanwhile Sky News was equally alarmed by the proposal.
Angelos Frangopoulos from Australian News Channel said, “Mr Scott is trying to absorb Australia Network into the ABC to permanently block any alternative service model.
“In doing so, he is suggesting the ABC can be both a policy arm of government and stay true to its charter to be independent of government. He can’t have it both ways.
“If Mr Scott is intent on merging Australia Network and Radio Australia, he raises the question as to whether the provision of Radio Australia should also be subject to open tender.”
The contract for the Australia Network will be up for renewal in 18 months.
Source: ABC
It’s starting to sound like BBC world format
I think a few things need to be worked out but it is a good idea and I support The ABC in expanding, they are the best thing on our screens.
Australia Network in its current form is the best way to showcase the best of Australian programming to the rest of the world: a balance of news/current affairs and drama, documentaries and children’s programs. It also provides the best coverage of AFL outside Australia (up to 4 games each week, on a 30 minute delay, and include games shown on Foxtel here in Australia). I agree with Mark Scott that the channel should be broadcast into Africa, Middle East and Latin America. If Sky News wins the contract, it will only provide a 24-hour news programming and dump all the rest, meaning a general entertainment and sports channel (call it Australia Network 2) will be necessary.