ABC eyes BBC model
A major managerial restructuring of the ABC will follow the model of the BBC with "channel controllers" for ABC1, ABC2, ABC3, ABC4 and multi-platforms.
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A major managerial restructuring of the ABC will follow the model of the BBC with “channel controllers” responsible for the “vision, branding and program strategy” of separate entities: ABC1, ABC2, ABC3, ABC4 and multi-platforms.
The new approach will reflect the changing dynamic of a broadcaster that has traditionally had one channel and a structure that is rooted in the past.
“When I was appointed to the ABC four years ago, I was appointed to run a single linear TV channel,” Director of Television Kim Dalton told The Australian.
“Yet the underpinning structures to deliver all that are basically the ones that were put in place 20 to 30 years ago to service a single channel.
“We have currently got systems that are at times inefficient, at times dysfunctional and don’t allow us to build up our channels. That’s meant uncertainty about where functions are performed.”
Under the changes, programs will be commissioned by ”content heads” for each genre, including a merged Drama and Comedy department to be known as ”Fiction”. Many years ago Kath and Kim was rejected by ABC’s Comedy Executives, but picked up by the Drama department.
ABC management will consult with staff and ”appropriate unions” before outlining its restructure plans.
ABC TV’s head programmer, Marena Manzoufas, will also leave the broadcaster after nine years following the restructure.
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28 Responses
Hey Stan, it’s great passing judgements on things you haven’t seen. The hypocrisy and irony of it all. 🙂
a) The Bill is a drama. Which is more than can be said for the politically correct and biased soap opera standing on the soap box that is affectionately called by its small, but always annoyingly vocal fanbase The Wire. (How can you honestly say season five of The Wire was great)
b) I never said I love The Bill. I just rate it over The Wire. Both are trashy, tedious, melodramtic garbage.
Debate? You haven’t debated any of my points, just professed your adoration for The Wire and Durham county without giving points as to why you like them. Your comments are as banal as the scripting in both shows.
Mike,
The fact that you rate The Bill over The Wire says more about you than where the ABC is right now. The Bill is just Home & Away set in a police station.
It’s been fun debating you. 🙂
Stan, yeah I watched ABC2 about five years ago, well most of its content anyway :-). Okay so you say why ABC2 is so great is because you like some of their programmes. My definition of a great channel is an innovative channel that has a clear purpose and caters for that audience whilst also maintaining a broad appeal. It also should keep viewer loyalty within reason. ABC2 hasn’t accomplished anything like that.
You are aware The Wire (A programme which I loathe; self conceited American trash) has been shown on commercial channels years ago? What was the point in the ABC buying five plus year commercial leftovers (better count Cold Feet in there too). And yeah I would rather crusty old Teacher, The Bill and MDA repeats over The Wire and The Beast. Definitely. Durham County is trite, with cliched characters, lack lustre storylines and the whole premise is just too absurd and pathetic. It’s a wannabe Hollywood movie. Things get even worse in the second season. You better count the god awful Billable Hours and stupid Being Erica in crappy Canadian offerings as well.
I never said I was a fan of ABC1 either and the BBC has been subpar for the better part of the last decade. I said ABC shop promos were not ads according to the definition of TV ads, despite actually being ads, but I was merely using them to highlight the disruption on programmes which would surely suffer more if actual paid commercials were allowed on the ABC.