Welcome to the Friends of the ABC in NSW

ABC NEWS TO GO 24/7 IN 2010

The ABC will launch Australia’s first free-to-air 24-hour television news channel in 2010.

The ABC’s Managing Director, Mark Scott, said the ABC’s commitment to quality news and current affairs would enter a new era with the creation of the new digital channel.

The channel will provide live continuous news coverage of major breaking stories from Australia and around the world. Broadcasting around the clock will enable the ABC to increase its in-depth coverage of local, national and international affairs through background features and analysis, combined with the ABC’s unrivalled long-form current affairs reporting.

“No media organisation in the country is better equipped to deliver this channel than the national broadcaster,” Mr Scott said.

“We can draw on the investment already made in the ABC, through its major newsrooms in every state and territory, 12 international bureaux and 60 regional newsrooms, to deliver to Australians a top-quality 24-hour news service that is comprehensive, independent and up to the minute.”

New programs are also being developed specifically for the channel, focusing on world news, national politics and business. Many of the ABC’s existing television news and current affairs programs will also be featured.

A continuous news centre with a new state-of-the-art studio, in the foyer of the ABC’s Ultimo headquarters, will serve as the engine room of the new channel. The ABC will also take advantage of its multi-platform capabilities, ensuring that audiences are able to keep up to date with news developments in different formats and across an array of devices.

The ABC’s capacity to “go live” with in-depth, continuous news coverage will extend to Australia Network, ensuring the ABC’s audiences in 44 countries also benefit from the new channel.

The channel will commence with no additional funds from the Government for content. Significant changes the ABC has made to news and television production processes, taking advantage of new technology, will allow the broadcaster to reinvest in new programming.

The news channel will be launched on the ABC’s HD channel, adding to the suite of services offered by the broadcaster on ABC1, ABC2 and ABC3. Further details of the new channel, including the program schedule and launch date, will be outlined in coming months.

Mr Scott said the ABC had been systematically preparing for the establishment of a 24-hour news channel in recent years. He said the project was a vital part of its charter obligation to inform the public and provide “innovative and comprehensive broadcasting services of a high standard”.
“ABC News Breakfast on ABC2 has shown how effectively the ABC can deliver live breaking news, tapping into the full resources of the national broadcaster,” Mr Scott said.

“By putting TV cameras in radio studios, we have already been able to put on television some of the outstanding agenda-setting radio interviews from ABC programs such as AM, PM, Radio National Breakfast and a range of local radio programs.”

“And over the past week we have witnessed the ABC’s capacity to cover breaking news with the crisis in Haiti. Our correspondents have provided dozens of live crosses into radio, television and online bulletins and programs.”
The ABC’s News Director, Kate Torney, said the News Division was committed to delivering news of the highest standard to audiences across a range of programs and platforms.

“ABC journalists around the country and around the world produce hours of original, quality content each day. The news channel will give Australians more flexible access to our best reporting and analysis, along with an opportunity to watch breaking news as it happens,” Ms Torney said.

"Australians can tap into news from the national broadcaster when they want it and where they want it through the new 24-hour news channel and also from services like ABC News Online, ABC News Radio and ABC Mobile.
“Our audiences look to the ABC to provide independent, quality news reporting and analysis they can trust. With the launch of this channel, Australians will be able to access the country’s most comprehensive news coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Director of Television, Kim Dalton, said ABC TV was fully embracing the benefits of digital television by creating another genre-specific channel.

“As the country’s leading multi-platform broadcaster, ABC TV offers viewers true choice – be it landmark Australian programming on ABC1 or our kids channel, ABC3,” Mr Dalton said. “The addition of a news channel to our current line-up ensures that viewers can select the type of quality Australian content they want to watch and enjoy it both on digital television and online.”

To view the short ABC 24/7 news channel video promotion click [here]

DIGITAL RADIO ROLLOUT

In terms of the roll-out of digital radio, under current legislation digital radio broadcasts are limited to the five mainland state capital cities. The ABC is keen to extend its digital radio services to regional areas and other metropolitan centres beyond the five mainland state capital cities as soon as possible and has made its desire known to the Minister and the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, as well as to the Australian Communications and Media Authority. However, the legislation also stipulates that any further extension of digital radio services is subject to review by 2011. That review will allow consideration of issues such as the availability and price of reception equipment and the coverage characteristics of various digital radio technologies and will also consider whether any adjustment to the regulatory framework is necessary. The specification of a subsequent start date for digital radio in further markets will require amendment to the legislation and will be a matter for Government. The expansion of digital radio services into many regional areas will also be dependent on spectrum being freed up with the switch-off of analogue television by 2013.

So, the short answer is that we will have a better idea about further rollout of digital radio once Government policy is formulated in 2011.

In terms of NewsRadio rollout, in the last three years the ABC has established 50 new transmitters across Australia and population coverage has increased from 78% to over 90%. This is the largest expansion of radio services in Australian in 20 years and a monumental achievement considering the very short timeframe.

There are still approximately 20 regions where we intend to establish NewsRadio services, however the establishment of these transmissions is predicated on available frequency spectrum. The ABC is working with the Australian Communications and Media Authority to expedite these frequency allocations as quickly as possible but some of the regions, such as the Illawarra, have heavy frequency congestion and we will have to wait until analogue TV switch-off for spectrum to become available.

In the case of Armidale, we are waiting on a licence area plan from ACMA but hope to have a NewsRadio service operating in Armidale by mid to late 2010.

Kevin McAlinden
Audience Liaison Manager
ABC Radio

Update from Mark Scott

To Mal Hewitt
Friends of the ABC NSW

I wanted to update you on our thinking at the ABC following the Government's announcement of increased funding in the budget. As you know, this budget was framed in the most difficult circumstances imaginable. When we started talks in Canberra about our Triennial Funding bid, there was a $20 billion surplus. Last night the Government announced a $58 billion deficit.... [more]

War on the Chaser

Jill Greenwell (Vice-President of FABC ACT & Region)
Risk-taking may not be the quality which first comes to mind when the ABC is mentioned. However, controversy has never been far from the ABC's programming... more

Ban Big Ted in clubs: has MP gone bananas?

NSW Friends of the ABC strongly dissociates itself from the comments of Glenys Stradijot in this Sun-Herald article. Ms Stradijot purports to speak for Friends of the ABC - in fact she represents only Victoria.

In much of rural and regional Australia, and in outer suburbs of our capital cities, licensed clubs provide the only venues where such performances can take place. To ban performances in licensed clubs would be to deny access to live concerts to thousands of children (and adults), and deny children the opportunity to interact with, and join in the activities of the much-loved characters of ABC Children's TV.

NSW Friends of the ABC has complete confidence in the ability of the ABC to ensure that children attending such venues are not exposed to the gaming activities of those clubs, in fact licensing laws forbid it.

Mal Hewitt
President, NSW FABC

Ban Big Ted in clubs: has MP gone bananas?

Kerry-Anne Walsh Political Correspondent
Sun-Herald May 31, 2009

Independent senator Nick Xenophon has provoked protest from clubs and the ABC for suggesting Play School, Bananas In Pyjamas and other children's concerts be banned from licensed venues.

Senator Xenophon said the national broadcaster was allowing the shows' characters to be used to "lure children to poker machine venues".

Characters such as Big Ted were national icons that should not be used to "attract young children to venues where adults drink and gamble". But his call to stop the shows will hurt the audience he claims to be protecting, say the clubs and ABC.

Anthony Ball from ClubsAustralia contacted the senator last week to ask if he was serious. "This is clearly a stunt and shows your ignorance of how people view their local club," Mr Ball wrote.

"Clubs have for more than half a century provided the venue for these types of shows, and thank heavens for that. Not everyone has the chance to go to the Sydney Opera House, or a theatre, to enjoy them.

"To suggest that a five-year-old that goes to see Bananas In Pyjamas at the club with their mum and dad will somehow develop a gambling problem in later life is disgraceful."

ClubsAustralia president Peter Newell said he would send complimentary tickets to Senator Xenophon for the next Bananas In Pyjamas show to provide "the reality check he clearly needs".

The senator retorted: "With 43 government bills to consider I'm kind of busy. I'm grateful for the offer but I think they've gone bananas."

The ABC said it had toured its shows around Australia for many years and had never had a complaint. "The ABC goes to great lengths to identify suitable venues for all its shows. In a number of locations within NSW the only suitable venues are located within clubs. In these locations, the entertainment venue is clearly separated from the gaming activities of the club. If the ABC did not book these venues, then the children in these areas would not have access to some of the ABC's best-loved children's identities."

Friends of the ABC spokeswoman Glenys Stradijot urged parents to boycott the shows and stop buying their products. "As if Australia does not have enough problems with alcohol and gambling abuse, the ABC is assisting the clubs to promote themselves as family-friendly.

"It is outrageous that the public broadcaster is exploiting its iconic children's program to entice people into gambling venues."

Senator Xenophon said attracting children to venues through ABC-themed live shows "normalised" poker-machine gambling in their minds.

The issue was raised during a Senate estimates hearings last week by Greens senator Scott Ludlam, who told ABC managing director Mark Scott he would pursue what he said was the ABC brand being used "as a drawcard to bring kids into licensed gambling premises".

ABC in Fiji - Mark Scott

It was a simple phone text message, but the desperation behind it was palpable. “We are trying to listen to you online but are having difficulty. Please keep broadcasting. You are all we have.”

The cry of help, sent to the ABC last week, highlights the anguish within Fiji as the military government extends its grip on power while going to extraordinary lengths to deny its citizens access to information about its activities. .... [more]

A better process, but what about the product?

The new method of making appointments to the ABC board is certainly more open and transparent. However this process, in itself, does not guarantee good decisions.

When he appointed her to the ABC board was the Communications Minister aware of Dr Julianne Schultz’s role in an attempt to tie the ABC into a strategic alliance with Telstra – arguably Australia’s largest, most powerful and most aggressive communications organisation?... [more]

The 2009 Federal Budget will make or break the ABC

The Budget to be handed down by the Rudd Government in May is of critical importance to the ABC, and will determine whether it retains its position as a world-renowned public broadcaster, free of commercial and political influence, or continues an already discernible slide into mediocrity. ABC funding for the next three years is now in the hands of Treasurer Swan, Finance Minister Tanner and Prime Minister Rudd... [more]

Adequate funds for the ABC; Everybody's lobbying...

This May Budget will reveal the ABC's funding for the next three years. The film and television industry is lobbying, Mark Scott is lobbying, the Minister for Communications is lobbying, FABC is lobbying….

The Minister lobbying? Isn't he the one in charge of the ABC? .... [more]

At any time NOW, ABC funding will be set for the next 3 years!

URGENT: Please phone, write or email your local Labor Federal Member of Parliament now.

Let your representative know:
The ABC is critical to Australian democracy and culture, and in times of national emergency, such as recent Victorian bushfires. Ask what s/he will do to implement Labor’s promise to ensure the ABC is well funded and remains commercial free.

If you know the name of your Federal Member of Parliament and need the contact details:  www.australia.gov.au/Parliament_of_Australia_Contacts

To obtain the name and contact details of your Member of Parliament:
 http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch  or phone 13 23 23

Reversing major changes to ABC Radio National

An Open Letter to Mr Mark Scott, Managing Director ABC from Dr Peter Pockley Science Writer & Broadcaster.

As a key authority established for the public good, the ABC should be welcoming the copious evidence from a flood of direct submissions and a continuing stream of items in other public media that the Radio National network has a significant and diverse body prepared to declare their support for the network as it is ... [complete letter] (PDF 36KB)

A second Open Letter to Mr Mark Scott Managing Director of the ABC from Dr Peter Pockley, Science Writer & Broadcaster, (Founding Head of ABC Science Unit) .... [here] (PDF 29KB)

Sue Howard Fails to Allay Concerns about ABC Radio National

Sue Howard (Director, ABC Radio) has produced a response to the thousands of complaints the ABC has received, which contains much soothing language and "management speak" but does not indicate any willingness on the part of ABC Management to listen to the voices of its audience.... [more]

Sue Howard Replies - Radio National

Numerous Friends have written to the ABC regarding Radio National program changes. Director of ABC Radio and Regional Content, Sue Howard has been replying ... [here]

Nine Walkley Awards for the ABC

ABC journalists and crews collected nine Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism, at the 53rd awards ceremony in Melbourne.

The Friends of the ABC congratulate all the winners, particularly those in radio, where the ABC took out every award... [more]

The Price Of Creative Independence At The ABC

By Quentin Dempster
Traditional or digital? After the recent controversy over Radio National, Quentin Dempster argues that the ABC's future is bright — but only if it sticks to its high standards... [more]

Imagine a better ABC

Well resourced - a sanctuary for quality, diversity and Australian content - a partner in the education revolution - a reliable source of news and current affairs. Make it real by sending a submission to the Federal Government Review... [more]

Changes to Radio National in 2009

ABC Media Release
Proposed changes to ABC Radio National programming in 2009 is causing concern amongst many Radio National listeners. For the ABC Media Release announcing the changes... [here]

Stephen Crittenden's view of the changes
The Religion Report, Media Report, Radio Eye are amongst the programs that will not be broadcast next year on Radio National. Stephen Crittenden (host of the Religion Report) discussed this in the intro to a recent program. You can hear it here as an Mp3 file (from crikey.com.au).

"ABC radio cuts draw a religious sermon"
By Kelly Burke Consumer Affairs Reporter - Sydney Morning Herald 22/10/2008
Australia's Catholic bishops have added their voice to mounting criticisms of the ABC's decision to axe its flagship weekly radio religious affairs program... [more]

"Crittenden off air after outburst"
ABC News: Posted Tue 21/10/2008
ABC management told Stephen Crittenden yesterday he would not be allowed on air... [more]

"ABC suspends top presenter"
By Jen Rosenberg - Sydney Morning Herald 21/10/2008
The presenter of ABC's Religion Report, Stephen Crittenden, has been suspended on full pay pending an inquiry into comments he made about the axing of flagship programs on Radio National... [more]

"Broadcaster tunes in to technological change"
By Michael Bodey and Michael Sainsbury - The Australian 18/10/2008
The surprise axing of nine programs from the ABC's niche network Radio National this week has sent the dial spinning... [more]

"The dumbing down of Radio National"
By Andrew Dodd - Crikey.com.au 16/10/2008
As Fairfax loses its way, Radio National had been cementing its place as one of the very last refuges for civility and fresh inquiry in the ... [more]

Senate questions axing of Religion Report
The Senate today supported a motion from Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown that calls on ABC management to reveal the criticisms and reasons behind the decision to axe the Religion Report, Media Report and other flagship Radio National programs... [more]

Friends of the ABC Letters
Reaction to the proposed changes has been fast and numerous. For a selection of letters... [here]

Write to...
For key addresses... [here]

For more articles & letters... FABC ACT website

Do the Radio National Website Survey ...[here]

To the Prime Minister of Australia. It's Time, Mr Rudd

All across the many and varied electorates of this wide, brown land, Australians value and respect their ABC, and as repeated poll results have told us, the ABC is right at the top of the list of our most trusted sources of information and entertainment. [more]

A word from the President

It's time, members of Friends of the ABC, to show our elected representatives that we are passionate about our ABC. [more]

Your ABC and our Kids need You!
An Action Plan for all Members

Write a letter to your representatives in Parliament asking for a dedicated, commercial-free Kids TV channel to be funded in the ABC's next budget (May
2009).. [more]

Letter from the Office of Senator. The Hon Stephen Conroy

Letter from the Office of Senator. The Hon Stephen Conroy [more]

Digital Radio Broadcasts

The ABC will commence digital radio services in the first half of 2009. [more]

ABC Board vacancies to stay vacant for the time being!

The Australian government would not fill two soon-to-be vacant positions on the ABC Board, until it could establish a fair, merit based appointment process, according to the Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy. [more]

ABC cleans up in Couch Potato Awards

Each year the critics who write for the SMH Guide nominate the best TV productions in a number of categories. In the 2007 Awards, ABC shows won 12 of the 17 awards. [more]

Congratulations to ABC Walkley Award Winners

NSW Friends of the ABC congratulates the following ABC staff journalists and presenters who have won 2007 Walkley Awards.

Once again, the ABC has led the way in outstanding broadcasting. [more]

The Friends of the ABC NSW Award for Excellence in Broadcasting for 2007 goes to Robyn Williams and the Radio National Science Show

Producer and presenter of The Science Show since its launch in August 1975, Robyn has given 32 years of outstanding and distinguished service to both the ABC and the listening public of Australia. Working within very limited financial resources, Robyn has, over those 32 years, provided us with a program of a consistently high standard, often controversial, always entertaining, and of interest to both the scientist and layperson. [more]

Your ABC: proudly brought to you by your sponsors?

“This service, the ABC, now belongs to you. We are your trustees. It is a service that is not run for profit, but purely in the interests of every section of the community.” [more]

Please do not Commercialise the ABC

On 2nd May our President Mal Hewitt wrote to Mark Scott, Managing Director of the ABC, expressing our shared concern:

Dear Mr Scott,

Please do not Commercialise the ABC [more]