Channel 9 - Mr
Packer's new national broadcaster
- and the Walkleys
You may have noticed a nudging of public perception towards
the notion of Channel 9 supplanting the ABC as 'the National Broadcaster'.
Ray Martin referred to his network as such in his introduction to 'The
Great Debate' and recently ex-ABC journo Sally Begbie argued that Channel
9 had a better claim to the title. *
Leaving aside the fact that the ABC has six Radio networks
in addition to Channel 2 plus the skeleton of an overseas radio network,
and a host of other arguments too obvious to make, let's look at how the
contenders for the title measured up in the Walkley Awards for 1998.
Indeed, Channel 9 did sweep the board for the commercial
networks: of the seven mentions for commercial broadcasting, five went
to Channel 9. (The other two were for Radio 2UE and Channel 10.)
But the bruised and diminished ABC ran away with 29 awards.
These were spread between television, and national and local radio. (SBS
won three awards, two for cinematography and one for current affairs.)
Channel 9 will have to lift its game somewhat if it is
to be even talked of in the same breath as the ABC.
*What, according to the Adelaide Advertiser, moved Ms
Begbie to give this breathtaking advice to her old employer- that the
ABC should stop trying to imitate Channel 9 as a national broadcaster?
That Channel 9 was the network of choice for the Prime Minister for the
Great Debate, and that Nine had the money to buy rights to major sporting
events. 'The ABC has to give up the idea of being the national broadcaster
and get on with being the public broadcaster.' Words fail.
Best Australian Web site - www.abc.net.au
This result is an amalgamation of the many votes
we received for ABC news, The Lab, Triple J and various other arms
of ABC Online. It's not surprising, as the ABC stable is known for
providing consistently high quality information that isn't just
a regurgitation of television and radio material. So, congrats to
wired Aunty, for two years running!
Source unclear
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And the winners were...
TV PROGRAMS
Four Corners 'The Survivors' Story'.
Australian Story
'The Sins of the Father', ' A Cold Wind in August' & 'Camilla's
Conversion'.
TV News: 'Skate Tapes', 'Indonesia's May
Revolution'.
7.30 Report 'The Waterfront Dispute' &'Sakshi
Who?'.
Foreign Correspondent 'Japan Pill' & 'North
Korea Famine'. (Jill Coglan & Mark Davis)
NT Stateline 'Katherine Flood Special'.
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INDIVIDUAL WALKLEYS
FOR TELEVISION
Mark Davis & Peter McEvoy 'The
Survivors' Story'.
News reporting: Max Uechritz and Max Brissenden,
'Skate Tapes'.
Michael Maher 'Indonesia's May Revolution'.
David Hardaker 7.30 Report 'The
Waterfront Dispute'.
Geoff Thompson 7.30 Report 'Sakshi Who?'.
John Millard Australian Story 'Camilla's Conversion'.
Maxine McKew Lateline.
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RADIO
Radio Australia:
'The Fall of the Suharto Regime'.
Radio National: 'PNG Tidal Wave';
The World Today ' Working to Death'.
AM 'Midnight Shift' & 'Skimming Scam'; Background
Briefing 'Lucas Heights Overreaction' & 'Bay of Secrets'.
Local radio: 'Lauren and Nichole', Maurie
Ferry, Bega, for Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism.
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INDIVIDUAL WALKLEYS
FOR RADIO
Sean Dorney
(PNG Tidal Wave 1-2-3-4).
Tim Palmer & Luisa Saccotelli of AM.
David Spicer of PM.
Bronwyn Adcock & Tom Morton: 'Background Briefing'.
Sharon Davis
'Radio Eye'.
John Shovelan for 'Yangtse Voyage'.
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