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Friends of the ABC Australia

ABC falls further behind in the Federal Budget

Pressure to commercialise increases

The May Federal Budget fails to adequately fund the ABC.

General Funds

The Budget maintains ABC general funds for the next three years at their present level. That is, the Coalition Government's previous major funding cut of 12% continues. A cost of living adjustment will maintain this level in real terms, but will not compensate the ABC for the additional $2 million cost of adjusting its administrative systems for the GST.

Digital Conversion

By law, the ABC must convert to digital transmission along with other broadcasters. The Budget failed to provide full funds for phase two of the ABC's conversion to digital technology. The Government will provide only $36.8 million in addition to general funds, that is, half of the funds required for the ABC to equip its studios for the introduction of digital technology. (Phase one of the ABC's digitisation - the conversion of master controls - cost $110 million, of which the Government contributed only $20.8 million.)

Content

The ABC applied for, and was refused, an additional $194 million over the next three years to enable it to produce and commission more Australian content, and to extend the range of regional services. Four key areas in which it specifically identified a need for content are drama, children's programming, Australian performance (music, drama and comedy), and news and information services.

Full funding should be provided to enable the ABC to make the switch to new technology, as occurred with the introduction of ABC Television in 1956 and colour conversion in the 1970s.

The requirement that the ABC pay half of the funds for phase two of digitisation will result in already-scarce funds being diverted away from programming. Alternatively, the broadcaster will be forced to find other ways to raise revenue

Soon after the Budget decision denying the ABC additional funds for digital content development, the Government introduced digital television and datacasting legislation which, if passed, will prohibit ABC and SBS access to multi-channelling and datacasting.

Governments have a responsibility to the community to ensure the ABC survives and thrives. The country's national public broadcaster must be resourced for the new digital environment, able to fulfil its role as one of the most important producers and disseminators of culture and information in Australia.

By starving the ABC of funds, and through legislation denying the ABC access to important emerging technology, the present government is attempting to freeze the ABC out of the future. This contrasts sharply with its decision to handout digital spectrum worth billions of dollars to the major commercial television networks.

Don't let them commercialise your ABC

Members of FABC and the general community are expressing alarm at replies they have received to letters sent to ABC Managing Director, Jonathan Shier.

Mr Shier's letter - which appears to be a standard form reply - does not address concerns raised about advertising and sponsorship, or about the potential for commercial activities to undermine ABC independence. While declaring a commitment to protect the integrity and independence of the ABC with regard to this matter, he writes only that he is "... opposed to carrying advertising on the main services".

Supporters of independent broadcasting are concerned about what Mr Shier is not saying in his reply to them. What of sponsorship, and what of commercial transactions which compromise ABC independence? Though hidden, their risk to independence is real. And is Mr Shier opposed to advertising only on some ABC services?

The community is the guardian of the ABC. We must not allow our independent national broadcaster to be commercialised through the backdoor.

If matters you raised with Mr Shier have not been fully addressed, or you have not received a satisfactory reply, write again. Importantly, encourage others to write.

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