ABC / SBS: more funds, drama & backroom mergers

The government this weekend signalled its intent to boost funding for ABC and SBS following years of being “starved by the Howard government.”

ABC’s plans for a kids channel as well as a  public affairs and news TV channel hinge on extra monies in its three year deal. But the public broadcasters may be forced to share transmission and administration costs. 

In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said the ABC and SBS needed to be strengthened so they could be champions of Australian voices and stories to combat the flood of cheap programs from overseas.

“The ABC is seriously underfunded,” he said. “We’ve now reached an absolutely pivotal moment as we move into the digital world. If the ABC doesn’t get more funds it is going to lag the rest of the media industry in this country and the ABC should be a champion of the digital world.”

SBS is likely to use its extra money to broadcast foreign language children’s programs for the first time as part of its plan to create two new digital TV stations and nine digital radio stations to provide more programs for migrant communities without cutting those for existing groups.

Senator Conroy said the amount of extra funds was “a matter of ongoing deliberation by the cabinet”. SBS has asked for an extra $70 million a year. The ABC is believed to want between $50 million and $100 million a year.

Senator Conroy said the Government would keep its election pledge to deliver 100 hours of Australian drama on the ABC – a massive boost, and something akin to ABC’s drama output now just a fleeting memory (there’s no indication if that’s 100 hours a year, or across 3 years).

“When we move into the internet television world, which we are not far from, there’s no real capacity to regulate local content on the internet. We need the ABC and SBS to be telling Australian stories and making Australian drama,” he said.

Source: SMH