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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.

Source: The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald

28 Responses

  1. Mike (5:37pm), have you watched ABC2 lately? I’m guessing you haven’t & you’re just going by the TV guide, otherwise you wouldn’t be calling its programming “cheap American imports [&] crappy Canadian offerings.” So, The Wire is just another “cheap American import”? Is Durham County just another “crappy Canadian offering,” is it?

    Did I miss the meeting where the ABC was only allowed to air British & Australian programming no-matter how crappy (to use your snobby words) they might be? Is the BBC’s Beautiful People your idea of quality British content, is it?

    You sound like one of those rusted-on/British-loving ABC1 viewers, so I wouldn’t bother up grading to digital until the very last minute if I was you.

    PS: ABC Shop promotions aren’t ads because they’re part of the corporation & after over-heads, all their profits go back into the ABC. So, I’m fine with them. Besides, who else will air ABC Shop “ads.” Channel Nine? Give me a break!

  2. Rob, have you watched the ABC lately? Whilst not considered commercials thanks to a loophole, the ABC is constantly airing promos and promoting the ABC shop which in some cases actually causes programmes to start later. Imagine if you allowed commercials. Also if you allow commercials then it would be a commercial station and should not require our taxes.

    Barrie, why is ABC2 the best? All they show is kids crap, cheap American imports, crappy Canadian offerings, repeats of British drama that have been repeated by ABC1 at least three times and the rest is time shifted junk from ABC1. ABC2 feels like a commercial channel step child sans the ‘actual commercials.’

  3. Before they start all this multi-channeling, they need to focus on acquiring more HD programming and actually airing it. It’s ridiculous that the ABC is being exempt from the HD rules. For some reason in 2010 it seems as though Aussie TV networks are moving backwards…

  4. ABC2 is the best digital channel in australia – puts the rest to shame. Perhaps with marena manzoufas going there may be less crap aussie drama like bed of roses, and less childrens programming on all 3 channels at the same time. i also agree that abc breakfast should move to abc1.

  5. DanR: I would hope that ABC News Breakfast moves to ABC4 myself. Means viewers in SA, NT, WA and Qld (in suumer) won’t watch the news on delay.

    ABC1 needs to show children’s programming in the morning as Ten is the only other analogue network to show kids shows in the mornings.

  6. A proposed 24 hour news channel would be admirable for ABC to do and will create jobs, but there’s no way they could afford to do it without screening ads on that channel and also taking corporate sponsorship, so they’d need federal legislation to be passed, to allow them to get permission.

  7. Simply allow ABC to show commercials the same way SBS was allowed to, in limited time frames, and not to disrupt programming, then the broadcaster can afford to sink alot more money into production, and we will have alot more content!

  8. It’s a shame that ABC1 won’t be in HD anymore when ABC News Channel HD comes along. But from what I understand ABC1 does not air much HD programming anyway.

    Hopefully because they are building the channel from the ground up ABC News HD will be entirely in HD. Cameras, graphics and as much content as possible.

    Could ABC not launch an HD simulcast of ABC1 on Austar and Foxtel satellite only?

  9. One slight problem with this. MONEY $$$$

    The BBC is a massive corporation with billions to play with. They can afford to take risks and programme their channels with certain identities and content. The ABC cannot, which is why there are so many repeats, childrens filler and imported content. If the ABC has to stretch its resources any further then more areas will suffer.

    What happens when a government gets into power and reduces funding? How would all these new channels and new suggestions fare?

    “An announcement to ABC staff said the changes would equip the corporation with ”distinct channels, distinct programming and a healthy and competitive production model”.

    I’d like to know what the last part means. Are they finally going to produce more Australian content or are doing ratings chasing actions by adopting similar content to commercial channels.

    I am all for change at the ABC, but realistic change within budgets.

  10. Sounds interesting, but all I can say is I wish the ABC would allow Rage to play the Top 50 charts again.

    Its removal in 2006 was a mistake and seemed to go against its charter re: targeting the youth market.

    Although I know it isn’t Rage’s fault it isn’t on, but management should see fit to re-instate what was a very popular part of the show.

  11. Good to see. The ABC has done a great deal on their digital channels and this move gives them an identity of their own.

    I think that ABC2 really needs to break away as a youth channel. Have ABC3 for kids, ABC2 for youth and ABC1 as 25+ age target, then have ABC4 as news, and potentially ABC5 and ABC6 as genre-specific channels (music and movies perhaps?).

  12. I wish they’d restructure the bandwidth because the picture quality is getting worse, especially since ABC3 started. That third (or is it fourth?) channel has sucked the pixels away from ABC2.

  13. Will ABC4 be open to anyone and not just be received under the HD spectrum?

    A newspaper article in the fairfax papers suggests up to 40% (of the population) will have access to the news channel (ABC4) as it is using there HD channel and will it be available on Foxtel’s platform without subscribing to HD?

    The restructuring will be good as programming is all over the place at the moment. Perhaps one of the reason’s is the conversion over to 100% (of population) over to digital.

  14. The Fat got up through sport if I remember correctly. There was a time when the best way to get comedy made at the ABC was the pretend it was something else. Where does topical comedy or satire fit into this? It’s not fiction. It requires a different understanding. I don’t think it would be a big deal. ABC makes a lot of great comedy and usually when it’s not great it’s at least somewhat interesting or a decent effort. Hopefully they keep separate budgets for comedy and don’t just make a lot of drama because they’ve been really bad at drama for the past few years. Bastard Boys excepted.

  15. Agree about ABC News Breakfast moving to 1, deserves a bigger audience and Australians deserve an alternative to that dribble served up by Nine and Seven each morning

  17. Tonight on BBC1

    7.00pm, The One Show – Christine Bleakley’s waterski challenge comes to a dramatic conclusion.

    7.30pm, MasterChef

    8.00pm, EastEnders

    8.30pm – 10.00pm, Eurovision

    And for shite like that they have to pay a 140 pound television licence fee. Why use taxpayers’ money to make reality tv programs when the commercial sector will provide them free of charge?

  20. “Many years ago Kath and Kim was rejected by ABC’s Comedy Executives, but picked up by the Drama department…” Uhm? Isn’t this an argument to keep the departments separate so if one stuffs up the other has a chance to correct it?

  25. I love all the changes that are happening at The ABC.
    The more it becomes like The BBC the better.
    From the three new networks, to this new management overhaul and online services – ABC is really moving with the times.

    I would also love to see:

    – ABC News Breakfast move to ABC1 and simulcast on the new ABC News Channel
    – ABC2 shift to a more edgy, diverse, youth channel model, and away from kids programming
    – A new national flagship newscast to be launched at 6.30pm Nightly
    – The current state based news move to region based news with new bulletins for North Queensland, SE Queensland, Northern NSW, Southern NSW, Newcastle, Victoria etc.

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