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ABC shut out of leaders forum

The ABC is protesting over the TV exclusivity of a Leader's Forum saying it provided footage of the Great Debate to SKY.

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The ABC is protesting over the television exclusivity of a Leader’s Forum at Rooty Hill RSL, organised by SKY News and the Daily Telegraph.

The People’s Forum will see both leaders face separately face questions from an audience of swinging voters. ABC News 24 is unable to screen the event live with Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott, which airs at 6pm AEST on Wednesday on SKY News.

News Director Kate Torney says many Australians will miss out while access is being withheld by both organisations. The broadcaster previously provided a ‘clean feed’ of other campaign events such as the Great Debate to all other networks, including SKY.

“At all times, the ABC has put the public interest ahead of media politics in this campaign,” she said.

“At the request of other media organisations and the two major parties, we have provided these campaign events to all media outlets. Now it appears others have chosen not to play by these rules, and the Australian public will be disadvantaged.”

ABC holds the exclusive right to live coverage of Press Club events, and wore the production costs involved.

“We did this because the ABC is committed to public access to key campaign events,” she said. “We believe that as many Australians as possible should have the chance to engage in events of national significance, not just the 30 percent of households who have access to subscription television.”

Some footage of the forum is expected to be released to other media after the event.

Torney said the ABC was prepared to mount the production for Wednesday’s forum and make it available live to all media, including SKY.

Sky News Chief Executive Angelos Frangopoulos said in a statement, “SKY News will make available a feed of its live program, The People’s Forum, to the ABC and all other media outlets (at no cost) for broadcast from 7pm (AEST) this Wednesday night, August 11.

“The ABC clearly does not understand the difference between a television programme and an open campaign event.

“Today SKY News provided its coverage of the Communications Debate at the National Press Club (at no cost), which was aired live and in full on the ABC. The ABC has declined to provide a live feed of its television programs, such as last night’s Q & A featuring Prime Minister Julia Gillard.”

Since launching last month, ABC News 24 has been the subject of criticism from News Limited newspapers, publisher of The Daily Telegraph.

Last night Julia Gillard appeared live on Q & A while Tony Abbott is guest next week.

27 Responses

  3. Why does the ABC just show a pirate signal and cover up any SKY watermarks? Then the only way SKY could stop it would be to kill their signal – which would be bad news for them as well!!!

    Whats the worst that can happen? its a news event after all.

  4. ‘thanks’ for the SKY coverage of the NPC (using 1 minicam on a head-on shot, and the ABCs riser and lighting system!) but hardly compares with the normal ABC program (it is a program and SKY know that very well)

  6. From my understanding News Limited and Sky News has set up and organised the whole debate, and probably funding production costs.

    I don’t see why they should pass on their feed or programming to their competitor.

  7. In the UK we recently had our first “Leadership Debates” 3, on done by ITV, one by Sky & one by the BBC.

    the ITV debate was exculsive, but free to air.

    the Sky debate, was on the free to air Sky News channel on UK Freeview, as well as on BBC News, it was repeated later that night on BBC 2. The Sky debate even went on the BBCs iPlayer.

    The BBC debate, pretty much abavabile to all.

    Quite frankly I dont think Sky Australia, should be allowed a Pay TV debate, it should at least air on ABC 4 (ABC News), but ABC should be the bigger “man” and air the repeat, sure it can object to not airing it live, but it should air the repeat, because if they dont, it is not only Sky that is denying the Austrlian public the debate, however Sky is far from in the right here.

  8. Am I missing something

    “Sky News Chief Executive Angelos Frangopoulos said in a statement, “SKY News will make available a feed of its live program, The People’s Forum, to the ABC and all other media outlets (at no cost) for broadcast from 7pm (AEST) this Wednesday night, August 11”

    So what is the problem?

  9. The commercial media are pathetic. They carp on and on and on about the ABC having no right to expand its services and how it should get less money from the tax payer, yet are only too happy to take advantage of the ABC’s services in providing free coverage to them of election events, including the debates. Then they turn around and screw over the tax payer by denying the ABC a feed of a campaign event for which they are the host broadcaster. Frankly, Sky can go to hell. May it lose its campaign to run the Aus Network and never get a cent of tax payer money.

  11. Shame on Sky. This is essentially the second debate for the campaign, yet the vast majority of Australians will be denied live coverage. In the future, the ABC should not give Sky a live feed or only a dirty feed with great big ABC logos everywhere.

  13. Hang on just so im clear, this is a “Leaders Debate” for the forthcoming election, and its Pay TV only?

    and this is accpetable in Australia?

    Its not ideal, but why cant ABC just use the Sky feed?

  14. For me its an access issue. ABC/Seven/Nine and all its affiliates are avaliable if you so choose to watch them. SKY news isnt. Thus what is said at the forum for those that want to know, is limited to those with Sky news access. Sure its will be given to other networks to ensure dissemenation, but things taken out of context can be mis interpreted.

  17. ITA this is a Sky News event, they have every right to show it exclusively live on their channel. If they aren’t then chuck out the rule book and send TV back 20 years in this country.

    Apart from that haven’t we have enough of politics already!

  18. The issue runs deeper than just this one event. But the to-ing and fro-ing makes it harder to sort it out. The gentleman’s agreement between news roooms and networks has become so complicated in recent years with multi channels and platforms.

  20. @newtaste: both of your examples are established network TV formats which have guests appear on them. This forum is a special event outside of any tv studio, and wouldn’t exist if there wasn’t an election on. I think ABC has a fair point. I’m sorry to be missing it myself.

  22. Have they had a look at the Sky viewing figures? Sky are certainly doing a great job this election, but I would have thought the leaders would have wanted the masses to hear what they have to say. Perhaps not?
    I’m with the ABC on this one.

  23. all this is doing is showing the public is that Sky has something ABC wants and can’t get. very bad PR on ABC’s behalf this wouldnevr happen on a commercial network.

    i don’t think there is anything unfair here. sky organised it they should get it. if on other occasions ABC put public interest first that is their decison.

    anyway i’d go on if this was a debate, but a forum is hardly anything to worry about missing.

  24. Did the ABC allow Sky News to broadcast Live last night’s Q & A with Jules, of course not. Would the ABC expect Live access to tonight’s 7PM Project, no. So why is the ABC whinging.

    I think Sky should give access free due to both leaders being present, but this stupid fight between the ABC and Sky News is just so silly.

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