ABC dumps more local sports
ABC has now confirmed that Lawn Bowls coverage is to end by the end of the year.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
The ABC has now confirmed the news, as reported by TV Tonight several weeks ago, that Lawn Bowls is to end as an ABC broadcast.
The head of TV sport and events, Justin Holdforth, told The Australian the ABC had decided not to renew its agreement with Bowls Australia after this season.
The move follows a diminishing of production staff across several states. Without dedicated outside-broadcast vans, camera crews and production staff in each state, covering sport is impossible.
“From 2012, ABC Television Sport has decided to redirect its very limited resources into alternate programming,” Mr Holdforth said.
“ABC television will fulfil its commitment to the final two bowls events for 2011 in Tweed Heads and Moonta.”
The ABC has also axed The Northern Territory Sport Awards, The NT Rugby Union Finals and the Tiwi Islands Grand Final.
“No decision has been made regarding the broadcast of other local football codes in 2012,” Holdforth said.
20 Responses
It’s only the tip of the iceberg of more cuts to come…
News 24 and Media Hub have been budget vampires.
@Stan I watch the VFL but never watch ABC News 24. I don’t know why the ABC pays for ABC News 24 to be broadcast on Foxtel satellite.
Yes Mark Scott may well say that these sports have dropped 30% but this really remains a cost cutting exercise to get rid of expensive OB vans and crews. They won’t be redeployed to a more popular or growing sport or even replaced by independent contractors. On his logic he should drop the 7.30 Report which has seen a mass audience departure which of course nobody would support but it does demonstrate how state and regional Australia are always early casualties of ABC cuts.
I enjoy ABC 24….and watch it often…not just the news bulletins but other programs….
Having said that ….I also enjoyed watching lawn bowls…it was really well done and interesting…..
I do not play the game…..and never thought I would watch….but unlike the mass of white on ones local ground….it is colourful….and the commenting is good and informative….
Hmm… Again, people here ready to dump on News24 but I bet none of you commenting have even watched one second of these pointless local sports. Unlike other networks, it seems ABC are the only ones that aren’t allowed to axe anything. FYI, Mark Scott said today that the audience for these sports have dropped 30% over the last two years (source: National Press Club).
@Alastair
I recall reading that the ABC remain focused on Women’s sports, so I’d assume the W-League will remain. I guess the need for cost cutting means we probably won’t get any more than just the one game every week. Would have been nice to have a second game to watch every weekend.
Why don’t they put it on ABC3 or something????
This epitomises all that is wrong in the Australian television industry at the moment
Another victim of the News24 money pit.
Sports and arts programs are easy targets for ABC management to look for cost savings. However if one looks at the tiny audience figures for ABC News 24 shouldn’t the same criteria apply or is news and current affairs a protected species for ABC management?
I personally will not mind when this ends because i cant watch lawn bowls because its so borring. As for the rest well i think the W league might stay i mean who else is going to cover it? If u think about it something does not make sense and someone is lieing. According to the Communications minister the ABC has got its budget increased, either he is lieing or the ABC are.
What will Aunty be putting on weekend afternoons next year – repeats of Midsomer Murders?
David that may be the case down there but the coverage (and standard) of the Queensland Cup rugby league up here is outstanding and well worth broadcasting. It is a breath of fresh air from Channel 9’s NRL coverage, and it wouldn’t surprise me if it outrates the AFL games on 10 that are shown at the same time.
What???!!!! I am going to hit somebody
I love abc news24, can’t stand sport, any of it. So this really is good news.
Noooo!
Saturday arvo’s on ABC won’t be the same anymore.
All I can say is this is a shameful decision. I know some people who play or played the sport who watch it, the ABC is taking away their 1 hour of pleasure. If they want to save money they should have dumped the idea of Julia At Home for example.
Put it on Ten,great lead in for Sundays Renovators!
Sounds like ABC News 24 has blown the budget again! Still ABC Sport programming is pathetic and really who is watching? The local Footy coverage is amateurish, but then so are the games so hopefully they will be the next to go.
Oh well there is still the Paralympics for those overseas junkets!!!
Just don’t get rid of the W-League.