0/5

Senate Report supports ABC co-productions

"There will be times when co-produced content is preferred and others when internally produced material is preferred," says the Senate committee.

The Senate Inquiry into the ABC’s model of outsourcing and internal production has supported the broadcaster’s “mixed production model” approach.

Tabled in Parliament yesterday, the Report states, “The committee acknowledges that there will be times when co-produced content is preferred and others when internally produced material is preferred. It is clear that a mixed production model is commonplace around the world, including in North America, Europe and Asia.

“Based on the evidence presented during this inquiry, the committee recognises that the ABC is following a wider trend to commission content from external sources. The committee has not, however, heard enough evidence to support the introduction of a fixed quota production model at the ABC.”

But the committee has made a range of recommendations including:
– continuing internal production in regional areas
– ensure value for money in co-productions
– encouraging ABC staff to pitch programming ideas, including in regional areas
– releasing a television production strategy
– encouraging arts programming

There were 10 recommendations from the committee as follows:

Recommendation 1
3.50 The committee recommends that the ABC ensure that it maintains an  effective capacity to internally produce quality programming across the regions  in addition to news, sport and current affairs. The committee notes that the  increasing use of external producers has the capacity to diminish the ABC’s  independence and skill base.

3.51 The committee calls on the ABC and the Minister for Broadband,  Communications and the Digital Economy to identify and implement processes  which ensure value for money, transparency and skill retention. In the context of  the need to maintain the ABC’s skills base, the committee calls on ABC management to immediately reassess the implications of any employment  decision on its capacity to deliver quality programming across the network.

Recommendation 2
3.69 The committee recommends that ABC management sets out in detail  where it sees its future as a broadcaster and a content producer, and particularly  with reference to the ABC Charter responsibilities of balancing programs of  wide appeal and specialist interest as well as how ABC programming reflects the  cultural and regional diversity of the Australian community.

Recommendation 3
3.74 The committee recommends that ABC management release a draft  television production strategy for staff, community and private sector  consultation, prior to its finalisation.

Recommendation 4
3.75 The committee recommends that the ABC consult with stakeholders prior  to making significant changes to either internal creative and production  structures or state-based activities.

Recommendation 5
3.76 The committee draws the attention of ABC management to the ABC  Charter obligations to ‘encourage and promote arts, including musical, dramatic  and other performing arts’ and calls on ABC management to urgently publish a strategy outlining how it can meet this obligation given the planned disbanding of  the ABC arts unit.

Recommendation 6
3.87 The committee recommends that wherever appropriate the ABC include  free archival use clauses in all future co-production contracts.

Recommendation 7
3.99 The committee recommends that the ABC publish annual targets of  regional content on ABC television against which it reports in order to meet its  Charter obligation to ‘reflect the cultural diversity of the Australian community’  and to promote ongoing internal program production in the BAPH states and  regional Australia.

Recommendation 8
3.132 The committee recommends that the ABC actively manage its production  facility infrastructure, particularly in the BAPH states, so that it is utilised as  effectively as possible.

Recommendation 9
3.133 The committee recommends that the government take into account the  findings of the Convergence Review about the structure of the media market and  investment in Australian content by all broadcasters when considering the  ABC’s funding needs in the forthcoming triennial funding round.

Recommendation 10
3.148 The committee recommends that as part of the triennial funding round,  the government consider the ABC’s capacity to maintain a critical mass of staff,  skills, infrastructure and production in regional areas.

Leave a Reply