ABC boss backs media reform to protect Australian stories

ABC managing director Mark Scott has backed media reforms amid concerns inaction will not protect Australian storytelling.

Speaking at the inaugural Brian Johns Lecture at Macquarie University, last night, he said ABC alone could not produce Australian drama for audiences.

“I want to talk about the telling of Australian stories on television – particularly Australian drama,” he said.

“If we’ve learned anything from what’s happening to newsrooms and news products in Australia and around the world, it’s this: We must act when we have the warning signals that change is afoot. Now, as the pattern is emerging, is the time to consider it and perhaps, address it. While the problem is still ahead of us and before we reach tipping point, let’s start looking into a range of long-term solutions.

“Of course there will be an impact for shareholders and consequences for consumers—but there’s a bigger impact on our society and consequences that go to our sense of citizenship and identity.

“What’s most important now is that our policy makers—and the television and production industries themselves—turn their attention to this issue now.

“Australian television was once a comfortably closed market of three commercial providers and two public broadcasters, offering limited choices. Now, the providers have proliferated. Content choices once scarce, are now abundant, even overwhelming.

“We now have three subscription video-on-demand services and the ABC’s free video-on-demand service, iview. All complementing the ever expanding pay-TV and free-to-air offerings, plus streaming video via YouTube, Facebook and countless other online sources.

“We love House of Cards – and Orange is the New Black. We can’t believe how much there is to watch on our television sets. The best new content from all around the world delivered within seconds with the additional lure of rich, deep archives.

“But while we load up on our 30-day free trials and indulge in a seemingly endless fascination with serial cooking and renovation competitions, we should be examining what this change means in a broader cultural sense.”

He also backed media reform and floated the idea of Netflix, Google and Facebook contributing to a digital fund devoted to local content.

“We need to reassess the policy framework, ensuring it keeps pace with the profound shifts in the market triggered by digital technology,” he said.

“Governments must determine the best way to fund and regulate the industry to ensure that Australian storytelling remains vibrant and accessible.

“Traditionally, protection of local content has been achieved through a range of policy levers.

“Just as content makers need to look at new ways to satisfy audience demands, our legislators need to consider ways in which we might ensure desired cultural outcomes.

“The idea of a digital content fund, requiring new digital content companies, many of which dwarf their Australian competitors, to contribute a percentage of revenue to support local content requirements has been proposed. Let’s debate that.”

This week Scott flagged his departure from ABC in 2016.

You can read the full speech here.