SBS: ABC not so keen on merger
Michael Ebeid says Michelle Guthrie doesn't share Mark Scott's views about merging public broadcasters.
- Published by David Knox
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ABC’s new managing director Michelle Guthrie is not very keen on a merger with SBS, according to SBS boss Michael Ebeid.
Yesterday at a senate estimates hearing, Ebeid was asked if she had furthered discussions by her predecessor Mark Scott about the two public broadcasters merging.
“I’m not sure she necessarily shares Mr Scott’s views, but you can ask her,” he said.
“The two organisations are very different, we provide very different services, and we were formed for very different reasons.
“When you look at Australian society today we are certainly far more culturally complex today than we ever were when we were first established 40 years ago. I think SBS’s need today is certainly far more in demand than even 4 years ago and I think our work is just beginning.
“Countries around the world are looking at our model ….and I’m really pleased that the Prime Minister, a few weeks ago, when he spoke at the United Nations talked about the important role SBS plays in social cohesion.”
Both ABC and SBS have acknowledged joint discussions about ‘backroom savings.’
He also noted the deal with Vice Media for SBS VICELAND was “a great fit” for its multichannel and was financially beneficial because “it enables us to secure an entire catalogue of programs for TV and online rather than dealing with individual distributors and content suppliers from around the world.”
SBS was not questioned on its Vice Media deal during the hearing.
2 Responses
No, the ABC has never liked the SBS and almost from the start really wanted it to become a failed experiment and return the tax payer funding back to their regulated bureaucracy and the organisational inefficiencies within, thankfully the SBS still continues to rise above it all in their own unique way.
No merger but surely Human Resources, Legal, Purchasing, and Property Services could be combined? Would also be very happy if ABC just adopted SBS OnDemand tech instead of the current iView. SBS’s media player is far superior and I have less (no) issues with the stream.