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Yes ABC has younger hosts, but funding impacts on opportunity too.

Funding impacted on new 9:30pm shows halted at ABC, curtailing the 'off-Broadway' space where new comedy acts could develop.

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Much has been written lately suggesting that ABC is not giving younger presenters airtime.

Putting to side for one minute that there are arguably other broadcasters guilty of the same, there are also some significant budget factors which are affecting opportunities.

After previous governments impacted ABC funding, the broadcaster publicly stated it would no longer commission shows to screen after 9:30pm. It’s largely stuck to that rule, with a few exceptions.

But post 9:30 was previously a playing field for younger talent to develop ‘off Broadway.’

Emerging comedy acts such as The Chaser and a young Wil Anderson in The Glass House began life in 9:30 slots or later. Looking further back, so did names such as Rob Sitch, Santo Cilauro, Marg Downey, Michael Veitch, Magda Szubanski and Tom Gleisner in The D-Generation.

The former comedy channel was also home to Tom Ballard’s Tonightly and ABC2 for a young Aaron Chen.  In primetime there are less chances to take risks on new comedy acts, although Question Everything is adding some to its panel.

Despite this, ABC has still seen presenters under the age of 40 in recent years:

Kurt Fearnley’s One Plus One, interview show hosted by Fearnley when he was 39.

Courtney Act’s One Plus One interview show hosted by Courtney Act.

The Set music show hosted by Dylan Alcott and Linda Marigliano.

Win the Week quiz show hosted by Alex Lee.

Tonightly, comedy / variety hosted by Tom Ballard.

Aaron Chen Tonight, comedy show hosted by Aaron Chen.

A Dog’s World factual series presented by Tony Armstrong.

India Now, Stuff the British Stole, The School that tried to End Racism, presented by Marc Fennell.

Q+A, forum show previously hosted by Hamish MacDonald at 39.

Good Game: Spawn Point gaming show hosted by Angharad “Rad” Yeo, Gemma “Gem” Driscoll.

BtN, news for kids hosted by Amelia Moseley and Jack Evans.

Question Everything, co-hosted by Jan Fran.

6 Responses

  1. The reason the ABC doesn’t make TV for 9:30pm slots is that the audience switches of watching commercial FTA at 9pm and starts streaming. Late night FTA is dead.

  2. … “funding”? no not really … there was an “indexation pause” implemented by Turnbull across the last triennial funding period, but if you ignore Nick’s corporate spin and look at the actual numbers, when you did the original story (25 June 2020) the total ABC staff numbers (according to the 2020 Annual Report) were 4,050 while in the latest report published on Thursday the total ABC staff numbers are 5,030 – an increase of over 20% – it’s not “funding” that “led to no 9:30pm shows at ABC”, it’s the redirection of funds from entertainment to news that has been ongoing since the introduction of the unbudgeted, unfunded news channel in 2010 … incidentally, once you take into account the funding that comes from outfits like Screen Australia and the state funding bodies that now account for around 60% of the cost of commissioned shows plus the money from the likes of Facebook and Google, the ABC now has more money available for programs than at any time in its history …

    1. Kim Dalton was complaining the Scott was taking money from drama and comedy budgets and redirecting to News and Current Affairs and ABC.net.au. The ABC actually had a management restructure where they got rid of 20% of middle managers with redundancies funded by Turnbull, they paid for most of the fund loses. A you point out they immediately gave all staff and management who remained a large non-productivity based increase in wages and conditions, in violation of public service guidelines, and started hiring more people too, especially consultants. The ABC budget is equal to 7,9 and 10’s combined advertising revenue these days. None of them actually pay for TV shows any, the contract that out to global media companies who are funded by federal and state subsidies including a federal tax credit that is 40% of production costs alone.

  3. I’m not privy to the funding and distribution of funding at the ABC. It has been brought up before about younger and lesser known talent. One point is the amounts the highest paid ABC on-air staff receive, whether it is excessive and whether it affects the potential to fund programming or younger talent.

    A couple of years ago, there were ABC job losses. A small child asked a question on Q+A about why her favourite ABC ME presenter Pip Rasmussen lost her job. It was on the premise of funding. The question was put to then communications minister Paul Fletcher. There was speculation as to the politicisation of job losses and funding.

  4. D Generation, Fast Forward and the like were around the 9.30 time slot, people where not as politically correct back then either because comedy was seen for its humour not because it was offensive. Most of the shows now have a lot of “don’t offend anyone we will look bad” syndrome attached. I rewatched “Death of The Aussie Larrikin” recently and I thought how sad not to have those types of shows from the ABC anymore. Everything is either factual or serious. I enjoy some of those shows mentioned but would love to see the ABC bring back the comedy channel and lighten up the entertainment offerings. Those shows ABC offered had some of the best characters in them, Kelvin Cunnington, Redmond Herring, Chenille the Beautician, Pixie Ann Wheatley which were just good old fashioned fun to watch.
    I believe the ABC helped a lot of people in the comedy business end up where they are today.

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