Well resourced - a sanctuary for quality, diversity and Australian content - a partner in the education revolution - a reliable source of news and current affairs.
Imagine a better ABC?
An ABC that maintains and continues to build on its reputation as our most reliable and trusted source of news current affairs.
An ABC that is our national storyteller, broadcasting stories about all Australians and our diversity.
An ABC that is a provider of both quality programming and choice, from light entertainment to specialist programming.
An ABC that is a home for local Australian content including drama and documentaries.
What ABC represents for many Australians...
For many Australians, the ABC is the place we go to for informative and well researched programs but it could be so much more. Imagine an ABC at the forefront of the education revolution? Imagine an ABC that uses digital technologies that allow us to tap into a wealth of material, including its back catalogue? With the federal government asking the public for submissions about the role of our national broadcaster, now is the time to imagine and demand a better ABC.
What we want from our ABC as a national broadcaster
Independence - a series of networks that report stories free from political and commercial interference
Integrity - programs that adhere to high standards of editorial practice
Innovation - interesting and exciting programs that entertain and inform including specialist programs made by people with detailed knowledge of their fields.
Reliability - program material you can trust.
Diversity - providing a wider range of programs to cater for all communities. The ABC is able to do this because ABC programming is not driven by a need to maximize advertising revenue.
Commercial free - no advertising on ABC TV, radio, online or any new digital platforms
Why does it need to change?
The broadcast environment is changing rapidly and the ABC cannot afford to stand still. The digital environment will mean more channels, and this will mean less local content, more foreign program ‘buy-ins’ and reduced quality. For the commercials, multi-channeling will mean advertising revenue will be spread further. For the ABC it means that programming will be ‘thinned’ unless funding increases.
The ABC has been starved of funds forcing it to close its Natural History Unit and Drama Department; long form documentaries.
The ABC has shifted its programming towards ratings driven lifestyle and reality programming but theses things are already provided in abundance by the commercial broadcasters.
The industry is changing. The commercial stations have signaled their intent to move away from local content and have already moved away from serious news and current affairs.
ABC audiences are being short-changed.
How can it change?
The new digital technologies (ABC2, ABC3 and high speed broadband) allow the ABC to fulfill its Charter obligations to Educate, Inform and Entertain at the same time.
The digital environment could allow the ABC to meet all the competing needs by providing a wider showcase of programs and permit it to educate, inform and entertain at the same time. When the ABC was limited to one TV channel it meant that all its programming: news, current affairs, entertainment , documentaries and drama had to be squeezed into the one TV channel.
The new technologies (digital TV and radio) and high speed broadband will allow the ABC to provide TV, radio and web services to all Australians.
With proper funding the ABC could deliver your imagination.
