The standalone ABC Australia website is no more. It has now been split into two, and integrated into ABC’s Asia and Pacific portals.
ABC Australia will broadcast Seven’s coverage of Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race live on Boxing Day (Tuesday) from 12.30pm to 2pm AEDT.
The exciting three-part series from ABC International and the ABC’s Asia Pacific Newsroom takes viewers to the streets of Indonesia to understand what voters want from their presidential candidates in the upcoming election.
Watch Episode 1 now on iview
HOW TO WATCH
Of the 200 million Indonesians preparing to vote for their next president on 14 February, more than half are under 40. Through candid conversations with young people across the country and exclusive interviews with presidential candidates, Indonesia Decides uncovers the key issues for Indonesia’s more than 100 million Gen Z and Millennials: from dynastic politics to corruption, free speech, the environment and cost of living.
The series also examines how the three presidential candidates are appealing to the key youth demographic and investigates the track records of Prabowo Subianto, Ganjar Pranowo and Anies Baswedan – and what their leadership might mean for Indonesia and the world.
Indonesia Decides has been produced by the ABC’s Indonesian news team. Led by Supervising Producer Bonny Symons-Brown, the series features journalists Erwin Renaldi Surahman, Hellena Souisa and Natasya Salim.
ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “This insightful new series takes viewers to the heart of the Indonesian democracy. We are thrilled to share Indonesia Decides with our television and digital audiences in Indonesia and across the broader region on our ABC Australia TV channel and on our flagship digital media site designed specifically for the Asian region, ABC Asia. The team have done a tremendous job capturing the thoughts of young voters and the political landscape as Indonesia approaches this historic moment.”
Asia Pacific Newsroom Chief of Staff Mosiqi Acharya added: “We are proud to deliver this exciting series covering an event of such significance for Indonesia and the region. Across the three episodes, audiences will hear first-hand from voters across the country and meet the presidential candidates as they grapple with the issues facing Indonesia.”
Episode 1 – Wednesday 24 January
Natasya Salim explores the controversial history of the current Minister of Defence and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, while the team takes a closer look at political dynasties, corruption and how young voters feel about the election.
Episode 2 – Wednesday 31 January
Reporter Hellena Souisa sits down for an interview with presidential candidate and former Governor of Central Java Ganjar Pranowo, while reporter Erwin Renaldi Surahman travels to Aceh and Ambon to talk politics with those living far from the Indonesian capital.
Episode 3 – Wednesday 7 February
In the final episode, Hellena Souisa interviews presidential candidate and former Jakarta Mayor Anies Baswedan, Natasya Salim looks at Indonesia’s growing digital economy and Erwin Renaldi Surahman speaks to young voters in three different cities about how they cope with cost-of-living pressures.
Kids Club is coming to ABC Australia’s Pacific service on Saturday 2 March, with back-to-back children’s shows every Saturday and Sunday morning from 5:00am – 7:00am PNG time.
Kids Club kicks off every weekend morning with a mix of programs perfect for preschoolers and early school-aged kids including Play School, Ready, Steady, Wiggle!, Ginger and the Vegesaurs, Wonder Gang and Lil J & Big Cuz.
During the second hour, primary school-aged kids and early teens will love watching programs like Gardening Australia Junior, Little Lunch, Teenage Boss and The PM’s Daughter.
With new episodes of programs dropping each week, Kids Club is sure to keep the little ones entertained and educated with high quality, safe and appropriate content.
ABC International Services Head Claire M Gorman said, “The ABC has a long and proud history of producing and broadcasting children’s content of the highest quality and we are delighted to be launching Kids Club on ABC Australia, marking a significant step in deepening our television offering for Pacific audiences.”
ABC Australia Editorial Lead Fiona Yaglipinar said: “This brand-new lineup of kids’ programming has been curated for ABC Australia’s Pacific audiences. We know that there is a gap in the market for fun, educational and entertaining children’s content and we are delighted to be able to connect families with a variety of premium shows to kick off their weekends and ignite their children’s curiosity.”
PROGRAM DETAILS:
Kids Club will air on ABC Australia for Pacific audiences on Saturday and Sunday mornings at 6:00am – 8:00am AEDT or 5:00am – 7:00am PNG time.
ABC Australia will show the 2024 Wang Gungwu Lecture this Friday (March 1) at 8pm Singapore time or 11pm AEDT. The lecture was held in Canberra last night, with Ming Long as keynote speaker.
It will be shown live on ABC Australia this Saturday at 4.30pm Singapore time or 7.30pm AEDT.
New show Asia News Week premieres on ABC Australia tonight at 10.30pm Singapore time (12.30am AEST Saturday). It will be repeated on Saturdays before and after live AFL telecast.
The episode runs for 30 minutes.
A new weekly news program, Asia News Week is coming to ABC Australia with host Yvonne Yong presenting the biggest and most timely stories from across Asia and why they matter to you. Catch-up on the major headlines with unique explainers, interviews and stories captured by the ABC’s network of foreign correspondents.
The Pacific returns to ABC Australia with presenters Alice Lolohea and Johnson Raela back at the helm. From Thursday 5 September, the duo will host weekly episodes featuring a team of regional correspondents covering the biggest events and stories across the Pacific.
Watch a preview of the new season of The Pacific.
HOW TO WATCH:
- The Pacific will premiere on ABC Australia on Thursday 5 September 2024 at 6:30pm Papua New Guinea (PNG) time, 7:30pm in Solomon Islands (SBT), 8:30pm in Fiji (FJT), 9:30pm in Tonga (TOT), 9:30pm in Samoa (WST) and 6:30pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).
- New episodes will air weekly on Thursdays at 6:30pm PNG and AEST time.
- Stream or catch up on demand via ABC Pacific or ABC Pacific Facebook.
Audiences can anticipate an exciting series return from The Pacific, with 10 new episodes premiering across ABC Australia, bringing the very latest in Pacific news and current affairs, sport, politics, culture and entertainment.
With the support of the ABC’s network of local journalists, The Pacific delivers unique and insightful reporting of regional stories from correspondents: Marian Kupu in Tonga, Lice Movono in Fiji, Chrisnrita Aumanu-Leong in Solomon Islands, Belinda Kora in Papua New Guinea, Adel Fruean in Samoa and Vonia Vieira in Timor-Leste, along with stories from Vanuatu filed from the newsroom of our partners, Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation (VBTC).
In July, The Pacific’s Solomon Islands correspondent Chrisnrita Aumanu-Leong was awarded Solomon Islands’ 2024 TV Journalist of the Year at the Media Association Solomon Islands Awards. Alongside her regular reporting on news and current affairs, Chrisnrita co-hosted an episode of The Pacific and earlier in April 2024 presented a Solomon Islands elections special on the program, visiting various parts of the nation to capture the thoughts of the people ahead of voting.
Ahead of the new episodes, Lolohea said: “The return of The Pacific is a testament to the strength of our shared stories and the impact they have on our audience across the region. We will continue to shine a spotlight on a range of issues impacting the Pacific from climate change through to transnational crime, the latest developments in politics and major regional events.”
Raela said: “Celebrating our vibrant Pacific stories remains a priority for us as well as continuing to build our connection with Pacific communities. We’re also excited to present a special episode from Samoa as the Pacific nation hosts King Charles and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October."
ABC Asia Pacific Newsroom Managing Editor, Matthew O’Sullivan said: “The Pacific is one of our proudest achievements. It is the first time we have the people of the Pacific telling their own stories, not just to each other, but to the world. I could not be prouder of the team working on the program, or their commitment to the region. And thank you to the Pacific peoples who place their trust in us to get it right. We couldn’t do it without you.”
ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman added: “Since its inception, The Pacific has connected audiences across the Pacific and Australia through regional storytelling and trusted reporting of news and current affairs. The exceptional quality of journalism is a testament to the incredible talent and dedication of The Pacific team, and I’m thrilled that Chrisnrita has been awarded for her outstanding reporting across the Solomon Islands.”
The Pacific is an ABC Australia flagship program created by the ABC’s Asia Pacific Newsroom and delivered under the Federal Government’s funding through the Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy.
PROGRAM DETAILS:
The new season of The Pacific will premiere on ABC Australia, Thursday 5 September at 6:30pm in Papua New Guinea, 7:30pm in Solomon Islands, 8:30pm in Fiji, 9:30pm in Tonga and 9:30pm in Samoa and 6:30pm AEST, with new episodes airing weekly from 6:30pm PNG and AEST time.
See the full program schedule for ABC Australia here.
From the team behind The Pacific, join presenters Alice Lolohea and Johnson Raela in Hawai’i as they explore the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) with Canvas of Oceans - a story of preservation and celebration of Pacific identity.
Watch a preview of Canvas of Oceans.
HOW TO WATCH:
Held every four years, the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) is the largest celebration of indigenous Pacific cultures. In June 2024, Hawai’i hosted the 13th FestPAC with over 2,500 delegates from 25 Pacific nations and territories coming together to share and celebrate their cultural connections.
Canvas of Oceans follows hosts of ABC Australia’s The Pacific, Alice Lolohea and Johnson Raela, as they travel to Hawai’i to document the vibrant and diverse cultural exchanges of FestPAC. From musical and dance performances to traditional and contemporary arts interspersed with moving conversations, the documentary captures the essence of FestPAC. By speaking with artists and cultural practitioners, Canvas of Oceans tells a story of celebration, preservation and the challenges faced by many Pacific communities grappling with the after-effects of colonisation as they strive to protect their cultural identity.
Canvas of Oceans also shares the deeply personal journeys experienced by presenters Lolohea and Raela as they uncover profound connections between their own cultural heritage and lives and celebrate the rich tapestry of Pacific cultures.
Presenter, Alice Lolohea said: “Immersing ourselves in the culture and history of the wider Pacific brought me to tears. Witnessing the beautiful exchange of knowledge, traditional practices and aloha between Indigenous people of the Moana is an experience a textbook will never do justice.”
Johnson Raela added: “We already know Pacific arts is vibrant and entertaining, but we also know there’s a lot of deep hurt and loss of culture due to colonisation that artists and creatives from across the region are reclaiming - it’s these voices that we’ve tried to capture in this film.”
ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “Canvas of Oceans is a beautifully crafted documentary, shot and produced by the talented team behind The Pacific. ABC Australia audiences can anticipate a moving and informative program, celebrating Pacific culture and storytelling from FestPAC.”
ABC Australia will take Seven’s coverage of the AFL Grand Final from 1:25pm AEST.
In partnership with Palau National Communications Corporation (PNCC), the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) international television channel, ABC Australia, will now be available in full to residents of Palau.
From 1 October, audiences across Palau will be able to enjoy the extensive range of ABC Australia content through Palau’s telecommunications provider under the PNCC Digital TV service.
ABC Australia operates across the Asia and Pacific region through partnerships with local rebroadcast partners. As the ABC’s international television and digital service, the channel delivers content that informs, entertains and inspires audiences with a uniquely Australian perspective.
Content across ABC Australia includes the very latest in news and current affairs from flagship programs The Pacific, Foreign Correspondent and The World, alongside weekly sporting news delivered by That Pacific Sports Show and coverage of iconic sporting events. Audiences can also enjoy all of Australia’s favourite high-quality drama, lifestyle and culture programming, including Gardening Australia, Compass and Back Roads, as well as new documentaries capturing regional storytelling across the Pacific with Canvas of Oceans, Changing Course and Cloud Under The Sea.
PNCC Chief Executive Officer Simon Fraser said: “We’re happy to announce the addition of ABC Australia to our Digital TV Channel line-up. This exciting new channel brings a diverse array of high-quality, Pacific-focused entertainment, news, sports and documentaries to our viewers. We believe ABC Australia will enrich our programming and provide our audience with fresh and engaging content. Stay tuned for an exceptional viewing experience!”
ABC Head International Claire M. Gorman said: “PNCC is a trusted partner of ABC Australia and we are thrilled that we are able to now share the full breadth of the channel to audiences across Palau. Viewers can anticipate an exciting and extensive range of programming, featuring outstanding bespoke Australian content and regional stories.”
ABC Australia’s annual live telecast of Melbourne Cup is on next Tuesday (November 5) from 10.30am to 12.30pm Hong Kong time (1.30pm to 3.30pm AEDT), taking Nine’s coverage for the very first time.
The documentary premieres on ABC Australia on Christmas Day at 3am Hong Kong time (6am AEDT), with repeats throughout the day.
On Boxing Day, the channel will take Nine’s coverage of the 79th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race from 9.30am Hong Kong time (12.30pm AEDT).
ABC Australia will broadcast six matches per week during the 2025 AFL premiership season into APAC, with a mixture of feeds from Seven and Fox Footy. The broadcast schedule for Round 1 to 8 is now available.
6 matches is good.
I think it use to be 4 previously.
I’m assuming they cover NRL games to?
Nope - only AFL games.
ABC Australia has been showing six AFL matches per week for the past few years. If it is a long weekend in Australia (such as Easter) it could air up to eight matches.
The channel has never shown NRL. It is on BeIN Sport in many parts of Asia I believe.
Definitely showed NRL back in the ABC Asia-Pacific and Australia Network days.
NRL is now on Premier Sports (and WatchNRL) in Asia and TVWAN in the Pacific Islands
Culinary shorts series Beyond Awesome season 2 was launched today, with the first episode now available at ABC Asia website.
6-part series Culture by Design, hosted by Anthony Burke (Restoration Australia, Grand Designs Australia), premieres on ABC Australia and ABC iView on Sunday, April 20 at 11am Singapore time (1pm AEST).
Embark on a cultural odyssey across Asia to meet the creative visionaries shaping the future of design in ABC Australia’s exciting new series Culture by Design .
Australian presenter and international design expert Anthony Burke (Restoration Australia and Grand Designs Australia) is back, this time to explore the universal appeal of ‘good design’ and the creative approaches of some of Asia’s most compelling contemporary artists.
From Yogyakarta, Indonesia, to Mumbai, India, Anthony meets with ceramicists, street artists, fashion designers, architects, furniture makers and weavers who are pushing the boundaries in developing sustainable, innovative, and ethical design, tackling global challenges like climate change, resource scarcity and social inequality.
Host Anthony Burke said: “Culture by Design is a celebration of culture, community and identity coming together in the contemporary work of an extraordinary group of artisans and designers from across SE Asia and India. From architecture to fashion, it’s a celebration of creativity and the transformative power of design to inspire positive change, at a moment when we need it most.”
ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “ABC Australia’s exciting new release Culture by Design is more than just a television series – it fosters cross-cultural dialogue, spotlighting visionary designers from Southeast Asia and India who are redefining the boundaries of tradition and innovation.”
ABOUT ANTHONY BURKE: Anthony Burke is a Professor of Architecture in the Faculty of Design Architecture and Building at the University of Technology Sydney, and host of ABC series Restoration Australia and Grand Designs Australia and co-host of Grand Designs Transformations.
A sought-after expert presenter, host and regular contributor to academic and popular discourse on architecture and the value of good design, Anthony holds a Master of Advanced Architecture from Columbia University in New York and a Bachelor of Architecture from UNSW with first class Honours.
PRODUCTION CREDITS: Commissioned by ABC Australia. Host/Producer Anthony Burke.
Executive Producers Justine May and Claudine Ryan. Series Producer Mim Stacey. DOP/Producer Andrew Dorn. 2nd Camera Alan Satalich (India). Story Producer Frank Lotito. Supervising Producer Rachel McLaughlin. Editor Christos Agriopoulous and Tim Smith.
Is this getting a local airing? I know it was commissioned for the international arm of the ABC but this would be great for the traditional 9:30 PM Tuesday night Arts slot after Swingers. Surely it’s better to have first run content rather than repeats of The Assembly and The ABC of?
