Just heard from an ABC source, the problems tonight were, as I suspected, a server issue.
Systems became inoperable late in the day so the call was made for the ACT to do the NSW news and news channel bulletin at 7pm.
There wasn’t a problem with the studios as such but content couldn’t be played with the servers down.
Weather could be pre-recorded because it doesn’t involve video servers or editing equipment.
So there you go.