I’m wating for News Corp (Sky News) to crack the shits over this. 
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Judging by some of the comments on Rowland’s tweet, the anti ABC Left have already cracked it, the other mob won’t be far behind.
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Royal Australian Mint marks 90 years of the ABC with two commemorative coins
The Royal Australian Mint will release a commemorative $1 coin and a 20 cent piece tomorrow to mark 90 years of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The collector coins feature iconic programs and characters that have defined the ABC since it first went to air on 1 July 1932.
ABC Managing Director, David Anderson, said few organisations were honoured in this way. “I’d like to commend the Mint for producing two beautifully crafted coins that capture the spirit of the ABC over our 90 years.
“This is one of the last events of the year marking our 90th birthday and I’d like to take the opportunity to thank all those Australians who have shared their memories with us in programs like ABC TV’s interview series The ABC of…, ABC Radio’s Your ABC Story and ABC News’ Your Australian Story.
“The ABC has played a big part in so many people’s lives over the past 90 years and continues to do so today. We’ve enjoyed bringing these special moments to our audiences this year, as much as they have enjoyed watching, reading and listening to them. These two coins are wonderful collectors’ items and provide the perfect bookend to our 90th celebrations.”
The Mint’s CEO, Leigh Gordon, said: “The Mint is delighted to be part of the celebration of the ABC’s 90th Anniversary – an organisation recognised as the home of Australian conversations, culture and stories.”
“The coin design represents the ABC’s special and far-reaching connection with Australia and Australians as it has grown and evolved over 90 Years. Like a family photo, the ABC logo is featured predominantly on the coin, surrounded by icons that showcase the rich history of the ABC, and its evolution into an iconic part of the Australian media landscape.”
The ABC coins were designed by Aleksandra Stokic and celebrate the many facets of the ABC with pictograms surrounding the iconic lissajous logo.
Featured on the coins are: · AFL football · a tractor · a radio · New Year’s Eve fireworks · theatre masks · a book · a satellite dish · Torres Strait Island flag · Gardening Australia pot plant · Rage · storm warning · Countdown · Jemima and Humpty Dumpty · Hoot · studio light · ABC Pride · film reel · extreme heat and other disaster warning · voting tick box · tablet · science flask · microphone · Bananas in Pyjamas · windmill · paint pallet · triple j · Olympic torch · 4 Corners · flood and bushfire warning · ABC Kids · Aboriginal Flag · ballet shoes · Foreign Correspondent · film camera · rugby ball · cricket bat and ball.
The $1 coin is a ½ oz fine silver proof coin and comes in its own commemorative box. The 20 cent piece is an Uncirculated Coin. Both are legal tender but produced as gifts or souvenirs or as pieces for collections.
The coins will be available on the Mint’s website on 6 October from 8:30am (AEDT).
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“I don’t think the ABC could be accused of not giving younger talent opportunities,” the chair of the ABC board incredulously declared on the broadcaster’s RN Breakfast program on Friday morning, in an interview pegged to Ageism Awareness Day.
With that simple statement Ita Buttrose, the most powerful person in the organisation, revealed how little she understands about the ABC’s current programming slate, its trajectory, its growing disconnect from younger Australians who deserve a national broadcaster that caters to them and, perhaps most importantly, the experiences of its precariously employed younger workers.
Buttrose went on to say that “a lot of our comedy shows are hosted by wonderfully young people”, but didn’t name a single one. That’s because there aren’t any. There is not a single ABC TV comedy or panel show hosted by anyone under the age of 35.
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Eleven ABC programs shortlisted for the 61st annual Rose d’Or Awards
The shortlist for the 61st annual Rose d’Or Awards was announced overnight with eleven ABC programs shortlisted for awards, the most of any Australian network.
The prestigious Rose d’Or Awards recognise excellence and achievement in international TV and audio program making.
Engaging ABC Arts program, The Exhibitionists (Northern Pictures) is shortlisted in the Arts category along with AACTA award winning documentary My Name is Gulpilil (Vertigo Productions/ABCG Film/Visit Films).
Series 2 of the highly-acclaimed, comedy series Frayed and recent anthology series Summer Love (Gristmill/Kinetic/Red Arrow) are shortlisted in the Comedy, Drama and Sitcom category with Federal Election program Gruen Nation (CJZ) shortlisted in the Comedy category.
ABC’s strong drama offering saw three programs shortlisted in the Drama category, with Mystery Road: Origin (Bunya Productions/All3Media International), The Newsreader (Werner Film Productions/Entertainment One) and Total Control (Blackfella Films/All3Media International) adding to the impressive award run for our drama programming.
The most recent adaptation of the Old People’s Home series, Old People’s Home for Teenagers (Endemol Shine Australia/Red Arrow Studios International) is shortlisted under Reality and Factual Entertainment and returning favourite Spicks & Specks is shortlisted in the Studio Entertainment category.
The Foreign Correspondent report on the ongoing conflict in Myanmar titled Myanmarʻs Forgotten War by reporter Matt Davis is shortlisted in the News and Current Affairs category.
ABC Acting Director Entertainment & Specialist Jennifer Collins said “I am always delighted to see ABC programs recognised and to have so many honoured on the world stage is testament to the high quality of our content offering. Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing these incredible productions to our audiences.”
Recent ABC Rose d’Or winners include ABC documentary Firestarter: The Story of Bangarra and ABC ME series First Day.
The winners of the 61st annual Rose d’Or awards will be announced at a ceremony on 28 November.
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ABC should shut down ABC TV and focus solely on becoming a digital Giant. it is the only way they will remain relevant.
why is shutting off its dominant medium a key to being relevant?
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Sorry what?
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or for that matter be within their charter
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Going solely online would be hugely attractive to the ABC finance people due to the exorbitant cost of BAI transmitting their programs - I absolutely wouldn’t miss ABC FTA TV or radio but I do access their programming online a lot. Electrical noise in the suburbs and VFD noise in electric cars will soon be the end of AM at least in metro areas.
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My understanding is that transmission costs for the ABC (and SBS) are tied funding. As in, those funds are tied to existing commercial transmission contracts and can not be used for other purposes. The only ones to benefit from the cessation of ABC TV and ABC Radio transmission are Federal Treasury, and not the ABC.
2021-2022 ABC Annual Report
The Annual Report 2021-2022 was tabled in Parliament by the Minister for Communications on 20 October 2022.
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ABC wins Marketing Team of the Year
ABC Marketing has been named as Australia’s best marketing team at the Australian Marketing Institute Awards held in Sydney yesterday.
The team also won best Public Sector Marketing Campaign for its ABC Gives charity campaign.
The team award recognised the ABC’s approach to diversity and inclusion, the scope and breadth of its remit and the first-class execution by a talented team of marketing specialists. The judges described the ABC Gives campaign as “marketing at its best” with the combined use of the broadcaster’s national platforms alongside campaigns made for local and regional communities.
The ABC’s Director Audiences, Leisa Bacon said: “In this age of fragmentation and disinformation, the importance of trusted, reliable, quality media has never been greater. This creates a massive opportunity for the ABC, and watching our teams rise to this challenge over the past year has been incredible.
“The stars are all the incredible people in our marketing team, who have been recognised for their diverse skills and talent applied to a wide range of campaigns.”
Karen Madden, Head of Marketing for the ABC said that being recognised by marketing’s peak industry body was a huge achievement and testament to all the hard work, passion and focus the team brings to work every day.
“I am so proud to lead such a professional, creative and talented team and I’m so thrilled to see that our work has been recognised in this way,” said Karen.
Will that mean the ABC TV network will close down?
No
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Judith Whelan appointed ABC Editorial Director
ABC Managing Director David Anderson has announced the appointment of Judith Whelan to the role of Editorial Director, effective in February 2023.
Currently ABC Director of Regional and Local, Judith is one of Australian media’s most respected editorial leaders, bringing more than thirty years of journalism experience to the role.
Judith replaces Craig McMurtrie, who recently announced his retirement.
David Anderson said the ABC’s editorial policies, standards, and processes were in good hands with Judith’s decision to take on this very important role.
“The ABC’s responsibility as the most trusted media provider is more vital than ever, and I am delighted Judith is taking up this important leadership position.
“The Australian public and ABC employees can have confidence that a journalist and editorial leader of Judith’s calibre will support fearless independent public interest journalism, while ensuring that the ABC continues to meet high editorial standards.
“With the newly announced role of the ABC Ombudsman, the ABC is committed to upholding the highest and most rigorous standards of journalism and production.
“Since joining the ABC in 2016 Judith has led her teams through change and growth and successfully delivered enhanced content and services to our audiences.
“As Director, Regional and Local since 2019, Judith has tirelessly championed the stories and reporting of our teams working in our capital cities and in rural and regional communities, ensuring Australians everywhere can access the content they need. This has been especially critical during emergency broadcasting events.
“I congratulate Judith on the contribution she has made to the ABC so far and look forward to working with her into the future.”
ABC Regional and Local has grown under Judith’s leadership from 56 locations across the country to 66, with the expansion of the regional network earlier this year. The R&L network includes the ABC’s Capital City radio stations, rural and regional teams and regional and local screen content, including Gardening Australia, Back Roads and Landline, sport, live events and ABC Emergency Broadcasting.
In her previous role as Head of Specialist Content she managed the ABC’s coverage across all platforms – television, radio and digital – in arts, science, health and technology, religion and ethics, education, society and culture.
Judith was formerly editor of The Sydney Morning Herald, as well as its news director and the editor of its weekend edition, following more than seven years as the editor of Good Weekend.
Judith’s career in journalism also includes experience as a Walkley-nominated news and feature writer, senior editor and a foreign correspondent in both the Pacific and Europe.
Judith said she welcomed the opportunity to take on the Editorial Director role.
“Australians place enormous trust in the ABC to be transparent, accurate and balanced in our reporting. We have always set ourselves the highest standards of editorial accountability and that commitment has given us recognition as Australia’s most trusted media brand.
“With that trust comes responsibility to continue to meet the very highest journalistic standards. There are few media organisations better placed than the ABC to deliver on those expectations and I am honoured to have been given a leading role in this important work.”
Judith will begin in the role in February 2023. Further arrangements will be announced in due course.
ABC funding boost in Federal Budget
The ABC has gained an increase of $83.7m in operational funding and $32m for international services funding across the next four years in tonight’s Federal Budget. Radio Australia will expand its transmission footprint using some of the additional money.
Annually the national broadcaster will be better off by $20.9m in operations and $8m for international services each year, allowing “significant investment in services across all platforms helping to fund rising costs affecting the media industry.”
ABC audiences around the country and across the Indo-Pacific region will directly benefit from the increase in funding, which will include 7 additional transmitters for Radio Australia.
ABC Managing Director David Anderson said:
“The additional funding will allow the ABC to increase investment in local content and education services and further improve our critical emergency broadcasting services, particularly benefiting regional communities. It will also help grow reach in Pacific communities at an important time in the history of the region.
“We are always working to identify what we need to provide the Australian public and how we can manage our budget to effectively meet those expectations – especially as audience habits evolve and we transition to digital services, particularly among younger demographics. This budget announcement is an investment in the valuable services the ABC provides and the trust Australians place in us.”
The ABC will also move to a five-year funding arrangement, to be determined in the May 2023 Budget, disconnecting it from the previous three year electoral cycle funding arrangement.
The increase in funding will mean:
- Greater capacity to deliver emergency broadcasting services. As emergency events become more frequent and severe the need for critical emergency broadcast services is growing. The additional funding will enable the ABC to cover more priority black spots, better respond to escalating events and increase emergency broadcasting services across social and digital platforms.
- Increased investment in ABC Education to produce unique interactive content to support learning in the classroom and at home for students of Australian History, Literacy, Numeracy, STEM and Media Literacy.
- Enhanced digital services. The ABC is committed to more content and product development across digital platforms such as ABC iview, ABC Listen and ABC News Digital. This investment will mean more Australian comedy and drama and a renewed commitment to services for younger audiences, such as triple j. We will also engage innovative creatives to develop content specifically aimed at audiences on popular third-party platforms.
The additional funding for international services will allow the ABC to:
- Expand ABC Radio Australia’s FM footprint, adding up to seven additional FM transmitter locations to the 13 currently running across the Pacific and Timor Leste, and tailor our ABC Australia television service to suit Pacific and Asian time zones.
- Create more content for audiences across the Indo-Pacific region including establishing a network of full-time local journalists and a pan-Pacific weekly video news program.
- Enhance the capacity and development of media partners with training and activities covering basic professional development, for cadets through to leadership masterclasses, and in specialised subjects such as elections and emergency broadcasting.
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