ABC operations

Television ABC
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Correcting James Madden in The Australian

Contrary to reporting by James Madden in The Australian (“ABC pours millions into ad contract with oOh!media”) the ABC has not entered into any financial arrangement for News content with oOh!Media and will not be making any financial commitment of the type described in the article.

It is important the ABC supports key program initiatives to ensure we connect with as many Australians as possible. However, the ABC has a very modest budget for marketing, an estimated 2.5% share of the total category expenditure for media company advertising.

To clarify other erroneous recent reporting by James Madden in The Australian: The ABC has never had a target of having 75% of Sydney-based employees in ABC Parramatta. In 2023 we forecast having 236 staff working there. Currently there are more than 300 people working from there either full-time or on a rostered basis.

ABC Radio Sydney and the NSW newsroom have been working from ABC Parramatta since May 2024, the NSW 7PM News has broadcast from there since December and ABC NEWS Channel’s mornings block of programming is now based there. Members of other ABC teams are also based at and use the facility.

Also, the budget for ABC Parramatta did not “blow out” – the project came in on budget and was fully funded by the sale of another site.

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Goes to show why quoting everything the Australian reports about the ABC is more often than not, unnecessary and only serves to spread their misinformation further.

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They really do keep making shit up about the ABC. It’s really weird. Probably like some sort of fetish.

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ABC Derangement Syndrome.

If Trumpy can have one, so can we.

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quelle surprise !

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ABC IDPwD 2025 Storyteller Scholarship winners announced

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The ABC’s International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) 2025 Storyteller Scholarship has been awarded to Taylor Harvey and Mark du Potiers.

The Storyteller Scholarship, run by the ABC in partnership with the Department of Social Services, promotes emerging content creators with a disability, helping to break down barriers and challenge community perceptions.

It was open to content creators who had previously been engaged with the ABC through the IDPwD Content Commissioning Fund.

Justin Stevens, ABC Director of News, said he was looking forward to seeing more of Mark and Taylor’s work with the ABC.

“Both winners bring a strong vision to explore a diverse range of topics, with plans to cover content that reflects regional communities and amplifies perspectives from marginalised communities,” he said.

Mark pictured in art gallery surrounded by his artwork installation including yellow materials

Visual artist Mark du Potiers was awarded the ABC’s International Day of People with Disability 2025 Storyteller Scholarship. For IDPwD 2024 he shared content on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) burnout and coming to terms with an invisible disability.

Mark is a Magandjin/Brisbane visual artist who has exhibited his work at national and international exhibitions around Australia and in India, the US and Hong Kong.

For last year’s IDPwD he produced content on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) burnout and coming to terms with an invisible disability. He is interested in how culture, identity, race, gender and sexuality affect someone’s experience of ADHD.

“As a person of colour who is queer, I often don’t feel represented in news and media,” he said. “I help marginalised people be seen and heard by sharing my story and theirs, previously through my art practice and now via journalism.”

Taylor grew up in Tintinara, two hours south-east of Adelaide. He has represented Australia with the Pararoos and currently plays for his local club, Adelaide Atletico VSC, with hopes to play again at a national level.

For IDPwD he produced content on how sport and living with a disability in a regional town shaped his life and the positive impact of sport in a regional community for people with disability.

“Regional voices and perspectives are underrepresented, and I look forward to sharing these stories,” he said. “I want young people to know that if you have physical or other disabilities it is possible to overcome obstacles and achieve your dreams.

“I’m really looking forward to returning to journalism and being given the opportunity to work on my writing skills and branch out into content creation for other platforms like radio, screen and social media.”

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The ABC managing director, Hugh Marks, has made his strongest statements yet about where he may take the public broadcaster, hinting at being “broader” in appeal and less “fringe focused”.

A former CEO of Nine Entertainment, Marks began his tenure at the public broadcaster in March after David Anderson resigned a year into a second five-year contract and has been travelling around the states to speaking to staff and management.

He told Ali Moore on ABC Melbourne Drive on Wednesday he was shocked by how much content the ABC produced every single day. At Nine he could be across everything but at Aunty he “can’t physically possibly get on top of everything that the ABC does”.

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An email sent to West Australian staff by ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks has announced the appointment of former Seven Network Perth News Director Howard Gretton as Manager of ABC Western Australia.

https://radioinfo.com.au/news/howard-gretton-appointed-wa-manager-of-the-abc/

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ABC factual titles shine at Screen Producers Awards

Seven ABC programs including three factual titles have been recognised at the Screen Producers Association awards last night on the Gold Coast.

The Assembly was honoured with a separate Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network award for making a significant contribution, through excellence or impact to diversity and inclusion. Produced for the ABC by Helium, The Assembly warmed the hearts of Australian audiences in 2024 as Leigh Sales mentored Autistic journalism students as they learn their craft and interview well known Australian personalities.

Stuff the British Stole (produced by Wooden Horse and WildBear) won Documentary Series Production of the Year and Tony Armstrong’s Extra-ordinary Things was named Entertainment Production of the Year (Fremantle).

Two of the ABC’s most successful programs Bluey and Fisk underscored their stellar 2024 each collecting an award. The No.1 most streamed show in the US last year, Bluey (Ludo Studios) was named Animated Production of the Year while Fisk S3 won the Comedy Series Production of the Year (produced by Origma 45).

Outstanding ABC Acquisition After the Party (produced by Lingo Pictures & Luminous Beast) starring Robyn Malcolm was awarded Miniseries of the Year.

Bad Ancestors (produced by Purple Carrot Entertainment) which originated from the ABC’s Fresh Blood initiative won the Online Series Production of the Year.

ABC Director Content Jennifer Collins said: “These awards reflect the ABC’s commitment to bold and creative titles made possible through our partnerships with Australia’s best independent producers. We’re incredibly proud of these wonderful programs recognised by the Screen Producers Association.”

The 23rd Annual SPA Awards were held on the final night of the Screen Forever conference, which is attended by the leading Australian and international industry practitioners involved in all aspects of producing, creating, writing, directing, distributing and financing screen content.

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Geraldine Doogue to present 2025 Andrew Olle Media Lecture

Headshot of Geraldine Doogue

The ABC is delighted to announce the 2025 Andrew Olle Media Lecture will be presented by Geraldine Doogue AO on Friday 25 July at the W Hotel in Darling Harbour.

Doogue is one of Australia’s foremost journalists and broadcasters with a career across print, television and radio spanning more than 50 years.

“I’m honoured to be presenting the Andrew Olle Media Lecture,” she said. “Andrew represented a terrific example of broad, generalist and above all curious journalism that needs lionising, now more than ever.”

In 2003, Doogue was made an Officer in the Order of Australia for services to the community and media. Her other awards during her career with both the ABC and commercial media include two Penguin Awards for excellence in broadcasting from the Television Society of Australia and a UN Media Peace Prize. In 2000 she was awarded a Churchill Fellowship for social and cultural reporting. In 2018 she was inducted into the Australian Media Hall of Fame alongside Andrew Olle.

Since 2024 Doogue has co-presented popular world affairs podcast Global Roaming with Hamish Macdonald for ABC Radio National. Each week the half-hour current affairs program does an in-depth examination of a single issue of national or international importance.

Robyn Leonard OAM, Founder and Director of Brain Cancer Australia, said the organisation was proud to be the charity partner for the 2025 Andrew Olle Media Lecture.

“Brain cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers and it’s unacceptable that survival rates have barely changed in the 30 years since we lost Andrew Olle to this devastating disease,” Leonard said.

“The Andrew Olle Media Lecture plays a vital role in raising both awareness and funds to support our mission. Brain Cancer Australia is building the infrastructure, collaboration and national momentum that will drive breakthroughs in brain cancer – and bring hope to patients and their families.”

Tickets for the 2025 Andrew Olle Media Lecture can be purchased here.

About the Andrew Olle Media Lecture

The Andrew Olle Media Lecture is held in honour of one of the ABC’s iconic broadcasters, Andrew Olle.

Andrew Olle was one of Australia’s most admired broadcasters and a presenter on a number of the ABC’s flagship current affairs programs including Four Corners, The 7.30 Report, Nationwide and A Big Country. In 1987 he began presenting the mornings program on ABC Radio Sydney (then 2BL), a role he held until his death in 1995.

In 1995, Olle died suddenly at age 47 after collapsing at home due to an undiagnosed brain tumour.

The Andrew Olle Media Lecture is an annual event held in his honour that focuses on the role and future of the media and was first given in 1996. Funds raised from the evening are donated to Brain Cancer Australia to further research and awareness of the disease.

Previous Andrew Olle Media Lecture speakers include Fran Kelly, Leigh Sales, Ita Buttrose AC OBE, Peter FitzSimons, Lisa Wilkinson, Caroline Wilson, Joseph Kahn, Waleed Aly, Helen McCabe, Kate McClymont, Mark Colvin, Laurie Oakes, Ray Martin AM, John Hartigan, John Doyle AM, Lachlan Murdoch, Kerry Stokes AC and Jana Wendt.

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ABC NEWS Channel and ABC Entertains move to High Definition

The ABC will soon start broadcasting the ABC NEWS Channel and ABC Entertains in High Definition (HD), providing a better viewing experience for audiences.

From 11 June these channels will no longer be available in Standard Definition. The ABC will continue to broadcast the main ABC TV channel in both SD and HD. The ABC Kids/Family channel will also remain on SD.

All TVs sold since 2014, and many sold since 2008, should be HD (MPEG-4) compatible and set up to receive the full range of HD programming and TV multi-channels that are available in your area. If your TV can tune to all the local free-to-air services available in your region then it supports HD.

For TVs made prior to 2008, viewing the ABC NEWS Channel and ABC Entertains in HD will require an upgrade. The most cost-effective way is to install a digital set top box, which can be obtained from most electronics stores, is easy to install and doesn’t take up much space.

For TVs that support HD, the changes should automatically appear in the channel list. If not, then the first thing to do is to retune your TV.

Most TVs have an option to automatically retune channels within the TV menu. In many cases, the channel changes will appear after completing this process. If you are unsure how to retune channels you should refer to your TV manual or contact the manufacturer.

General retuning instructions, not related to any specific set, model or brand, can be found in ABC Help Centre.

Additionally, you can stream ABC services through the ABC iview app or over the internet at https://iview.abc.net.au

What are the channel changes?

ABC is upgrading its broadcast technology. These changes involve updating two channels:

  • 23 ABC Entertains will be converted to HD (in MPEG-4)
  • 24 ABC NEWS Channel will be converted to HD (in MPEG-4)

Why are these channels being moved to HD?

The ABC is moving these channels to HD to improve the video quality of our services for audiences. Since 2014 all TVs sold in Australia have been HD compatible.

When will the changes be rolled out in my area?

The ABC will implement a staged rollout of the HD upgrade as follows:

  • Wednesday 11 June – Tasmania and South Australia
  • Tuesday 17 June – Western Australia and Northern Territory
  • Thursday 19 June – Queensland
  • Tuesday 24 - NSW and ACT
  • Thursday 26 - Victoria

Correcting Steve Jackson in The Australian

The story by Steve Jackson in The Australian today (“Rumours rife Hamish Macdonald is keen to cut back on ABC shifts”) is incorrect.

Jackson was told yesterday: “There’s no truth to this. Hamish hasn’t asked to go to three days and it isn’t happening.” It’s disappointing The Australian still chose to rely on unsourced rumours after being told they were baseless.

Hamish has been engaged by the ABC since 2016, including presenting ABC Radio Sydney Mornings, Q+A and Radio National Breakfast, reporting for Foreign Correspondent, hosting special broadcast events such as the Australian of the Year and presenting documentary series including The China Century and Reef Live. He has also hosted Take Me To Your Leader since 2022 and Global Roaming since the start of 2024.

Hamish is taking some leave in June, which was planned and approved before he joined ABC Radio Sydney, and Kathryn Robinson will fill in for him.

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YOUNG PEOPLE TAKE OVER GOLDFIELDS THIS WEEK

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More than 30 students from all six secondary schools in Western Australia’s Goldfields region will take centre stage this week as part of the ABC’s Takeover Goldfields Youth Summit, running from 19–23 May.

The summit is a collaboration between the ABC, the Australian Government’s Office for Youth and the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR). Since February, ABC producers have been working with local students to help bring their stories to life. Now a group of young storytellers has been selected to share their powerful ideas and lived experience on ABC platforms throughout the week and beyond.

Stories will appear on the ABC’s radio, TV and digital platforms. Ranging from life in a fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) family to equine therapy and snake handling, these stories reflect the diversity, resilience and creativity of the region’s youth.

For Kyndra, one of the winners, sharing her story has been an exciting and rewarding experience. Kyndra has grown up with housing instability and wants to raise awareness of youth homelessness.

“There’s not many opportunities [for young people] to speak out,” she says. “I think it’s important for people to actually hear what’s going on for the new generation.”

Winners will be celebrated at a red-carpet screening at the Goldfields Arts Centre and appear in on-air interviews across ABC programs.

ABC Director, News Justin Stevens said the Goldfields Takeover offers a rare insight into life for young people in the region.

“Their stories and ideas for community change deserve to be heard and celebrated,” he said.

Beyond the screening, the summit provides students with the chance to connect with community leaders, youth networks, politicians and media professionals. They’ll also take part in workshops and leadership events aimed at helping young people turn their ideas into real community impact.

To help bring some of these ideas to life FRRR will offer support to community organisations interested in partnering with students on grant-funded local projects.

Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, said that the long-standing partnership with ABC is an important part of the Foundation’s commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders in remote, rural and regional communities.

“We are excited to be part of bringing the very first Takeover program to Western Australia,” she said. “We know the ideas developed by these young people will make their communities stronger, more vibrant and sustainable.”

Catch the winning stories and follow the week’s events at:

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Oh at last. ABC News (and as a bonus, ABC Entertains) in HD. Finally.

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what a lovely birthday present from the ABC! :smiley:

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This is a weekly occurrence. There’s an unnatural obsession with the ABC at the Australian and News Corp in general.

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ABC appoints Freya Campbell as Director of Communications

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ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks has announced the appointment of Freya Campbell as Director of Communications.

Freya brings strong credentials in stakeholder engagement, issues management, government relations and developing communications across channels and platforms.

Currently Freya is Executive Director Strategic Communications at UNSW Sydney, managing external and internal communications, including media and the Vice-Chancellor’s communications.

Previously she was Assistant General Manager of Marketing and Communications at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), managing a team responsible for communications across 80 locations in 48 markets.

Freya Campbell: "I’m excited to join the ABC at a time when trust in media has never been more important. Like so many Australians, I grew up with the ABC’s iconic 7PM News theme signalling the nightly ritual of trusted national and global news beamed into the family lounge room.

“My media consumption across platforms has evolved over the years but the ABC has remained my preferred source of entertainment and information.”

Hugh Marks: “We’re incredibly fortunate to have someone of Freya’s background and skills join the ABC Leadership Team. I can see how much she’ll bring to how we talk about the vital role of the ABC with employees, stakeholders, media and audiences.”

Freya will start with the ABC on 7 July.

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I’ll say one thing about ABC Kids. If ABC Family was to be split from Channel 22, the 7:30pm closedown for ABC Kids should remain. You don’t want the little ones’ early bedtimes interrupted all because ABC Kids decided to go 24/7? For those that watch the channel, they have always been used to a routine of heading off to bed as soon as ABC Kids closed down at 7:30pm.

I couldn’t imagine ABC Kids going 24-hours as it’s a channel for pre-schoolers, mostly those up to the age of 5, who certainly need their beauty sleep at night. During 7:30pm-4am there could just be a “We’ll Be Back From 4am” slide present and perhaps ABC Kids Listen with Lullabies and Dream Time, which air at 7:30pm and 9pm respectively, both designed to put and keep the little ones asleep for the night.

As for ABC Family, now that could be a channel that runs 24/7. Move ABC Family to perhaps Channel 25 (or perhaps put it on Channel 21 and discontinue the SD simulcast of the main ABC channel there), and its programming. ABC Entertains should remove its ABC Education programming, and instead move that to ABC Family. So ABC Kids could still keep their usual closedown time and use the time off-air to keep the little ones asleep, while ABC Family goes 24/7 on another channel.

Then again though, things could just remain as they currently are. Maybe perhaps the ABC doesn’t want to upgrade Channel 22 to MPEG-4 HD because there’s still some households who have older digital TVs that aren’t MPEG-4 compatible, and still need to put on ABC Kids for the little ones during the day.