Agree. ABC has become increasingly obsessed with being “alternative” and niche, particularly their radio offerings. It seemed to go into overdrive when Triple J went national. Even the original iteration of 2JJ was more mainstream than what Triple J became. Growing up the Local ABC was also more mainstream and middle of the road.
If the ABC want to survive long term they should at least have one station with broad appeal, and I think Radio National is ideal for this. They need to build an audience and not shed audience like they have been in recent years. If they continue to lose audience then calls will continue to grow from certain sectors to cut further or eliminate the ABC altogether. They need an “anchor” of broad appeal on at least one national radio network in order to assure their future. It’s not Triple J or even Local ABC anymore - their ratings in regional areas are often quite abysmal. I think RN should be that broad-appeal station.
I don’t think they need to try to be as popular as the BBC, but at least the BBC has so many listeners and viewers that nobody is going to seriously call for it to be defunded. Nobody is going to try to close down the home of EastEnders or BBC News or the No. 1 radio station in the country - Radio 2.
I’m not entirely sure about ABC to be honest, in the longer term at least, unless they radically change course.
yep. the moment thr ABC goes anywhere near radio 2 style the media will be up in arms - especilly 9 and they will absolutly hammer the government on the radio and in the papers, and thats why it won’t happen
Yeah true. I don’t get why the commercial media is so powerful in this country compared to the UK. The government needs to find some balls but they’re forever bending over backwards for them. Regardless ABC needs to make some measures to boost their mainstream appeal or they won’t survive. You’d think under Labor at least they could try to do something.
They’re powerful because we (in the general sense) have allowed it to occur through years of inaction from our politicians. It doesn’t help that we have highly concentrated ownership either.
Frustratingly its easier for the likes of the ABC to knuckle under rather than fight
I’m not convinced any major party is interested in upsetting the applecart - the reality is that the ship sailed on trying to wrestle back some semblance of control long ago.
It’s a treat and honour to be asked to present my favourite Australian radio show, Saturday Extra on ABC Radio National. I’m following in the footsteps of two giants - @GeraldineDoogue and @frankelly08. I’ll be in the presenter’s chair from January next year. pic.twitter.com/fQxJS2pt31
