The Guardian 6 December, 2006
Privatisation for ABC programs,
emasculation for current affairs
Peter Mac
Last week the new director of ABC television, Kim Dalton, created an uproar when he
announced moves to privatise production of future ABC TV programs. Addressing the
Screen Producers Association of Australia, he stated bluntly that "… outside of its weekly
magazine or program strands, ABC TV will move out of internal factual and documentary
production … One-off or short run series will only be made in partnership with the
independent (private) sector."
Dalton's plan will particularly affect programs dealing with indigenous affairs, natural history,
science and religion, as well as factual and documentary programs. The private sector would gain
editorial control, as well as financial and content rights, over these programs.
The ABC's independence would be subordinated to the private sector's interests and views, in this
new "partnership". Dalton declared that "ABC TV … is a user of rights rather than a creator or
owner of rights, and new terms of trade that reflect the new realities of fragmentation of
broadcasting, that facilitate a cohesive strategy to making content available, will be crucial."
The ABC's regional production units, and its production resources department, would also be
disbanded. Despite the income currently generated by these facilities, Dalton justified their removal
on the basis that it would (he says) save money, which could be used for making more
programs.
In so doing Dalton ignores the drop in the quality of the programs that would be made under his
scheme. Graeme Thomson, Secretary of the ABC division of the Community and Public Sector
Union, commented bitterly that "Dalton's plan would destroy ABC in-house production and with it
the ABC's distinctiveness".
This year ABC documentary and factual TV programs have received many awards for excellence.
Unimpressed, and echoing the Howard Government's hostility towards the ABC, Dalton sneered at
those who "get teary and nostalgic remembering the past glories of a self-sufficient
ABC".
A leaked copy of the recently-suppressed KPMG report into the national broadcaster's efficiency
notes that in order to maintain its present operations, the ABC would require an extra $125 million
in extra funding over the next three years.
The Government has only provided an extra $88.2 million. The lack of funding to maintain current
production levels neatly dovetails with Dalton's plan for privatisation of ABC programs.
Dalton's announcement also coincides with a number of changes in ABC programs, and with a
noticeable tendency for ABC news and current affairs programs to avoid controversial issues, in
favour of safer areas of reporting. One recent Midday News devoted 17 minutes, more than
50 percent of its allocated time, to reporting and discussing Ian Thorpe's retirement from Olympic
competition!
The popular satirical program The Glass House, which was definitely a thorn in the
government's side, has already been cut. One inevitable casualty of Dalton's plan would be the
ABC's natural history programs, which require long and intensive production, to a degree that
would deter the private sector. As one ABC producer commented crudely but succinctly, "If you're
in the independent sector you're not going to sit and wait six months for a couple of penguins to
bonk."
The ABC will produce a new program called Difference of Opinion, in which participants with
widely differing points of view will debate controversial issues. Although it is intended to counter
accusations of bias by including conflicting viewpoints, it is questionable whether even this program
will last, because the government does not want opinions aired which counter its
policies.
Surprisingly, the highly incisive mini-program Mediawatch will survive — for the moment. Its
future has always been under a cloud, because of its fearless critical examination of mass media
failings.
It looks as though the ABC is in for some very unpleasant changes in the new year. But who
knows, it might turn out to be just be the right time to replace the current government with one
which appreciates the ABC's wonderful contribution to Australian culture and life.