A new report by the Abbott government has proposed a series of cost-cutting measures for the national broadcaster, the ABC, which includes a recommendation to outsource the production of all ABC television shows to the private sector.
Fairfax Media says the report estimates the ABC would save a net $70 million from outsourcing iconic and longstanding ABC programming like “Play School” and “At the Movies”. The ABC”s news and current affairs programs would still remain produced in-house.
Amongst the review’s other recommendations is abandoning the expansion of digital radio services, bringing employees’ pay and conditions more closely into line with workers in the private sector and moving SBS into the ABC’s headquarters in Ultimo, Sydney – a move former prime minister Malcolm Fraser has said would signal the eventual “death” of the Special Broadcasting Service.
Community and Public Sector Union president Michael Tull told Fairfax that outsourcing television production would “sound a death knell for the ABC’s distinctive Australian voice.” At this stage the proposals outlined in the report are just recommendations and any changes made to their programming will be left to the board.
It is believed that ABC managing director Mark Scott will make major announcements on savings measures and changes to ABC structures in August.
