Heads up for Australia Network viewers

[joncl]

Heads up ..

Cabinet has approved axing of ABC's Australia Network: report


From http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/cabinet-has-approved-axing-of-abcs-australia-network-report-20140508-zr6yz.html
The ABC's Australia Network is facing the axe. The Abbott government is set to scrap the ABC’s Australia Network international broadcasting service in next Tuesday’s budget.

Cabinet approved the decision in a meeting on Wednesday, according to a report in The West Australian. The ABC has a 10-year, $223 million contract to run the network, which broadcasts to 44 countries in the Asia Pacific.

The ABC, which is finalising new partnership deals with Chinese and Indonesian broadcasters, has been lobbying publicly and privately for the government to continue to fund the service.

The ABC is required under its charter to transmit news and other programs to overseas countries to encourage awareness of Australia and enable Australians living overseas to stay abreast of national affairs.

Although some ministers are understood to believe the Australia Network could be replaced by online streaming of ABC News 24, this would be difficult in practice.

Under content distribution deals, ABC news bulletins include international stories from broadcasters such as the BBC and al-Jazeera. In many cases, the ABC is only allowed to use this footage in Australia. This is why a “geo-block” currently applies to ABC News 24’s online stream.

“The cost of the ABC obtaining full international distribution rights for any non-ABC content would be prohibitive and not a good investment in the funds we're granted to provide a news service to Australia,” ABC head of continuous news Gaven Morris said in 2010. “In some cases, international rights are not available at any cost.”

The Commission of Audit recommended the network be scrapped in its report earlier this month because it is too expensive “given its limited outreach to a small audience”.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who has oversight of the network, has said there are more cost-effective ways, including social media, to promote Australia abroad.

But business leaders including Hugh Morgan, Maurice Newman and Harold Mitchell have called on the government to retain the service because it advances Australia’s interests in the region.

In an email to staff earlier this week, ABC board member and veteran journalist Matt Peacock said it would be a “tragedy” if the network was axed and that job losses at the public broadcaster would inevitably result

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So guess we will know in a few hours time what the outcome is ..

[joncl]

More feedback here

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/may/08/abcs-australia-network-contract-axing-will-incur-costs-as-well-as-savings

[Chicog]

Abbott doesn't like criticism does he?

[sammycic]

Since they took the rugby off, no great loss. Have a 5' dish pointing at it not connected to anything.

[joncl]

Confirmed in tonight's budget .. bugger

[joncl]

ABC budget response

The ABC’s budget will be cut by $120m over the next four years as a result of decisions made by the Federal Government in tonight’s budget.

Operational funding cuts of close to $40m over four years will come on top of the termination of the $220 million contract to deliver the international broadcasting service, Australia Network.

The 2014-15 budget also foreshadows further significant funding cuts in the wake of the Lewis review into the operations of the ABC and SBS.

“The funding cuts will be disappointing for audiences. The government gave repeated commitments before and after the election that funding for the Corporation would be maintained,” the ABC’s Managing Director, Mark Scott said.

Mr Scott said while the ABC would look to make its operations more efficient, the funding cuts would regrettably and inevitably result in redundancies and a reduction in services. The ABC Board and Executive would need time to work out the full impact and to review strategies and internal budgets.

Mr Scott said the decision to cut the funding for Australia Network was very disappointing, given the ABC was only one year into a 10-year contract with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

“Countries around the world are expanding their international broadcasting services as key instruments of public diplomacy. The ABC had negotiated a detailed strategy with DFAT to develop relationships with major broadcasters in the region and to target locals likely to trade, study in or travel to Australia. This partnership had resulted in expanded audiences in key markets and was on track to deliver all agreed targets.

“This decision runs counter to the approach adopted by the vast majority of G-20 countries who are putting media at the centre of public diplomacy strategies to engage citizens in other countries.

“It sends a strange message to the region that the government does not want to use the most powerful communication tools available to it to talk to our regional neighbours about Australia.

“The agreed strategy with DFAT based on broadcasting, online partnerships and social media was proving successful. This decision cannot be justified in terms of performance against agreed priorities.”

Mr Scott said the ABC Board would now have to examine how the ABC delivers its international Charter obligation, which requires it to broadcast programs that, among other things, “encourage awareness of Australia and an international understanding of Australian attitudes on world affairs”.

In addition to the funding cuts, the ABC will also have to manage the cessation of funding for the online disability website, ABC Ramp Up at the end of this financial year.

Mr Scott said the ABC was aware of the tight fiscal environment and constantly reviewed its strategy and performance to find better work practices and greater efficiencies.

“The ABC is very tightly geared. We have been diligent in reducing backroom costs over recent years to ensure the ABC can deliver better and more varied content to our audiences. That strategy has enabled the ABC to self-fund important new initiatives like iview, ABC News24, triple j Unearthed online and a range of other new digital services.”

Mr Scott said the budget made it clear the Lewis efficiency exercise would impose additional demands on ABC budgets over the next few years. The Department of Communications has been conducting a study into ABC and SBS efficiency with the assistance of ex-Channel 7 CFO and recently appointed CFO of Southern Cross Austereo, Peter Lewis.

“The task ahead will be extremely challenging for ABC management and staff,” Mr Scott said.

“We will need to make funding cuts, while trying to also save money to invest in new priorities to ensure the ABC remains a compelling feature of the Australian media landscape – a public broadcaster in the digital era.”

[Chicog]

Getting any campaign money from the satellite boys are they?

[somchaismith]

That sux. Something was better than nothing. They're isolating the Aussie more and more, here in Thailand.

[Will27]

Bad news for those (like me) who watch the AFL.

My internet isn't good enough to stream the games either.

I hope it's picked up by another broadcaster.

[tlcwaterfall]

So any way we can still access news and Australian rules football in Thailand?

I am in a small village in Isaan with very slow wireless net.

[Will27]

So any way we can still access news and Australian rules football in Thailand?

I am in a small village in Isaan with very slow wireless net.

I'm not sure when AN will stop broadcasting so it's business as usual at the moment.

Unless you have a decent internet speed, AFAIK, you won't be able to view AFL.

[ezzra]

That sux. Something was better than nothing. They're isolating the Aussie more and more, here in Thailand.

Not really, you can listen to any radio station in Australia on the net including the ABC,

IMHO. the ABC is way past it's usefulness date in this day and age and defiantly doesn't

justify budget of 10's of millions of dollars for bygone broadcast technology any longer...

[Will27]

That sux. Something was better than nothing. They're isolating the Aussie more and more, here in Thailand.

Not really, you can listen to any radio station in Australia on the net including the ABC,

IMHO. the ABC is way past it's usefulness date in this day and age and defiantly doesn't

justify budget of 10's of millions of dollars for bygone broadcast technology any longer...

True, it was an expense the govt didn't really need.

Having said that, I'm still going to miss the footy.

[joncl]

the footy is in so any places it will not be lost, just re-discovered.

[kkerry]

Supposedly to be shut down in 3 months time...

[joncl]

the current budget runs out at the end of July, then they only have a AUD 10,000,000 allocation to wind it down or not.

Edited May 14, 2014 by joncl

[Som wat]

The flaming gallah.

[gkroo]

From previous news releases prior to the budget it was announced that the Sky network already have a replacement for this network as they were the ones that missed out on the shonky tender that Labour gave back to ABC but not sure about the actual content as yet but am sure there will be something in the Aust press fairly soon ??

[tlcwaterfall]

That sux. Something was better than nothing. They're isolating the Aussie more and more, here in Thailand.

Not really, you can listen to any radio station in Australia on the net including the ABC,

IMHO. the ABC is way past it's usefulness date in this day and age and defiantly doesn't

justify budget of 10's of millions of dollars for bygone broadcast technology any longer...

So where do we watch the Australia news and watch the Australian rules football once the Australia network closes?

Listening to the news and the footy is simply not as good as watching it.

[tlcwaterfall]

the footy is in so any places it will not be lost, just re-discovered.

Would you kindly let us know where it is to be found other than the Australia network?

[tlcwaterfall]

the footy is in so any places it will not be lost, just re-discovered.

Would you kindly let us know where it is to be found other than the Australia network?

[joncl]

http://youtu.be/HOlVy058oNQ

FYI ..

[cnx37]

The Oz Govt

TOO kind/helpful to we expats.

TV - out! cf US & BBC!

Passports/consulate assistance - go to BKK. In CNX, there is a consulate office for Bangladesh in Huay Kaew Rd (central CNX). There is an hononary Oz consulate somewhere in the suburbs - advantages ???. Future - ???

An expat in trouble - that is not our problem!

I am SO proud to be an Aussie - "I still call Australia home".

[joncl]

Overseas footy fans could be short-changed

From http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-05-14/budget-cuts-hit-fans

AFL fans overseas could be affected by budget cuts to the Australia Network

FANS in the Asia Pacific are facing a battle to watch regular AFL matches following confirmation that funding to the ABC's Australia Network will be cut.

The federal government confirmed the move in its budget announcement on Tuesday night in Canberra.

The future of the channel remains up in the air, with the government not ruling out a commercial operator taking over the spectrum, which broadcasts Australian television content to approximately 44 countries.

Australia Network currently broadcasts up to four games each round via satellite into homes and hotels.

The broadcasts are particularly popular with tourists and expatriates.

"Fans in the Asia Pacific will still be able to watch AFL matches via the Australia Network until further notice," an AFL spokesman said on Wednesday.

The AFL is working on alternate means to transmit games into the region.

"In the meantime, the AFL is in ongoing discussions with the ABC regarding the options available for continuation of television coverage of AFL matches into the Asia/Pacific market, reflecting its significance to our code and the growth of Australian football internationally," the spokesman said.

"AFL Fans in the Asia Pacific should also note that all AFL matches and AFL highlights are available via WatchAFL, the international streaming service that allows people to view every game live or on demand on their desktop, mobile or tablet."