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Here here couldn't agree with you more. I think the ABC is being pruned for the first step commercialisation and eventually sell off. How much would another TV licence for a piece of spectrum be worth?
ABC News
#352
SydneySider 
- Group: Members
- Posts: 5,449
- Joined: 01-October 02
- Location:Sydney, NSW
Posted 21 April 2005 - 02:26 PM
Well, I've found an article from The Australian that relates to what everyone's been talking about for the past few posts. Interesting read...
---
It's her ABC: when breaking news doesn't rate
Amanda Meade
April 16, 2005
WITH the resignation of Australia's governor-general possibly hours away, the ABC TV news team was preparing to cover the announcement live.
But first there was a hurdle to be scaled. ABC television director Sandra Levy, the person with absolute control of the schedule, had to give her permission.
ABC head of national coverage Walter Hamilton emailed Levy's deputy, Marena Manzoufas, asking to break into children's programming if a flagged press conference about then governor-general Peter Hollingworth's future was called.
The email exchange of May 8, 2003, obtained by The Weekend Australian, offers a revealing insight into the mind of the national broadcaster's most powerful television executive and was shared among staffers in both divisions, who were astounded by its finality.
"I have spoken with Sandra who would prefer there was no newsbreak in children's time, and if there is an announcement from Hollingsworth (sic) that it be taken up in the 6pm news break," Manzoufas wrote.
Hamilton: "May I confirm. If the GG resigns, we do NOT have access to the TV Network until 6pm?"
Manzoufas: "Correct. This is what Sandra decided."
"What Sandra decides" has become the way the ABC is run, and internally and externally there is growing concern that the taxpayer-funded ABC is losing its branding as the national broadcaster. If Hollingworth had announced his resignation any time between ABC TV's The World at Noon and the 6pm newsbreak, ABC television could not interrupt Play School, no matter what its journalists wanted.
We asked Levy yesterday if she had been reluctant to interrupt children's programs for the Hollingworth announcement. "This is a hypothetical question. The view of Television is that if it is important enough for News and Current Affairs to request additional time or break-ins to the schedule, then it is important enough for us to make it happen," said Levy.
As it was, Hollingworth did not go for another two weeks, and when he did resign on May 25 they covered it live.
ABC broadcasters say Levy has made it very clear she does not agree that news should take priority.
"She holds the division in contempt," one source said. "She has no interest in journalism and is driven largely by ratings."
Levy has a background as a drama producer, both for the ABC and the commercial sector. A Jonathan Shier appointment, she has taken pride in bringing higher ratings to her watch, and sees Andrew Denton's Enough Rope and Kath and Kim as the jewels in her crown.
But her critics say she is undermining the ABC's status as the broadcaster of record. Is it still the national broadcaster if it doesn't take every big breaking news story live? It certainly wasn't when coalition forces invaded Iraq in 2003 and the ABC didn't immediately cross to rolling coverage of the war as the commercials did. It wasn't when John Howard called an election last year, when again Seven and Nine took the speech live.
But these incidents became a pattern when two of the most significant news events in recent times took place and the ABC, once again, stuck to schedule. When the pope died on Sunday morning two weeks ago, it coincided with news of the Sea King crash in which nine Australians were killed. But the ABC chose to continue running its music video program Rage, followed by Poko, Basil Brush, Angelina Ballerina and The Fairly Odd Parents. For two hours, cartoons were screening on Aunty while Nine and Seven were taking a live feed from the Vatican. It wasn't until Barrie Cassidy, the host of Insiders, fronted an (unscheduled) newsbreak at 8am, that ABC viewers were told the pope had died. The ABC then returned to normal programming until Insiders began at 9am, at which time the news was covered again. The program did run 15 minutes over to accommodate the news.
Levy has consistently denied she refuses requests to break schedule and it is impossible to track the internal bureaucracy of the ABC, but insiders say the director of television's stubbornness about not bowing to breaking news demands prevails.
Yesterday Levy told The Weekend Australian in answers to written questions that interrupting the schedule was subject to "very strong Australian Broadcasting Authority restrictions" about running "most news content" during programs such as Play School. "News and Current Affairs requested to go to air with the announcement of the Pope's death at 8am. An additional 15 minutes was added, at their request, and which Television endorsed."
Levy insists she did not receive a request from news to cover the return of bodies of Australian servicemen and women on April 5, which was carried live by Nine and Seven. News and current affairs director John Cameron was so roundly criticised, largely by other media including ABC radio, newspaper columnists and commercial radio hosts, that she was forced to issue a statement on April 6, saying the decision was made "to cover it fully in the main TV news bulletins, when the vast majority of viewers are tuning in to see the main news of the day". One journalist said when he saw the relatives weeping he realised the national significance of the event and was ashamed the ABC was not there.
Yesterday the ABC did carry the HMAS Kanimbla memorial service for the victims live, while the commercials did not.
Cameron said there was no stand-off between him and Levy over breaking news. "This issue is one whipped up not by genuine public interest but by other sections of the media," he said. The ABC had been caught in the crossfire of the ratings battle between Seven and Nine's news outfits, he said.
Fanning the flames was a leaked email from Cameron's predecessor Max Uechtritz, now the head of news at Nine. Uechtritz had written to a Nine colleague of the Sunday morning coverage: "As for the ABC. I was ashamed of my old outfit ... from 5.30 to 9 o'clock I kept switching over to see if the national broadcaster was finally servicing its taxpayers. Nyet, nein, non. A disgrace. We can be thankful, I guess, about Sandra Levy's unwillingness to break schedule for anything these days."
Uechtritz attempts to defend his turf from Levy's clutches have been well reported, although they are denied publicly by both parties. In one of frequent clashes, Uechtritz, a former war correspondent, wanted more airtime to cover the war in Iraq. We understand on this occasion managing director Russell Balding backed Uechtritz and coverage of the invasion eventually took priority. Levy said yesterday "all decisions about the Iraq war coverage were made by News and Current Affairs and supported by Television".
But it was the ABC's failure last August to cover Howard's election announcement that really raised the alarm that Aunty was off course. Levy said at the time no request was made. But Hamilton had it in writing. Now Levy blames a "miscommunication".
A decision to not take a live feed of the election debate was also controversial. Balding said in a statement, believed to have been influenced by Levy, that it was delayed until 10pm rather than broadcast simultaneously with Nine at 7.30pm to ensure it would "be available to the widest possible audience".
But many ABC TV journalists say giving up the debate to Nine in the name of ratings is a disgrace. "In the past, an inability rather than a lack of determination was behind us missing events," one veteran said. "But I do think now it's become a serious issue. I hate to see the occasions where the commercial networks are knocking us off. I am concerned we are being usurped by Seven and Nine."
So where is Balding in all this? He is an accountant, without any editorial experience, who prefers to let his directors run their divisions. Some sources say Levy is such a powerful figure he is terrified of her. Similarly the ABC board is stacked with Howard Government appointees with largely no experience in broadcasting. It is easy for Levy to intimidate them.
She has centralised decision-making governing commissioning, production and scheduling of programs. While the ABC charter dictates the broadcaster cover all aspects of Australian life from news to children's to drama to arts, Levy has gained a reputation for focusing on light entertainment and drama at the expense of news.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/commo...55E7582,00.html
---
It's her ABC: when breaking news doesn't rate
Amanda Meade
April 16, 2005
WITH the resignation of Australia's governor-general possibly hours away, the ABC TV news team was preparing to cover the announcement live.
But first there was a hurdle to be scaled. ABC television director Sandra Levy, the person with absolute control of the schedule, had to give her permission.
ABC head of national coverage Walter Hamilton emailed Levy's deputy, Marena Manzoufas, asking to break into children's programming if a flagged press conference about then governor-general Peter Hollingworth's future was called.
The email exchange of May 8, 2003, obtained by The Weekend Australian, offers a revealing insight into the mind of the national broadcaster's most powerful television executive and was shared among staffers in both divisions, who were astounded by its finality.
"I have spoken with Sandra who would prefer there was no newsbreak in children's time, and if there is an announcement from Hollingsworth (sic) that it be taken up in the 6pm news break," Manzoufas wrote.
Hamilton: "May I confirm. If the GG resigns, we do NOT have access to the TV Network until 6pm?"
Manzoufas: "Correct. This is what Sandra decided."
"What Sandra decides" has become the way the ABC is run, and internally and externally there is growing concern that the taxpayer-funded ABC is losing its branding as the national broadcaster. If Hollingworth had announced his resignation any time between ABC TV's The World at Noon and the 6pm newsbreak, ABC television could not interrupt Play School, no matter what its journalists wanted.
We asked Levy yesterday if she had been reluctant to interrupt children's programs for the Hollingworth announcement. "This is a hypothetical question. The view of Television is that if it is important enough for News and Current Affairs to request additional time or break-ins to the schedule, then it is important enough for us to make it happen," said Levy.
As it was, Hollingworth did not go for another two weeks, and when he did resign on May 25 they covered it live.
ABC broadcasters say Levy has made it very clear she does not agree that news should take priority.
"She holds the division in contempt," one source said. "She has no interest in journalism and is driven largely by ratings."
Levy has a background as a drama producer, both for the ABC and the commercial sector. A Jonathan Shier appointment, she has taken pride in bringing higher ratings to her watch, and sees Andrew Denton's Enough Rope and Kath and Kim as the jewels in her crown.
But her critics say she is undermining the ABC's status as the broadcaster of record. Is it still the national broadcaster if it doesn't take every big breaking news story live? It certainly wasn't when coalition forces invaded Iraq in 2003 and the ABC didn't immediately cross to rolling coverage of the war as the commercials did. It wasn't when John Howard called an election last year, when again Seven and Nine took the speech live.
But these incidents became a pattern when two of the most significant news events in recent times took place and the ABC, once again, stuck to schedule. When the pope died on Sunday morning two weeks ago, it coincided with news of the Sea King crash in which nine Australians were killed. But the ABC chose to continue running its music video program Rage, followed by Poko, Basil Brush, Angelina Ballerina and The Fairly Odd Parents. For two hours, cartoons were screening on Aunty while Nine and Seven were taking a live feed from the Vatican. It wasn't until Barrie Cassidy, the host of Insiders, fronted an (unscheduled) newsbreak at 8am, that ABC viewers were told the pope had died. The ABC then returned to normal programming until Insiders began at 9am, at which time the news was covered again. The program did run 15 minutes over to accommodate the news.
Levy has consistently denied she refuses requests to break schedule and it is impossible to track the internal bureaucracy of the ABC, but insiders say the director of television's stubbornness about not bowing to breaking news demands prevails.
Yesterday Levy told The Weekend Australian in answers to written questions that interrupting the schedule was subject to "very strong Australian Broadcasting Authority restrictions" about running "most news content" during programs such as Play School. "News and Current Affairs requested to go to air with the announcement of the Pope's death at 8am. An additional 15 minutes was added, at their request, and which Television endorsed."
Levy insists she did not receive a request from news to cover the return of bodies of Australian servicemen and women on April 5, which was carried live by Nine and Seven. News and current affairs director John Cameron was so roundly criticised, largely by other media including ABC radio, newspaper columnists and commercial radio hosts, that she was forced to issue a statement on April 6, saying the decision was made "to cover it fully in the main TV news bulletins, when the vast majority of viewers are tuning in to see the main news of the day". One journalist said when he saw the relatives weeping he realised the national significance of the event and was ashamed the ABC was not there.
Yesterday the ABC did carry the HMAS Kanimbla memorial service for the victims live, while the commercials did not.
Cameron said there was no stand-off between him and Levy over breaking news. "This issue is one whipped up not by genuine public interest but by other sections of the media," he said. The ABC had been caught in the crossfire of the ratings battle between Seven and Nine's news outfits, he said.
Fanning the flames was a leaked email from Cameron's predecessor Max Uechtritz, now the head of news at Nine. Uechtritz had written to a Nine colleague of the Sunday morning coverage: "As for the ABC. I was ashamed of my old outfit ... from 5.30 to 9 o'clock I kept switching over to see if the national broadcaster was finally servicing its taxpayers. Nyet, nein, non. A disgrace. We can be thankful, I guess, about Sandra Levy's unwillingness to break schedule for anything these days."
Uechtritz attempts to defend his turf from Levy's clutches have been well reported, although they are denied publicly by both parties. In one of frequent clashes, Uechtritz, a former war correspondent, wanted more airtime to cover the war in Iraq. We understand on this occasion managing director Russell Balding backed Uechtritz and coverage of the invasion eventually took priority. Levy said yesterday "all decisions about the Iraq war coverage were made by News and Current Affairs and supported by Television".
But it was the ABC's failure last August to cover Howard's election announcement that really raised the alarm that Aunty was off course. Levy said at the time no request was made. But Hamilton had it in writing. Now Levy blames a "miscommunication".
A decision to not take a live feed of the election debate was also controversial. Balding said in a statement, believed to have been influenced by Levy, that it was delayed until 10pm rather than broadcast simultaneously with Nine at 7.30pm to ensure it would "be available to the widest possible audience".
But many ABC TV journalists say giving up the debate to Nine in the name of ratings is a disgrace. "In the past, an inability rather than a lack of determination was behind us missing events," one veteran said. "But I do think now it's become a serious issue. I hate to see the occasions where the commercial networks are knocking us off. I am concerned we are being usurped by Seven and Nine."
So where is Balding in all this? He is an accountant, without any editorial experience, who prefers to let his directors run their divisions. Some sources say Levy is such a powerful figure he is terrified of her. Similarly the ABC board is stacked with Howard Government appointees with largely no experience in broadcasting. It is easy for Levy to intimidate them.
She has centralised decision-making governing commissioning, production and scheduling of programs. While the ABC charter dictates the broadcaster cover all aspects of Australian life from news to children's to drama to arts, Levy has gained a reputation for focusing on light entertainment and drama at the expense of news.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/commo...55E7582,00.html
This post has been edited by SydneySider: 21 April 2005 - 02:27 PM
#353
Kent Brockman
- Group: Members
- Posts: 180
- Joined: 03-February 05
- Location:Melbourne
Posted 21 April 2005 - 02:37 PM
SydneySider, on Apr 21 2005, 03:26 PM, said:
Well, I've found an article from The Australian that relates to what everyone's been talking about for the past few posts. Interesting read...
---
It's her ABC: when breaking news doesn't rate
Amanda Meade
April 16, 2005
WITH the resignation of Australia's governor-general possibly hours away, the ABC TV news team was preparing to cover the announcement live.
But first there was a hurdle to be scaled. ABC television director Sandra Levy, the person with absolute control of the schedule, had to give her permission.
ABC head of national coverage Walter Hamilton emailed Levy's deputy, Marena Manzoufas, asking to break into children's programming if a flagged press conference about then governor-general Peter Hollingworth's future was called.
The email exchange of May 8, 2003, obtained by The Weekend Australian, offers a revealing insight into the mind of the national broadcaster's most powerful television executive and was shared among staffers in both divisions, who were astounded by its finality.
"I have spoken with Sandra who would prefer there was no newsbreak in children's time, and if there is an announcement from Hollingsworth (sic) that it be taken up in the 6pm news break," Manzoufas wrote.
Hamilton: "May I confirm. If the GG resigns, we do NOT have access to the TV Network until 6pm?"
Manzoufas: "Correct. This is what Sandra decided."
"What Sandra decides" has become the way the ABC is run, and internally and externally there is growing concern that the taxpayer-funded ABC is losing its branding as the national broadcaster. If Hollingworth had announced his resignation any time between ABC TV's The World at Noon and the 6pm newsbreak, ABC television could not interrupt Play School, no matter what its journalists wanted.
We asked Levy yesterday if she had been reluctant to interrupt children's programs for the Hollingworth announcement. "This is a hypothetical question. The view of Television is that if it is important enough for News and Current Affairs to request additional time or break-ins to the schedule, then it is important enough for us to make it happen," said Levy.
As it was, Hollingworth did not go for another two weeks, and when he did resign on May 25 they covered it live.
ABC broadcasters say Levy has made it very clear she does not agree that news should take priority.
"She holds the division in contempt," one source said. "She has no interest in journalism and is driven largely by ratings."
Levy has a background as a drama producer, both for the ABC and the commercial sector. A Jonathan Shier appointment, she has taken pride in bringing higher ratings to her watch, and sees Andrew Denton's Enough Rope and Kath and Kim as the jewels in her crown.
But her critics say she is undermining the ABC's status as the broadcaster of record. Is it still the national broadcaster if it doesn't take every big breaking news story live? It certainly wasn't when coalition forces invaded Iraq in 2003 and the ABC didn't immediately cross to rolling coverage of the war as the commercials did. It wasn't when John Howard called an election last year, when again Seven and Nine took the speech live.
But these incidents became a pattern when two of the most significant news events in recent times took place and the ABC, once again, stuck to schedule. When the pope died on Sunday morning two weeks ago, it coincided with news of the Sea King crash in which nine Australians were killed. But the ABC chose to continue running its music video program Rage, followed by Poko, Basil Brush, Angelina Ballerina and The Fairly Odd Parents. For two hours, cartoons were screening on Aunty while Nine and Seven were taking a live feed from the Vatican. It wasn't until Barrie Cassidy, the host of Insiders, fronted an (unscheduled) newsbreak at 8am, that ABC viewers were told the pope had died. The ABC then returned to normal programming until Insiders began at 9am, at which time the news was covered again. The program did run 15 minutes over to accommodate the news.
Levy has consistently denied she refuses requests to break schedule and it is impossible to track the internal bureaucracy of the ABC, but insiders say the director of television's stubbornness about not bowing to breaking news demands prevails.
Yesterday Levy told The Weekend Australian in answers to written questions that interrupting the schedule was subject to "very strong Australian Broadcasting Authority restrictions" about running "most news content" during programs such as Play School. "News and Current Affairs requested to go to air with the announcement of the Pope's death at 8am. An additional 15 minutes was added, at their request, and which Television endorsed."
Levy insists she did not receive a request from news to cover the return of bodies of Australian servicemen and women on April 5, which was carried live by Nine and Seven. News and current affairs director John Cameron was so roundly criticised, largely by other media including ABC radio, newspaper columnists and commercial radio hosts, that she was forced to issue a statement on April 6, saying the decision was made "to cover it fully in the main TV news bulletins, when the vast majority of viewers are tuning in to see the main news of the day". One journalist said when he saw the relatives weeping he realised the national significance of the event and was ashamed the ABC was not there.
Yesterday the ABC did carry the HMAS Kanimbla memorial service for the victims live, while the commercials did not.
Cameron said there was no stand-off between him and Levy over breaking news. "This issue is one whipped up not by genuine public interest but by other sections of the media," he said. The ABC had been caught in the crossfire of the ratings battle between Seven and Nine's news outfits, he said.
Fanning the flames was a leaked email from Cameron's predecessor Max Uechtritz, now the head of news at Nine. Uechtritz had written to a Nine colleague of the Sunday morning coverage: "As for the ABC. I was ashamed of my old outfit ... from 5.30 to 9 o'clock I kept switching over to see if the national broadcaster was finally servicing its taxpayers. Nyet, nein, non. A disgrace. We can be thankful, I guess, about Sandra Levy's unwillingness to break schedule for anything these days."
Uechtritz attempts to defend his turf from Levy's clutches have been well reported, although they are denied publicly by both parties. In one of frequent clashes, Uechtritz, a former war correspondent, wanted more airtime to cover the war in Iraq. We understand on this occasion managing director Russell Balding backed Uechtritz and coverage of the invasion eventually took priority. Levy said yesterday "all decisions about the Iraq war coverage were made by News and Current Affairs and supported by Television".
But it was the ABC's failure last August to cover Howard's election announcement that really raised the alarm that Aunty was off course. Levy said at the time no request was made. But Hamilton had it in writing. Now Levy blames a "miscommunication".
A decision to not take a live feed of the election debate was also controversial. Balding said in a statement, believed to have been influenced by Levy, that it was delayed until 10pm rather than broadcast simultaneously with Nine at 7.30pm to ensure it would "be available to the widest possible audience".
But many ABC TV journalists say giving up the debate to Nine in the name of ratings is a disgrace. "In the past, an inability rather than a lack of determination was behind us missing events," one veteran said. "But I do think now it's become a serious issue. I hate to see the occasions where the commercial networks are knocking us off. I am concerned we are being usurped by Seven and Nine."
So where is Balding in all this? He is an accountant, without any editorial experience, who prefers to let his directors run their divisions. Some sources say Levy is such a powerful figure he is terrified of her. Similarly the ABC board is stacked with Howard Government appointees with largely no experience in broadcasting. It is easy for Levy to intimidate them.
She has centralised decision-making governing commissioning, production and scheduling of programs. While the ABC charter dictates the broadcaster cover all aspects of Australian life from news to children's to drama to arts, Levy has gained a reputation for focusing on light entertainment and drama at the expense of news.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/commo...55E7582,00.html
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>
---
It's her ABC: when breaking news doesn't rate
Amanda Meade
April 16, 2005
WITH the resignation of Australia's governor-general possibly hours away, the ABC TV news team was preparing to cover the announcement live.
But first there was a hurdle to be scaled. ABC television director Sandra Levy, the person with absolute control of the schedule, had to give her permission.
ABC head of national coverage Walter Hamilton emailed Levy's deputy, Marena Manzoufas, asking to break into children's programming if a flagged press conference about then governor-general Peter Hollingworth's future was called.
The email exchange of May 8, 2003, obtained by The Weekend Australian, offers a revealing insight into the mind of the national broadcaster's most powerful television executive and was shared among staffers in both divisions, who were astounded by its finality.
"I have spoken with Sandra who would prefer there was no newsbreak in children's time, and if there is an announcement from Hollingsworth (sic) that it be taken up in the 6pm news break," Manzoufas wrote.
Hamilton: "May I confirm. If the GG resigns, we do NOT have access to the TV Network until 6pm?"
Manzoufas: "Correct. This is what Sandra decided."
"What Sandra decides" has become the way the ABC is run, and internally and externally there is growing concern that the taxpayer-funded ABC is losing its branding as the national broadcaster. If Hollingworth had announced his resignation any time between ABC TV's The World at Noon and the 6pm newsbreak, ABC television could not interrupt Play School, no matter what its journalists wanted.
We asked Levy yesterday if she had been reluctant to interrupt children's programs for the Hollingworth announcement. "This is a hypothetical question. The view of Television is that if it is important enough for News and Current Affairs to request additional time or break-ins to the schedule, then it is important enough for us to make it happen," said Levy.
As it was, Hollingworth did not go for another two weeks, and when he did resign on May 25 they covered it live.
ABC broadcasters say Levy has made it very clear she does not agree that news should take priority.
"She holds the division in contempt," one source said. "She has no interest in journalism and is driven largely by ratings."
Levy has a background as a drama producer, both for the ABC and the commercial sector. A Jonathan Shier appointment, she has taken pride in bringing higher ratings to her watch, and sees Andrew Denton's Enough Rope and Kath and Kim as the jewels in her crown.
But her critics say she is undermining the ABC's status as the broadcaster of record. Is it still the national broadcaster if it doesn't take every big breaking news story live? It certainly wasn't when coalition forces invaded Iraq in 2003 and the ABC didn't immediately cross to rolling coverage of the war as the commercials did. It wasn't when John Howard called an election last year, when again Seven and Nine took the speech live.
But these incidents became a pattern when two of the most significant news events in recent times took place and the ABC, once again, stuck to schedule. When the pope died on Sunday morning two weeks ago, it coincided with news of the Sea King crash in which nine Australians were killed. But the ABC chose to continue running its music video program Rage, followed by Poko, Basil Brush, Angelina Ballerina and The Fairly Odd Parents. For two hours, cartoons were screening on Aunty while Nine and Seven were taking a live feed from the Vatican. It wasn't until Barrie Cassidy, the host of Insiders, fronted an (unscheduled) newsbreak at 8am, that ABC viewers were told the pope had died. The ABC then returned to normal programming until Insiders began at 9am, at which time the news was covered again. The program did run 15 minutes over to accommodate the news.
Levy has consistently denied she refuses requests to break schedule and it is impossible to track the internal bureaucracy of the ABC, but insiders say the director of television's stubbornness about not bowing to breaking news demands prevails.
Yesterday Levy told The Weekend Australian in answers to written questions that interrupting the schedule was subject to "very strong Australian Broadcasting Authority restrictions" about running "most news content" during programs such as Play School. "News and Current Affairs requested to go to air with the announcement of the Pope's death at 8am. An additional 15 minutes was added, at their request, and which Television endorsed."
Levy insists she did not receive a request from news to cover the return of bodies of Australian servicemen and women on April 5, which was carried live by Nine and Seven. News and current affairs director John Cameron was so roundly criticised, largely by other media including ABC radio, newspaper columnists and commercial radio hosts, that she was forced to issue a statement on April 6, saying the decision was made "to cover it fully in the main TV news bulletins, when the vast majority of viewers are tuning in to see the main news of the day". One journalist said when he saw the relatives weeping he realised the national significance of the event and was ashamed the ABC was not there.
Yesterday the ABC did carry the HMAS Kanimbla memorial service for the victims live, while the commercials did not.
Cameron said there was no stand-off between him and Levy over breaking news. "This issue is one whipped up not by genuine public interest but by other sections of the media," he said. The ABC had been caught in the crossfire of the ratings battle between Seven and Nine's news outfits, he said.
Fanning the flames was a leaked email from Cameron's predecessor Max Uechtritz, now the head of news at Nine. Uechtritz had written to a Nine colleague of the Sunday morning coverage: "As for the ABC. I was ashamed of my old outfit ... from 5.30 to 9 o'clock I kept switching over to see if the national broadcaster was finally servicing its taxpayers. Nyet, nein, non. A disgrace. We can be thankful, I guess, about Sandra Levy's unwillingness to break schedule for anything these days."
Uechtritz attempts to defend his turf from Levy's clutches have been well reported, although they are denied publicly by both parties. In one of frequent clashes, Uechtritz, a former war correspondent, wanted more airtime to cover the war in Iraq. We understand on this occasion managing director Russell Balding backed Uechtritz and coverage of the invasion eventually took priority. Levy said yesterday "all decisions about the Iraq war coverage were made by News and Current Affairs and supported by Television".
But it was the ABC's failure last August to cover Howard's election announcement that really raised the alarm that Aunty was off course. Levy said at the time no request was made. But Hamilton had it in writing. Now Levy blames a "miscommunication".
A decision to not take a live feed of the election debate was also controversial. Balding said in a statement, believed to have been influenced by Levy, that it was delayed until 10pm rather than broadcast simultaneously with Nine at 7.30pm to ensure it would "be available to the widest possible audience".
But many ABC TV journalists say giving up the debate to Nine in the name of ratings is a disgrace. "In the past, an inability rather than a lack of determination was behind us missing events," one veteran said. "But I do think now it's become a serious issue. I hate to see the occasions where the commercial networks are knocking us off. I am concerned we are being usurped by Seven and Nine."
So where is Balding in all this? He is an accountant, without any editorial experience, who prefers to let his directors run their divisions. Some sources say Levy is such a powerful figure he is terrified of her. Similarly the ABC board is stacked with Howard Government appointees with largely no experience in broadcasting. It is easy for Levy to intimidate them.
She has centralised decision-making governing commissioning, production and scheduling of programs. While the ABC charter dictates the broadcaster cover all aspects of Australian life from news to children's to drama to arts, Levy has gained a reputation for focusing on light entertainment and drama at the expense of news.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/commo...55E7582,00.html
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>
This is Russell Balding's reponse to that article. Letter to the Editor Monday 18.04.2005.
This is an unedited version of a letter submitted by the Managing Director to the Editor of the Australian.
The Editor
The Australian
Dear Editor
Your article 'Its her ABC' (16/4/05) and editorial (18/4/05) delight in perpetuating the myth that there is a rift between the ABC News and Current Affairs and Television divisions over news items breaking into the schedule.
The ABC has broken into its usual television programming for breaking news on innumerable occasions and will continue to do so where appropriate. In any television scheduling decision the ABC takes into account the needs of its broader audience.
This conflict only appears in the minds of the anonymous 'critics' 'sources' and 'insiders' quoted in the story. It is also quite convenient for commercial media interests to further stoke the flames in an environment where the ABC is experiencing record audiences.
Let me again make it abundantly clear, there is no argument, no rift, no disagreement on this matter between ABC Television and News and Current Affairs Directors. Sandra Levy, Director Television supports interruption of regular programming to broadcast important news items or other significant programming. Both Sandra Levy, and John Cameron, Director News and Current Affairs, are working in concert and have my total support in the way they have conducted themselves. In instances where consideration is given to substantial changes to the ABC's schedule, these matters are referred to me and appropriate decisions are taken.
The decision for not covering live the arrival of the deceased servicemen and women on April 5 was based on sound editorial judgement. The decision was made solely by the Director of News and Current Affairs and supported by me. The event was covered extensively and appropriately on ABC Radio and in later TV news bulletins.
Further, the ABC was the only network to provide full live coverage of last week's formal memorial service for these servicemen and women.
This issue is a media 'insiders' obsession. Their protestations are not echoed by the general public, and most particularly, not by ABC audiences.
Yours sincerely
Russell Balding
Managing Director
#354
modecko
- Group: Members
- Posts: 3,090
- Joined: 17-November 02
- Location:South Coast NSW
Posted 21 April 2005 - 03:45 PM
Verrry interrresting!
There could be something in the commercials (especially Ten who are sometimes losing to Aunty) stirring the pot and it could be as Mr Q often states the ABC should fill niches and areas the commercials don't, so covering the return of the dead servicemen which was covered by two commercials falls into that, and then covering the service later on wheras the commercials didn't also falls into that.
Still appears to me someone high up is making overriding decisions and sometimes not so good ones as far as long term credibiltiy goes, even though the ABC is enjoying a ratings success it hasn't in a long time.
There could be something in the commercials (especially Ten who are sometimes losing to Aunty) stirring the pot and it could be as Mr Q often states the ABC should fill niches and areas the commercials don't, so covering the return of the dead servicemen which was covered by two commercials falls into that, and then covering the service later on wheras the commercials didn't also falls into that.
Still appears to me someone high up is making overriding decisions and sometimes not so good ones as far as long term credibiltiy goes, even though the ABC is enjoying a ratings success it hasn't in a long time.
#355
MelbourneTV
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Posted 21 April 2005 - 05:52 PM
Levy IMO has no right to say what constitute news and what doesnt. The ABC is our national broadcaster and HAS to cover news of national importance when it breaks. No question about it. B1 and B2 can wait.
#356
NewsWorld
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Posted 21 April 2005 - 07:09 PM
MelbourneTV, on Apr 21 2005, 03:52 PM, said:
Levy IMO has no right to say what constitute news and what doesnt. The ABC is our national broadcaster and HAS to cover news of national importance when it breaks. No question about it. B1 and B2 can wait.
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Maybe B1 and B2 can anchor breaking news when it occurs during their timeslot.
With special commentary from Rat in a Hat?
#357
sevennewsbrisbane
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Posted 21 April 2005 - 08:44 PM
Stop trying to get Ehben and you a gig newswall.
#358
NewsWorld
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Posted 21 April 2005 - 08:52 PM
sevennewsbrisbane, on Apr 21 2005, 06:44 PM, said:
Stop trying to get Ehben and you a gig newswall.
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Ah still working on that stand-up routine SNB?
Keep working...
#359
sevennewsbrisbane
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Posted 21 April 2005 - 08:56 PM
ouch
#360 Guest_matt01_*
Posted 21 April 2005 - 09:00 PM
Oh LOL you two!
Well yes it does seem to me that Snadra Levy is somewhat of a 'she-devil' - preoccupied with ratings. That ofcourse SHOULD not be her focus - and infact probably gives cause to argue that under her watch - many alternative programming ideas are being ignored becuase of a pursuit for ratings... but is this in the publics BEST interest???
Well yes it does seem to me that Snadra Levy is somewhat of a 'she-devil' - preoccupied with ratings. That ofcourse SHOULD not be her focus - and infact probably gives cause to argue that under her watch - many alternative programming ideas are being ignored becuase of a pursuit for ratings... but is this in the publics BEST interest???
#361
fox1
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Posted 22 April 2005 - 10:31 AM
echo53, on Apr 21 2005, 06:33 AM, said:
Just where are they at? That statement is vague to me, what do you mean by it?
I'm with Mr Q on the ABC not competing directly with the commercials. If the ABC bought in morning news then they would be competing directly with 2 of the commercials which is a self defeating exercise. Currently the ABC fills childrens niche programming at that time which is not done by any commercials and which is extremely popular by the age groups it is aimed at and by lots of very thankful parents.
I'm going to raise a conspiracy theory here but isn't it more than a coincidence that since Howard appointed Janet Albrechtsen, an avowed ABC hater, to the board these lapses in things which are normal ABC fare have occurred? She stated on getting the appointment she wanted to take the ABC into a completely new direction and I think we are seeing it, a backwards direction.
Having said that though the ABC ratings overall haven't gone down and in fact its news service has beaten Ten and one or two times the other commercials as well in some centres. The long term damage being done to the ABC's reputation is a different matter though.
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I'm with Mr Q on the ABC not competing directly with the commercials. If the ABC bought in morning news then they would be competing directly with 2 of the commercials which is a self defeating exercise. Currently the ABC fills childrens niche programming at that time which is not done by any commercials and which is extremely popular by the age groups it is aimed at and by lots of very thankful parents.
I'm going to raise a conspiracy theory here but isn't it more than a coincidence that since Howard appointed Janet Albrechtsen, an avowed ABC hater, to the board these lapses in things which are normal ABC fare have occurred? She stated on getting the appointment she wanted to take the ABC into a completely new direction and I think we are seeing it, a backwards direction.
Having said that though the ABC ratings overall haven't gone down and in fact its news service has beaten Ten and one or two times the other commercials as well in some centres. The long term damage being done to the ABC's reputation is a different matter though.
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cool they beat Ten News!!!!!
It doesn't matter if there are 2 AM shows. this is ABC. and this would be very very different to Today and Sunrise. also: just because their last efforts failed doesn't mean too much. They don't need to do full 3 hours at breakfast. Ten does do childrens' programming in the morning just to clarify that. I'd argue for 6-7am news from ABC, but a lot better than any previous ABC breakfast news.
#362
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Posted 22 April 2005 - 10:53 AM
Thought you would raise this. Tens morning children's programming is for an entirely different age group and they show entirely different types of shows specifically aimed at a young preteen demographic which ABC does not (until the afternoon when they switch to a mixture of younger and older children's programs). If the ABC were to replace their morning children's programs with news then a whole bunch of pre and very early school children will miss out so I don't see this happening.
The only type of early morning news I see the ABC doing would be something along the lines of their Midday effort which would absolutely fail, look at Nine's Early Morning News which is similar and a disaster.
Just hit me, what might work is a breakfast news show aimed at kids. Something like an expanded BTN or an ABC Sunrise hosted by teens and preteens with news and stories focused on things that effect kids. Even bringing on pollies for interviews etc. would work in this format and it woud be a breeding ground for future presenters and journalists, something the ABC already does well.
It also fills a niche not covered by the commercials, which meets the criteria of them not directly competing. Wouldn't be cheap but would certainly be less expensive than Sunrise and way less than Today, who already have a big kid doing the weather.
The only type of early morning news I see the ABC doing would be something along the lines of their Midday effort which would absolutely fail, look at Nine's Early Morning News which is similar and a disaster.
Just hit me, what might work is a breakfast news show aimed at kids. Something like an expanded BTN or an ABC Sunrise hosted by teens and preteens with news and stories focused on things that effect kids. Even bringing on pollies for interviews etc. would work in this format and it woud be a breeding ground for future presenters and journalists, something the ABC already does well.
It also fills a niche not covered by the commercials, which meets the criteria of them not directly competing. Wouldn't be cheap but would certainly be less expensive than Sunrise and way less than Today, who already have a big kid doing the weather.
#363
Mr Q
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Posted 22 April 2005 - 10:59 AM
echo53, on Apr 22 2005, 10:53 AM, said:
Just hit me, what might work is a breakfast news show aimed at kids. Something like an expanded BTN or an ABC Sunrise hosted by teens and preteens with news and stories focused on things that effect kids. Even bringing on pollies for interviews etc. would work in this format and it woud be a breeding ground for future presenters and journalists, something the ABC already does well.
It also fills a niche not covered by the commercials, which meets the criteria of them not directly competing. Wouldn't be cheap but would certainly be less expensive than Sunrise and way less than Today, who already have a big kid doing the weather.
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It also fills a niche not covered by the commercials, which meets the criteria of them not directly competing. Wouldn't be cheap but would certainly be less expensive than Sunrise and way less than Today, who already have a big kid doing the weather.
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Well - that might work - but then once again, the pre-school and primary school kids will miss out. There might be relevance for older children - I doubt though it's the sort of viewing that the toddlers would enjoy.
In the end, thanks to ABC2, the ABC already is offering a distinctive breakfast service - you can see a replay of Lateline from the night before. Now, admittedly, that's not up-to-the-minute news - but it's far more indepth than anything you'll see on Today or Sunrise.
#364
fox1
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Posted 22 April 2005 - 11:07 AM
echo53, on Apr 22 2005, 10:53 AM, said:
Thought you would raise this.
I just said that for the sake of clarifying. like i said.......! if I read this: "Currently the ABC fills childrens niche programming at that time which is not done by any commercials" blind freddy can see that it makes sense to clarify that
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Tens morning children's programming is for an entirely different age group and they show entirely different types of shows specifically aimed at a young preteen demographic which ABC does not (until the afternoon when they switch to a mixture of younger and older children's programs). If the ABC were to replace their morning children's programs with news then a whole bunch of pre and very early school children will miss out so I don't see this happening.
great. not talking about replacing the morning schedule.
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The only type of early morning news I see the ABC doing would be something along the lines of their Midday effort which would absolutely fail, look at Nine's Early Morning News which is similar and a disaster.
9's early news is 9's early news. no Midday-type program either. They can do well with 6-7am "just-right" news
Quote
Just hit me, what might work is a breakfast news show aimed at kids. Something like an expanded BTN or an ABC Sunrise hosted by teens and preteens with news and stories focused on things that effect kids. Even bringing on pollies for interviews etc. would work in this format and it woud be a breeding ground for future presenters and journalists, something the ABC already does well.
It also fills a niche not covered by the commercials, which meets the criteria of them not directly competing. Wouldn't be cheap but would certainly be less expensive than Sunrise and way less than Today, who already have a big kid doing the weather.
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It also fills a niche not covered by the commercials, which meets the criteria of them not directly competing. Wouldn't be cheap but would certainly be less expensive than Sunrise and way less than Today, who already have a big kid doing the weather.
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.......................
#366
NewsWorld
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Posted 22 April 2005 - 11:44 AM
echo53, on Apr 22 2005, 09:26 AM, said:
...and you believe a serious ABC morning news program up against Sunrise and Today wouldn't ?
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But then again the ABC is there to offer an alternative... and should they be obsessed with ratings anyway?
I think the ABC would be doing the right thing offering a serious breakfast alternative... and no this is not an implied criticism of Sunrise :sarcastic:
It's got nothing to do with ratings directly.. so whether it bombs or not audience wise is irrelevant.. what is relevant is division of resources and funding.. can the ABC justify using the money at breakfast instead of somewhere else.. that's your debate.
#368
MelbourneTV
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Posted 22 April 2005 - 12:38 PM
NewsWorld, on Apr 21 2005, 07:09 PM, said:
Maybe B1 and B2 can anchor breaking news when it occurs during their timeslot.
With special commentary from Rat in a Hat?
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With special commentary from Rat in a Hat?
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Hey if it gets the idiots running the network to commit to news then why not.
#369
Kent Brockman
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Posted 22 April 2005 - 06:56 PM
NewsWorld, on Apr 22 2005, 12:44 PM, said:
But then again the ABC is there to offer an alternative... and should they be obsessed with ratings anyway?
I think the ABC would be doing the right thing offering a serious breakfast alternative... and no this is not an implied criticism of Sunrise :sarcastic:
It's got nothing to do with ratings directly.. so whether it bombs or not audience wise is irrelevant.. what is relevant is division of resources and funding.. can the ABC justify using the money at breakfast instead of somewhere else.. that's your debate.
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I think the ABC would be doing the right thing offering a serious breakfast alternative... and no this is not an implied criticism of Sunrise :sarcastic:
It's got nothing to do with ratings directly.. so whether it bombs or not audience wise is irrelevant.. what is relevant is division of resources and funding.. can the ABC justify using the money at breakfast instead of somewhere else.. that's your debate.
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The ABC's role IS NOT to provide an alternative to the commercial networks - this is the argument which is put about by the Federal Government. The role of the ABC is to inform, educate and entertain all Australians. Personally I would like to see the ABC again running a rolling news bulletin at breakfast seven days - like the original Sunrise - but the money is spent elsewhere and it is not considered a priority. Plus they can see more ratings at breakfast with kids programming up against Ten. Ultimo is close to being a 24 hour operation in any case so perhaps one day.
#370
NewsWorld
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Posted 22 April 2005 - 07:01 PM
Kent Brockman, on Apr 22 2005, 04:56 PM, said:
The ABC's role IS NOT to provide an alternative to the commercial networks - this is the argument which is put about by the Federal Government. The role of the ABC is to inform, educate and entertain all Australians. Personally I would like to see the ABC again running a rolling news bulletin at breakfast seven days - like the original Sunrise - but the money is spent elsewhere and it is not considered a priority. Plus they can see more ratings at breakfast with kids programming up against Ten. Ultimo is close to being a 24 hour operation in any case so perhaps one day.
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Hmmm well.. don't agree with you on that.
There is little point in the ABC providing a service identical to that provided by the commercial sector.
Indeed, the BBC is facing this very arguement in Britain... and has recently reviewed its programming emhhasis so that it is developing programmes not seen on commercial TV.
However, a rolling news bulletin at breakfast would be an alternative and there I believe it's a good idea.
