4738 replies to this topic

[NewsWeary]

"THE ABC's plan to launch in the next few months a 24-hour national television news service amounts to a taxpayer-funded declaration of war on commercial media outlets in Australia...".

http://www.theaustra...o-1225820145075

[BJT]

didnt see this one coming for some time... i hope this happends, i really do!

[Happy_aussie]

"THE ABC's plan to launch in the next few months a 24-hour national television news service amounts to a taxpayer-funded declaration of war on commercial media outlets in Australia...".

http://www.theaustra...o-1225820145075

I am just wondering were they could fit it. Another SD channel in their mux and it would be un watchable. Just with ABC3 all the channels look like u tube

[The Sportsman]

No question at all that the ABC should run a 24 hour news channel. With its worldwide resources and team of reporters it is the only Australian network or news organisation capable of doing it properly. Jiust as there is no question at all that DFAT should continue the ABC contract for the overseas service and dismiss Sky News submission as just a money grab by News Ltd. How can News ltd argue that the ABC should not have a taxpayer funded 24 hour news service and at the same time argue that $94m of taxpayer funds should go to Sky News to fund its expansion? illogical argument. Keep Murdoch's hands off public money. Sky can't even do what it's doing now with any decent quality. Those pathetic Brisbane-Adelaide-Melbourne-Perth "bureaux" with their fixed cameras are a joke. Is that what Sky would serve up to the world? Let's hope the politicians aren't swayed by the blatant propaganda that The Australian runs.

[AndrewB]

I am just wondering were they could fit it. Another SD channel in their mux and it would be un watchable. Just with ABC3 all the channels look like u tube

Have always thought they could perhaps use the so far unused third SBS channel for ABC4 so ABC4 comes through with SBS's mux thus eliminating the problem of the low qulaity that 4 SD channels would cause. Otherwsie they'd have to consider not offering an HD channel.

[Cyril Washbrook]

didnt see this one coming for some time... i hope this happends, i really do!

Well, it's been "coming" for about two years now. Scott's been talking endlessly about the possibility of launching one, although not particularly deeply in the public square.

Note that this article is opinion, not news: no announcements have been made, no specific, new developments have been revealed, and the feasibility of the idea is still being fleshed out within the ABC itself.

[plum damage]

Well, it's been "coming" for about two years now. Scott's been talking endlessly about the possibility of launching one, although not particularly deeply in the public square.

Note that this article is opinion, not news: no announcements have been made, no specific, new developments have been revealed, and the feasibility of the idea is still being fleshed out within the ABC itself.

Scott was waiting for confirm additional funding for ABC4 (News) prior to going ahead with it and has been putting a case in the media as recently as late last year for an international presence. It's all about cash which 12 motnhs ago we thought was all gone.

[SA TV]

an ABC News channel would really put pressure on Sky to lift it's game, would be good though I fear they'll have to do it on the cheap (ala Astralian Network News)

[antzzz]

Excellent news from the ABC - although they really need a bit more spectrum to keep the visual quality up.

However, regarding Australia Television - yes, the ABC is perfectly suited to provide this platform - but don't diss Sky News Australia, they're doing some excellent stuff over there, and its great to see that they're showing real initiative with what they've done. Sure, they're not perfect - but the motivation is right.

[The Sportsman]

Excellent news from the ABC - although they really need a bit more spectrum to keep the visual quality up.

However, regarding Australia Television - yes, the ABC is perfectly suited to provide this platform - but don't diss Sky News Australia, they're doing some excellent stuff over there, and its great to see that they're showing real initiative with what they've done. Sure, they're not perfect - but the motivation is right.

First, no-one should take Sky News seriously as a bidder for the overseas service. Their interstate bureaus are dreadful - is that what we want to show the rest of the world? Take a look at their website and their ticker - riddled with spelling mistakes. There has been no improvement in Sky News for years - apart from producing endless numbers of political talk shows.

Secondly, I heard today that the ABC channel is happening and they have started hiring people already. One producer from Channel 10 and one from Channel 7 that I've heard about.

Keep taxpayer funds for the national broadcaster - don't let News Limited suck off the public purse!

[TGIF]

It wouldn't be the first time they've bidded for the contract, antzzz, in fact the reason that it's called the Australia Network now is because of stipulations in the last round of bidding. Sky News have produced shows for the channel previously, when it was run by Seven I think.

I think Mark Scott confirmed the plans for a 24 hour news channel a while back. I don't remember anything specifically but he said they'd be able to do it without more government money because of the savings they were making by moving to automation and so on. Of course that all worked out really well for ABC Kids and fly TV back in the day..

I do agree though that a bit of competition in 24-hour news would be a good thing. Of course were it ever to happen, Murdoch's papers would no doubt scream blue murder about it; The Australian in particular seems to act as though it's the publicity wing of ANC

[Moe]

This will kill off Ten's plans if they were indeed real for their own news channel.

[NewsWeary]

First, no-one should take Sky News seriously as a bidder for the overseas service. Their interstate bureaus are dreadful - is that what we want to show the rest of the world? Take a look at their website and their ticker - riddled with spelling mistakes. There has been no improvement in Sky News for years - apart from producing endless numbers of political talk shows.

Secondly, I heard today that the ABC channel is happening and they have started hiring people already. One producer from Channel 10 and one from Channel 7 that I've heard about.

Keep taxpayer funds for the national broadcaster - don't let News Limited suck off the public purse!

I'm disappointed Sky News hasn't grown to the extent that it should have by now. It has been nearly 14 years. They still cannibalise Seven, Nine, CBS, ABC (USA) and Sky UK far too heavily for content. Speers and Gilbert (the Batman and Robin of the press gallery) do an excellent job with few resources, as do the other talent. That's Sky's problem... lack of resources and lack of investment. These interstate bureaus just don't deliver and you can tell that it's a cut price operation. Even the sets look like they've been knocked together in somebody's backyard. Doesn't instill confidence in the viewer which is why I'll continue to turn to ABC local radio for my news hits.

Edited by NewsWeary, 16 January 2010 - 08:25 PM.

[TGIF]

It'll be interesting to see if these eventuate to be much more than what we've already seen with ABC2 Breakfast- that was, after all, meant to be a template for an ABC 24-hour news service.

This will kill off Ten's plans if they were indeed real for their own news channel.

I didn't know if these plans were anything more than a pipe dream?

[Moe]

I didn't know if these plans were anything more than a pipe dream?

Well you get the occasional poster who thinks it is a done deal, I think Ten would be the last station to waste a multichannel on news, considering how bad their other two channels rate. Amusingly it will be nearly 8 years since the start of SBS WNC that an actual English language news channel starts on FTA. We do progress quickly here.

I just hope the ABC don't follow Sky down the path of having too much in the way of sports news. Money wise, I think there can't be too much more to spend, they have most of the infrastructure, minus a set or two, they have more than enough talented people and they already do most of the news gathering for Online and Radio. They can always take BBC World overnight if they can't do a local channel 24 hours a day.

Edited by Moe, 17 January 2010 - 12:06 AM.

[Fyturis]

Speaking of ABC4 two months ago I was looking through Youtube and I saw an ABC4 Watermark I dismissed it initially but now this has popped up I think it might have some relevance.

[antzzz]

I don't get why you're all so dark on Sky News Australia? Yeah, they're bureaus aren't flash, they're reporters aren't *the best*, but they're getting there - sure its taken a while - don't blame that on ANC, blame that on Seven and Nine!

Its only been the last few years that ANC has grown, and they're heading in the right direction.

Anyway, I would really like to see repeats of Today Tonight, ACA, Sunday Night and 60 Minutes (back) on Sky News Australia, even if its just overnight...

[7HD]

Have always thought they could perhaps use the so far unused third SBS channel for ABC4 so ABC4 comes through with SBS's mux thus eliminating the problem of the low qulaity that 4 SD channels would cause. Otherwsie they'd have to consider not offering an HD channel.

Get real,
SBS won't even allow ABC to use part of their MUX.
ABC should kill off ABC Low Definition (Former 720p Channel) and maybe their near Mono quality Dig stations on their MUX.

ABC4 News...i'd rather watch paint dry if news will be like that "Cheap C31 style on ABC2 News Breakfast"

[Mike]

If ABC News 24 would be anything like their midday news and Australia News, all stale bulletins then why bother? Sky already does that but slightly more appealing.

[Dorcas]

If ABC News 24 would be anything like their midday news and Australia News, all stale bulletins then why bother? Sky already does that but slightly more appealing.

But an ABC 24 hour news channel would be nothing like the midday news. The ABC has the strongest line-up of reporters right around Australia, as well as overseas. It already comes up with the best domestic and international news coverage. It would be vastly superior to Sky because it would have vastly superior resources. Just think how it could draw on the expertise of specialist reporters and existing programs (like Landline, 7.30 Report, Four Corners). And instead of those empty-headed lightweight US programs that Sky runs, you could have re-runs of programs like Landline. The ABC also has more credibility than any other news service (although SBS is up there too.)