🚀 go-pugleaf

In <31f02c67.2756796@news.mel.aone.net.au> douglas.buckser@acslink.aone.net.au (doug buckser) writes:
>It's my understanding that the ABC receives over $500,000,000 each
>year.  If it needs even more money than this to create some decent
>shows, then I would think that there is a serious management and staff
>problem.

The 500-million you speak of (even if accurate) should be taken in 
context.

That not only funds ABC-TV, but 7 radio networks, 6 symphony orchestras,
and a myriad of other functions.

I will concede that there is some wastage in the ABC .. but significantly
less than is commonly believed.

Consider .. for less than the operating costs of Network 10 & its 
affiliates, the ABC brings 
* domestic television to almost all the nation,
* a window on Australia to Asia via ATV & Radio Australia, 
* Metro radio for capital city markets, 
* Regional Radio for the bush, 
* Classic FM (the only chance outside the big three cities to hear quality 
  music), 
* TripleJ nationwide (or close, anyway), 
* Radio National, to canvass the issues that no-one else does, 
* Parliamentary broadcasts & Australia's only continuous rolling news 
  format (cap-cities only), and
* Symphony orchestras which would simply cease to exist without ABC support.

And that's without even mentioning the only news that can really say it
operates without fear or favor. I know some don't like the ABC's alleged 
bias .. but ask yourself .. what would Australia be like without the ABC?

I worked in commercial radio/TV  for 15 years, and know how many stories I 
was forced to pull because it may impact on the station's bottom line. 
I do NOT want to see the same happen to the ABC.

Yes, I work for the ABC (and hence my views must be seen in that light)
but I also spent a decade-and-a-half in the commercial radio/TV sector, as
well as managing a community radio station.

And for those who believe the ABC is a hotbed of labor-leaning pinkos ..
consider that the previous Labor government also attacked the ABC .. 
because it had the temerity to question decisions.

Even Bob Katter, not noted for his left-wing views, has conceded that an
independent ABC is about the only genuinely independent news source.

Believe me, the issue of the ABC's independence is vital to democracy in 
this country.
 
(NB .. on this, as on all issues, I speak _not_ for the ABC)


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