through australian eyes · World Cup rugby union and tennis, broadcast nationally across Local...
Transcript of through australian eyes · World Cup rugby union and tennis, broadcast nationally across Local...
Seda DouglasBroadcaster Radio AustraliaCambodian-born Seda Douglas is an original
member of the Khmer Program Unit in Radio
Australia—the ABC’s international radio service.
‘I had a good job and it was a very big decision
for me to move to the ABC but it was something
I felt I was doing for my home country and still
serving Australia, my adopted land.’
Seda’s father and five siblings were killed under
the murderous regime of Pol Pot and the
Khmer Rouge. She and the rest of the family
escaped and spent four years in a refugee
camp in Thailand before coming to Australia.
‘Radio journalism was not something I thought
of doing when I was young,’ she says, ‘I wanted
to be a doctor or a lawyer.’ However, Seda
felt ‘a sense of responsibility for my country
because I had left it by force not by choice.
I also wanted to make a small contribution to
the people here who have always been so
friendly and helpful. This job gives me the
opportunity.’
Seda and her three colleagues present news
and current affairs reports, and package feature
programs. ‘We were trained to be producers
and studio operators as well as presenters. It’s
an interesting job. Every day there is something
happening and you talk to such a range of
people.’
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through australian eyes
everyone’s
australians overseas
awareness
our neighbours are listening
understanding
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In November 2003, ABC Radio opened its
60th Local Radio station, 92.5 ABC Central
Coast, at Erina in New South Wales. The new
service was made possible by the provision of
a new transmitter servicing the Gosford/Central
Coast region and National Interest Initiatives
(NII) funding. A new local weekday afternoon
program provides a voice for the region and an
estimated 780 hours per annum of additional
local ABC programming. 702 ABC Sydney is
carried for the remainder of the day. The station
is located in a shopping centre and is the
first ABC service to be collocated with an
ABC Shop.
Another National Interest Initiative, 107.9
ABC Ballarat was officially launched in July
with a community Open Day at the station.
In March 2004, ABC Radio relocated its Mid
North Coast New South Wales studios from
Kempsey to Port Macquarie bringing them
closer to the centre of regional business and
community activity. With a Radio News post
in Coffs Harbour, the new location strengthens
ABC Radio’s ability to better serve the whole
Mid North Coast region.
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ABC Radio
Director of Radio
Sue Howard worked in the publishing industry and as a teacher before joining
the ABC as a radio presenter in 1986. Prior to taking a management role in
1995, she was a broadcaster with Radio National, ABC Classic FM and Local
Radio. Sue was appointed Director of ABC Radio in July 2000.
Sue Howard
Local Radio’s 60th station, 92.5 ABC CentralCoast, opened in November 2003 at Erina inNew South Wales.
In June, following extensive community
consultation, new transmission arrangements
were introduced by Local Radio in the Northern
Territory to provide more relevant programming
to local audiences. The Top End is now serviced
by 105.7 ABC Darwin, while 783 ABC Central
Australia broadcasts from Alice Springs to
communities south of Newcastle Waters.
ABC NewsRadio was launched in Launceston
in September 2003, increasing the network’s
potential reach in Tasmania by approximately
130 000 listeners.
The Internet music service, dig, also available
on digital television, continued to build audience
in its first full year of operation with average
weekly page accesses of more than 122 000
in 2003-04.
ABC Radio is participating in two digital radio
trials in Sydney and Melbourne conducted
by Digital Radio Broadcasting Australia
(a consortium of Commercial Radio Australia,
the ABC and SBS) and Broadcast Australia
respectively. ABC Classic FM and dig are
carried on both trial services and ABC
NewsRadio is also carried in Melbourne.
New Australian ContentThe ABC Radio Regional Production Fund (RPF),
established as a National Interest Initiative in
2001, continued to identify and showcase new
talent in regional Australia. In 2003-04, the
RPF commissioned more than 120 hours of
new Australian content. Since 2001, the total
amount of original content commissioned from
regional Australia has exceeded 300 hours.
More than 50% of this content has been
regional arts programming profiling regional
writers, composers, musicians, poets and
performers.
In its second year, the RPF Fresh Air project
invited unsigned, unpublished artists from
regional Australia to submit broadcast-quality
recordings of their music; selected artists then
received airplay on ABC Radio. The first two of
a series of live Fresh Air concerts featuring the
successful artists were held at Port Macquarie
and Bundaberg. Further concerts across
regional Australia are planned.
Short Stories 2004 called for regionally-based
writers to submit unpublished works, with
winning stories produced and broadcast on ABC
Radio. The winning stories were also published
online on a site featuring transcripts and audio-
on-demand readings of the stories. In its third
year, Short Stories 2004 attracted more than
2 000 entries.
Australian MusicABC Radio exceeded its Australian music
performance targets on all networks in 2003-04.
The amount of Australian music played on each
network was: Radio National 28.3%; Local Radio
31.5%; triple j 42.76%; ABC Classic FM 34%;
and dig 41.2%.
In 2003-04, ABC Classic FM broadcast
11% Australian composition, less than its 12%
annual target. The network appointed composer
Stephen Adams as Australian Music Curator to
advocate and assist in the programming of
Australian music composition. The Curator will
play a critical role in assisting ABC Classic FM
to raise its level of Australian composition.
Local Radio launched the Oztrax website
in February to promote Australian music and
performance. Oztrax provides over 100 tracks
as music-on-demand, together with background
information and photographs of performers.
This resource will grow as musicians submit
more music for consideration.
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ABC Radio (continued)
This year triple j’s unearthed initiative, which
seeks unsigned Australian musical talent,
focussed on the Northern Territory, New South
Wales and Queensland, with concerts in each
capital city that attracted capacity audiences.
Winners supported high-profile local bands
and their performances were broadcast live
on triple j’s Australian music program Home
& Hosed. This year, unearthed attracted
approximately 3 800 entries in total, around
1 600 of which were submitted online through
a new MP3 upload facility on the triple j website.
This facility enables entrants to upload their
tracks and profiles, giving audiences
opportunities to listen to all entries and read
about the artists throughout the duration of
the competition.
ArtsGreek Imprints: Olympic Odyssey was launched
on Radio National in March to explore and
celebrate ancient and contemporary Greek
culture and its presence in the Australian
multicultural context in the lead-up to the
Olympic Games in Athens.
In partnership with the Houston Grand Opera,
ABC Classic FM broadcast La Traviata, featuring
the title role debut of internationally-renowned
American soprano Renée Fleming, and the world
premiere of Rachel Portman’s The Little Prince,
based on the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry book,
featuring the tenor Teddy Tahu Rhodes.
Moffatt Oxenbould, former artistic director
of Opera Australia and a major figure in
the development of opera in Australia, was
appointed as presenter of ABC Classic FM’s
Sunday Night Opera. His unique passion
for opera and his wealth of knowledge and
involvement in the development of opera in
Australia over more than 40 years adds
great benefit to listeners.
In 2003-04, triple j continued its strong
partnership of the NOISE festival, a Federal
Government and Australia Council initiative
profiling the work of young, creative Australians.
Broadcast HighlightsLocal Radio across Australia hosted a special
broadcast to commemorate the first anniversary
of the Bali bombing on 12 October 2003. The
program, presented by Jon Faine, included live
crosses to the ABC’s Indonesia correspondent
Tim Palmer and reporter Mark Bowling at the
Memorial Service in Bali, as well as interviews
and tributes from survivors and friends and
families of victims.
The funeral services of some well-known
Australians were broadcast live on Local Radio
and streamed online through The Backyard.
Across Australia, the funeral service for
R.M. Williams was broadcast from ABC
Toowoomba, while Slim Dusty’s State funeral
was broadcast from St Andrew’s Cathedral in
Sydney by Saturday Night Country presenter
John Nutting and Richard Glover from 702
ABC Sydney’s Drive program.
In Queensland, Local Radio broadcast the State
funeral of one of Australia’s last remaining original
World War One Diggers, Ted Smout, who died
in Brisbane at the age of 106. The State funeral
of former Tasmanian Premier Jim Bacon was
broadcast on Local Radio throughout Tasmania.
936 ABC Hobart Morning presenter Tim Cox
hosted the funeral service in Hobart’s Federation
Concert Hall and Breakfast presenter Ric
Patterson delivered the broadcast commentary.
Tony Delroy presented Nightlife from Tasmania
capturing the celebrations of the wedding of
Mary Donaldson to Crown Prince Frederik of
Denmark. 936 ABC Hobart Breakfast’s Ric
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Patterson filed reports into the program from
the ceremony and celebrations in Denmark.
Radio National’s Late Night Live travelled to the
Solomon Islands to record a series of programs
involving major political and cultural figures,
including the Prime Minister, Sir Allen Kemakeza,
as well as the civilian and police leaders from
the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission
to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI).
The 2003 Boyer Lectures were broadcast on
Radio National featuring International Affairs
expert Owen Harries. The lectures took a
timely look at the world’s only superpower,
the United States, and generated wide-ranging
critical discussion in the media and significant
audience interest.
In May 2004, Radio National launched
Counterpoint, a program which examines social,
economic and cultural issues in Australian life.
Presented by publisher and newspaper columnist
Michael Duffy, the program aims to challenge
assumptions and introduce some new and
seldom-heard commentators.
The major sporting highlights for 2003-04 were
World Cup rugby union and tennis, broadcast
nationally across Local Radio.
After lengthy negotiations, ABC Radio Sport
finalised agreement with the Rugby World Cup
for the Australian non-commercial radio rights.
All matches involving Australia, the semi-finals
and grand final, were broadcast nationally with
selected matches broadcast to local audiences.
Rights were acquired to broadcast the Davis
Cup tennis semi-final between Australia and
Switzerland in Melbourne in September and more
than 30 hours of commentary was provided
from the 2004 Australian Open Tennis. Radio
Sport is negotiating with Tennis Australia for
a Radio Broadcasting and Online agreement
to cover the Australian Open in 2005, 2006
and 2007, and for the first time, at the BBC’s
invitation, an ABC Radio Sport commentator
(Quentin Hull) joined the BBC commentary
team for the 2004 Wimbledon Championships.
For the 2003-04 Australian Cricket season,
former Australian Cricket captains, Greg Chappell
and Kim Hughes joined the ABC Radio Sport
team of Jim Maxwell, Glenn Mitchell and
Roger Wills.
Co-Productions/PartnershipsFor the second year in a row, Radio National
co-produced documentary series with the BBC
World Service. The five-part series Children of
Heaven visited Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam
and Japan to explore how traditional Asian
family values survive in communities sharing
the common and controversial heritage of
Confucianism. The fifth program, ‘Australia’s
Asian Way’, looked at multi-generational Asian
communities in Australia.
Radio National continued its partnership with
the Commonwealth Department of Industry,
Science and Technology which provides funding
to support cross-media production skills training
for new graduate scientists, and yearly
fellowships for mid-career scientists. The
aim is to improve communication skills and
facilitate a better understanding between the
science community, the public, industry and
the media.
triple j is a media partner for the British
Council Australia’s Realise Your Dream
competition which aims to provide opportunities
for development for Australia’s most talented
people aged 18 to 24. Three winners will
each receive an award valued at $10 000,
including a four-week trip to the UK.
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Community Focus105.7 ABC Darwin and Territory Radio captured
the atmosphere, anticipation and excitement
of the inaugural journey of The Ghan from
Adelaide to Darwin. Four outside broadcasts
were conducted from Alice Springs to Darwin
culminating in the ‘Don’t Miss the Train’
broadcast tracking the train’s progress on
the final part of the journey into Darwin.
774 ABC Melbourne and Victorian Local
Radio launched a three year community project,
Get Involved, encouraging listeners to participate
in their communities in a range of capacities.
Various groups have been selected as Get
Involved partners including the Country Fire
Authority, Victorian State Emergency Services,
Sharecare Respite Care, Foster Care,
Palliative Care, the Bendigo Brass Band
and Lifecare Ballarat.
In 2004, triple j’s Splendour Comes to You
competition invited country towns across
Australia to compete to win a live, free concert
featuring three Australian bands—Powderfinger,
Magic Dirt and Jet—from the Byron Bay
Splendour in the Grass Festival. Entrants
submitted a homemade souvenir representing
their community and over 50 entries were
received. Singleton in New South Wales was
the winning town and attracted approximately
16 000 people to their concert.
Heywire: the ABC Gives Regional Youth a Voice
entered its sixth year in 2004 and to date has
attracted the views of over 2 000 young
Australians, with 200 of their stories produced
and broadcast on ABC Radio. Heywire 2003
attracted a record number of 689 entries. ABC
Radio was disappointed by the withdrawal of
long-time supporter, the Federal Department
of Regional Services, Territories and Local
Government. However, it welcomes the
Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Forestry, which has joined the Rural
Industries Research and Development
Corporation and the Australian Institute
of Sport as major supporters of Heywire.
Local Radio Victoria and the Victorian
Emergency Services signed a Memorandum
of Understanding committing the organisations
to work more closely together. This followed
the recommendation of the Victorian Emergency
Services Commissioner’s inquiry into the 2003
bushfires that emergency services work more
closely with the ABC to assist people
during disasters.
During floods in the wake of Tropical Cyclone
Grace, ABC Far North Queensland (Cairns)
provided information to affected communities,
including up-to-date information on the state
of roads, latest rainfall figures and other
emergency information.
ABC Classic FM’s Grab The Goanna
competition, open to all primary and secondary
schools across Australia, was launched in
March with a live-to-air concert featuring two
young pianists from the Sydney Conservatorium
of Music. The competition runs every four
years in conjunction with the Sydney International
Piano Competition and it requires schools to
answer seven questions about ABC Classic
FM, and provide a written reason why they
would benefit from the prize—a new piano.
Looking aheadIn 2004-05, ABC Radio will again provide
comprehensive Olympic Games coverage
from Athens in August 2004. Building on the
success of dig, two new specialist music
streams, dig country and dig jazz will be
launched in late 2004.
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ABC Radio (continued)
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Director of Television
Sandra Levy was appointed the Director of Television in June 2001. She has
an impressive list of production credits, including A Difficult Woman, Come
In Spinner, True Believers, Police Rescue, Secret Mens Business and GP,
as well as feature films Serenades, The Well and High Tide.
Sandra was part of the independent production house Southern Star for ten
years and before that was ABC Head of Drama from 1986 to 1989. She has
served as a board member with the Australian Film Finance Corporation, the
Australian Film Commission and the Australian Film Television and Radio
School. She is on the Board of the Sydney Theatre Company and the NSW
Cultural Management Committee.
Sandra Levy
ABC TelevisionABC Television provides a comprehensive public
broadcast service of high quality, diversity and
innovation. It offers audiences the widest range
of genres on free-to-air television. In 2003-04,
its distinctive mix of arts, entertainment and
information attracted record audiences:
average prime time household share was 17.8%,
the highest recorded since the introduction of
‘people meters’ in 1991. Record shares were
also achieved in every capital city, with Perth
recording the highest share of 19.6%.
In 2003-04, 51 programs attracted metropolitan
audiences of over one million; of these 17 were
Australian. In 2002-03, a total of 18 programs
attracted this level of audience, six of them
Australian.
Australian ContentABC Television has adopted a strategy of
focussing limited resources to increase levels of
Australian content during peak viewing times.
Australian content comprised 54% of prime time
(6pm to midnight) programming, an increase
on 53.5% in 2002-03. Similarly, the level of
first release Australian content between 6pm
and midnight increased to 48%, compared
with 46.7% in 2002-03. Repeat Australian
programs comprised 6% of hours broadcast,
a decrease on the 2002-03 figure of 6.8%.
Correspondingly, Australian content between
6am and midnight decreased slightly to 48%,
lower than the previous year’s level of 52%.
First release content during these times was
29%, compared to 32% in 2002-03; repeat
content was 19%, compared to 20%
in 2002-03.
Genre DiversityChildren’sABC Television continued to be Australia’s
most comprehensive and diverse free-to-air
broadcaster of children’s and pre-school
children’s programs. Providing quality viewing
according to need, age and maturity is
paramount in the production and programming
of this genre.
ABC Television (continued)
In 2003-04, 1 882 hours of children’s television
were broadcast, an increase of 105 hours
compared with 2002-03. This figure included
418 hours of Australian children’s programs.
In morning children’s timeslots, ABC Television
recorded a 63% share of the 0-12 audience,
an increase of 13% over 2002-03. In the
afternoon audience share was 62%, an
increase of 6%. The ABC had 99 of the top
100 children’s programs, improving on its
2002-03 achievement of 98 programs.
Three Australian series premiered: Noah
and Saskia, Bootleg, and Backyard Science.
A series about the cyberspace friendship
between an Australian teenager and her English
counterpart, Noah and Saskia achieved an
average share of the target 5-12 audience of
almost 60%. Creature Features and repeats
of Australian series continued to be popular,
including The Saddle Club, Round the Twist
and Ocean Girl.
FactualWeekly series included Feedback, Media
Watch and Gardening Australia. Dimensions
changed its title to George Negus Tonight and
continued to cover a diverse range of subjects.
A significant proportion of the series is produced
outside Sydney and Melbourne. New series
included Kylie Kwong: Heart and Soul (cooking)
and Surfing the Menu (food, travel and adventure).
DocumentaryThe Reality Bites strand broadcast more than
40 half-hours of Australian documentary series.
Twenty-seven of these episodes were produced
with the independent sector. The series average
household share was 19.8%, an increase of
3.2 percentage points over the 2002-03
timeslot average.
In 2004, a new documentary timeslot premiered
on Wednesdays at 9.30pm creating an evening
of factual television. Australian documentaries
included Dhakiyarr vs the King, a story of two
laws, two cultures and two families; and The
Mascot, which explored how a five-year old
Jewish orphan became a poster boy for the
Nazi ideal.
Sunday evening history continued to showcase
landmark series with strong dramatic narratives.
Highlights were the Australian music series
Love Is In The Air, which celebrated pop music
and its role in Australian culture, and the British
series Seven Wonders of the Industrial World,
which documented 19th and 20th century
engineering achievements. In 2003-04, this
series achieved a peak audience of 1 723 250.
Drama and ComedyABC Television broadcast 457 hours of
first-release drama programs, a considerable
increase on 370 hours in 2002-03. Australian
first release drama also increased from 31
to 49 hours.
Australian drama broadcast was diverse in
both subject and format. Long-form series
were well represented by the return of the
medico-legal series MDA, and the premiere
of Fireflies, about life in a small rural community.
This series premiered with a household share of
40%, but averaged only 14.5% as audiences
declined over the series’ run.
In 2003, two mini-series were broadcast to
critical acclaim: contemporary drama Marking
Time, which tells the story of a young man’s
coming of age, and The Shark Net, set in late
1950s Perth, which explored themes of lost
innocence and guilt. The series gained an
average share of 31.9% in Perth, well above
the 2002-03 timeslot average of 18.5%.
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In 2004, the telemovie Loot, about a forensic
accountant, gained an audience of over
one million.
Angels in America, the multi-award winning
American series linking interconnected stories
of relationships, religion and politics, was
screened over three consecutive nights. This
landmark six-hour television event gained an
average household share of 18.5%; each night’s
share was an improvement on the 2002-03
timeslot average.
ABC Television’s Kath and Kim (Series 2)
proved an exceptional success with critics
and audiences. The final episode earned an
average share of 37.9% and 2.15 million viewers,
making it 2003’s top rating comedy program
on Australian television. Series three of Kath
and Kim will be broadcast in late 2004.
Sharing the 2004 Logie for Most Outstanding
Comedy Program with Kath and Kim was
the inventive news satire CNNNN. Series 2
received an average household share of 16%,
above first series average of 14.4%.
Arts and CultureABC Television is Australia’s leading arts
broadcaster, programming performance,
documentary, review and analysis.
In 2004, Sunday Afternoon received a
three-fold rise in resources enabling arts stories
to be sourced from more locations throughout
Australia, a greater engagement with local
contemporary arts, and an increase in artist
interviews. A new initiative of themed
programming premiered and covered subjects
such as photography, film, classical music,
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Most Popular Television Programs
2003-04, 5-City Metropolitan
Average Audience
Kath and Kim (Series 2) 1 754 501
Seven Wonders of the Industrial World 1 490 326
Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2003 1 308 134
Murder Investigation Team 1 306 050
The Bill ( Saturday) 1 269 621
Who Killed Alexander the Great? 1 248 790
Wild Australasia 1 248 094
The Bridge on the River Kwai 1 235 303
The Bill (Tuesday) 1 233 144
Wire in the Blood 1 230 780
Honey Badgers of the Kalahari 1 227 349
Britain’s Real Monarch 1 221 352
Polar Bear Battlefield 1 216 796
Blue Murder 1 209 915
Schools Spectacular 2003 1 193 600
Taggart 1 191 471
Dynasties: From Macarthur to Murdoch 1 176 787
Elephants: Spy in the Herd 1 175 696
Diana: The Night She Died 1 165 169
Mother and Son 1 143 896
Most Popular Television Programs
2003-04, Regional
Average Audience
Kath and Kim (Series 2) 771 080
Honey Badgers of the Kalahari 716 983
Seven Wonders of the Industrial World 703 627
Elephants: Spy in the Herd 669 659
The Bridge on the River Kwai 650 305
Polar Bear Battlefield 627 720
Lights on the Hill:
A Musical Tribute to Slim Dusty 624 495
Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2003 616 353
Wild Australasia 605 607
Australian Story 592 859
Britain’s Real Monarch 585 938
Murder Investigation Team 585 763
The Bill (Saturday) 581 596
Killer Ants 576 015
Who Killed Alexander the Great? 574 146
Dynasties: From Macarthur to Murdoch 560 798
Blue Murder 555 425
Schools Spectacular 2003 555 342
Monarch of the Glen 553 230
Diana: The Night She Died 552 558
ABC Television and the visual arts. Critical Mass and Words
continued to provide a focus for critique and
discussion.
Prime time arts documentaries included
Obsessions: Worries on a String, a portrait
of Australian classical composer, Elena
Kats-Chernin; Wildness, the story of Australia’s
greatest wilderness photographers; and Much
Ado About Something, a feature-length
investigation of the origins of the work of
William Shakespeare.
EntertainmentConsistently gaining audiences of over one
million, Enough Rope with Andrew Denton
entertained with its eclectic mix of interview
subjects and audience participation.
In 2004, four new weekly entertainment
series were launched. Mondo Thingo takes a
light-hearted look at the week’s entertainment
news and the many products of pop culture.
The New Inventors is a series where a panel
of Australia’s leading architects, designers, and
engineers evaluate three new inventions each
week. The series attracted an audience share
of 23.1%, a large increase over the 2002-03
timeslot average of 16.7%. Strictly Dancing is
a competitive dance series featuring Australia’s
most accomplished dancing couples. The
series attracted new and loyal viewers to the
ABC, evidenced by its average audience of
1 059 093, an increase of more than 300 000
viewers on the 2002-03 timeslot average.
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Repeat First Release
02–03
01–02
00–01
99–00
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03–04
First ReleaseRepeat
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02–03
01–02
00–01
99–00
03–04
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Some of Australia’s most exciting dancing couples competed in the series, Strictly Dancing.
(continued)
The Einstein Factor is an offbeat quiz show
that pits ordinary Australians with specialist
knowledge against a ‘brains trust’. The series
achieved an average household share of
18.2%, well above the 2003 timeslot average
of 13.2%.
Younger audiences were attracted to Double
the Fist, a new cult adventure series, and
the return of the irreverent The Glass House.
This year, The Glass House gained a household
share of 15.9%, compared to the 2002-03
timeslot average of 12.3%.
EducationThere were major changes to ABC Television’s
education production output, as current levels
of funding did not permit the commissioning
of new schools programs. In December 2003,
new episodes of the long-running series Behind
the News ceased to be broadcast. However,
a weekly education service continued to be
broadcast throughout 2003-04 utilising previously
commissioned and acquired material.
IndigenousThe fifth series of Message Stick continued
to provide audiences with access to Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander lifestyles, perspectives
and aspirations. From September 2003, the
series aired in prime time.
A broadcast highlight was the arts documentary
Jimmy Little’s Gentle Journey that explored the
life of Australia’s first Aboriginal pop star.
Natural History and EnvironmentIn addition to the weekly prime-time strand,
Richard Morecroft Goes Wild, ABC Television
broadcast the series Wild Australasia, an
international co-production, and From the
Heart (Series 2), produced using ABC archival
resources. Both series attracted average
audiences of over one million. The ABC
Television documentary Platypus: World’s
Strangest Animal aired to critical acclaim.
Religion and EthicsThe year-round series Compass continued
to provide a diverse exploration of faith, ethics
and values from Australian and global contexts.
Australian documentaries broadcast included
Tomorrow’s Islam and Life After Josh, about
a magistrate’s quest for justice after the death
of his son in the Bali bombings.
Science and TechnologyAt the forefront of science on television, Catalyst
features the latest information and scientific
breakthroughs from Australia and around
the world.
Highlights included two ABC Television
programs: Deadly Enemies, about the Cold
War development of biological weapons,
which featured the last interview with the
late Dr David Kelly, and the international
co-production Primal Instincts.
Special EventsIn September 2003, the network broadcast
the State funeral of Australian country music
legend, Slim Dusty. On Australia Day 2004, a
special event was broadcast to try to answer
the question ‘who is our greatest Australian?’
Eight of Australia’s leading figures tried to
convince the nation of the merits of their
choice in The Greatest Australian.
SportABC Television broadcast 182 hours of national
sport including basketball, bowls, cricket,
hockey, netball, soccer, and tennis. Tennis
highlights included the 2004 Hopman Cup
and highlights of the French Open. In addition,
461 hours of regular state and territory sport
was produced and broadcast in the originating
state or territory. The World Netball
Championships, broadcasts of the Women’s
National Basketball League and the Women’s
Champion’s Trophy Hockey series continued
ABC Television’s commitment to women’s sport.
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Production Outside of Sydney and MelbourneIn 2003-04, Television production presenting the
diversity of Australia to all Australians through
national broadcast continued as a key strategy.
A total of 37.8% of ABC-made programs were
produced outside of Sydney and Melbourne,
compared with 42.8% in 2002-03.*
In August 2003, the ABC announced proposals
for cuts to program and non-program functions
in order to operate within budget. In Television,
budget cuts were made to schools production,
live sport and factual programming. This has
resulted in a 5% decrease in production outside
Sydney and Melbourne compared to 2002-03.
Production in capital cities outside of Sydney
and Melbourne continued with series such as
George Negus Tonight (Tuesday night) from
Perth; George Negus Tonight (Monday night),
Behind the News and Feedback from Adelaide;
Gardening Australia and Big Country Revisited
from Hobart; and Big Country Revisited and
special event programs from Brisbane.
The weekly series Catalyst, Compass, Message
Stick and Sunday Afternoon included a large
proportion of segments produced from centres
outside of Sydney and Melbourne. The drama
series The Shark Net was co-produced by
a Western Australian production company.
High Definition BroadcastsABC Television broadcast 1 381 hours of
high definition material, including 1 080 hours
in prime time, in accordance with legislative
requirements.
5 4A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
* These statistics exclude the music video program Rage,which is produced from Sydney but relies entirely on production from outside the ABC.
6am-midnight 6pm-midnight
40 45 50 55 60 65
02–03
01–02
00–01
99–00
03–04
%
6am-midnight6pm-midnight
0 500 1 000 2 000 2 500
99–00
00–01
01–02
02–03
03–04
1 500
Aus
tral
ian
Co
nten
t as
a p
erce
ntag
e o
fH
our
s B
road
cast
199
9-20
00 t
o 2
003-
04A
BC
Co
mm
issi
one
d P
rog
ram
s,*
first
rele
ase,
bro
adca
st 1
999-
2000
to
200
3-04
Sport 3%
Religion and E
thics 2%
New
s 5%
Movies 2%Factual 7%
Entertainment 8%
Education 5%
Dram
a 13
%
Docum
entary 7%
Current A
ffairs 12%
Comedy 3%
Childrens 29%
Art
s 4%
AB
C T
elev
isio
n G
enre
Mix
200
3-04
as
a P
erce
ntag
e o
f H
our
s B
road
cast
6a
m-m
idni
ght
(exc
lud
es in
ters
titia
l mat
eria
l)
* ABC internal producations and co-productions; excludes pre-purchased programs (including many documentaries and children's drama programs)
Director of New Media
and Digital Services
Lynley Marshall has over 17 years experience in the broadcasting industry and
has held a series of senior business positions in New Zealand, including Director
of the Independent Business Units of The Radio Network, GM of The Radio
Bureau and GM of TVNZ Enterprises.
New Media and Digital ServicesNew Media and Digital Services produces and
delivers the ABC’s Internet activities and is
responsible for developing new media and
digital ventures. In 2002-03, the Division
continued to increase its audience reach
and deliver innovation on existing and
emerging platforms.
Throughout the year, New Media and
Digital Services launched new websites and
broadband services, originated interactive
television content and developed new mobile
phone and wireless services. The ABC provides
quality content to increasingly mobile audiences
across a range of platforms, particularly in the
areas of news, information and entertainment.
New Media and Digital Services collaborated
with ABC Television and ABC Radio to develop
a number of cross-media programs that
capitalised on the synergies available within
the ABC as a multi media organisation.
The Division further refined ABC Online to
ensure fast and reliable content delivery and
a user-friendly environment. The website’s
navigation and searchability were further
enhanced to ensure a more satisfying
user experience.
New Media AudiencesABC Online content spans many genres, with
a focus on news, current affairs and business,
sport, children, youth, science and health,
regional and rural, arts, education and radio
and television. The year saw growth in audience
numbers across many of these areas. The
Backyard, the collective of 49 Local Radio
websites, has increased its audience by 48.3%
over the period, with the average number of
Australians accessing The Backyard each
month increasing from 174 513 in 2002-03
to 258 767 in 2003-04. The ongoing success
of new media regional content and services
indicates the importance and effectiveness of
communicating online with regional and local
communities. Other areas of high growth for
ABC Online include Broadband, Sport Online,
Rollercoaster (for 8-14 year olds), TV Online,
ABC News Online, Business and Current Affairs.
New Media and Digital Services has established
a large number of online communities and
continues to maintain and encourage audience
interaction via online forums, guestbooks and
email newsletters. At the end of June 2004,
there were 304 385 subscriptions to ABC
Online email newsletters and 100 705 registered
users of ABC Online Communities, which provide
s e c t i o n 3 5 5A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
Lynley Marshall
team of web developers, producers and
journalists and draws on ABC News and
Current Affairs output.
In 2003-04, ABC News Online delivered an
average of 3 270 891 pages of content each
week. The number of Australians visiting the
site each month increased by 12.7% from
283 171 in 2002-03 to 319 237 in 2003-04.
Changing Audiences, New ServicesNew Media and Digital Services has adopted
strategies to ensure the continued relevance
of ABC services in the face of changes in
Australians’ lifestyles and media consumption
habits. Emerging technologies are permitting
audiences to consume content when, how
and wherever they choose. In response to
increasingly mobile lifestyles, New Media and
Digital Services has responded by delivering
quality content offerings to audiences in a
range of formats and across a range of platforms,
including narrowband Internet, broadband,
digital television, DVD and wireless technologies.
A key focus is interactivity as a means of
engaging audiences in the digital media
environment. Over time, New Media and
Digital Services has developed and encouraged
an audience expectation of active engagement
and interaction with content and the creation
of online communities through forums, polls,
chat, quizzes, guestbooks and SMS.
The Division is central to the Corporation’s
efforts to fully integrate new technologies
and platforms into cross-media production.
Cooperation with ABC Television and ABC
Radio has led to a collaborative production
approach to such production and the
development of several cross-media projects.
users with a unique identity and increased
access privileges to participate and contribute
to ABC Online forums and guestbooks.
The increasing popularity of these features
demonstrates a high level of loyalty and
engagement amongst the audience.
News and Information ProgrammingOne of the most successful areas of ABC
Online is its dedicated news site, ABC News
Online, which provides a variety of content,
continually updated throughout the day. The
site covers all areas of news and includes ABC
Current Affairs program-related information
and an on-demand broadband video news
service updated six times each day. ABC
News Online also delivers a regular news
email to subscribers and content for mobile
phones for special events such as state
elections. The site is created by a dedicated
5 6A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
New Media and Digital Services (continued)
ABC Online’s award-winning Greekmythology site, Winged Sandals.
The ABC’s traditional media platforms have
been able to engage their audiences further
by integrating online, mobile and wireless
content into programs. For example, in April
2004, WildWatch Australia, which was
broadcast on ABC Television and supported
by Local Radio, invited audiences to complete
a survey about wildlife in their backyard. In five
weeks the WildWatch online survey attracted
27 364 responses and over 3 000 comments
in the website’s guestbook.
New Media and Digital Services has implemented
mobile phone services for a selection of Television
and Radio programs, and inbound SMS services
for a full range of programs on ABC Local Radio
stations in metropolitan areas. In January 2004,
triple j introduced ‘Hottest 100’ voting via mobile
phones, as well as an SMS option for its
‘Super Request’ program and gig guide
information; triple j fans can also download
mobile phone ringtones and logos from the
triple j website. During the Queensland State
election in 2003, ABC News Online offered
an outbound SMS service which allowed
subscribers to receive updates to their
mobile phones during election night.
The Division managed the cross-media
components of the Love Is in the Air program,
which was broadcast in late 2003. Interactive
television content designed to support viewers
curious for extra information was available to
all Austar subscribers. Broadband video content
from the program was also available through
ABC Online.
In collaboration with ABC Enterprises,
New Media and Digital Services also initiated
production of a Midnight Oil DVD/CD pack
featuring the triple j-supported Midnight Oil
concerts recorded at Goat Island in Sydney
Harbour in 1985 and Sydney’s Capitol Theatre
in 1982. These concerts were recorded for
television and radio broadcast respectively but
had never been commercially released. The
DVD was released in April 2004 after a television
broadcast in March, and was at the top of
ARIA’s national music DVD charts and the ABC
Shop Online bestseller list across all product
categories throughout April.
Building PartnershipsPartnerships play an important role in the
development of content and services for
New Media and Digital Services. The Division
has received important development funds and
expanded the reach of its content by working
with both government organisations and private
sector partners.
New Media and Digital Services has fostered
close working relationships with industry funding
bodies, resulting in new media projects such
as the Broadband Production Initiative with the
Australian Film Commission, which provided
funding for four broadband productions to
be hosted on ABC Online. In 2003-04, Film
Victoria also contributed to the production of
4 Minute Wonders, an initiative to encourage
the development of digital media skills among
established and emerging digital artists and
filmmakers. Such initiatives ensure the
production of dynamic projects produced
specifically for delivery on ABC Online, as well
as contributing to the development of the
Australian independent production sector.
One of the best examples of the Division’s
cross-media content is the Winged Sandals
website, launched in November 2003. The site
is an educational resource on Greek Mythology
created by the ABC Online Arts team in
conjunction with The University of Melbourne,
with funding support from the ABC Development
Division. The site has received industry
recognition, winning both ‘Best of the Web’
and ‘Best e-Learning’ Awards at the 2003
AIMIA Awards, as well as international animation
prizes. Winged Sandals continues to attract
audiences for its innovation and best practice.
s e c t i o n 3 5 7A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
News and Current Affairs is one of the largest
production areas in the ABC. The Division
produces news bulletins, current affairs
programs and a substantial quantity of other
material for use across all ABC domestic and
international platforms. The programming is
aimed at providing audiences with the most
comprehensive, respected, accurate, impartial
and independent news and current affairs
in Australia.
After the introduction of a range of new
programs in the previous year, 2003-04
was a period of consolidation.
The Division’s national and international
coverage was again acknowledged through
peer recognition with dozens of awards,
including Walkleys and Logies.
The Director of News and Current Affairs, Max
Uechtritz, left the ABC to take up a position in
commercial television. Mr Uechtritz had been
at the ABC for 18 years, serving four years
as Director of the Division.
CoverageInternational coverage was dominated this
year by issues of international security, events
in Iraq and the role of the US-led coalition
forces in the lead up to the handover of
sovereignty to the Iraqi interim government.
ABC News and Current Affairs has maintained
a presence in Bagdad since the war ended
in 2003, with the security of reporters and
camera crews under constant review.
Domestically, there was extensive coverage
and analysis of Australia’s involvement in Iraq,
including the role of Australia’s intelligence
services in the decision to take part in the
Iraq operation. Other significant coverage
included the debate over the Free Trade
Agreement between Australia and the US,
a foreign exchange scandal at the National
Australia Bank, Melbourne’s gangland killings,
allegations of sexual misconduct by footballers,
and rioting in Sydney’s Redfern after the death
of an Aboriginal teenager. In politics, the
Federal Labor Party chose a new leader,
Mark Latham, there was a State election in
Queensland and the former Tasmanian Premier
Jim Bacon died a few months after being
diagnosed with cancer.
5 8A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
Acting Director of News and Current Affairs
John Cameron has been Acting Director of News and Current Affairs since
May 2004, when the incumbent, Max Uechtritz, left the ABC. John has been
with the ABC for 20 years, most of these in Queensland as a radio and television
reporter and producer, and five years as the Queensland State Editor. Before
that, John was Washington Bureau Chief for three years, including the period
of the first Gulf War. He also worked as State Editor in Victoria, before becoming
the ABC’s National Editor four years ago.
John Cameron
News and Current Affairs
AudiencesNews and Current Affairs audience figures
have grown across many programs, with
key programs attracting strong audiences in
2003-04. The 7.45am news on Local Radio
achieved a five-city average weekly audience
reach of just under one million (a 3% increase
on the previous year) and AM on both Radio
National and Local Radio attracted a combined
average weekly audience reach of more than
1.1 million (up 4%). On Television, the 7pm
News had a five-city average audience of
1.1 million (1% up) and 7.30 Report 910 000
(up 7%). Australian Story’s average audience
was 1.1 million (up 12%), while one in two
episodes of the program achieved an audience
of at least 1.2 million. Online audiences
continued to grow, with the average weekly
page access total for all sites containing
News and Current Affairs content
approaching 3.3 million.
InitiativesThe renewal of Federal Government funding
for National Interest Initiatives has allowed the
Division to continue programs funded from
that source. These included local weekend
Television News bulletins in the ACT and the
Northern Territory, enhanced business coverage
across a range of programs and the appointment
of two reporters in the new ABC studios
in Ballarat.
In an effort to bring a sharper focus to the ABC’s
prime-time coverage of national and international
sports-related news stories, a new segment
presented by Peter Wilkins has been introduced
in the 7pm Television News bulletins each
weeknight. The new segment complements
local coverage of sports news stories in each
state and territory.
Through Australian Eyes, an exhibition on
the history of the ABC’s foreign reporting from
the 1930s to the present visited Sydney,
Adelaide and Brisbane. The exhibition
focussed on the ABC’s enduring commitment
to international reporting. A public forum
was held in conjunction with the exhibition’s
opening in Sydney, as well as a workshop
for university journalism students.
Four Corners and New Media and Digital
Services are completing a pilot broadband
interactive television project that provides a
rich and complex viewing experience using
several Four Corners programs on terrorism.
The aim is to extend Four Corners material
for interactive broadband, online and interactive
digital TV, with the capacity to position the
ABC as a world leader in this field.
News and Current Affairs continues to develop
a divisional training plan for a series of flexible,
competency-based accredited courses to be
delivered in the working environment of
ABC newsrooms.
s e c t i o n 3 5 9A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
Emma Griffiths and John Hinde, thenewest and oldest living ABC foreigncorrespondents, at the opening of theThrough Australian Eyes exhibition ofthe history of ABC international reporting.
News and Current AffairsAs part of the Division’s continuing commitment
to leadership development, a three-day State
Editors’ conference was held in mid-October.
This was the first time that State Editors from
around the country and the News and Current
Affairs executive had met together in Sydney
since collocation was completed at Ultimo in
2001. Workshops included leadership, the
effectiveness of bi-media newsrooms around
the country and the potential of such to achieve
greater efficiencies. Twelve Executive Producers
and other senior staff are taking part in a
management development program; two
members of the Division’s executive and two
State Editors participated in a pilot senior
executive development program run by the
Australian Graduate School of Management;
and Production Managers attended a two-day
training workshop in Adelaide in October.
These development programs followed a
successful three-day forum for women
who have the potential to move into
leadership roles.
To ensure greater accountability, the Division
has entered into Service Level Agreements
or Arrangements with all output areas.
These agreements set out the programming
requirements of the networks and the agreed
processes in News and Current Affairs to
meet these requirements, as well as a range
of mutual obligations. The agreements are
expected to be reviewed annually.
News and Current Affairs has a range of
mechanisms to ensure programs are meeting
expectations of integrity and quality. All programs
are subjected to regular formal reviews which
consider story choice, talent, production,
presentation, writing and adherence to
program briefs, ABC Editorial Policies and
the Style Guide. The reviews generally involve
senior management, executive producers and
representatives from the network on which the
program is broadcast. In addition to formal
reviews, output is monitored on a daily basis
and there are occasional reviews of coverage
across programs of particular topics, such
as sport or business.
All program-making staff in News and Current
Affairs have copies of the revised News and
Current Affairs Style Guide. This advises on
language, presentation and production.
Resources and EfficienciesTo meet budget targets the Division made
certain adjustments to programs and other
areas of activity. The resources of Business
Breakfast and World at Noon were combined
to create a new program, Midday News and
Business. Some state-based weekend
afternoon and evening radio news bulletins,
produced in capital cities around the country,
were replaced with national bulletins produced
from the newsrooms in Adelaide and Perth.
The annual journalism cadetship intake was
suspended and a two-year program of attrition
and expense cuts was imposed across all
areas of local, national and international
coverage and management.
In international operations, the Brussels
bureau was closed, with some of the savings
from this closure used to augment Europe
coverage from the London bureau. A
correspondent’s position in China was also
abolished. Despite the reductions, the ABC
remains the best-represented Australian
media organisation overseas.
Field video store-and-forward technology has
been further developed and expanded. This
6 0A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
system employs a satellite phone connection
to a laptop, allowing crews in the field to file
edited television packages at significantly
lower cost and with greater convenience than
traditional satellite feeds. First used by ABC
reporters to file footage during the Iraq war,
it is now used widely overseas on a variety
of assignments and has also been used
domestically.
The Division is trialling an Internet system which
allows free calls between London and Sydney
over a broadband link. This is likely to be
extended to the other overseas bureaux.
Annual Production of News and Current AffairsIn 2003-04, the ABC broadcast approximately
14 000 unduplicated hours of television
and radio news and current affairs on its
domestic services.
These figures do not include material provided
to News Radio, Radio Australia and the ABC
Asia Pacific service; live crosses for ‘Q and A’s
by reporters into radio programs; election
night broadcasts; budget specials and any
rolling coverage.
Order in the House, Parliamentary Question
Time and National Press Club Luncheon
have also been excluded. The figures do
not include seasonal variations such as sport
broadcasts that interrupt bulletin schedules.
All radio figures are national totals.
Radio News
Outlet Hours
Local Radio and Radio National 7 009
Regionals 3 285
triple j 282
Classic FM 542
TOTAL 11 118
Radio Current Affairs
Outlet Hours
AM (Early) Local Radio 43
AM (Radio National) 87
AM (Main) 130
The World Today 197
PM (Radio National) 177
PM (Local Radio) 197
Business Report 12
Sat AM (Local Radio and Radio National) 24
Correspondents Report 20
Finance Market Report at Noon 9
Finance Market Report PM 13
TOTAL 909
TV News and Current Affairs
Outlet Hours
7pm News (all states) 1 455
News Updates 94
Asia Pacific Focus 23
Australian Story 19
Business Breakfast (ceased) 21
4 Corners 21
Foreign Correspondent 27
Inside Business 20
Insiders 30
Landline 38
Lateline 107
7:30 Report 105
Seven Days 22
Stateline 156
World at Noon 27
Midday News and Business 79
TOTAL 2 244
s e c t i o n 3 6 1A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
The ABC operates two international broadcasting
and online services, Radio Australia and ABC
Asia Pacific, to encourage awareness of
Australia in the Asia-Pacific region and offer
an Australian perspective on world affairs.
The services also provide information for
Australian citizens living or travelling abroad.
Radio AustraliaRadio Australia sought in 2003-04 to extend
its direct transmission capacity and develop
its rebroadcast network in Asia and the Pacific.
Ongoing additional transmission funding
announced in the May 2003 Federal Budget
provided resources to expand shortwave
broadcasts to Asia and to fund new FM relays.
Over the past twelve months, Radio Australia’s
shortwave broadcasting capacity to Asia has
increased by 15% and now stands at 200
transmission hours per day across Asia and
the Pacific. Additional transmission hours
have helped boost capacity for broadcasts to
Asia in Indonesian, English and Vietnamese.
In May 2004, Radio Australia celebrated 60
years of shortwave broadcasting to the Pacific
and eastern Indonesia from transmitters at
Shepparton in Victoria.
In 2003-04, Radio Australia made significant
progress in securing new local FM relays.
Radio Australia’s broadcasts in English can
now be heard 24 hours each day in Suva,
6 2A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
International Broadcasting
Asia Pacific Focus presenter Michael Maherhas been covering the Asia Pacific region formore than fifteen years.
Phnom Penh and Port Moresby, with three more
24-hour FM services planned for the end of
2004 in Honiara, Port Vila and Dili. New partial
relays have been secured in Indonesia, as well
as Bangkok and Phnom Penh. For the first
time since 1996, a range of Radio Australia
programs is available on local relay in Thailand.
Audience survey figures indicate that Radio
Australia enjoys an annual audience reach of
7 million in Indonesia and confirm its ranking
alongside other key international broadcasters.
Radio Australia’s Indonesian language programs
are heard via 38 local stations, including 22 live
satellite relays. A third of Radio Australia listeners
claim to listen to the service via local relays.
In 2003-04, Radio Australia provided specialist
coverage of key events in the Asia Pacific region.
Radio Australia’s Chinese service and the Asia
Pacific program covered the presidential election
in Taiwan with live broadcasts and reports in
English and Chinese. Radio Australia’s
Indonesian service and the Asia Pacific program
provided live coverage of 2004 Indonesian
presidential election campaign and the 2003
commemorations of the Bali bombings.
Radio Australia covered major political
developments in the Pacific in Pidgin and
English. The Pacific Beat program was
broadcast live from Fiji on two occasions
covering local political issues and HIV/AIDS
issues in the Pacific. Radio Australia’s specialist
reporters provided coverage of the South
Pacific Games and key regional issues for
ABC Asia Pacific Television.
In 2003-04, Radio Australia maintained close
relationships with Australian institutions to
deliver educational programs to Asia and
Pacific audiences. A new educational web
site, Understanding Australia, complementing
a 13-part radio series produced with Monash
University, aims to explain Australia to overseas
audiences. In a first for the ABC, Radio Australia
produced a Hindi language version of this site
with the support of the Australia India Council
and La Trobe University. The Australia China
Council is supporting the production of a
Chinese language version of the site. Radio
Australia also commenced production of a
series on the Vietnamese community in Australia.
The first programs of the series have been
welcomed by Radio Vietnam, which will
rebroadcast the programs.
Radio Australia co-produced public lectures with
major Australian universities: a public forum at
the University of Melbourne’s Asialink Centre with
Indonesia’s presidential candidate Mr Yudhoyono;
the Second Herb Feith Lecture with Monash
University at Southbank delivered by Professor
Wang Gungwu; and a public forum held with
Sydney University at the Eugene Goosens
Auditorium on ‘Smart Societies in Asia and
the Pacific’ for a new 13-part radio series.
As a further commitment to education, Radio
Australia signed an agreement with Adult
Multicultural Education Services Victoria (AMES),
to develop a vocational English-teaching
language series. The series will be produced
in Chinese, Indonesian, Vietnamese and
Khmer for distribution across Asia through
Radio Australia’s rebroadcast network.
In 2003-04, Radio Australia further developed
partnerships with major institutions in Asia.
A distribution agreement was signed with India’s
Indira Gandhi National Open University for
the rebroadcast of educational programs on
IGNOU’s radio network across India. In Thailand,
a cooperation agreement was signed with
Chulalongkorn University for the co-production
of educational series in English and Thai. The
co-production of a series on Asian cities with
s e c t i o n 3 6 3A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
International BroadcastingRadio Chulalongkorn and MediaCorp
Singapore is planned for later this year.
Thailand’s Ministry of Education also expressed
interest in Radio Australia’s educational programs
and in co-producing new English learning series
for Thai students.
In the Pacific, Radio Australia and Pacific Island
broadcasters have agreed to the development
of a Pacific Radio Network to support public
broadcasting and governance principles in the
Pacific. The network will facilitate the exchange
of program material informing public debate on
key regional issues. Meanwhile, Radio Australia
continued in 2003-04 to provide training and
professional attachment opportunities to
Pacific broadcasters. Radio Australia is
working closely with AusAID on a partnering
arrangement with the National Broadcasting
Corporation of Papua New Guinea to support
public broadcasting in PNG.
ABC Asia PacificThe ABC’s international television arm, ABC
Asia Pacific, grew rapidly throughout 2003-04.
The service was the fastest growing channel in
Asia according to the PAX Synovate audience
survey. The service is now seen in 32 countries.
It is retransmitted by more than 150 pay television
operators, is available in more than 190 000
hotel rooms and can be seen in seven million
homes across the region.
The service is designed for an audience
demographic comprising decision makers and
opinion leaders in the private and public sector,
including emerging middle-class community
segments, student and learning communities,
and international expatriates as well as
Government missions based in the region.
ABC Asia Pacific has enjoyed considerable
success in a crowded and highly competitive
market (most countries in the region offer
between 40 and 100 channels).
6 4A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
(continued)
ABC Asia Pacific, the ABC’s internationaltelevision service, is now seen in morethan 32 countries.
ProgrammingABC Asia Pacific offers a diverse range of
quality programming rather than a single
program genre such as movies, sport or
24-hour news broadcasts. This makes the
service unique amongst the international
broadcasting community. This programming
strategy has played an important role in the
rapid take-up of the service.
During the past year, ABC Asia Pacific
substantially redesigned and upgraded its
program schedule to better meet audience
and pay operator expectations and demands.
All programs shown are high quality, up-to-date
and recently produced. The news, current
affairs and information programs aim to be
credible and independent. The channel
is committed to showcasing the best of
Australian television by broadcasting a
minimum 60% Australian content.
During 2003-04, 75% of the schedule
was Australian content.
The nightly prime time programming
line-up is built on four main strands:
• ABC news and current affairs produced
for the Asia Pacific region;
• a quality Australian or international
drama series;
• a world class documentary; and
• an informative and entertaining feature
or lifestyle program.
Another significant programming strategy
includes transmitting education programs of
real benefit to audiences across the region.
Feedback through the ABC Asia Pacific web
site suggests that such programming,
in particular English learning content, is
extremely popular.
Australian sports coverage was extensive, with
seven games of AFL or NRL broadcast every
week of the football season, as well as coverage
of the Victorian Spring racing carnival, with the
Melbourne Cup as the highlight.
Some of the programs that proved most
successful were:
• 36 ABC Asia Pacific half-hour news
programs each week;
• Australian dramas such as The Shark Net,
Blue Healers and MDA;
• International dramas such as Forsyth
Saga, State of Play and Frost;
• Documentaries on a wide range of issues
and from differing perspectives; and
• Australian information programs such as
RPA, Getaway, Catalyst, The New Inventors
and Enough Rope with Andrew Denton.
DistributionAmong the countries and territories to
launch ABC Asia Pacific in the past year
were Singapore’s sole pay television operator,
StarHub, and Hong Kong’s dominant cable
operator, I-Cable. Negotiations continued with
Chinese media authorities for the rights to limited
transmission in mainland China. Detailed planning
is now underway to expand the service into
India and surrounding nations in 2005.
OnlineThe companion website to ABC Asia Pacific
television, abcasiapacific.com, provides a
comprehensive program listing and television
schedule, and an up-to-the-minute regional
news service produced specifically for an
international online audience. During the year,
weekly accesses to the service doubled to
nearly 100 000.
The popularity of ABC Asia Pacific education
programs Nexus and English Bites were a
major factor in this growth.
s e c t i o n 3 6 5A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
Director of Production Resources
Andrew Lean was appointed Director of Production Resources in 2000.
Prior to joining the ABC, he was Director of Production for the Seven
Network. Andrew worked for the Seven Network for 23 years.
Andrew Lean
Production ResourcesProduction Resources operates broadcast and
production centres in the capital city of each
state and territory. It manages the broadcast of
ABC Radio and ABC Television, and supports
the production needs of ABC Television and
News and Current Affairs.
The Division contributes to the distinctiveness,
level, mix, quality and diversity of Australian
content produced for national and local television.
In addition to broadcast use, these programs
provide opportunities for international program
sales and additional products and services for
ABC Enterprises.
Program Genre Diversity and Australian ContentIn 2003-04, programs produced using
Production Resources’ workforce and facilities
covered all television program genres and
contributed directly to ABC Australian content
levels. Almost 70% of the Division’s workforce
activity contributed to production of television
programs in five genres: news, current affairs,
factual, entertainment and drama.
Production SupportThe production resources requirements of
ABC Television and News and Current Affairs
accounted for approximately 92% of the
Division’s costed production workforce resources
in 2003-04, a level slightly above that of
2002-03. The balance undertook ancillary
activities, including transmission support and
marketing activities through ABC Resource
Hire, part of ABC Enterprises.
In 2003-04, the Division provided a total of
more than 1.66 million workforce hours for
television program production, an increase of
over 4% on 2002-03 levels largely reflecting
an increase in hours provided for general
television production.
Broadcast OperationsFrom December 2003, Production Resources
became fully responsible for the broadcast
operations of ABC Radio and Television
through the addition of radio and television
master control rooms. The Division operates
broadcast facilities for the presentation and
switching of radio and television broadcasting
for transmission and distribution by external
providers. It also arranges and schedules
transmission facilities used for the production
and distribution of ABC content.
Facilities MarketingIn July 2003, responsibility for facilities marketing
of production resources was transferred to the
new ABC Resource Hire group within ABC
Enterprises. Production Resources continued
6 6A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
to be a provider of production workforce and
facilities resources for hire by external clients. The
revenue generated from this activity was used
to boost ABC production and programming.
National Production andBroadcast Centre PresenceThe Sydney and Melbourne production and
broadcast centres provide the majority of
resources used to make programs and to
broadcast programming for the ABC national
television network. These centres provided
resources for television news and current
affairs and for major television programs
such as Fireflies, Silver Sun, Strictly Dancing,
Kath and Kim and Enough Rope with
Andrew Denton.
While the other six capital city production and
broadcast centres provide resources primarily
for the production of local television news and
current affairs and other local programming for
state or territory audiences, they also produced
programs for the national network. These
included Australian Story, Landline, George
Negus Tonight and The Hopman Cup, as well
as a number of specials and sports programs,
such as coverage of Anzac Day marches,
annual football award ceremonies and local
sport. Perth and Adelaide provided resources
for the production of ABC Asia Pacific news
and education programs, respectively.
Sydney Production Centre MoveBy the end of 2003-04, the Sydney production
centre had moved from Gore Hill to new, purpose-
built premises in Ultimo and modified premises
at Lanceley Place in Artarmon. In late 2003,
drama facilities were relocated to new purpose-
built accommodation and the set-making
workshop at Lanceley Place was completed.
Field operations and outside broadcast
operations are now located at Lanceley Place.
s e c t i o n 3 6 7A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
The studio set for the popular Strictly Dancingin the ABC Ultimo Centre in Sydney.
Production Resources (continued)
With completion of these moves, Production
Resources’ Sydney-based production and
broadcast operations are now fully established
at Ultimo and Lanceley Place. Start-up issues
with new equipment, facilities, accommodation
and processes have largely been resolved.
Resources WorkforceWith a workforce of over 1 000, Production
Resources is the single largest employer within
the ABC, accounting for about one quarter
of all ABC staff. Almost two-thirds of the
production workforce is based in Sydney and
Melbourne, with the remaining third in the
other six capital cities. The utilisation rate of the
production workforce for 2003-04—measured
by chargeable time as a proportion of paid
time—was 78%, maintaining the same levels
as 2002-03.
The Division aims to provide workforce
capabilities for the full range of production
skills needed to make television programs.
However, when production requirements
exceeded the base capacity of the production
centres, or the capabilities required were not
available at those centres, the Division engaged
additional employees from the external television
production industry. Similarly, where required
and where facilities were not available, the
Division hired facilities from the external
television production industry.
Awards won by the Division’s employees
recognise the capabilities of the ABC
production workforce. At Australian
Cinematographers Awards ceremonies,
Production Resources employees won
awards across a wide range of categories.
At the end of 2003-04, television production
pool staff were transferred to the Television
Division to better realign editorial responsibilities
within the Corporation. This transfer involved
moving about 20% of the production workforce.
Production and Broadcast FacilitiesDuring the year, Production Resources
continued to expand digital production and
broadcast operations. In accordance with
legislative requirements, High Definition (HD)
on-air transmission began in late 2003. The
Division participated in the development of
native HD playout infrastructure planned for
operation in 2004-05. A new radio switcher
was installed and began operation at Ultimo
in late 2003-04. The Division took delivery of
another four widescreen television Outside
Broadcast vans, bringing the total number
of operational vans to eight.
6 8A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
Helen Hughes
The Development Division supports the ABC
media platforms to develop new programs
and content sourced from within and outside
the ABC.
In its fourth year of operation, the Division formally
assessed 1 564 proposals and approved 174
(11%) for development support. The high
number of proposals assessed reflected efforts
made during 2003-04 to source ideas as
widely as possible.
From August to December 2003, a round of
television pitching sessions was held across
the country to provide a forum for producers
from both within the ABC and the wider
production community to discuss ABC
priorities and to present ideas.
Pitching sessions were held in all capital cities,
with ten projects approved for development
support. These included SAS: The Soldier’s Story
from Mianjin Entertainment, which traces the
history of the elite Australian SAS Regiment.
This project attracted matching development
support from the Pacific Film and Television
Commission and Screenwest.
A pitching round was held for ABC Radio in
October 2003. Twenty-nine proposals were
received with 12 selected for development
support, including We’re All Very Tired Now,
a humorous look at parenting from social
commentator Susan Maushart. Two history
projects were also approved: Patriots Three,
a four-part radio documentary for Radio
National from producer Jill Kitson, and In the
Wake of the Caledonia from triple j presenter
Daniel Browning, which traces the adventures
of one of his sea-faring ancestors.
The Division participated in a number of
industry events in 2003-04 including the
Australian International Documentary
Conference at Fremantle, Western Australia.
It also co-sponsored Pitch ’n’ Punt with Arte
France and conducted one-on-one pitching
sessions with producers.
While expenditure on program and content
development was the highest in four years, the
total number of projects supported was smaller
than 2002-03, reflecting several programming
initiatives of significant scale. The greatest
activity was recorded against the genres of
history, drama and arts and entertainment.
s e c t i o n 3 6 9A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
Director of Development
During a twenty-year career in broadcasting, Helen Hughes has worked in a
range of programming roles, including journalist and news producer. Positions
held at the ABC include Head of News and Current Affairs Queensland from
1990-92 and Network Editor of the 7pm News Sydney from 1993-97.
Management roles have included General Manager Local Content Development
and Development Manager Local Television. Helen was appointed to the role
of Director Development in September 2001.
Development
DevelopmentDifferent ways of telling Australian history were
explored with projects such as Outback House
and Rewind. New arts and entertainment
programs such as The New Inventors, Strictly
Dancing and The Einstein Factor, and drama
projects, including Loot, were funded in
development. Development funds were
committed to a number of new comedy
projects, including Double the Fist, Stand Up!
and a third series of Kath and Kim.
In 2003-04, fifty documentary programs
or series covering a wide range of subjects
and sourced from across Australia attracted
development support. Projects included The
Shearers, following the fortunes of a group of
young shearers selected to enrol at Tasmania’s
highly competitive shearing school; Street
Practice, a four-part series about young
lawyers moving from university to a busy legal
aid practice; the third series of the highly
successful Dynasties; and Air Australia,
exploring the history of Australian aviation.
Development supported the cross-media initiative
Wildwatch, which featured the television and
radio promotion of an online wildlife survey
designed to capture information about wildlife
in people’s backyards in Australia. The initial
survey attracted more than 27 000 respondents,
and led to support for a second survey to be
conducted in late 2004, along with further
radio and television programming.
Development applied National Interest Initiative
funds to place a Development Officer in the
Northern Territory. This has resulted in a series
of content initiatives in 2003-04, including
arts segments for Sunday Afternoon, the thirty
minute documentary Goannas and Canetoads
for Richard Morecroft Goes Wild and a range
of stories for George Negus Tonight, such as
7 0A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
(continued)
02–03
01–02
00–01
02–03
$1.29m
70 Projects
$2.54m
19 Project
$3.70m
211 Projects
$3.97m
174 Projects
Expenditure Approved Projects
Research and Development Expenditure and Approved Projects 2003-04: Television,
Radio and New Media
Arts and
Entertainment 30%
Chi
ldre
n's
7%
Drama 19%
Factual 44%
Television Development Activity by Genre 2003-04
Boys’ Business, about a music program at
Wanguri Primary School in Darwin aimed at
re-engaging boys in the classroom.
For Radio, The Idlers, a series on travel in
regional Australia, contained a mixture of stories
about life on the road, travel information, places
of interest and tips on travelling. Under the
Welcome Mat was a series of programs that
allowed listeners to ‘pitch’ a town for the
presenter to visit and profile.
Significant New Media projects included Health
Matters, the regional health gateway, and Kids
Science Cross Media, a new interactive science
resource for young teens. Both projects were
funded from Development’s National Interest
Initiatives allocation.
Audience ResearchDevelopment Division manages Audience
Research on behalf of the Corporation. In
2003-04 the ABC subscribed to a range of
audience measurement data and commissioned
research to help measure its audiences; inform
programming, scheduling and marketing
decisions; and gauge audience attitudes
to its services.
The main data sources subscribed to in
2003-04 were:
TelevisionAudience measurement data was collected
via the OzTAM people meter panels in Sydney,
Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth and
reported on a daily basis. Regional TAM supplied
data from their people meter panels in the
aggregated regional television markets covering
most of the regional coastal areas of Queensland,
Northern and Southern New South Wales,
regional Victoria and Tasmania. Generally
this information was reported as the share
of viewing achieved and the percentage of
the population reached.
In areas of Australia where people meter panels
are not established, television audiences are
measured by the completion of viewing diaries.
Using weekly diaries members of households
record their daily television viewing, on a
quarter-hour basis. Diary surveys of television
are usually conducted over a two-to-four–week
period.
This year the Corporation participated in diary
surveys in Darwin in August 2003 and May 2004,
and in regional Western Australia in August 2003
and March 2004. Diary surveys were also
conducted in August 2003 in Mildura, and
July/August in the remote central and eastern
areas of Australia. The Corporation also
participated in a diary survey of the Griffith
television area in October/November 2003.
RadioNielsen Media Research carries out audience
measurement for the major metropolitan markets
eight times each calendar year, with listening
captured on a quarter-hour basis in five-week
tranches in each survey period. In regional and
rural areas, Nielsen Media Research conduct
less frequent radio surveys.
In 2003-04, the Corporation participated
in regional surveys at the Gold Coast and
Wollongong. Due to the lack of interest
among commercial radio networks in conducting
radio diary surveys in regional Australia, the
Corporation initiated the first of a series of
radio diary surveys at Mt Gambier, Albany
and Orange in May through June/July 2004.
OnlineThe ABC’s two primary audience measurement
methodologies for ABC Online are Site-Centric
page access measures and the Nielsen//
NetRatings service. The Site-Centric
page access measures provide insights
s e c t i o n 3 7 1A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
The Nielsen//NetRatings service uses a national
panel that provides more in-depth data on
the number of users (both at home and work),
reach and the demographic profiles of
audiences to ABC Online.
Development (continued)
into traffic volume to ABC home page and
ABC Online Gateways. To ensure compliance
with Audit Bureau of Circulations standards
for the measurement of page accesses, the
Corporation undertook a review of the
mechanisms for capturing accesses.
This review resulted in some changes in
the mechanics of collecting page accesses
which took effect from January 2004.
7 2A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
One of the many programs supported byDevelopment, Loot is a forensic accountingdrama, starring Jason Donovan and Anita Hegh.
ABC Enterprises contributes to the role of
the ABC by selling and distributing ABC
programming and content, hiring spare ABC
resources capacity, and developing and retailing
quality consumer products associated with
ABC programming or relevant to Charter roles
and values. In this way, the Division extends the
life of ABC programming, assists in fostering
and developing Australian talent and creativity,
and makes a financial return to the Corporation
for investment in programs.
ABC Enterprises began operating in an
expanded form on 1 July 2003, when the ABC
Board endorsed the proposal to integrate all
revenue-generating business activities. The
Board’s decision aimed to provide clear
separation of ABC commercial and editorial
activities and focussed management of sales
and revenue generation.
The Division is currently structured into the
three businesses—ABC Consumer Publishing
and Content Sales, ABC Retail and ABC
Resource Hire. During 2003-04, ABC Content
Sales and ABC Consumer Publishing were
merged into a single business unit.
ABC Consumer PublishingIn 2003-04, ABC Consumer Publishing
released over 800 consumer products relating
to ABC programming and Charter activities.
The business unit made a net profit of
$8.19 million in 2003-04, compared
with $8.72 million in 2002-03.
The best selling adult titles for ABC Books were
On the Road with Macca, The Bill, Surfing the
Menu and delicious: Let’s Entertain. Other titles
included Enough Rope, Gardening Australia’s
Flora and The Coroner, which featured in the
Book Bestseller list for six weeks.
The leading ABC Children’s Book was the
Saddle Club Friendship Book. Award-winning
and shortlisted children’s titles throughout the
year included Zoo Album, Baby Boomsticks,
The Naming of Tishkin Silk, Old Tom’s Man
of Mystery and Antarctica, which won the
Wilderness Society Environment Award.
ABC Audio released its first MP3-CD consumer
product, Taim Bilong Masta, in March. The MP3
format allows each audio CD to hold up to ten
hours of book reading. Christmas and Father’s
Day greeting cards with an attached audio and
music CD were the best selling audio products
for the year.
The ABC food magazine, delicious, won four
awards at the 2003 Magazine Publishers
of Australia Awards, including the coveted
Magazine of the Year. Saddle Club magazine
was another success, with a recorded readership
of 136 000 among girls aged 6-13. A triple j
annual magazine, entitled Beat the Drum,
was published in December.
s e c t i o n 3 7 3A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
Robyn WattsDirector of Enterprises
Robyn Watts has been Director Enterprises since the establishment of the
restructured commercial operations division in July 2003. Robyn commenced
at the ABC in July 2000 as Director of Content Rights Management. Prior
to joining the ABC, Robyn was CEO of Southern Star Sales, a division she
established for the company and grew to a worldwide distribution force
of 13 000 hours of television programming.
ABC Enterprises
Consumer products associated with Kath and
Kim topped the bestseller lists for the second
consecutive year, with the Kath and Kim Series
2 DVD selling more than 80 000 units. A Kath
and Kim video boxed set was released for
Mother’s Day, along with a Kath and Kim
Party Tape music CD.
Sales of DVDs from perennial ABC for Kids
favourites The Wiggles totalled more than
150 000 units in Australia. In the United States,
the Wiggle Bay video sold more than 500 000
copies.
ABC Music artists won a total of nine Golden
Guitars at the Country Music Association of
Australia (CMAA) Awards. Sara Storer won a
record seven Golden Guitars, including Album
of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year.
ABC Music released Midnight Oil: Best of Both
Worlds, the first music DVD from the triple j
archival collection.
Composers on the ABC Music Publishing roster
won the 2003 Screen Music Award for Best
Music for a TV series for MDA, and the APRA
2004 Award for Most Performed Jazz Work
for If You Loved Me.
ABC Classics won ARIA Awards for Best
Classical Album for Saffire and the Best Jazz
Album for Mikrokosmos. ABC Classics’
highlights for the year included the releases
of the CDs Bach Arias and Duets, Praise,
Cinema Paradiso, Brazil, Felix and Me,
and Margaret Throsby Collection.
ABC Events staged over 300 events and
exhibitions over the year and entertained more
than 200 000 children. The major exhibition
for the year was Gardening Australia Live,
which was staged in Sydney in August and
Brisbane in April.
ABC Content SalesABC Content Sales distributes content
and programming produced by the ABC’s
Television, Radio and Online platforms and
leading independent content producers.
Global clients include broadcasters, filmmakers,
airlines, multimedia producers, internet portals,
and wireless and broadband service providers.
Revenue from the sales of ABC-owned and
independently-acquired content decreased
with a net profit of $2.22 million in 2003-04,
compared to $3.74 million in 2002-03. The
result was partly due to a decrease in available
ABC-produced content, an increase in sales
of third party acquired content, and an
associated increase in costs.
In 2003-04, ABC Content Sales attended
international television markets and launched
100 hours of new programming. Surfing the
Menu, Kylie Kwong: Cooking With Heart and
Soul, Deadly Enemies, series 1 and 2 of Kath
and Kim and Moulin Rouge Girls attracted
global buyers. International broadcasters NHK,
TVNZ and Al Jazeera continued their supply
agreements for Foreign Correspondent.
In an increasingly competitive market, ABC
Content Sales continued to increase revenue from
sales of footage, although revenue expectations
from collecting agencies and third party sales of
7 4A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
ABC Enterprises (continued)
Magazine Publishers ofAustralia named ABC
food magazine deliciousthe Magazine of the
Year in 2003.
radio programs were not met. The continued
reduction of new, saleable ABC footage was
offset by increasing sales of represented
collections (National Geographic and Associated
Press Television News) and by packaging
high-demand material such as bloopers and
popular music from the Countdown and the
GTK collections. The unit launched WILD, an
online ABC Natural History stock-shot database.
ABC Content Sales continued to ensure that
content was licensed for all major technology
platforms, establishing a long-term, multi-faceted
agreement with OptusNet to supply news and
entertainment content for their online service,
and expanding its news relationships with
Telstra, Yahoo and Austar. The unit attracted
new wireless clients such as Telstra Mobile and
Optus Mobile for SMS, WAP News and Sport,
and sold ABC news and transcripts to new
platforms such as MarketWatch and
MacquarieNet.
ABC RetailABC Retail opened one new ABC Shop at Bondi
in NSW in November 2003. In the same month,
the ABC Shop at Erina on the New South Wales
Central Coast was relocated to a new position
alongside the newly-built ABC Radio studio
within the Erina Fair Shopping Centre. During
the year, eight new ABC Centres opened and
three existing Centres closed. By the end of
s e c t i o n 3 7 5A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
Resource H
ire
Content Sales
Classics
Gift
Magazines
Licensing
Events
Con
tem
pora
ry M
usic
Aud
io
Boo
ks
Retail
Video (incl. Non Theatric)
ABC Enterprises Revenue by Activity 2003-04
0 2 000 4 000 6 000 8 000 10 000 12 000 14 000 16 000
94–95
95–96
96–97
97–98
98–99
99–00
00–01
01–02
02–03
03–04
$’000
a
b
ABC Enterprises Revenue
a. includes cash from Program Sales, BDU, Non-Theatrics and Stock Footage b. includes cash from new Enterprises departments—Content Sales and Resource Hire
ABC Enterprises (continued)
2003-04, ABC Retail had 124 outlets in
operation, comprising 39 ABC Shops, 84
ABC Centres and an Order Centre which
provides home delivery of products ordered
by phone, fax, mail and online. The unit’s net
profit increased from $2.77 million in 2002-03
to $4.88 million in 2003-04.
During the financial year, ABC Shop Online
sales grew to $1.4 million, an increase of 41%
on the previous year. Online sales now account
for 71% of all home delivery sales. The ABC
Shop loyalty program, Reward, continues to be
a significant promotional tool and accounted
for 28% of all shop sales. In 2003-04, 65 000
new customers were added to the program,
bringing the total number of people using their
Reward card during the year to 131 000.
Sales of DVDs increased from 18% of all
products sold last financial year to 26% in
2003-04, and video and DVD sales accounted
for 45% of all products sold. The most
popular genres of products sold were comedy,
children’s, factual and drama. The best selling
product in the ABC Shops included Kath and
Kim Series 1 and Series 2 DVDs, The Bill Book
and The Goodies DVD. National catalogue
promotions for Father’s Day, Christmas and
Mother’s Day were all successful and exceeded
previous years’ sales results.
During the year, the most successful of the
230 local promotions undertaken included the
Gardening Australia Live exhibition, a Gordon
Ramsay lunch for delicious magazine, book
signings by Kylie Kwong and John Eales, and
a David Attenborough dinner and book signing.
ABC Resource HireABC Resource Hire uses spare capacity in
ABC facilities and crews to offer services in
television production to clients Australia-wide
and overseas. Revenue generated from its
activities is channelled into program production,
and provides ABC staff with exposure to a
wider range of production genres and disciplines.
Services offered are digital outside broadcast,
live minicam sports coverage, production
services, and costume hire and manufacture.
Also available for hire are studios, rehearsal
rooms and theatres. The business unit was
moved from the Production Resources
Division into ABC Enterprises on 1 July 2003.
ABC Resource Hire made a net profit of $1.56
million in 2003-04 compared to $2.50 million
in the previous financial year. In a competitive
market, the unit successfully won contracts
to provide content for all Australian television
networks, working with many of the country’s
leading producers and production companies.
In 2003-04, ABC Resource Hire provided
studios, facilities and crew for television
programs such as Bambaloo, Active Kidz and
Mars Venus and the production of corporate
videos and DVDs. Outside broadcast facilities
and crew covered the World Track Cycling
Championships in Melbourne and provided
national sports coverage ranging from AFL
in Western Australia, the Northern Territory
and Tasmania to basketball coverage in
Queensland and Western Australia and soccer
coverage in Western Australia. ABC Resource
Hire provided Minicam facilities and crew for
the V8 Motor Racing series around Australia
and in New Zealand.
In association with ABC Asia Pacific, ABC
Resource Hire provided facilities and crew
for coverage of the South Pacific Games in
Fiji. Minicam coverage of international events
included the Suzuka Motorbikes in Japan,
Macau Grand Prix, Korean F3 and the
Bicycle Tour of Malaysia.
7 6A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
s e c t i o n 3 7 7A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
Business ServicesOn 1 July 2003, the Finance and Support
Services Division was renamed Business
Services, reflecting the incorporation of Archives
and Library Services, Rights Management and
Business Affairs.
Completion of AnnualFinancial StatementsThe Corporation’s Annual Accounts were
completed within the required time frame
and received an unqualified audit opinion from
the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO).
ABC Asia Pacific’s Annual Accounts were
completed and submitted to the Department
of Foreign Affairs and Trade after the ANAO
delivered an unqualified audit opinion.
Budget and FundingThe 2003-04 Budget was submitted to and
approved by the ABC Board in July 2003
following extensive negotiations with all Divisions.
The 2003-04 Budget encompassed reductions
to programming and non-programming budgets
amounting to some $26m.
With National Interest Initiatives (NII) funding
due to expire on 30 June 2005, the ABC
undertook a review of its performance in
implementing the NII in the first two years of the
four-year program. This review was included in
a funding submission to the Federal Government,
which included a request for the renewal of
NII funding from 1 July 2004. This bid was
successful, with NII funding committed until
the end of June 2008. An additional $4.2
million per annum for acquisitions was also
appropriated to the ABC.
Finance SystemsDuring 2003-04, work commenced on several
major Finance System-related projects that are
scheduled for completion in 2004-05.
As Finance System hardware is approaching the
end of its useful life, a Request For Proposal
for new infrastructure and related application
support services was issued to the market in
May 2004. It is anticipated that this process
will allow implementation in early 2005. The
new system is expected to deliver ongoing
savings to the Corporation.
Further business process improvements
will be delivered in 2004-05 with the redesign
and full integration of foreign currency payment
processes into the Finance System and an
interface to the new Enterprises Sales
Management System.
Director of Business Services
David Pendleton joined the ABC as the ABC General Manager of Group Audit
in 1996. He went on to become General Manager of Financial Operations and
Accounting, and later Head of Finance. In February 2002, he was appointed to
the position of Director of Finance and Support Services, which was re-named
Director of Business Services on 1 July 2003. Prior to joining the ABC, David
held senior management positions in the public sector at the NSW Roads and
Traffic Authority and State Super Investment and Management Corporation.
David Pendleton
Finance CommitteeThe ABC Board Finance Committee met on
four occasions during the year to consider
papers prepared by the Division. Papers
included the Corporation’s annual budget,
quarterly financial reports, revenue information,
accounting policies and capital planning.
NOIEDuring 2003, the ABC trialled three
electronic solutions as part of an eProcurement
demonstration project facilitated by the National
Office for the Information Economy (NOIE).
The solutions comprised a B2B facility, a
catalogue punchout tool and shopping cart,
and an expense management system. The
Australian Government Information Management
Office (AGIMO) will commence a review of the
project in July 2004 and it is intended that
findings will be made available to Australian
Government agencies and the business sector,
and will be incorporated into a revised whole-
of-government eProcurement strategy.
Digital ConversionIn August 2003, the ABC, in partnership with IBM
Global Services Australia, commenced a project
to convert 60 000 hours of ABC analogue
television and radio content to a digital data
format. To facilitate the project, IBM commenced
fit-out of a purpose-built facility in Pyrmont
(close to the ABC’s Ultimo centre), which will
be operational in early September 2004. It is
anticipated that the conversion of material
will take three years.
The project partners also began to develop
hardware and software solutions for storing and
accessing digital data files. Robotic libraries
were installed at the Ultimo Centre for system
and user testing and will be rolled out nationally
by the end of October 2004. Specialised PCs
providing access to the converted material for
broadcast in Television and News programs
were also installed at the Ultimo Centre. The
commencement of this project moves the
ABC closer to its long-term goal of retaining the
Corporation’s content collection in a high quality
durable format that allows desktop access.
AccommodationSydneyIn July 2003, the ABC completed the relocation
of all planned activities from Gore Hill to its new,
purpose-built building in Ultimo. Following
completion, the achievements of the Sydney
Accommodation Project were recognised with
awards for excellence from the Institution of
Engineers Australia (NSW Division), the National
Electrical and Communications Association
and the Master Builders Association.
On 15 December 2003, the Chairman
of the ABC Board formally unveiled an
installation dedicating the new ABC Archives
and Library facilities in the ABC Ultimo Centre
to Brian Johns AO, the Corporation’s Managing
Director from 1995 to 2000. The dedication
recognises that under his management the
Corporation decided to proceed with the
consolidation of Sydney activities at the
Ultimo Centre.
Gore HillThe last stage of the redevelopment of the
production support base at Lanceley Place,
Artarmon was completed with the construction
of new garage and maintenance facilities for
the digital outside broadcast van fleet, together
with a new set-manufacturing workshop.
On 5 March 2004, the ABC entered into an
agreement which it is confident will result in
the sale of the remainder of the Gore Hill site
by March 2005. Net proceeds from the sale
of the site will contribute to the ABC’s digital
conversion program.
7 8A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
Business Services (continued)
s e c t i o n 3 7 9A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
PerthConstruction of the ABC’s new Radio, Television
and Online centre at East Perth in Western
Australia is well advanced.
To complement the ABC’s decision to include
a significantly enhanced television production
facility as part of the project, the Western
Australian Government has committed funding
of $3.2m to assist film and television productions
in Western Australia co-produced by independent
filmmakers in partnership with the ABC. The
television production studio, part of the new ABC
Centre at East Perth, will provide the ABC with
significantly enhanced production capability in
Western Australia.
Practical completion of the building is scheduled
for October 2004 with the new facility to be
fully occupied and operational by May 2005.
CanberraOn 3 December 2003, the then Minister for
Communications, Information Technology
and the Arts, the Hon. Daryl Williams officially
opened ABC Canberra’s refurbished Northbourne
Avenue facilities. The opening marked the
culmination of five years of project work for the
Branch, including the return of local Television
News and introduction of weekend Television
News and a local Stateline program.
Since 1997, the ABC had been examining
options to provide improved administrative and
operational facilities in Canberra. The previous
facility consisted of six ageing buildings unsuitable
to meet the Corporation’s current and future
operational requirements. The scattered
arrangement of the buildings made it difficult
to achieve effective working relationships
between operational units, and electrical and
mechanical services were generally dilapidated
and in need of replacement.
The new premises have been designed to
meet the current and future accommodation,
program and technical support needs of the
branch. To improve work practices, work
areas have been collocated where appropriate
and staff located in closer proximity to each
other and the studio facilities that they use.
The project also focused on the upgrade
of technical infrastructure, in particular the
digitisation of television news equipment and
the digitisation and collocation of radio and
television central equipment rooms.
Construction for the refurbishment of the
Canberra premises commenced on 1 May 2002
and was completed on 28 November 2003.
The newly refurbished ABC Canberra offices have beendesigned to meet current and future operational needs.
Business Services (continued)
Following the official opening, ABC Canberra
held an Open Day to present the new building
and studios to the community. It was attended
by thousands of people. Tours were conducted
through the Television Studio, new combined
Television and Radio Master Control areas and
the greatly enhanced Radio Studios.
Other FacilitiesThe ABC continued to focus on implementing
its strategic property plan for capital cities and
regional areas.
Three new regional radio stations were opened
during the year with the assistance of NII funding.
The Chairman opened the new facility at Wagin,
Western Australia on 22 July 2003, while the new
Ballarat studio was opened by the Minister for
Communications, Information Technology and
the Arts on 28 August 2003. A new collocated
ABC Shop and regional studio facility was
leased at the Erina Fair shopping centre in
Gosford, New South Wales. The facility
commenced on-air operations on 28 November
2003 and was officially opened by the Managing
Director on 29 January 2004.
The first broadcast from new premises at
Nowra, New South Wales took place at the
end of July 2003, with the official opening held
on 17 September 2003. Construction of a
purpose-built studio in Port Macquarie, New
South Wales was completed, from where the
ABC Mid North Coast team commenced on-air
operations on 9 February 2004; their former
premises at Kempsey were sold at auction.
The ABC leased vacant office space in the
building adjacent to its existing Darwin premises
to alleviate overcrowding. Administrative and
management staff and functions were moved
to the new space in March 2004. The lease
will allow the exploration of options for the
future collocation of News and Current Affairs.
Other ProjectsLegal Services continued to provide the
Corporation with pre-publication advice,
litigation and submissions on law reform
to government. During 2003-04, legal
representatives of the Corporation participated
in the Federal Attorney General’s proposed
review of national Defamation laws; settled
major defamation litigation brought against
the ABC; and renegotiated major supply
agreements for ABC Television and Radio.
Legal Services also resisted applications to
restrain broadcasts proposed by the ABC;
negotiated retransmission arrangements for
ABC television broadcasts, and infrastructure
and software contracts for the ABC’s analog
and digital services; documented distribution
and sale arrangements for ABC Enterprises;
and renegotiated the ABC’s agreement with
the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance.
Several significant rights research and clearance
projects were undertaken on behalf of ABC’s
output Divisions and ABC Enterprises. These
projects include the new Comedy Kitchen
broadband service for New Media and Digital
Services, episodes of Play School for rebroadcast
on Asia Pacific Television, republishing of the
‘Sing’ book for Enterprises and the Dynasties
documentary series for Television and
international sales.
The ABC’s Archival collections inspired program
makers during the year, helping to provide our
audience with new perspectives on Australia’s
social, political and cultural history. Archival
material was sought for programs including
Local Radio’s Voice from the Vault, Radio
National’s Sports Factor, The Night Air, The
World Today, Australian Story, George Negus
Tonight, Love Is in the Air, Dynasties, Rewind
and The Way We Were.
8 0A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
Director of Human Resources
Colin Palmer joined the ABC in 1974 and went on to manage industrial relations
in the Television Division in 1988 and later for the entire ABC in 1996. Colin has
played a key role in the evolution and negotiation of ABC enterprise agreements
and acted as the Corporation’s advocate prior to his appointment as Director
of Human Resources in June 2001. Colin has studied employment law,
organisational behaviour, personnel management and has senior-level
management experience in all disciplines of human resources.
Colin Palmer
Human ResourcesIn 2003-04, the Human Resources Division
pursued strategies and projects aimed at
delivering improved leadership, a more
supportive workplace environment and
forward-looking workforce planning and
development. These strategies are aimed
at ensuring that ABC staff have or be able
to acquire the skills to develop and broadcast
leading edge programming in a changing
media environment.
Policy InitiativesIn May 2004, Human Resources launched a
comprehensive conflict resolution web page
for managers and employees. The site provides
updated policies on harassment, discrimination
and grievance resolution, as well as a new policy
addressing workplace bullying. The Division
provided assistance to employees for resolving
conflict and to raise complaints.
A key strategy to support managers and staff
with these new tools was the development of
a training program called ‘Creating a Better
Place to Work’. This aimed at providing a
forum for information, discussion and case
studies on discrimination, harassment,
anti-bullying and resolution processes.
Workshops were undertaken in Brisbane,
Canberra, Hobart and Melbourne. By the
end of 2005, all ABC staff will have received
this training.
To build on the Corporation’s objective of
encouraging a supportive and flexible work/life
culture, the Division collated a booklet for
managers and staff covering entitlements,
resources, guidelines and childcare. Called
‘About Choice’, these booklets, which included
a parental leave supplement, were launched
at Ultimo in June 2004.
Human Resources continued to implement
Indigenous employment initiatives aimed at
attracting, developing and retaining Indigenous
staff as part of the Corporation’s objective of
a minimum of 2% Indigenous representation.
During the year the ABC conducted an
Indigenous Staff Conference at Penrith,
New South Wales with 36 participants;
hosted an Ultimo-based careers open day
for Indigenous students; established a cross-
divisional Indigenous committee and awarded
scholarships for Indigenous staff under a pilot
scheme. Indigenous representation remains
at 1.3% at year-end, with a number of
appointments in the pipeline expected to
raise the ratio in the early part of 2004-05.
During the year, Divisions focussed on the
targeting of positions and specific recruitment
initiatives, which resulted, along with other
strategies, in an increase of ten Indigenous
staff members. However, this increase was
offset by a substantial number of Indigenous
s e c t i o n 3 8 1A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
8 2A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
Radio
20.
8%
Television 3.2%New Media and Digital
Services 2.6%
International Broadcasting 2.1%News and Current
Affairs 17.3%
Prod
uctio
n R
esou
rces
26.
8%Development 0.4%
ABC Enterprises 5.4%
Business Services 8.8%
Human Resources 2.3%
Corporate Affairs 0.9%
Technology and
Distribution 9.1%
State and Territory Directors 0.3%
ABC Staff by Division 2003-04
NSW 47%
NT
3%
Overseas 1%
SA 8%
Que
ensl
and
9%
Tasmania 4%
Victoria 18%
WA
6%
AC
T 4%
ABC Staff by Region 2003-04
5 523
5 437
5 343
4 887
4 177
4 134
4 293
4 116
4 260
4 321
4 244
0 1 000 2 000 3 000 4 000 5 000 6 000
1993–94
1994–95
1995–96
1996–97
1997–98
1998–99
1999–00
2000–01
2001–02
2002–03
2003–04
AB
C S
taff
num
ber
s (F
ull-
Tim
e E
qui
vale
nt)
0 500 1 000 1 500 2 000 2 500 3 000
Retail Staff
Technologist
Senior Executive
Program Maker
Admin/Professional
AB
C S
taff
by
Job
Gro
up 2
003-
04
s e c t i o n 3 8 3A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
Human Resources (continued)
staff leaving the ABC for a range of individual
reasons and an increase in the overall number
of ABC staff.
Training and DevelopmentThe ABC is committed to national quality
standards for training. Following a successful
audit, the ABC retained its Registered Training
Organisation (RTO) status for a further five
years (2004-08). The ABC is registered to
deliver 14 qualifications, mainly in media skills.
This year the ABC RTO issued 146 complete
qualifications and a further 49 Statements of
Attainment to staff. In total, ABC staff received
over 77 000 hours of structured training.
A key focus in 2003-04 was developing and
promoting leadership and senior management
capability across the Corporation. Human
Resources introduced the ABC Leadership
Capability Framework which articulates the
characteristics, capabilities and competencies
required from ABC managers. Further, the
Division implemented Corporation-wide
programs to develop the skills and
competencies of managers. This included
the ABC Senior Management Development
Program, which was designed to build individual
and collective capabilities while also delivering
immediate results in the workplace, and the
ABC Executive Scholarship program.
Performance ManagementAfter three years, performance management is
now in place in the Corporation as a standard
business process and key management
accountability. Throughout 2003-04, Human
Resources focussed on improving support
for the system, including redesigning and
updating the performance management
intranet site and guidelines; further tailoring
the system to suit specific operational needs;
providing regular induction, training and
coaching; and developing a course on
‘Managing Under-Performance’ as part of a
suite of performance management training
tools. A cross-divisional group has continued
to monitor compliance and exchange ideas
on improving application of the system.
In 2004-05, a customised performance
management module will be added to the
payroll system, enabling managers to more
effectively administer and monitor all aspects
of the performance management system.
Workplace/Industrial RelationsThe Division addressed two major
workplace relations issues during the year.
Both involved disputes with the Community
and Public Sector Union (CPSU) and the Media,
Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) over
consultation processes and led to hearings in
the Australian Industrial Relations Commission
(AIRC). The first related to editorial and program
decisions, while the second concerned the
application of provisions in the ABC Employment
Agreement 2003-06 dealing with
under-performance management.
The ABC is also working with Comcare
to address a tension, common across
Commonwealth agencies, between
compensation legislation dealing with
psychological injuries and performance
management actions.
Coordinator Indigenous Employment, Paul Brant.speaking during NAIDOC week 2003.
Director of Corporate Affairs
Geoff Crawford joined the ABC as Director of Corporate Affairs in May 2002.
Prior to that, he worked for twelve years at Buckingham Palace, the last four
years as the Queen’s Press Secretary. He joined the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade in Canberra in 1974, working in a number of areas within
the Department, as well as undertaking overseas postings to the Middle East
and Pacific regions.
ABC Corporate Affairs provides a range
of Corporation-wide administrative support
functions in relation to corporate policy,
strategy and governance and the ABC’s
position and influence in the internal and
external environment.
Corporate MarketingThe Corporate Marketing unit manages the
ABC brand, including partnerships, cross-
promotions, community events and
cross-divisional marketing needs.
In 2003-04, the unit increased the number
of community events held using the ABC’s
On The Road Exhibition Trailer, which visited
19 sites across all states and territories. The
trailer supported outside broadcasts by ABC
Radio and Television, and promoted ABC
Enterprises products and talent. It was
visited by an estimated 350 000 people.
A major focus for the year was better
management of cross-promotional campaigns
and a more effective use of the Corporation’s
20% allocation of on-air promotion time.
The unit also concentrated on research and
analysis of brand perception and values, with
additional research on usage and opportunities
to reach new audiences.
To assist in its work, Corporate Marketing
managed the appointment of two new
advertising agencies and a number of design
companies to work with all divisions on external
communication campaigns. The unit organised
advertising for triple j and ABC Shops, and
additional brand research for ABC New Media
and Digital Services.
Work also continued on servicing existing
partnerships with festivals and non-profit
organisations and maintenance of logo and
brand use across the entire Corporation.
Corporate CommunicationsThe Corporate Communications unit oversees
ABC media relations and the distribution of
internal and external communications, such
as the ABC’s corporate website, About the
ABC; the ABC Intranet; the staff newsletter
abcXchange and the external publication Inside
8 4A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
Corporate Affairs
Geoff Crawford CVO
s e c t i o n 3 8 5A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
the ABC. The unit also manages major
Corporate events and policy announcements.
During 2003-04, Corporate Communications
managed a number of significant media issues,
including the response of the Complaints Review
Executive to complaints about the AM program
by the then Minister for Communications,
Information Technology and the Arts, the Hon.
Senator Richard Alston; the announcement
of cuts to programs and non-program functions
of $26.1 million per year after the ABC’s failure
to secure additional funding from the 2002-03
Federal Budget; the release of the fourth Newspoll
ABC Appreciation Survey; the resignations of
Mr Maurice Newman AC from the ABC Board
and the Director of News and Current Affairs,
Mr Max Uechtritz; changes to the 7pm television
news in Victoria; and the renewal of National
Interest Initiatives funding in the Federal
Government’s 2004-05 Budget.
During the year, Corporate Communications
re-designed and overhauled the ABC
Intranet to provide ABC staff with a more
user-friendly internal information and
communications service.
Audience and Consumer AffairsABC Audience and Consumer Affairs logs
audience feedback and coordinates responses
where required. One of the unit’s key roles is
ensuring that program complaints are handled
in accordance with the guidelines set out in
the ABC Editorial Policies and to investigate
complaints relating to issues covered by the
ABC’s Code of Practice.
In 2003-04, Audience and Consumer Affairs
dealt with more than 160 000 contacts
(for further details, see ABC Audiences, p.27).
A major project for Audience and Consumer
Affairs was the introduction of a new audience
contacts database and workflow management
system. The unit will begin using the database
on 1 July 2004. In addition to streamlining
Stateline broadcasting from the ABC On theRoad Exhibition Trailer in Northern Tasmania.
the processing of audience contacts, the
new system will allow more information to be
recorded about each contact, enabling more
detailed and flexible reporting.
Planning ActivitiesThe Corporate Planning and Governance unit
coordinated the preparation of a new ABC
Corporate Plan for 2004-07. This included
a series of strategy and planning workshops
with the ABC Board and Executive Directors.
It is anticipated that the new Corporate Plan
will receive Board approval early in 2004-05.
The unit also continued to monitor performance
against the current ABC Corporate Plan
2001-04 and Divisional plans.
Corporate PolicyThe Corporate Planning and Governance
Unit continued to coordinate the ABC-wide
implementation of the Designing and
Implementing Record Keeping Systems
(DIRKS) methodology used by the National
Archives of Australia (NAA). This entailed
the development of a business classification
scheme covering all aspects of ABC activities.
Step B received provisional approval from the
NAA on 30 June 2004.
The unit contributed to an interdivisional review
of the ABC’s application of National Interest
Initiatives funding, and the supplementary
funding submission to Government requesting
continuation of funding for those initiatives.
The unit coordinated submissions to
Parliamentary inquiries on issues related to
the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement,
and contributed to submissions coordinated
by other Divisions.
Government andParliamentary RelationsThe Government and Parliamentary Relations
unit oversees the Corporation’s relationship with
the Parliament of Australia and Commonwealth
Government departments. During the year under
review, the unit coordinated and responded to
Parliamentary and departmental requests for
information, built relationships at the Federal
Parliamentary level and monitored developments
in Parliament of interest to the ABC.
The unit coordinated visits to ABC facilities
by Government Ministers and Opposition
spokespersons, Parliamentary committees,
senior departmental officers and official guests.
The ABC provided formal submissions to a
number of Parliamentary inquiries including
the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement, and
reviews including the Tobacco Advertising
Prohibition Act, the Digital Agenda Review
and reviews of the Copyright Act.
The ABC appeared before the Senate Estimates
Committee on three occasions during 2003-04
and answered 52 written questions on notice.
International RelationsThe ABC continues to strengthen its
relationships with a range of like-minded
overseas broadcasters to focus its public
service remit and national strategies. The
ABC participated in a number of international
conferences, including the General Assemblies
of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in
Sweden in July 2003 and the Asia-Pacific
Broadcasting Union (ABU) in Turkey in October
2003. The Director of Corporate Affairs delivered
a presentation on ‘Audiences: The Profile of the
Public Broadcaster’s Audience’ at the Public
8 6A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
Corporate Affairs (continued)
s e c t i o n 3 8 7A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
Broadcasters International (PBI) conference in
Poland in October 2003, while the Chairman
delivered an address at the Commonwealth
Broadcasting Association conference in Fiji
in February 2004.
The ABC also welcomed a number of
delegations from China, Thailand, Vietnam
and South Africa, as well as the Director of
the Asia Institute of Broadcasting Development
(AIBD); the Director of Program Department of
the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU); the
British Secretary of State for Culture, Media
and Sport; representatives of Swedish Radio;
the Director-General of Radio and Television
of Afghanistan; and the Ambassadors of
France and the Republic of Indonesia.
State andTerritoryDirectorsThe ABC appointed State and Territory
Directors in July 2000. These roles oversee
content and operations at a state and territory
level, add value to strategic directions and
decisions and provide a key point of external
contact. Directors represent the Managing
Director in high-level negotiations with
government bodies, liaise with community
leaders, and brief state and federal politicians
about activities of the ABC in their state.
Represented at corporate management
meetings by one of their number, currently
Geoff Duncan from Western Australia, the
State and Territory Directors liaise with
Divisional Directors on key decisions
affecting their state or territory. They also
provide feedback to the Managing Director
on local issues relevant to the ABC.
Although these positions do not have general
line-management responsibility they are
important in drawing together local Managers
from various Divisions to solve Corporation-wide
problems. To that end, they lead State Executives
and facilitate information flow to staff and
management.
During the year, State and Territory Directors
were allocated responsibility for major property
projects in Canberra and Perth.
Primary school students from Smithton, Tasmania
line up for the ABC On theRoad Exhibition Trailer.
Technology and DistributionThe Technology and Distribution Division
develops and supports the ABC’s technology
infrastructure and transmission services.
During 2003-04, the Division continued to install
digital production equipment and extend the
ABC’s digital television transmission services,
as well as completing technical fit-outs for
a number of significant ABC property
developments.
New radio and television studio facilities were
completed in Canberra, including an upgraded
television control room to allow the reintroduction
of local Television News bulletins. This project
required the creation of temporary radio studios
and the use of an outside broadcast (OB) van
to produce the News while the existing work
areas were refurbished. A key outcome of the
redevelopment was the relocation of technical
maintenance and transmission activities to
locations combining radio and television
functions. Canberra is the first site to have
a single Content Distribution Centre that
incorporates Radio and Television Master
Control Room functions and Television
Presentation in a single work space.
These redesigned areas are aimed at improving
working relationships with the introduction of new
technology, as well as addressing compliance
issues of fire safety, security and disabled access.
The technical fit-out of three new regional studios
was completed during the year. The 97.3 ABC
Illawarra facility at Nowra was relocated to more
suitable premises within the town and the main
studios for the ABC Mid North Coast service
were moved from Kempsey to the growing
regional centre of Port Macquarie. The new
Port Macquarie studio features state-of-the-art
technology, including digital on-air broadcast
consoles. In January 2004, the new studios for
92.5 ABC Central Coast opened at Erina in
Gosford, New South Wales. These innovative
studios are incorporated into the main regional
shopping centre and are highly visible to
the public.
In accordance with legislative requirements, the
ABC commenced broadcasts of High Definition
Television (HDTV) on 29 August 2003. Late in
2003-04, the ABC Board approved an HDTV
production facilities strategy that will provide
HDTV studio and control facilities, including
8 8A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
Director of Technology and Distribution
Prior to joining the ABC in 1997, Colin was General Manager of Planning and
Corporate at the Australian Broadcasting Authority, where he was responsible
for development of digital broadcasting strategies for Australia. He has been
actively engaged in regulatory and engineering developments in digital
broadcasting technology since 1983. Colin has over 30 years experience
in the broadcasting, telecommunications and engineering industry and has
degrees in Communications Engineering, Management and Business
Administration.
Colin Knowles
s e c t i o n 3 8 9A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
5.1 surround sound capability, for television
Studio 21 at Ultimo; an outside HDTV broadcast
van for national use; and HDTV production field
kits and post-production facilities.
The digital conversion of the ABC’s production
and transmission facilities continued throughout
the year. All capital cities now have widescreen
capable OB vehicles, with the deployment of
the remaining digital television OB vans for
Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra and delivery
of a refurbished van to Darwin.
During 2003-04, the ABC’s satellite-based
television interchange system, which provides
the national distribution of television program
material between all states, was upgraded to
meet the demands of a multi-channel digital
television environment. The new system
began operations on 26 November 2003 and
provides higher-quality vision and audio circuits
and greater operational flexibility. In addition,
it has enabled 12 regional centres to uplink
and transfer video content to the television
interchange network, resulting in savings from
reduced itinerant satellite transponder hire.
The ABC is progressively rolling out a new
radio switching system to replace the existing
ageing hardware, for which spare parts are
now unobtainable. The introduction of this
system is a major step towards the digitisation
of the radio production process, integrating
on-air studios and signal routing in one cohesive
digital platform. The new radio switchers allow
the automated incorporation of audio content
from a variety of sources, including news
segments and outside broadcast feeds, into
a single program stream, and are capable
of exceeding current program switching
requirements by 25% or more. The system
has already been deployed in Canberra and
was commissioned in June 2004 for the
national radio network hub in Ultimo.
In April 2004, the ABC began trial transmissions
of an interactive electronic program guide (EPG)
on ABC digital channel 22 in Sydney. The EPG
was developed by the Technology Research
and Development group and provides viewers
with regularly updated program details up to
a week ahead. In addition, the ABC has
participated with other broadcasters in the
development of the specification and standards
necessary for a common EPG that carries all
of the networks’ program details. The service
on ABC channel 22 currently carries information
from two other broadcasters, but it is anticipated
other broadcasters will participate in future.
The ABC has been an active participant in two
digital radio broadcasting trials on VHF Band III
Channel 9A which commenced during the
year, providing the dig Internet radio service
and ABC Classic FM for both trials. In Sydney,
the DR2000 L-Band trial incorporating the ABC
Classic FM service is continuing, providing
participants with the opportunity to test and
directly compare the capabilities of the L-Band
and Band III services. In Melbourne, the ABC
is also trialling the use of data exchange
technologies including the transmission of dig
website information (such as current song title
and artist) for display on digital radio receivers.
Interior of one of the ABC’s new digitaloutside broadcast vans.
Archives ProjectPreservation of the ABC’s unique audio and
video media archive is a key component of
the Corporation’s digitisation strategy. In July
2003, a contract was awarded to implement
a digital archive solution for the ABC to store,
manage and preserve content and to convert
over 60 000 hours of analog archive content
into digital form over a three-year period.
The system has been installed at the Ultimo
site and is being tested prior to commissioning.
Once fully implemented, this will ensure a
sustainable, robust system for the future
preservation and online access of ABC
audio and video archives.
BroadbandA year-long project to upgrade the Brisbane
New Media and Digital Services broadband
facilities was completed in March 2004. The
upgrade has enabled the ABC to explore a
range of emerging distribution opportunities,
and the production and delivery of more
broadband program content and services
via the Internet. It has also enabled the
introduction of redundant equipment to
minimise the impact of primary equipment
failure on broadband audiences.
IT Infrastructure and ApplicationsDuring the year, the Information Technology
(IT) group completed an upgrade of the network
links between capital city sites (as well as
Newcastle and Launceston) to a modern ATM
(Asynchronous Transfer Mode) system. The
new system allows for much faster information
sharing between sites, as well as sharing
audio, voice and, potentially, video over the
same capacity. It also provides for more flexible
network management and provides a solid
foundation for future network growth without
the constant replacement of expensive
infrastructure components.
A standardised and centralised disc storage
infrastructure has also been implemented across
all capital cities, allowing for cost-effective
storage management. The infrastructure has
been designed to accommodate storage
requirement growth over the next five years,
minimising storage expenditure over that period.
Technical Project ManagementDuring 2003-04, the Technology Project
Office continued to oversee and assist in the
implementation of capital projects, co-ordinate
project status reporting and promote
Division-wide project management disciplines.
More than one hundred Divisional staff have
received training in the new project management
methodology and tools and are applying these
in daily work. Work is underway to extend
project management training to ABC internal
customers to ensure a common approach
across the Corporation.
Technology and Distribution RealignmentFollowing the conclusion of the conversion of
the ABC’s core broadcasting facilities to digital,
and the transfer of television production from
Gore Hill to Ultimo in Sydney, the Division
commenced a realignment process. Staff
involved in operational roles in transmission
were transferred to Production Resources,
while the internal Divisional realignment gave
enhanced focus to: service and support for
ABC technologies; management of new ABC
technology projects; management of contracts
with external technology and communications
services providers; and developing agreed
technology strategies for the ABC.
Technology and Distribution
9 0A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
(continued)
s e c t i o n 3 9 1A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
Technical TrainingOver 11 000 hours of technical training were
delivered to Divisional staff during the year,
comprising more than 4 000 hours of technical
training, 3 000 hours of IT software and systems
training, and nearly 2 000 hours each of Project
Management and Occupational Health and
Safety (OH&S) training. As well as the on-going
training of staff in new technology, there were a
significant number of re-certification programs
for technical staff who maintain a wide range
of digital television, radio and transmission
equipment. The strong focus on OH&S training
this year included attendance at courses
relating to the Radiofrequency Safety project,
which is ensuring compliance with new
Australian Communication Authority (ACA)
regulations and the Australian Radiation
Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency
(ARPANSA) standard.
Government and Regulatory IssuesThe ABC’s technical interests were
represented at national bodies such as the
International Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC)
and international bodies including the Asia-Pacific
Broadcasting Union (ABU) and the International
Telecommunications Union (ITU).
During the year, the Corporation worked with
the other free-to-air broadcasters on a range
of common technical issues, and has been
actively involved in industry consultations
with Commercial Television Australia (CTVA),
Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) and the
community broadcasting sector. Other
consultations on a range of technical
issues have involved the ACA (Australian
Communications Authority), ABA (Australian
Broadcasting Authority), Department of
Communications, Information Technology
and the Arts (DCITA), ACIF (Australian
Communications Industry Forum), and
WTF (Wireless Technology Forum).
TransmissionThe ABC manages analog and digital
transmission contracts in excess of
$108 million per annum with transmission
service providers Broadcast Australia.
Transmission Fault RestorationDuring 2003-04, the average time for restoration
of service after a transmission fault was 15.89
minutes (15.17 minutes in 2002-03) for A-Class
transmitters (state capital works) and 42.01
minutes (39.14 minutes in 2002-03) for B-Class
transmitters (major regional centres). The
decrease in performance reflects the impact of
the continued roll-out of new digital television
services to major regional centres and the
associated installation of improved monitoring
equipment at transmission sites throughout
the year.
New Analog ServicesThe ABC’s minor extension program established
the following new services in 2003-04: Local
Radio in Port Stephens, New South Wales;
Radio National in Port Stephens, New South
Wales and Horsham, Victoria; and analog
television at Northam, Western Australia.
In June 2004, the ABC reconfigured the
Northern Territory Remote Area Broadcast
Service (RABS) to provide two distinct regional
radio services: a southern service with a central
Australian flavour from Alice Springs feeding
ABC transmitters south of Newcastle Waters,
and a northern signal from Darwin feeding
transmitters in the north and providing residents
in that part of the Territory with a more relevant
Local Radio service. The new service was
launched with outside broadcasts from Alice
Springs and Nhulunbuy on 25 June.
Also in June 2004, the ABC Board committed
to continuing the High Frequency domestic
shower services providing Local Radio to remote
areas in the Northern Territory until at least 2009.
This commitment will ensure that Broadcast
Australia upgrades the facility to improve
transmission performance levels and provide
a more reliable service to audiences.
New Digital Television ServicesIn 2003-04, the ABC commenced digital
television in 48 locations, continuing to provide
the largest terrestrial coverage of all Australian
broadcasters. New services were established at:
New South Wales: Armidale, Batemans Bay,
Bathurst, Broken Hill, Central Western Slopes,
Central Tablelands, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo,
Grafton/Kempsey, Lithgow, Lithgow East,
Manning River, Murrumbidgee Irrigation,
Portland/Wallerawang, Richmond/Tweed,
South Western Slopes, Tamworth, Ulladulla,
Upper Namoi and Wagga Wagga.
Queensland: Babinda, Cairns, Cairns East,
Darling Downs, Gordonvale, Mackay,
Noosa/Tewantin, Rockhampton, Southern
Downs, Toowoomba, Townsville,
Townsville North and Wide Bay.
South Australia: Adelaide Foothills,
Renmark/Loxton, South East, Spencer
Gulf North and Victor Harbor.
Tasmania: Hobart NE Suburbs, Launceston
and Taroona.
Western Australia: Albany, Bunbury, Central
Agricultural, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Manjimup
and Southern Agricultural.
To accommodate the introduction of digital
television, the ABC’s analog television services in
Cooktown, Miriam Vale, Mossman, Ravenshoe
and Tully in Queensland; Hay in New South
Wales and Taroona in Tasmania were required
to change channel.
9 2A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
Technology and Distribution(continued)
In 2003-04, the ABC commenced digital television broadcasts in 48 new locations.
s e c t i o n 3 9 3A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 0 3 - 0 4
ABC Distribution and Transmission Network Aggregated 2003-04 Performance as Reported by Broadcast Australia
ABC Service No. of ABC Distribution Broadcast Australia Total ‘On-Air’
Transmitters Network Transmission Network Availability
(See Note 1) (See Note 2) (See Note 3)
2003-04 2002-03 Target 2003-04 2002-03 2003-04 2002-03
% % % % % % %
Classic FM 67 99.98 99.98 99.83 99.91 99.94 99.84 99.91
triple j 57 99.97 99.98 99.82 99.90 99.93 99.83 99.91
Local Radio 238 99.79 99.70 99.79 99.84 99.88 99.63 99.85
NewsRadio 12 98.98 98.12 99.89 99.95 99.95 99.90 99.93
Radio National 257 99.96 99.91 99.74 99.82 99.82 99.72 99.80
Analog Television 441 99.97 99.92 99.75 99.82 99.85 99.77 99.77
Digital Television 96 99.68 99.92 99.81 99.90 99.87 99.15 99.78
State (Analog services only)
New South Wales 252 99.91 99.73 99.80 99.86 99.89 99.71 99.87
Northern Territory 55 99.94 99.82 99.71 99.72 99.81 99.66 99.76
Queensland 310 99.84 99.92 99.76 99.81 99.83 99.65 99.74
South Australia 76 99.96 99.71 99.79 99.88 98.88 99.83 99.85
Tasmania 83 99.99 99.98 99.81 99.74 99.88 99.68 99.85
Victoria 120 99.97 99.97 99.82 99.89 99.85 99.83 99.85
Western Australia 179 99.96 99.87 99.75 99.86 99.82 99.82 99.79
Notes:
1. ABC Distribution Network (included contracted service providers): The ABC distribution network ensures that programs
are delivered from the studio to local transmitters throughout the Australia. The network includes outsourced satellite and terrestrial
broadcast distribution services from telecommunications carriers such as Optus and Telstra. This measure has been designed to be
consistent with the contracted transmission targets and represents the aggregated performance of the more than 60 agreements
the ABC has in place to distribute programs. The ABC’s performance in this area improved over the previous year.
Note: Local Radio, serving remote and regional Australia, is reliant on non-redundant Telstra broadcast lines. These performed as
expected in 2003-04.
2. Broadcast Australia Transmission Network (ABC Transmission Contractor): The reported transmission network performance,
provided by Broadcast Australia, was above the contracted performance targets but continued to reflect declining performance relative
to corresponding periods in the previous two years. The performance was affected by the continued roll-out of new digital television
services and the associated installation of improved monitoring equipment at transmission sites throughout the year.
The new digital television services are performing above the agreed performance targets.
3. Total “On-Air” Availability: The total ‘On-Air’ availability shows the availability of a radio or television service, regardless of quality or
coverage where some level of service continued to be provided throughout periods of on-air faults and diminished power levels due to
maintenance. It is the time where there was no total loss or denial of service to the majority of the audience. This measure shows that
Broadcast Australia reported an overall increase in the total period when services were ‘off’, in comparison to the previous year.
Digital television performance was significantly lower for this financial year.