AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION 03 annual report everyone’s Annual Report 2002-03 everyaustralian Every Australian Annual Report 2002-03 Australian identity is the product of a continuous national conversation. The ABC brings to that conversation a comprehensive suite of diverse and high quality programming that reflects Australia and Australians. Australian Story Since 1996, Australian Story has presented the stories of inspiring and sometimes unusual Australians ‘narrated’ by the subjects themselves. The program emphasises regional and rural Australia and the positive aspects of contemporary life and people. Australians Together Following the Bali bomb blasts in October 2002, the ABC broadcast Australians together: A Ceremony of Tribute live across the nation to commemorate the victims of the bombing. The ceremony was held in Sydney’s Domain with ABC presenter Geraldine Doogue as MC. Bush Telegraph ABC Radio National’s Bush Telegraph provides an entertaining look at rural and regional issues around Australia, featuring unique social commentary and rural news headlines. In 2002-03, Bush Telegraph’s ‘Grow Your Own’ project allowed listeners to debate the best way to manage a cotton crop which was grown and picked in accordance with their instructions in a Queensland paddock. everyone’s Contents Letter of Transmittal 1 Corporate Report ABC Vision, Mission and Values 2 Significant Events in the Past Year 2 ABC Programs and Services 5 Board of Directors 10 Board of Directors Statement 12 ABC Advisory Council 17 The Year Ahead 18 Overview ABC Audiences 22 Corporate Governance 35 Financial Summary 39 Corporate Plan Summary 43 Sydney Accommodation Project 45 ABC Executive Directors 46 ABC Organisation Chart 49 ABC Divisional Reports Radio 52 Television 58 New Media and Digital Services 65 International Broadcasting 70 News and Current Affairs 72 Production Resources 76 Development 79 Enterprises 82 Content Rights Management 85 Finance and Support Services 88 Human Resources 91 Corporate Affairs 95 Technology and Distribution 98 Summary Reports Corporate Plan Performance Summary 108 Outcomes and Outputs 117 ABC Subsidiaries 126 Independent Audit Report 130 Financial Statements 131 Appendices 167 Office of Donald McDonald AO Chairman 3 October 2003 ABC Ultimo Centre 700 Harris Street Ultimo NSW 2007 Australia GPO Box 9994 Sydney NSW 2001 Tel. +61 2 8333 5363 Fax. +61 2 8333 2967 Senator the Hon Richard Alston abc.net.au Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600 The Board of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation is pleased to present the Annual Report of the Corporation for the year ended 30 June 2003. The report has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983. 2 Annual Report 2002-03 ABC Vision, Significant Events Mission and Values Vision July 2002 Valued and integral to Australia’s culture. The last episode of the first series of Kath and Kim attracted the highest number of viewers ever Mission for an Australian comedy series on the ABC. Guided by the ABC Charter to engage our audiences with an independent, distinctive and appealing mix The ABC broadcast Australia’s first interactive of programming and content, delivered via multi- television program, the BBC’s Walking With platform services. Beasts Interactive series, through its services on the Austar and Optus Interactive platforms. Our Corporate Values We will manage and conduct our business in an effective, ABC New Media became ABC New Media and efficient and ethical manner, according to values we share Digital Services to reflect the Division’s role in in the Corporation. driving digital strategy for the Corporation. We value ABC NewsRadio extended transmission • The ABC - acting always to support the role of to Gosford on the Central Coast of a national public broadcaster in delivering valued New South Wales. outcomes for the Australian community • Editorial Excellence - aspiring to the highest standards The ABC celebrated its seventieth anniversary of accuracy, impartiality and independence, in reflecting with special radio programs and outside a balanced and broad range of views and interests broadcasts in all States and Territories. through adherence to editorial policies and guidelines • Innovation and Creativity - striving for excellence in the August 2002 development and presentation of distinctive information ABC Television inaugurated ‘Doing Business and cultural programming content with ABC Television’ information briefings for • Universal Access - ensuring that all Australians can the film and television industry, including ABC access services that provide the knowledge required Editorial Policies Workshops. in a modern information-based society • Our People - providing opportunities for our people to Tenth anniversary of Bananas in Pyjamas, the grow, personally and professionally, during their time most successful ABC program sold to overseas with the Corporation television markets. • Good Governance - demonstrating our accountability for the efficient and effective use of public resources Radio Australia celebrated 60 years of • Shared Commitment - accepting the shared obligation broadcasting to Indonesia. The Indonesian to act responsibly and with a commitment to fairness Language Service has an estimated annual and justice audience reach of 6.5 million listeners in • Courage - encouraging the leadership and vision to adapt Indonesia and can be heard on 30 local to change with flexibility, integrity and decisiveness. Indonesian stations. ABC Local Radio broadcast over 120 hours from the Commonwealth Games in Manchester. Corporate 3 Annual Report 2002-03 September 2002 New Media and Digital Services ran a successful Radio National commenced 24 hour audio free trial of outbound Short Message Service streaming online. (SMS) on mobile phones for the audience of television comedy CNNNN. ABC New Media and Digital Services launched a new online gateway, Rollercoaster, aimed at November 2002 the 8-14 year age group. ABC Triennial Funding Submission 2003-06 provided to Government. ABC Events staged Gardening Australia Live in Sydney. The ABC Ultimo Centre in Sydney officially opened by the Prime Minister. The ABC Classics album Sonatas and Fantasies by Slava Grigoryan won the Best The ABC’s first Internet radio station, DIG, was Classical Album Award at the 2002 Australian launched at the Queenscliff Music Festival. Recording Industry Association Awards. The inaugural Radio Australia Asia-Pacific Lecture October 2002 Series, produced with leading universities, ABC Radio and Television networks broadcast throughout Asia and the Pacific on comprehensively covered the Bali bomb Radio Australia and across Australia on the blasts and their aftermath. ABC’s Radio National and NewsRadio networks. ABC Television presented Australians Together: December 2002 A Ceremony of Tribute, commemorating the Australia’s first interactive television documentary, victims and families and all affected by the Long Way to the Top: Live In Concert iTV, went to Bali bombing. air through the ABC’s services on Austar’s digital satellite platform to around one million viewers. The new ABC Shop Online was relaunched after a significant makeover. January 2003 ABC Television news and daily current Radio Australia’s Chinese Language Service affairs programs commenced production delivered an historical joint broadcast from in Ultimo, Sydney. Shanghai, in partnership with major local station East Radio, to an estimated audience of 666 ABC Canberra, and ABC Goulburn Murray 100 million. and ABC Gippsland in Victoria provided critical bushfire coverage in their regions. Triple J launched Break The Music Drought initiative. The ABC launched weekend television news bulletins in the ACT and the Northern Territory. New ABC Shops were opened in Wantirna South, Victoria, and Eastgardens, New Radio Sport provided a comprehensive coverage South Wales. of the Australian Open Tennis on Local Radio. 4 Annual Report 2002-03 Significant Events (continued) February 2003 The 24-hour relay is run in cooperation ABC Radio acquired the non-commercial rights with Radio Fiji. from Macquarie Broadcasting Network to provide comprehensive radio coverage of the 2004 ABC Events staged the inaugural Gardening Athens Olympic Games. Australia Live Queensland in Brisbane. March 2003 May 2003 The Prime Minister’s Address to the Nation ABC Television and the Development regarding the Government’s commitment of Division conducted a two-day workshop on Australian defence forces to the military action the presentation of history on television involving in Iraq went to air live across Australia on Local over eighty historians and program makers. Radio and ABC NewsRadio. Radio Australia broadcast its Asia-Pacific ABC News and Current Affairs undertook one of program live from Bangkok and Manila - the the most comprehensive coverage deployments first time the program had been broadcast in ABC history for the war between Iraq and live from Asia. the US-led coalition, with reporters and crews operating from numerous locations throughout 558 ABC Great Southern at Wagin, Western the Middle East. Australia commenced on air with a local Breakfast program. War in Iraq provided a major focus for all ABC networks. ABC Online received its highest level A Radio National and Radio New Zealand joint of traffic ever, with 1.3 million unique Australia broadcast, Australasia Talks