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50
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The ABC celebrates the rich diversity of the nation through distinctive programming that provides a window on Australian communities and cultures including those rarely given a voice in the mainstream media.
Plumpton High Babies Shown on ABC Television’s Reality Bites, Plumpton High Babies followed a year in the life of teenage mothers at Plumpton High School in Sydney’s Western Suburbs, a school which encourages schoolgirl mothers to complete their secondary education.
Message Stick Message Stick is a half hour magazine style television program in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians tell their stories in their own way. The program delivers contemporary human stories from around the country, featuring engaging local characters and providing audiences with intimate access to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lifestyles, perspectives and aspirations.
Heywire ABC Radio’s Heywire is an initiative providing a voice for rural and regional youth. Entrants submit a story for radio about their experiences of life in rural and regional Australia. The best entries are broadcast on Triple J and ABC Online, while the winning entrants attend the Heywire Youth Issues Forum in Canberra. Every Individual 51 Annual Report 2002-03 everyindividual
everyone’s 52
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Ian ‘Macca’ McNamara, the voice of Local Radio’s Australia All Over, visits a bush music ABC Radio festival in Narrandera, New South Wales. In 2002-03, ABC Radio expanded its services to include two new Local Radio regional stations and DIG, the ABC’s first Internet radio station.
National Interest Initiatives (NII) funding allowed the establishment of two new Local Radio stations. On 19 May 2003, 558 ABC Great Southern commenced broadcasting from Wagin in Western Australia with a new local Breakfast program. Six weeks later, on 30 June, 107.9 ABC Ballarat went to air with local Breakfast and Drive programs as well as the state-wide regional Morning program. These new studios bring the total number of ABC Local Radio stations to 59 and generate about 1 500 hours per annum of additional local programming.
In November 2002, the ABC launched its new Internet music-based radio station DIG at the Queenscliff Music Festival in Victoria. DIG provides music and cultural programming aimed at audiences aged 30-50, a demographic not strongly represented through other ABC Radio services. DIG’s audience continues to grow with site accesses averaging 85 000 per week, well above the expected 25 000. DIG is also available as an audio service on digital television channel 200 and carried on the DR2000 digital radio trials on the L-Band in Sydney.
During the year, the Corporation extended the transmission of ABC NewsRadio to Gosford on the New South Wales central coast, through the ABC’s minor extensions program. ABC NewsRadio is now available in the eight capital cities as well as Newcastle and Gosford, New South Wales, and Queensland’s Gold Coast. In addition, an ABC Classic FM transmitter was ABC Divisions 53 Annual Report 2002-03
commissioned for Narrogin in Western Australian Content Australia; and separate transmitters for Radio Using funding from NII, ABC Radio established National were installed at Busselton in Western the Regional Production Fund (RPF) in 2001 to Australia and at Horsham and Mount Dundas source radio content from regional Australia in Western Victoria, providing listeners in these and, in the process, foster an external regional regions with 24-hour access to both Radio radio production industry. The RPF aims to National and Local Radio. The Local Radio showcase regional talent throughout Australia, transmitters previously fed Radio National providing broad exposure for an array of artists to these regions only from 7pm to 10pm. and program makers who work and live outside capital cities, while increasing the diversity of Agreement was reached with Broadcast ideas and styles on ABC Radio. Australia on the provision of digital lines to relay Local Radio to Gosford (702 ABC Programming ranges from documentary and Sydney) and Port Stephens (1233 ABC discussion to music, drama and other arts Newcastle) in New South Wales. This performance. Examples include the Regional infrastructure and funding from the NII make Short Story project, which attracted more than possible a new local service: 92.5 ABC Central 2 000 entries from which 30 were selected for Coast is expected to commence in November broadcast on Local Radio and Radio National. 2003, providing a local weekday program to The stories were published online and available the region. as audio on demand and are being published in book form by ABC Books. A series of ABC Radio extended the availability of services ‘postcards’ recorded by farmer, Jo Jackson, online. Radio National, ABC NewsRadio and told of her experiences about life on Austin Triple J are now 24-hour streamed services. Downs, a remote 167 000 hectare sheep station The level of radio content available as audio- in the Murchison in Western Australia. These on-demand has steadily increased. A total were broadcast on Local Radio and Radio of 94% of Radio National content is available National’s Life Matters and a book of her compared to 91% in 2001-02; Triple J added writing is being produced by ABC Books. 6-10 hours of new content each quarter, with 200 hours available at any one time, and In 2002-03, the RPF commissioned Local Radio averaged 670 stories per month approximately 97 hours of new Australian compared to 13 in 2001-02. content - 182 hours since its inception. The most common genres of these projects were Details of ABC Radio’s audience performance Music, History, Arts and Culture, Regional are in ABC Audiences (page 22). and Rural, Comedy, and Drama.
Australian Music In 2002-03, Australian music performance targets for ABC Radio networks were consistently met or exceeded. The amount 54
Annual Report 2002-03
ABC Radio (continued) of Australian music played on each network was: chats, and live and recorded performances Local Radio 34.82%; Radio National 29%; ABC of local artists. It included a weekend of Classic FM 33.5% (12% composition); and exclusively Australian music on Triple J. Triple J 40.47%. Arts and Culture ABC Radio introduced new avenues for ABC Radio networks were involved in numerous presenting and highlighting Australian musical arts and cultural events across Australia during talent. The emergence of DIG provided a the year. These included: WOMADelaide; the further ABC outlet for Australian music; DIG Port Fairy Folk Festival; Splendour in the Grass has established an annual target of 40% at Byron Bay; Big Day Out at the Gold Coast Australian music content, achieving 36% in its and in Sydney; and the Melbourne International first year. Triple J introduced a new weeknight Music and Blues Festival. Local Radio broadcast Australian music show, Home and Hosed, from the Tamworth Country Music Festival at while the 1233 ABC Newcastle Music Awards which its regional and rural broadcasters were uncovered and promoted the region’s emerging awarded the Judith Hosier Heritage Award ‘for and existing talent. New Music Australia on preserving, promoting and nurturing the Great ABC Classic FM each Wednesday continued Australian Heritage of Rhymed Verse’. to explore new Australian sounds and improvisations and their composers. In 2003, Triple J is supporting Raw Comedy a competition for young comedians and has Triple J relaunched its unearthed initiative in 2002 renewed its support for the NOISE festival, with a State and Territory focus. The competition a national media-based festival managed by seeks to discover unsigned Australian musical the Australia Council that showcases and talent. Three winners from each State and celebrates the creativity of Australians under Territory are recorded by Triple J Live Music and 25 years of age. their work included in the Triple J playlist for broadcast to a national audience. Winners Community Focus also gain an opportunity to perform live with a Triple J’s national Break The Music Drought well-known Australian act at a Triple J-hosted competition encouraged listeners from event in their State or Territory. During the year, drought-affected regions across the country South Australia, the ACT, Tasmania, Western to gather signatures on a petition, find a venue Australia and Victoria were unearthed and a to hold a concert and provide a reason why combined total of 3 425 entries received. Triple J should hold a free concert in their town. Nominations were received from over 35 The new Australian Opera Lindy, based on the towns, with the Western New South Wales trial of Lindy Chamberlain, was broadcast live on town of Gunnedah winning the Triple J-hosted ABC Classic FM, the first of six Opera Australia concert. Held in November, the concert featured performances broadcast and recorded by the Australian bands 28 Days and Machine Gun network in 2002-03. Fellatio, and was attended by approximately 5 000 people. Throughout November, Australian Music Month was commemorated across ABC Radio with outlets featuring information, interviews, online ABC Divisions 55 Annual Report 2002-03
666 ABC Canberra provided comprehensive Radio National’s Bush Telegraph broadcast coverage of the bushfire crisis in Canberra. The live from a cotton farm in Queensland to station maintained local programming during cover the picking of a cotton crop grown the height of the crisis, providing continuous on a paddock donated by farmer Stu Higgins. updates and field crosses. The volume of listener Bush Telegraph listeners managed the crop contact was considerable and feedback, through the Grow Your Own project site on including in other media, was highly positive. ABC Online, which allowed listeners to The station also pioneered an online emergency interact with one another to make decisions. website which posted vital emergency Stu Higgins then put these decisions into information in the aftermath of the bushfires. effect, culminating in the picking of the crop. The site recorded around 180 000 accesses The Grow Your Own story was also broadcast in the days immediately following the fires in on ABC Television’s Landline. January 2003. Iraq War Coverage In Victoria, ABC Local Radio provided extended Radio talk networks provided comprehensive coverage of bushfires throughout the State in coverage of the Iraq crisis in the early part of January and February 2003, receiving significant 2003. At 7.30pm on 20 March, Local Radio expressions of public support and appreciation. and ABC NewsRadio carried live broadcasts A North East Bushfire Support Concert was of the Prime Minister’s Address to the Nation, held in Myrtleford in February. regarding the commitment of Australian defence forces to the United States-led military In 2002 Heywire, which provides a voice for action in Iraq. The Leader of the Opposition’s rural and regional youth, received a record Reply was broadcast at the same time the 666 entries, up from 579 entries in the previous following night across Australia. year. The 38 winners spent a week in Canberra for the Heywire Youth Issues Forum, held at ABC NewsRadio broadcast live keynote the Australian Institute of Sport. During the addresses by Chief Weapons Inspector week, the key sponsors of Heywire, the Hans Blix, International Atomic Energy Commonwealth Department of Transport Agency Director-General Mohamed and Regional Services and the Rural Industries ElBaradei, US Secretary of State Colin Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Powell, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz renewed their commitment to supporting the and Australian Prime Minister John Howard. initiative. RIRDC also launched its independent Statements from significant figures were also report Evaluating Heywire - Rural Youth in broadcast live on ABC NewsRadio, along with Australia, a strong endorsement of the significant key US and British Military briefings and the value of Heywire to the broader community. Australian Military briefing live at 1100 daily Since inception in 1998, Heywire has attracted during the war. the participation of over 2 000 young Australians with 200 of their stories broadcast on Co-Productions/Partnerships ABC Radio. ABC Radio developed strategic partnerships that resulted in valuable co-productions. In conjunction with the South Australian Film Corporation, Triple J launched 4 Minute 56
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ABC Radio (continued)
Wonders in which young South Australian Sport filmmakers entered a concept for a music video ABC Radio acquired the non-commercial of one of their local unearthed winner’s tracks. rights from the Macquarie Broadcasting The ten best entries each received $15 000 Network to provide comprehensive radio to make a music video to be featured on the coverage of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Triple J website and ABC Television’s Rage. A joint coverage-sharing arrangement has been finalised with 2GB Macquarie and planning is DIG collaborated with final year television well underway to co-ordinate scheduling and production students from Victoria University broadcast requirements. The Athens Games in Melbourne to video a live performance will be broadcast live across Australia on and interview with US band The Violent Local Radio. More than 120 hours of coverage Femmes. The video was streamed on DIG of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in its Lunchtime Concert series on Thursdays. was broadcast on Local Radio throughout Similar arrangements are planned with Australia in August 2002. Swinburne University of Technology’s School of Multimedia Design (Melbourne), the Australian ABC Radio Sport successfully acquired the Film Television and Radio School (Sydney) and radio rights to the 2003 World Cup Rugby the University of Technology, Sydney. Union to be held in Australia and is in discussion with overseas broadcasters Radio National’s Australia Talks Back travelled over coverage sharing arrangements. to New Zealand for a week of joint broad- casts with Radio New Zealand. Produced After lengthy negotiations, complicated by in Wellington, the series Australasia Talks Back online rights issues, ABC Radio concluded a was broadcast live across Australia and New five-year agreement with the Australian Football Zealand. These unique trans-Tasman talkback League (AFL) to broadcast AFL matches. While programs were well received and generated ABC Radio’s coverage was initially unavailable significant media coverage in both countries. on the Internet, a mid-season agreement in 2003 allowed the coverage to be streamed The Commonwealth Department of Education, on both ABC Online and the AFL website. Science and Training provided funding to Radio National’s The Science Show to produce a ABC Radio Sport’s coverage of the Ashes special major series on innovations. The series cricket tests between Australia and England was broadcast throughout June and examined in Australia was broadcast on Local Radio. the development of the mobile phone, The BBC’s Jonathon Agnew joined the ABC open-heart surgery, IVF and food technology. Radio commentary team and, for the first time in 20 years, the coverage was relayed to the ABC Radio’s RPF helped to develop projects BBC and broadcast across the UK. Audience in conjunction with the National Drama group feedback was positive in both countries. Playworks, as well as various bodies and festivals around the country. ABC Divisions 57 Annual Report 2002-03
Training and Development For the first time in eight years, Local Radio brought together its Regional Program Managers in Melbourne in July 2002 to strategically assess the directions of Regional Radio and to disseminate and share information. A rare opportunity was given to these regional managers when US-based consultant Valerie Geller presented a session on ‘Creating Powerful Radio’.
The 2003 Local Radio Forum and Awards were held in Sydney with the theme Passionate Programs. The Forum and Awards, designed to showcase the best of Local Radio across Australia, provide a valuable development opportunity for staff from different parts of the country to meet their peers, contribute ideas and attend intensive craft workshops.
ABC Radio spent more than 2% of its operational salaries budget on training and development of its staff. Approximately 18% of ABC Radio staff are enrolled in or have completed accredited training in Certificate IV (Broadcasting) - the minimum requirement for all program makers in Radio and the industry benchmark for broadcasters in Australia.
Digital Radio - the Future Planning continued for digital radio trials in Sydney with Commercial Radio Australia and in Melbourne with Broadcast Australia, with the aim of commencing digital radio broadcasts later in 2003. If the trials proceed, ABC Radio intends to broadcast DIG, ABC Classic FM and one other service. 58
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Television
ABC Television broadcasts a diverse and innovative range of Australian and international programs. The television schedule is designed to appeal to a large audience, as well as catering for specialised interests. It includes landmark productions that resonate with audiences; timely topical programs that address everyday issues and concerns and provide accurate information; and regular programming strands that highlight specific genres, such as comedy, history and factual content.
Details of ABC Television’s reach and share are in ABC Audiences (page 22)
Australian Content Australian content comprised 53.5% of prime time programming, a decrease on the high level of 60.5% achieved in 2001-02. Australian content from 6am to midnight was 52.0%, lower than the previous year’s level of 56.3%.
The level of first release Australian content between 6pm and midnight was 46.7%, compared with 53.1% in 2001-02. Despite a strategic focusing of resources on achieving high levels of first release and Australian content in prime time, the cessation of the The wedding episode that ended the first series long running Australian drama serial Something of Kath and Kim attracted the highest number In The Air had a significant impact on new of viewers ever for an Australian comedy series Australian content levels. Repeat Australian on the ABC. programs comprised 6.8% of hours broadcast, compared with 7.4% the previous year.
The level of first release Australian content between 6am and midnight during 2002-03 was 32.0%, down from 33% in 2001-02, while repeat Australian content was 20%, down from 23.3%. ABC Divisions 59 Annual Report 2002-03
Most Popular Television Programs Most Popular Television Programs 2002-03, Five City Metropolitan 2002-03, Regional Average Audiences Average Audiences Kath and Kim 1 609 760 Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2002 685 903 Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2002 1 423 356 Monarch Of The Glen 649 338 The Bill, Saturday 1 336 966 The Bill, Saturday 612 697 Monarch of the Glen 1 224 235 Kath and Kim 608 936 The Bill, Tuesday 1 220 945 The Bill, Tuesday 549 581 Billy Connolly’s World Tour 1 159 578 Action! Animals 537 343 ABC News, Monday-Friday 1 095 927 Long Way To The Top Live 527 117 Wire In The Blood 1 076 767 Born and Bred 523 035 Walking With Beasts 1 071 356 Animals Behaving Badly 515 074 Foyle’s War 1 070 137 Australian Story 515 061 Long Way To The Top Live 1 065 275 Walking With Beasts 507 906 Born and Bred 1 045 382 Billy Connolly’s World Tour 506 820 Sahara 1 013 836 ABC News, Saturday 505 335 Australian Story 1 007 329 Ted and Alice 498 444 ABC News, Sunday 1 006 375 ABC News, Sunday 497 073 Ted and Alice 1 004 628 Wild Africa 477 744 ABC News, Saturday 995 832 Hornblower 472 213 Late Edition News 989 514 Wire In The Blood 471 245 The Murdochs 981 704 Foyles War 468 242 Dirty Tricks 980 044 Sons And Lovers 465 059
1998–99 1998–99
1999–00 1999–00
2000–01 2000–01
2001–02 2001–02
2002–03 2002–03 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 40 45 50 55 60 65 %
6am-midnight 6pm-midnight
* ABC internal producations and co-productions; excludes pre-purchased 6am-midnight 6pm-midnight programs (including many documentaries and children's drama programs)
ABC Commissioned Programs*, First Release, Australian Content as a Percentage of Hours Broadcast 1998-99 to 2002-03 Hours Broadcast 1998-99 to 2002-03 60
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% 80 First Release Repeat Television (continued) 70 60 Genre Diversity 50 Arts and Culture ABC Television broadcast 333 hours of arts 40 programs, a decline from 387 hours in 2001-02. 30 However, Australian arts programming increased 20 to 244 hours from 179 hours in the previous year. 10
of Hours Broadcast Television’s arts strategy is to distribute content 0 across the schedule. In 2002-03, the Division 00 01 03 02 99 – – – – – enhanced Sunday Afternoon with a new
Australian First Release and Repeat discussion program, Critical Mass. Sunday 1999 2000 2002 2001 1998 Content 6pm-midnight, as a Percentage Content 6pm-midnight, as a Percentage Afternoon attracted average metropolitan viewers of 151 000.
% Prime time arts documentaries commissioned 80 First Release Repeat included Inside the Square, about Melbourne’s 70 Federation Square; Outback Opera, Opera Australia’s tour of regional South Australia; and 60 Obsessions: Margaret Olley, a portrait of one 50 of Australia’s most celebrated painters. The 40 award-winning musical drama, One Night the 30 Moon, was also broadcast. 20 An innovative live concert featuring rock 10
of Hours Broadcast band Kiss and the Melbourne Symphony 0 Orchestra was recorded in front of a live 01 02 99 03 00 audience of 35 000. – – – – – Australian First Release and Repeat 2000 Content 6am-midnight, as a Percentage 2001 1998 2002 1999 Children’s ABC Television remained Australia’s most comprehensive and diverse free-to-air broadcaster of children’s and pre-school
Religion and Ethics Movies children’s programs. It continued to offer
Comedy S Australian and internationally produced po
rt 3% Arts 3% drama, comedies, animation and 3% 5% entertainment targeted at audiences Education 29% in accordance with need, age and maturity.
1% 5% Childrens Entertainm ent 5% In 2002-03, 1 777 hours of children’s
6% television were broadcast, including 517 News Current Affairs 6% hours of Australian programs, an increase on 1 645 hours in 2001-02. Documentary 14%
8% 12%
Factual Drama Drama Percentage of Hours Broadcast 6am- of Hours Broadcast Percentage midnight (excludes interstitial material) ABC Mix 2002-03 as a Genre Television ABC Divisions 61 Annual Report 2002-03
A strategic objective in 2002-03 was Love Letters from a War, the true story of strengthening the ABC’s position with its John and Josie Johnson who kept their audience of older children without losing love alive through letters though separated pre-school viewers. Key programs contributing by World War Two. to the fulfilment of the strategy were the second series of The Saddle Club, which achieved a The Edwardian Country House followed 75% share of the 5-12 year old audience in volunteers from the modern world and their its first week, and Creature Features, a series reactions to recreated life in an early 20th exploring the joy of animals, pets and their century grand country house. This received owners for primary ages, which premiered in an audience share of 16.4%, higher than December 2002. Cross-media utilisation of the timeslot average of 15.8%. Creature Features achieved an average metropolitan audience of over 350 000, as well A Wedding in Ramallah, the observation of as 580 000 website accesses in June 2003. the period before and after the wedding of a Palestinian couple, won multiple awards Documentary including Best Documentary and Best Direction The Reality Bites strand provided access to in a Documentary at the 2002 AFI Awards. communities rarely given a voice on television. A highlight was Plumpton High Babies, about Drama and Comedy the only school in Australia that encourages ABC broadcast 370 hours of first release schoolgirl mothers to complete their secondary drama programs, including 31 hours of education. The series achieved an audience Australian drama. This decline from nearly share of 16.9%, up 1.8 percentage points on one hundred hours of Australian drama in the timeslot average. True Stories profiled 2001-02 reflected the discontinuation of the individuals whose lives illuminate the human two long-running Australian drama series experience while The Big Picture continued Something in the Air and Headstart. to feature authoritative documentaries from around the world. Co-productions continued to be the mainstay of Television’s drama strategy, including MDA, With accessible documentaries for a broad a contemporary Australian medico-legal drama audience, the Wednesday 8.30pm documentary series that premiered in 2002 to critical acclaim timeslot achieved an audience share of 17%. and gained a household share of 24.3%. MDA Australian highlights included The Murdochs, maintained an audience share of 17.2%, which profiled the media dynasty and was one above the timeslot average of 16%. of the most-watched programs in 2002-03 with almost one million viewers, and the final The second series of the critically-acclaimed episode of The Battleships, which exceeded Grass Roots was broadcast, following a one million viewers. repeat of the multi-award-winning first series. Overseas series drama The Forsyte Saga, Sunday evening history continued showcasing attracted a share of 19.2%, while Hornblower landmark series with strong dramatic narratives. averaged a weekly audience share of 25.6%, Australian stories included The Navigators, compared to the timeslot average of 15.3%. about explorers Flinders and Baudin, and 62
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Television (continued)
A strong comedy line-up maintained the CNNNN, an innovative approach to news and ABC’s commitment to innovation in content current affairs satire produced by The Election and programming. Chaser team, received an average household share of 13.9%. An overseas example of The broadcast of the last episode of the first innovative comedy, The Kumars at No. 42 series of Kath and Kim gained 1.6 million screened in the same timeslot, performing viewers. A second series of Kath and Kim above the timeslot average of 16.9% with an was commissioned and will commence in audience share of 17.1%. the second half of 2003. Long Way To the Top: Live in Concert, featuring Education Australian music legends from the eponymous ABC programming that supports primary television series, was one of ABC Television’s and secondary school curricula was developed most-watched programs, gaining an audience in consultation with education systems of over one million viewers. around Australia. Factual In 2002-03, new series provided key learning Weekly series included Feedback, Media Watch resources in technology, science and health, and Gardening Australia. In 2002-03, George including Food for Thought, Like It Is, Negus joined as host for the comprehensive Designers and Our Earth. series New Dimensions. A number of Dimensions weekly segments were broadcast, including Behind the News continued to attract a large ‘After the Fires’, which followed four families audience for news backgrounds. In 2002, after the Canberra bushfires. over one million students were estimated to have watched at least one episode of Special Events the series. The program’s website recorded ABC Television broadcast Australians Together: average monthly accesses of 226 000. A Ceremony of Tribute to commemorate the victims of the Bali bombing. There was strong cross-media presence for educational programming. The Schools Other special factual events included Television website supported classroom the 30th anniversary of ABC television use of ABC programs, receiving average broadcasts of Anzac Day marches from monthly accesses of 77 336, a 53% each State and Territory. increase on 2001-02. The Bushfires Support Concert for Canberra Entertainment broadcast in the ACT featured a free concert Popular programs such as The Fat and The staged in support of victims and fire fighters. Glass House continued into new series. A new interview program, Enough Rope with Andrew Indigenous Denton, achieved an audience share of 22.2%, Message Stick, in its fourth series, presented a compared with a timeslot average of 17.9%. mix of contemporary and archival stories about Four of the last seven episodes of 2002-03 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lifestyles, had a metropolitan audience of more than perspectives and aspirations. one million viewers. ABC Divisions 63 Annual Report 2002-03
Indigenous documentaries screened across Sport the schedule, including Dreamtime to Dance, Consistent with 2001-02, ABC Sport broadcast which documented the staff and students at over 650 hours of sport including basketball, Australia’s premier Indigenous dance company, netball, bowls, hockey, tennis, rugby and the Bangarra Dance Theatre; Message from Moree, 2003 Hopman Cup. There were 212 hours of about efforts to fight racism in the New South national sport and regular state and territory Wales town of Moree; and Gulpilil: One Red sport, up from 150 hours in the previous year. Blood, about the life of highly-respected ABC Television was the host broadcaster for Aboriginal actor David Gulpilil. the 2002 Women’s Hockey World Cup.
Natural History and Environment Production Outside Richard Morecroft Goes Wild provided an early Sydney and Melbourne evening focus for natural history. The strand In 2002-03, Television production presenting attracted an average audience of around half the diversity of Australia to all Australians a million people and a share of 13.7%. through national broadcast continued as a key strategy. In accordance with the Corporate The Life of Mammals, BBC’s landmark Plan 2001-04, a total of 42.8% of ABC-made natural history series hosted by David programs were produced outside of Sydney Attenborough, achieved an average and Melbourne in 2002-03. This represents audience of 1.1 million viewers. a 3.7% increase on 2001-02.
Religion and Ethics Production in capital cities outside of Sydney Religious and ethics programming again and Melbourne continued with series such as centred around Compass and Sunday Gardening Australia from Hobart; Dimensions, Spectrum. Compass showcased Australian Feedback and Behind the News from Adelaide; documentaries such as The Dream and Police Training Academy, Dimensions and the Dreaming, a history of the Lutheran Outback Upfront from Perth; and Treasure Church’s Hermannsburg Mission, including Hunt and A Big Country Revisited from its relationship with the local Arrente people. Brisbane. Catalyst continued to include a large proportion of segments from centres Science and Technology outside of Sydney and Melbourne. The Science Unit’s primary focus was Catalyst, which provided Australian and international A Big Country Revisited traced the lives of science stories. The program achieved an some of the people originally filmed for ABC average metropolitan household share of Television’s A Big Country, while Police Training 18.9%, compared with 15.6% in 2001-02. Academy from Perth presented the human The Unit also commissioned documentaries face of the Western Australian Police Academy. situating Australian science in an international context, including Alien Underworld, about the Digital Multichannel Services Australian discovery of micro-organisms that ABC Kids and Fly on digital terrestrial and could provide clues to the origins of life, and subscription platforms achieved an average Ted’s Evolution, which detailed Australian monthly reach of more than 500 000 young scientist Ted Steele’s radical theories that Australians for ABC Kids and 250 000 for Fly. challenge scientific dogma. 64
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Television (continued)
ABC Kids built on the ABC’s long-standing relationship with Australian children, providing programming 12 hours per day. During common broadcast times - weekday mornings and afternoons - the main channel and ABC Kids were simulcast. Programming information was provided on children’s websites, The Playground and Rollercoaster.
Fly was an innovative service produced by young Australian producers and animators using new technology. Targeting a 12 to 25-year-old audience, it offered information, music, animation and entertainment. Highlights included a partnership with ABC’s Rural Radio unit to create a television version of Heywire that focused on young people in rural and regional Australia.
Talkback Classroom, a collaboration with the Parliamentary Education Office, the National Museum of Australia and the Canberra Institute of Technology, included interviews with public figures as well as a documentary about the process of recording the interview.
The termination of ABC Kids and Fly was announced in May 2003. ABC Divisions 65 Annual Report 2002-03
The redesigned page highlights the fifteen main subject gateways, demonstrates the breadth and diversity of ABC Online content and encourages users to explore special features such as video-on-demand, forums and mailing lists. The Division also implemented strategies to ensure ABC Online content is well positioned in the return of search engine results against online search queries to draw new users to the site.
A scene from the award-winning ‘Kelman to the Rescue’, one of five Details of the Division’s audience performance online games from ABC Online’s are in ABC Audiences (page 22). Game On site. Enriched Audience Experiences New Media and In 2002-03, the Division delivered ABC content to new audiences through new Digital Services technologies, such as interactive television and Short Messaging Service (SMS), and In 2002-03, ABC New Media and Digital through cross-media productions. Services successfully demonstrated the value that new platforms and technologies add to In July 2002, the ABC broadcast Australia’s traditional methods of broadcasting. With first interactive television program, the BBC’s national and international distribution of ABC Walking With Beasts Interactive series, through content and services through ABC Online its services on the Austar and Optus Interactive and other emerging technologies, the Division platforms. Viewers were able to switch between ensured that ABC content was accessible synchronised channels of additional content across all new media platforms. during the broadcast and episodes were repeated to maximise viewer access. In July 2002, the ABC New Media Division was renamed New Media and Digital Services In December, New Media and Digital Services to reflect an increased role in driving the strategic and ABC Television collaborated to produce direction of the ABC’s digital services. The Australia’s first interactive television documentary, Division is working with ABC Television and Long Way to the Top: Live In Concert. Created Radio to deliver innovative ABC broadcasting around the popular Long Way to the Top services on new and emerging platforms. documentary series and concerts, which toured Australia in August and September New Media and Digital Services continually 2002, this innovative program was part of a researches the usability and audience cross-media production that also included experience of ABC Online. In April 2003, linear television and online versions. the Division launched an improved front page for ABC Online based on this research. 66
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New Media and Digital Services (continued)
Simultaneous planning for all three versions approximately 600 messages per week, while enabled material to be captured once and then Fly reached a peak of 900 per week during the used in multiple ways. Long Way to the Top: trial. SMS has now been implemented on Live in Concert was delivered to audiences a commercial cost-recovery basis. Triple J via television on the ABC main channel, and and The Fat have shown successful usage interactive television on the Austar platform. of SMS messages, and New Media and ABC Online published information on the Digital Services plans to extend this service concert, television episodes, history of the to relevant programming over the coming year. artists, forums and links to ABC Shop Online for CDs and DVDs. It also provided broadband New Media and Digital Services met with video excerpts of the concert, accessible the ABC Advisory Council on two occasions at any time. during the year under review. On both occasions the Council was impressed by the new initiatives Audience response to these interactive programs the Division has taken, in particular SMS services was extremely positive and audience research and the Long Way To The Top: Live in Concert conducted by New Media and Digital Services project. Council members were also pleased gained favourable industry attention both locally to see the mixing of archival material with and internationally, for providing the first publicly new interactive capabilities. available information on Australian audiences’ use of and interest in interactive television. Audience Appeal Long Way to the Top: Live In Concert won ABC New Media and Digital Services provides the Best New Digital Content Award at the content and services across a wide range of Interactive Multimedia Industry (AIMIA) genres to expand educational opportunities, Awards in February 2003. and inform and entertain a diverse audience. ABC Online caters to varying audience needs Long Way to the Top: Live in Concert through fifteen content gateways: ABC News demonstrated that relatively small investments Online (News), Kids, Youth, The Lab (Science), in the early stages of production and planning The Public Record (Public Affairs), ABC Rural, can deliver content to a much wider audience Go Asia Pacific, ABC Sport, The Space (Arts via a range of platforms. and Culture), Learn Online (Education), Message Stick (Indigenous), The Backyard In October 2002, New Media and (ABC in your Area), Health Matters, ABC Digital Services ran a successful free trial Radio and ABC Television. of outbound SMS on mobile phones for the CNNNN audience. Subscribers were sent ABC web content ranges from multi-lingual user-contributed content from the CNNNN coverage of Asia-Pacific news and current affairs website’s spoof ‘news bar’ at regular intervals. to streaming video of the popular youth television In addition, CNNNN logos were available for program Rage. The Education site for all age download by the audience to their mobile groups covers schools and life long learning. phones. With very little promotion, 1 000 subscribers signed up for the alert service. ABC Online is home to two of Australia’s most Triple J and Fly were the first services to trial popular children’s web sites, The Playground inbound SMS messages. Triple J received for 2-8 year-olds and Rollercoaster for 8-14 ABC Divisions 67 Annual Report 2002-03
year olds. The Playground averages 170 000 Significant progress was made in negotiating unique Australian users each month, while co-productions for 2002-03. New Media and Rollercoaster, which launched in September Digital Services secured relationships with 2002, achieved access rates of more than industry bodies including the South Australian 100 000 monthly users by June 2003 Film Commission (SAFC), Film Victoria, Film (Nielsen//NetRatings). Similarly, The Lab is Australia and the Australian Film Commission. Australia’s largest online science community Projects are also being pursued with other with around 140 000 unique Australian users agencies such as Screen West, Pacific Film per month (Nielsen//Netratings). and Television Corporation, the Department of Innovation and Information Technology Staff Developments (Queensland), Arts Tasmania and the Tasmanian Decentralisation to regional offices and regular Electronic Commerce Centre. The gross value of interaction with audiences and industry is co-productions for 2002-03 was approximately opening up the ABC’s creative pipeline to new $2.48 million, up from $1.38 million in 2001-02. talents and voices from around the country In all of the relationships with external production to bring a new energy to the ABC’s content agencies, the ABC becomes the primary and services. At the end of June 2003, 46% recipient of the content produced. of New Media and Digital Services full-time employees were located outside Sydney, an New Media and Digital Services increased the increase from 38% at the end of June 2002. number of its content licensing arrangements with international content providers. The Division New Media and Digital Services allocated acquired four international web sites to 2% of its salary budget for training and staff accompany television programs in 2003, development in accordance with the ABC an increase from two in the previous year. Corporate Plan 2001-04. The Division has The Division continues to receive direct grant established a comprehensive system for funds from the Department of Industry Tourism the electronic storage and management and Resources, Deakin University and the of performance management data and the British Council for science-related projects. extraction of relevant Training and Development information. This information is incorporated into the Divisional Training Plan and is reviewed regularly.
Value for Money New Media and Digital Services has generated operational efficiencies and other savings in order to develop the services critical to securing new media audiences. In 2002-03, there were improvements in production efficiencies with a 16% decrease in cost per user and a 29% decrease in cost per page access for ABC Online. 68
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ABC International Broadcasting
The ABC established an International Over the past 12 months, the network’s Broadcasting Division in February 2003 to Asia-Pacific partner alliance grew to 180 bring Radio Australia and ABC Asia Pacific stations in 29 countries, an increase of 12% under a single management structure. over 2001–02 and 25% over 2000–01. Radio The Heads of these services report directly Australia now has 400 partners strategically to the Managing Director: Head Radio located throughout the Asia-Pacific region and Australia, Head International Operations in parts of Europe, the Americas and Africa. (ABC Asia Pacific) and Head Networking and Programming (ABC Asia Pacific). In April 2003, Radio Australia launched 92.6FM Radio Australia, a 24-hour English language FM Bringing ABC Asia Pacific and Radio Australia service in Fiji. A major partnership initiative with under one umbrella allowed the identification of Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, the new service areas, particularly in marketing and distribution, continues the network’s long commitment to where the services can collaborate while delivering quality radio programs throughout the retaining their distinctive positioning in the Pacific. The launch included a live broadcast of international broadcasting environment. the popular Pacific Beat program from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva, attended by ABC Radio Australia Fiji government ministers, Australian diplomats Radio Australia sought to expand its Asia-Pacific and South Pacific Forum officials. partnership alliance as a key priority in 2002–03. Partner stations broadcast Radio Australia In 2002–03, Radio Australia worked with programs direct to their local listeners and several Asia-Pacific partners to broadcast live have become an integral component of its from the region. On 10 May 2003, the Asia- diverse transmission service. Pacific program broadcast from the Philippines in partnership with Radio DZLB. The Asia-Pacific team followed up the success of its first broadcast from the region with a week of live programs from Thailand later that month.
Radio Australia’s other language services worked closely with key partner stations to deliver dynamic coverage of Asia-Pacific issues and events. In November 2002, in partnership with East Radio, the Chinese (Mandarin) Language Service broadcast from Shanghai, covering celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of Sino-Australian diplomatic relations and the opening of the 16th National Party Congress.
In 2002–03, Radio Australia celebrated significant milestones: the 60th anniversary of its Indonesian language broadcasts in
International Broadcasting Footprint ABC Divisions 69 Annual Report 2002-03
August 2002, and ten years of Khmer In October 2002, Radio Australia launched a and 40 years of Vietnamese language competition offering PNG schoolchildren the broadcasts in November 2002. chance to win a solar-powered radio for their school. Within eight weeks Radio Australia A highlight of the ‘Emampuluh! 60 Years had received more than one thousand entries, of Radio Australia in Indonesia’ celebrations many from remote and rural areas of PNG. The was the timely announcement of results of competition was organised with support from international radio surveys from the archipelago. Rotary PNG, the PNG National Broadcasting Against fierce competition from Voice Corporation and the Australia-PNG Friendship of America and BBC World Service, the Association, which donated 70 wind-up Indonesian Language Service (ILS) retains solar-powered radios as prizes. its position as the second most popular international radio station in Indonesia. Radio Radio Australia produces multilingual websites Australia’s Indonesian language programs exploring key issues affecting the Asia-Pacific are now broadcast by 35 partner stations, region. In 2002-03, Radio Australia Online including 20 live satellite relays, with a launched several new websites, including weekly regional audience of more than Forging Friendships (Chinese and English), 6.5 million people. which explores 30 years of Australian-Sino diplomatic relations, and Iraq: Our Region In January 2003, Radio Australia’s Executive Reacts, which provided a uniquely Asia-Pacific Producer ILS, Nuim Khaiyath, received the perspective on the crisis in Iraq. Radio Australia’s prestigious Public Service Medal in the network website and its goasiapacific.com Australia Day Honours for his outstanding news and information gateway attracted a total contribution to improving mutual understanding of 16 million page views from around the world between the people of Australia and Indonesia in 2002-03, an increase of 23% over 2001-02. through his work with Radio Australia and widely in the Australian community. A local radio survey In 2002, Radio Australia inaugurated a series in Indonesia, released in late 2002, found that of lectures in Australia on key topics affecting the live relay of Nuim’s Samba (Bright and Early) Asia and the Pacific. The first Radio Australia program on Delta FM in Jakarta attracts a Asia-Pacific Lectures were held in universities record audience rating of 43%. in Melbourne and Sydney, and at Parliament House in Canberra, and attracted a total studio Radio Australia continued to support audience of 1 200 people. The lectures were media training and development initiatives in broadcast as a four-part radio series across the Asia-Pacific. It hosted a training program Asia and the Pacific on Radio Australia and for visiting journalists from Indonesia and throughout Australia on Radio National and several staff exchanges with PNG National NewsRadio over Summer 2002-03. Broadcasting Corporation and Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. In the region, the network’s Pacific The success of the Radio Australia Asia-Pacific Correspondent, Sean Dorney, presented a Lectures paved the way for the network to UN-sponsored seminar on governance issues present a special public forum, ‘Terrorism at in the Solomons and conducted training for Australia’s Doorstep?’ in the week following journalists in the Marshall Islands. 70
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ABC International Broadcasting (continued) the Bali bombing in October 2002. The event rebroadcasters with limited channel capacity was attended by more than 500 people and must select channels they believe will be the hosted in conjunction with Asialink and the most relevant for their audiences. In the eighteen Melbourne Institute of Asian Languages and months since inception, ABC Asia Pacific has Societies. It explored issues of Islam and connected with rebroadcasters and audiences politics in Indonesia and was broadcast on to such an extent that it is among the top 40 the Asia-Pacific program. channels in Indonesia and The Philippines in terms of audience reach. ABC Asia Pacific The ABC’s international television arm, ABC Asia Programming Pacific, is funded under a five-year contract with ABC Asia Pacific offers a diverse range of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. quality programming rather than a single The ABC retains full editorial control of the program genre - such as movies, sport or service, which adheres to ABC Editorial Policies. 24-hour news broadcasts - making it unique In 2002-03, ABC Asia Pacific expanded amongst the international broadcasting dramatically. The service is now seen in community. This programming strategy approximately 25 countries and passes has played an important role in the rapid more than ten million homes. In addition, it is take up of the service. available in most quality hotels across the region. During 2003, ABC Asia Pacific substantially ABC Asia Pacific is carried by rebroadcasters redesigned its program schedule to better throughout the region and is broadcast as an meet audience expectations and demands. unencrypted service on two satellite platforms, The nightly programming line-up is built PanAmSat 2 and PanAmSat 8, attracting a on four main strands: large direct-to-home (DTH) audience. ABC • news and current affairs relevant Asia Pacific’s footprint covers Japan, China to the Asia Pacific region; and Mongolia in the north; Myanmar to the • a quality Australian or international west; Indonesia, and East Timor to the south; drama series; and Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, • a world class documentary; and Fiji and the Cook Islands in the east. • an informative and entertaining feature or lifestyle program. The service is designed for an audience demographic comprising decision makers Another significant programming strategy and opinion leaders in the private and public includes transmitting education programs of sector; emerging middle class community real benefit to audiences across the region. segments; student and learning communities; Feedback through the ABC Asia Pacific and international expatriates and Government web site suggests that such programming, in missions based in the region. particular English learning content, is popular.
ABC Asia Pacific enjoyed considerable success Distribution in a crowded and highly competitive market. In 2002-03, successful negotiations resulted While around two hundred foreign channels in distribution agreements with important can be accessed by audiences in the region, rebroadcasters in three key territories. Hong ABC Divisions 71 Annual Report 2002-03
Kong’s dominant cable operator, I-Cable, is now Online carrying ABC Asia Pacific; Singapore’s sole The companion website to ABC Asia Pacific operator, StarHub, is due to carry the service television, abcasiapacific.com, provides a from late 2003; and Thailand’s Association of comprehensive program listing and television Cable Operators signed on behalf of their one schedule, and an up-to-the-minute regional million subscribers. Negotiations continued news service produced specifically for an with Chinese media authorities for the rights international online audience. to limited transmission to three-, four- and five-star hotels, embassies and missions, In 2002-03, abcasiapacific.com built and selected organisations and institutions an audience through the production of a in mainland China. number of features on issues relevant to the region, such as international terrorism, Marketing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Apart from specific and targeted campaigns and North Korea. The website launched ‘Ask in centres across the region, ABC Asia Pacific Australia’, a unique question-and-answer remains in contact with its rebroadcasting service involving more than 40 Australian partners, stakeholders and audiences through companies and government organisations on-air promotional campaigns and regularly that provide expert advice on living, working distributed newsletters and press kits. and studying in Australia. Following its launch, ‘Ask Australia’ received more than one thousand Where possible, ABC Asia Pacific supports questions. A significant online marketing those communities it reaches. One example campaign helped increase traffic to the site of this was the ABC Asia Pacific technical and threefold. The popularity of ABC Asia Pacific production contribution to the successful live programs Nexus, English Bites and Asia telecast of the South Pacific Games in Fiji. Pacific Focus also boosted traffic to the Held every four years, this is the largest sporting website to more than 50 000 hits per week. event held in the Pacific. It was acknowledged The site features program transcripts, games that the scope and depth of the telecast would and other material produced exclusively for not have been possible without the significant the online audience. contribution from ABC Asia Pacific. An innovative, new-look abcasiapacific.com ABC Asia Pacific also contributed to the cost website will be launched in 2003-04. of technical equipment to enable its services to be broadcast in the Solomon Islands.
Committed to the development of strong and continuing relations with partner broadcasters, ABC Asia Pacific will continue to assist, where practicable, to foster a spirit of co-operation and mutual growth. 72
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News and Current Affairs
ABC News and Current Affairs provides by coverage from the UK, Europe and the US. news and current affairs content for ABC Radio, ABC reporter Geoff Thompson and camera Television and New Media and Digital Services. operator Michael Cox were ‘embedded’ with the The Division aims to provide Australia’s most US Marines for the entire war and stayed with comprehensive, accurate, impartial, respected them from Kuwait to Baghdad. Four Corners and independent news and current affairs across reporter Liz Jackson and a freelance camera these platforms, in Australia and internationally. operator were also ‘embedded’ for a period.
During the year, News and Current Affairs Special programming on ABC Radio and developed a number of new programs, Television commenced as soon as the war organised significant national and international began. Both platforms dropped in and out coverage, won peer recognition with a number of rolling coverage as news stories developed. of important awards and continued to strive Extensive coverage was also provided on for efficiencies. ABC Online.
Significant Coverage Sadly, shortly after the war began, Australian Coverage of the war between Iraq and the camera operator Paul Moran died in a car US-led coalition, including Australia, dominated bomb attack while on assignment for the activities for a significant part of the year. It ABC in Northern Iraq. ABC Correspondent was one of the most comprehensive coverage Eric Campbell received slight injuries in the deployments in ABC history, with reporters and suicide bombing. crews in Amman and Jerusalem, as well as Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Syria and Turkey. The work Other significant international coverage of these correspondents was complemented included the national and international debate over justification for the war in Iraq; the deaths of Australians in the Bali bombing and the direct threat of terrorist strikes in Australia; special programming on Radio and Television to mark the first anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the US, including live programming from New York, Kabul, Jerusalem, the Pentagon and Baghdad; the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in a number of countries; and the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
Significant domestic events covered during the year included the controversy leading to the resignation of the Governor-General, Dr Peter Hollingworth; State elections in Tasmania, New South Wales and Victoria; bushfires in the ACT, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia; and the nationwide drought.
The conflict in Iraq and its aftermath dominated News activities for a significant part of the year. Here Middle East correspondent Jane Hutcheon, reports from Najat in Iraq. ABC Divisions 73 Annual Report 2002-03
ABC Regional Affairs Reporter Paul Lockyer the 7am News on Radio National draws more provided extensive coverage of the drought, than 200 000 listeners. AM on both networks especially in eastern Australia. This coverage attracts roughly one million listeners, and the included a week-long tour through the worst- 7am News and AM on Radio National are affected drought areas for a series of live consistently the best performing programs television reports. on the network.
New Programs On Television, the 7pm News attracts an The ABC reintroduced weekend television average of more than one million viewers news bulletins in the ACT and the Northern each night, while The 7.30 Report is watched Territory, assisted by National Interest Initiatives by more than 800 000 people, and Australian (NII) funding. In the Northern Territory, this was Story regularly attracts more than one million the first time in almost 30 years that local viewers. News and Current Affairs programs weekend news had been broadcast. often make up half of the top ten weekly programs on the network. Sunday morning television news and current affairs programming was enhanced. Insiders On the Internet, all sites containing News was extended to 45 minutes duration, including and Current Affairs content, including News some additional segments. In August 2002, Online, now average a total of 3.1 million the ABC introduced three new Sunday morning weekly page impressions, an increase of programs. Inside Business examines topical 18% on the previous year. issues and profiles prominent people, 7 Days is a weekly world affairs overview, and Asia- Initiatives Pacific Focus provides Australian audiences As part of the Division’s efforts to ensure the with the chance to hear directly from the integrity and quality of News and Current Affairs region’s top decision-makers. programming, a range of review processes have been instituted. Business Breakfast at 6.30am weekdays marked its first year on air in June 2003. Programming is monitored daily and formal The program is made with the assistance reviews are held regularly. The aim is to of NII funding. review all strands of programming at least quarterly; some strands are reviewed weekly. NII funding was also used to create two The reviews generally involve the Head of Local journalist positions for the new Ballarat or National Coverage, or State Editors, as well Radio station. as Executive Producers and a representative from the network on which the program is Audiences broadcast. The reviews consider a wide News and Current Affairs programs attract range of issues, including talent and story millions of people to ABC services and are choice and angles; presentation; writing; regularly rated among the best-performing editing; production; adherence to program programs across all platforms. The 7.45am briefs, the News and Current Affairs Style News on Local Radio attracts an average Guide and ABC Editorial Policies; audience five-city audience of around 900 000, while response; and issues of balance and bias. 74
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News and Current Affairs (continued)
Program reviews conducted in 2002-03 raised • a 15% reduction in unit cost rates no serious concerns; they raised minor issues ($32 500/hour in 2002-03, compared relating to story selection, language, presentation to $38 500/hour in 1999-2000). and production, which were addressed by program areas. No breaches of Editorial London became the first international bureau Policies were identified during the reviews. to feed a television story to Sydney via the Internet using an ADSL data connection. The Division commenced the periodic revision Connections of this kind cost considerably less of the News and Current Affairs Style Guide, than existing alternatives and provide first-class which advises program-makers on language, picture and audio quality. The Division plans to presentation and production. The new edition have ADSL links in all bureaux as they become will be available in late 2003. This review occurs available in each country, significantly reducing every few years and takes into account story delivery costs. changes in language use, style, technology and delivery platforms. The Division also invested in new lightweight and portable newsgathering technology to In February 2003, the Division established meet the demands of the conflict with Iraq. a new investigative journalism unit to provide Modern technology allowed ABC staff to investigative material for programs across ABC get audio and pictures from the field to air in Radio and Television. Australia faster than ever. Through video-phones, satellite phones and store-and-forward laptop ABC News and Current Affairs was the transmissions, Australian audiences were able Australian connection for a global broadcast to follow the latest developments with the US of What the World Thinks of America, which forces in Kuwait, and the Australian forces in went to air in June 2003. The program linked Qatar and other Middle East centres. national broadcasters from across the world. Lateline’s Tony Jones presented the Australian To prepare reporters and crews for working link to the 90-minute program, along with a in conflict zones, the ABC has now trained panel of Australian experts. 30 staff to operate in hostile environments, and how to handle chemical, biological and The Division’s journalism cadetship program radiological (CBR) attacks. The staff have continued, with 11 cadets recruited in 2003. also been equipped with protective suits and The cadets are being trained in capital city have been advised of new risk-management newsrooms in almost every State and Territory. procedures in line with changes to the On the successful completion of their training, Occupational Health and Safety legislation cadets will be posted to a regional newsroom. and to meet ComCover obligations.
Resources and Efficiency News and Current Affairs strives to produce its content in the most cost-effective way. In the past three years, the Division has achieved: • a 20% growth in output as measured by first-run television hours; and ABC Divisions 75 Annual Report 2002-03
Annual Production of Radio News News and Current Affairs Outlet Hours In 2002-03, the ABC broadcast approximately Local Radio and Radio National 6 729 23 000 unduplicated hours of television and Regionals 3 312 radio news and current affairs (including material Triple J 348 broadcast on Radio Australia). ABC Classic FM 555 TOTAL 10 944 These figures do not include election night broadcasts, Budget Specials, news specials Radio Current Affairs and the extensive additional coverage on Outlet Hours both radio and television of the Iraq war. AM (Early) Local Radio 43 AM (Radio National) 87 Order in the House, Parliamentary Question AM (Main) 156 Time and National Press Club Luncheons The World Today 200 have also been excluded, as have seasonal PM (Radio National) 200 variations such as cricket and football PM (Local Radio) 200 broadcasts that interrupt bulletin schedules. Business Report 24 All radio figures are national totals; Local Saturday AM (Local Radio Radio combines all stations. and Radio National) 24 Correspondents Report 20 Finance Report 21 TV News and Current Affairs Finance Market Report at Noon 9 Outlet Hours Finance Market Report PM 13 7 pm News (all states) 1 398 TOTAL 997 News Updates 118 Asia Pacific Focus 19 Australian Story 20 Business Breakfast 110 4 Corners 24 Foreign Correspondent 27 Inside Business 20 Insiders 34 Landline 55 Lateline 110 7:30 Report 104 Seven Days 17 Stateline 166 World at Noon 117 TOTAL 2 339 76
Annual Report 2002-03
On the set of Play School, the first program produced in the new Studio 22 at the ABC Ultimo Centre, Sydney. Production Resources
The Production Resources Division operates television production and presentation centres in the capital city of each State and Territory of Australia to support the television production requirements of ABC Television and News and Current Affairs. The Division contributes to the level, quality and diversity of Australian content produced for national and local television broadcast. 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 Content In 2002-03, programs produced using Production Resources’ workforce and facilities covered all television program genres and contributed directly to ABC Australian content levels. Production of television programs in five genres - News, Current Affairs, Factual, Sport and Drama - accounted for more than 60% of the Division’s workforce activity.
Production Support The production resources requirements of ABC Television and News and Current Affairs accounted for approximately 90% of the Division’s costed production workforce resources in 2002-03, a level similar to 2001-02. The balance of the costed production workforce resources were used on ancillary activities, including transmission support and marketing activities through the Division’s facilities marketing arm, ABC Productions.
In 2002-03, the Division provided a total of more than 1.59 million workforce hours for the production of television programs, almost 3% below 2001-02 levels. The main causes of the decrease were the interruption to production caused by the transfer of the Sydney production ABC Divisions 77 Annual Report 2002-03
centre from Gore Hill to Ultimo, and lower marches, annual football award ceremonies production level requirements in Perth and local sport. In Perth and Adelaide and Hobart. respectively, the centres provided resources for the production of ABC Asia Pacific news Facilities Marketing and education programs. ABC Productions, the facilities marketing group of the ABC, operated in a very competitive Sydney Production commercial environment. The group marketed Centre Move and hired ABC production resources to external During the year, the Sydney production centre clients to generate revenue, which was used moved from the Gore Hill site where ABC to boost ABC production and programming. television had been produced and broadcast In 2002-03, ABC Productions generated a for over forty years, to new purpose-built net return of $2.46 million, an increase from premises at Harris Street in Ultimo and modified $2.05 million in the previous year. premises at Lanceley Place in Artarmon.
National Production and In January 2003, news and daily current affairs Presentation Centre Presence production moved to Ultimo, requiring a brief The Sydney and Melbourne production and transition period during which news programs presentation centres provide the majority of were presented from Brisbane and Canberra. resources used to make programs and to In April, production support areas moved to broadcast programming for the ABC national Ultimo, and in May outside broadcast, field television network. These centres provided operations and ABC Productions moved to resources for television news and current Lanceley Place. The remainder of Production affairs and major programs such as MDA, Resources moved to Ultimo and Lanceley Marking Time, The Glasshouse, Enough Place over the months of May and June 2003. Rope and The Fat. The move was a major logistical task, which The other six production and presentation the Division accomplished while meeting the centres - in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, ongoing requirements for television program Darwin, Hobart and Perth - provide resources production and broadcasting. mainly for the production of local television news and current affairs, and other local programming Resources Workforce for State or Territory audiences. New weekend In 2002-03, the Division continued to news services were introduced in Canberra develop its workforce with the aim of improving and Darwin during the year, requiring additional efficiencies and operational performance. production resources in those centres. Almost two-thirds of the workforce is based Centres outside Sydney and Melbourne also in Sydney and Melbourne, with the remaining produced programs for the national network third in the other six capital cities. Workforce such as Australian Story, Landline and The utilisation rates, based on chargeable time as Hopman Cup, as well as a number of specials a proportion of paid time (including paid leave), and sports programs. These included coverage were 78%, approximately 4% down on 2001-02. of State and Territory elections, Anzac Day 78
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Production Resources (continued)
The Division aimed to provide workforce capabilities over the full range of production skills required to make television programs. However, when production requirements exceeded the base capacity of the production centres, Production Resources either engaged additional employees or hired facilities from the external television production industry.
Awards won by the Division’s employees provide an indication of the capabilities of the ABC production workforce. At the Australian Cinematographers Annual Awards, Production Resources employees won awards in the categories of single camera newsgathering, news magazine, television magazine, current affairs and documentaries.
Production and Presentation Facilities During the year, the Division continued to expand digital production and presentation operations. Following the completion of new television presentation facilities in Canberra, national digital widescreen broadcasting was made available for the main ABC television channel in the ACT. The Division took delivery of four widescreen digital television Outside Broadcast vans, which are now operational.
Future Directions Production Resources will be changing shape in the near future. At the start of July 2003, ABC Productions will be renamed ABC Resource Hire and will be transferred to the new ABC Enterprises Division, which will have responsibility for all ABC revenue generating operations. This transfer will affect ten Production Resources employees. ABC Resource Hire will continue to use production resources provided by the Division. ABC Divisions 79 Annual Report 2002-03
range of themes, including commemorating the victims of the Bali bombing and of the Canberra bushfires; a second series of Dynasties tracing the fortunes of celebrated Australian families; and in the arts genre, passion as the driver for artistic excellence. The Division participated in the Australian International Documentary Conference at Byron Bay in February 2003, jointly sponsoring the Pitch ’n’ Punt competition with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
In May 2003, a joint ABC Development- Television History Workshop brought together 90 historians and program-makers for a day- One of many programs supported and-a-half of lively discussion, screenings and by the Development Division, FireFlies is a telemovie about a small town’s master classes, to encourage new ways of volunteer fire brigade. telling Australian history on television.
A number of ABC Radio programs supported Development in development also explored different aspects of history. ABC and State Heritage Offices Development Division, which supports the in New South Wales, Queensland, South ABC media platforms, recorded its third year Australia and Western Australia collaborated of increased program and content development to develop a series for Local Radio telling activity across Radio, Television and New Media the stories of significant shipwrecks and and Digital Services. In 2002-03, 1 351 program the places named after them. submissions were received and assessed. Of these, 211 (16%) were approved for Connections, an ABC Classic FM series for development, compared with 119 (10%) listeners less familiar with classical music, in 2001-02. introduced well-known works and set them within the historical context of the period in which The Division was the first point of contact they were composed. Radio National’s The for all applicants submitting proposals to ABC Mirror Dimly Lit traced the classical origins of Television. Development activity was tracked major themes underpinning contemporary life. by genre, with the greatest increases recorded in drama, documentary and history. In Drama, Winged Sandals, produced by New development agreements were entered into Media and Digital Services with funding from for a telemovie featuring a township and its Development, is a state-of-the-art website volunteer fire brigade and for a futuristic about ancient Greek myth and classical culture, children’s drama series. consisting of interactive games, animations and educational material. The Division also Development funds were committed to 26 funded the establishment of a regional health new documentary programs across a broad site to deliver quality information focused on 80
Annual Report 2002-03
Development (continued) 2000–01 70 the needs of regional Australians. These two New Media and Digital Services projects were funded from Development’s National Interest Initiatives allocation. 2001–02 119 Regional themes explored for television included the social trend of downshifting, where urban dwellers sell up for a quieter life outside of the 2002–03 211 cities; the policing of large, often remote areas by the squad that investigates cattle duffing (stealing) in country Queensland, and the rangers and New Media Digital Services
Development Activity Radio, Television and water police who safeguard the Great 0 50 100 150 200 250 Barrier Reef; and the characters of regional No. approved Proposals Australia including the residents of the opal mining town of Coober Pedy.
Regional and Rural
Religion and Ethics The Lees Lectures, a series of public lectures
17% in the lead-up to the 2004 bicentenary of white Indigenous settlement in Tasmania was developed for Local
entaries 6% Radio and was broadcast throughout the island.
4% Entertainm 6% ocum The series was organised in conjunction D ent 8% with the University of Tasmania. History 16% 8% Science & Technology
Arts and Culture Thirteen television projects submitted by Other Factual Factual Other 10% Indigenous producers were supported in development, exploring subjects as diverse
Natural History & as the traditional lifestyle and culture of Torres Television Development Television 13% Environment Activity by Genre - Factual Activity by Genre
12% Strait Islanders; camp life on the outskirts of Alice Springs, Northern Territory, from the perspective of a child; and the changing nature of race relations in Moree, New South Wales.
Children's Science projects included a series revealing the hitherto unheralded creations of amateur 14% inventors from throughout Australia.
During the year a full-time Development Officer was appointed to the ABC in Darwin, Comedy 25% Drama 61% with responsibility for increasing the production output and promoting program and content ideas from the Northern Territory. Ten projects were completed, including a range of stories
by Genre - Non-Factual by Genre for Dimensions and Sunday Afternoon Arts. Television Development Activity Television ABC Divisions 81 Annual Report 2002-03
Audience Research Radio Development Division manages Audience Nielsen Media Research carries out radio Research on behalf of the Corporation. audience surveys for the major metropolitan In 2002-03 the ABC subscribed to and markets eight times each calendar year, with commissioned a range of research to help listening captured on a quarter-hour basis for measure audiences; inform programming, eight, five-week tranches across the year. scheduling and marketing decisions; and In regional and rural areas, Nielsen Media to gauge audience attitudes to its services. Research conducts less frequent radio surveys.
Television In 2002-03, the ABC participated in regional Audience measurement data was collected surveys in East Gippsland, Colac, Horsham via the OzTAM people meter panels in Sydney, and Swan Hill (August/September 2002); in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth and Dubbo (November 2002); Wollongong (March/ reported on a daily basis. Until the end of April 2003); Hamilton, Warrnambool, Albury/ 2002, Nielsen Media Research provided data Wodonga, Cairns, Townsville and Mackay from people meter panels in the aggregated (May/June 2003). regional television markets covering most of the regional coastal areas of Queensland, New Media and Digital Services Northern and Southern New South Wales, The ABC’s two primary audience measurement regional Victoria and Tasmania. Regional TAM methodologies for ABC Online are Site-Centric (Television Audience Measurement) supplied page access measures and the Nielsen//Net- this data from January 2003. Generally this Ratings service. The Site-Centric page access information reported the share of viewing measures provide insights into traffic volume to achieved and the percentage of the the ABC home page and ABC Online Gateways. population reached. The Nielsen//NetRatings service uses a national panel that provides more in-depth data on the In areas of Australia where people meter panels number of users (both at home and work), are not established, television audiences are reach and the demographic profiles of measured by the completion of weekly viewing audiences to ABC Online. diaries over a two-to-four week period. The Corporation participated in diary surveys in Commissioned Research Darwin (August 2002 and May 2003). Diary The Corporation commissioned more than surveys were also conducted in the Riverland 35 one-off quantitative and qualitative research and Mount Gambier, Port Pirie and Broken projects during 2002-03. Hill (August 2002). The ABC participated in a satellite television survey conducted in rural For more information see ABC Audiences New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, (page 22). South Australia and the Northern Territory (August 2002). 82
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Retail ABC Retail extended its distribution network during the year with the introduction of two new ABC Shops. In October 2002, ABC Shops were opened in the Knox City Shopping Centre in Wantirna South, Victoria, and in the Westfield Shopping Centre in Eastgardens, New South Wales. At the end of the financial year, ABC Enterprises had a total of 38 ABC Shops, one Order Centre and 82 ABC Centres The Wiggles continued to enchant children with throughout Australia. Double Platinum ABC for Kids videos Wiggly Safari and Hoop Dee Doo. During 2002-03, ABC Shop Online increased its revenue by 23% over the previous year and the site averaged more than 150 000 accesses per week, up from 90 000 in 2001-02. The ABC Shops Loyalty Reward program added ABC Enterprises 84 000 members. At the end of June 2003, the Reward program had 208 000 members, ABC Enterprises contributes to the role of the compared to 124 000 in 2001-02. ABC through the creation, licensing, marketing and retailing of quality consumer products Consumer products associated with Kath associated with the ABC’s broadcasting and Kim sold strongly throughout the year, and new media activities. In this way, particularly in the lead-up to Christmas. ABC Enterprises extends the life of ABC Achieving Multi Platinum status with sales programming, assists in fostering and of more than 44 000 units, the Kath and Kim developing Australian talent and creativity, DVD was the highest selling ABC DVD of the and makes a valuable financial return to financial year and ABC Books reported sales the Corporation for investment in programs. of more than 18 000 units of the Kath and Kim Diary. In 2002-03, 734 products related to ABC programming and charter activities were Following the highly successful Long Way released and ABC Enterprises made a net to the Top national tour and broadcast of the revenue contribution of $9.83 million to the concert on ABC Television, the double CD and Corporation, compared to 614 and $8.97 double DVD of the concert, entitled Long Way million in 2001-02. to the Top: Live in Concert!, were the best selling ABC consumer products during December. The ABC Enterprises continued to work closely double CD sold more than 50 000 units, while with the Output Divisions and released a range the DVD sold more than 25 000 units and the of consumer product associated with ABC video sold more than 12 000 units. Television productions including Kath and Kim, Long Way to the Top: Live in Concert! and The ABC for Kids video, Wiggle Bay, was Grass Roots. launched on the same day that the ABC ABC Divisions 83 Annual Report 2002-03
Classics Events
Enterprises-produced television series Lights, Licensing and Magazines
Camera, Action, Wiggles! commenced broad- Audio cast on ABC Television. More than 50 000 Contemporary Music videos of Wiggle Bay were sold in the first month of release. Lights, Camera, Action, Wiggles! was nominated for a Logie Award Books for Most Outstanding Children’s Program.
Retail Events In August 2002, the ABC celebrated the tenth Anniversary of the Bananas in Pyjamas television debut with a birthday party in Studio 22 at Gore Video (incl. Non Theatric) Hill, Sydney. The event brought together many writers, illustrators, actors, producers and television crew who had worked on the 299 episodes. The Bananas in Pyjamas tenth ABC Enterprises Revenue by Activity 2002-03 birthday was also celebrated with the release of a range of new consumer products.
Following the success of the inaugural Gardening Australia Live in 2001, ABC Events staged Gardening Australia Live New South Wales in Sydney in September 2002 and Gardening Australia Live Queensland in Brisbane in April 2003. Both events were extremely successful 92–93 with attendances estimated at more than 40 000 93–94 for Sydney and 30 000 for the three days of 94–95 the Brisbane event. ABC Events also staged 95–96 more than 480 ABC for Kids concerts and events and entertained more than 260 000 96–97 children across the country. 97–98 98–99
Magazines and Books 99–00 ABC Enterprises announced a new magazine 00–01 publishing venture with BBC Worldwide, the ABC Enterprises Revenue commercial consumer arm of the BBC. The 01–02 initial focus of the venture was on pre-school 02–03 titles, with the first magazines published under the ABC/BBC umbrella, Bob the Builder, on 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 sale at the end of January 2003, and Funtime $'000 with Friends, launched in March. 84
Annual Report 2002-03
ABC Enterprises (continued)
ABC Magazines also published the first inception of the ARIA Awards 17 years ago. issue of the quarterly pre-teen magazine RC The release of Handel’s Messiah on DVD and Rollercoaster in March 2003. In June, ABC double CD by ABC Classics was Australia’s Magazines launched limelight, a new monthly first complete recording of Handel’s most arts and entertainment magazine, which famous work, and the first DVD release by replaced 24 Hours and absorbed the 24 the label. Hours radio program guide. ABC Music won two Golden Guitars at the To celebrate the first birthday of delicious Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) magazine, Enterprises released the first Country Music Awards in Tamworth. Lee delicious cookbook entitled Wicked, a Kernaghan’s album Electric Rodeo won both delicious dinner party CD entitled Wicked the Album of the Year and Best Selling Album Grooves, and a 2003 delicious diary. of the Year Awards. ABC Music Publishing’s ongoing commitment to the promotion of One of the best-selling ABC Books for the Australian music composition was recognised 2001-02 financial year, Don’t Die With The with being awarded the title of ‘Country Music Music In You by Queensland Rugby League Publishing Company of the Year’ at the Annual coach Wayne Bennett, remained in the CMAA Industry Achiever Awards. bestseller list throughout 2002-03 and was the best-selling ABC Book for the financial year. Audio and Video Two delicious cookbooks, Wicked and Let’s The ABC for Kids video Wiggly Safari, a Do Lunch, were also amongst the best sellers. collaboration between the Wiggles and ‘The Crocodile Hunter’, Steve Irwin, was the highest Music selling ABC Video for the year, achieving Double Collaborations between ABC Music and ABC Platinum status and selling more than 120 000 Radio throughout the year included Kingfisher units. The Wiggles accounted for three of the Dreaming, new music from regional Australia, top four best sellers for ABC Video. with Local Radio; Love and the Blues, music from Live on Stage, with Radio National; The The ABC Video release Long Way to the Top Best of Swoon Collections with ABC Classic won the inaugural Music Title of the Year Award FM; and All You Mob, recordings of young at the GfK Marketing Services DVD and Video Aboriginal Hip Hop artists, with Triple J. To Retail Industry Awards. Wiggly Safari won the celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Triple J Children’s Title of the Year. Hottest 100, ABC Music released The Hottest Box. This collector’s edition boxed set featured ABC Audio extended its range of audio products nine CDs of highlight tracks from the past nine with the introduction of Audio CD Gift Cards. years of the Hottest 100. The Mother’s Day Gift Card, in particular, was the best selling audio product of the year. ABC The ABC Classics album Sonatas and Audio, together with the BBC and the National Fantasies by Slava Grigoryan won the Best Library of Australia, is contributing content to a Classical Album Award at the 2002 Australian trial of a new delivery system of recorded books Recording Industry Association Awards (the where audio material is sent to a public library or ARIAs). ABC Classics has won the Best the home of a print disabled person via satellite. Classical Album Award 14 times since the ABC Divisions 85 Annual Report 2002-03
Content Rights Management
Content Rights Management has cross-media platform responsibility for the business and management of content and rights for the ABC and potential third parties. The Division conducts the business-to-business sale of content and programming worldwide and negotiates agreements for the acquisition, development, production and co-production of content across all ABC platforms. The physical content itself is managed through Archives and Library Services to ensure that it is accessible, appropriately stored and preserved for the long term.
The Division ensures effective separation of content negotiation processes from ABC editorial and creative processes. This optimises and safeguards business negotiations, promotes financial transparency and provides The new centralised archive facilities in Ultimo, Sydney, which include humidity a comprehensive source of deal information and temperature controlled environments available across the ABC. to protect the ABC content collections. The ABC expanded its acquisition of website content to include third party children’s programs such as Degrassi: The Next Generation, Angela Anaconda and The Hoobs. Having already purchased the television and video rights to these properties, the ABC secured the website rights at competitive prices.
The ABC negotiated a cross-platform deal for the BBC documentary Walking With Beasts, which included primary television rights, all ancillary rights, website rights and interactive television rights. Working on a cross-platform basis, the ABC was able to secure these rights at competitive rates.
The ABC and the Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA)/Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA) have reached agreement for a new five-year licence to cover the use by the ABC of copyright sound recordings in its programming. 86
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Content Rights Management (continued)
Templates were created for deal memoranda fitted with humidity and temperature controlled and agreements across all genres and deal environments that cater for the special structures. Deal models for the negotiation requirements of tape and film collections. of agreements with third parties such as the For the first time ‘vinegar syndrome’ affected Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC) material can be stored separately from other were produced to improve the efficiency of the film to slow the spread of this deterioration. contracting process and to standardise deals across the ABC. Storage facilities for film were upgraded in Brisbane and Hobart, ensuring that local Improved Services material could continue to be stored and Digital audio archiving facilities were installed accessed locally to support local production. in Archives and Library Services, allowing the digital capture and storage of radio content, Following a tender process conducted and improving program maker services by by Archives and Library Services and the digitally delivering both radio and television Technology and Distribution Division, the ABC audio to audio workstations. announced a partnership with IBM Global Services Australia to digitise the ABC’s analog A major upgrade of the Production Rights archive. The ABC’s long-term preservation and Toolbox on the ABC’s intranet was completed. accessibility requirements demand that its New sites include ‘Music Essentials’, which content collections must be retained in a enables production staff to choose and use durable format which minimises loss of quality music for content; a Music Glossary; a step by during replication and allows desktop access. step guide through the ABC’s blanket music The solution is based on open standards agreements; and links to the WEBSOLID software and will employ standard data music database. storage equipment, ensuring that the ABC will not be bound to one manufacturer for future Archives and Library Services extensions and maintenance. Initially, 60 000 Archives and Library Services moved into hours of television and radio content will be the new facilities in Ultimo, Sydney, and preserved in the digital format. The solution completed its restructure, consolidating its will ultimately enable the conversion of the Sydney operations into four areas: Collection entire analog archive. Strategy, Research Services, Collection Services and Technical Services. These ABC Content Sales groups now integrate their services directly ABC Content Sales distributes worldwide with output Divisions to facilitate greater content and programming produced by access to content across platforms. Television, Radio and New Media and Digital Services. Global licensing of ABC content Archives and Library Services maintains and programming offers an opportunity to and protects the ABC content collections connect with global audiences. in accordance with legislative requirements. The new Ultimo facility provides for improved Revenue from the sales of ABC-owned and collection facilities that maximise storage acquired content remained relatively steady capacity. Storage areas have been specially over the past three years with a net revenue ABC Divisions 87 Annual Report 2002-03
contribution to the Corporation of $3.66 million increased by more than 15% over 2001-02, in 2002-03, compared to $3.87 million in while net profit remained steady compared 2001-02. This result was partly due to a to 2001-02 due to once-only new content decrease in available programming and a acquisition costs. reduced international appetite for program and content acquisitions flowing from destabilising The ABC ensured that its content was international events. Notwithstanding this, the represented on all major technology platforms 2002-03 net revenue contribution was still with sales to web-based portals, transport higher than in 2000-01. services, wireless applications and interactive television. In the international online content In 2002-03, ABC Content Sales attended market, gross profit from the sale of ABC key television buying and selling markets, text-based news increased as new MIPCOM and MIPTV, where it launched 70 relationships were established. hours of new programming and represented one thousand hours of programs from the ABC Content Sales licensed the ABC’s ABC back catalogue. website-based news services to leading web portals such as Yahoo! and Telstra. The ABC Content Sales developed the distribution of ABC news internationally was international inflight market for sales of increased through the development of sales its programming to airlines worldwide. channels with key global news aggregators Kath and Kim was licensed five times in including Factiva, Proquest and Ebsco. ABC eight months by Qantas. news and entertainment content was licensed to telecommunications carriers Orange and International broadcasters NHK, TVNZ, Al Vodafone. ABC Content Sales licensed archival Jazeera and the airline Qantas renewed Australian Rules football material to the Fox program supply agreements for Foreign Footy Channel and archival Rugby Union and Correspondent. Cricket footage to Fox Sports.
ABC Content Sales licensed its Natural History series From the Heart and the ABC/AFFC accord documentary ‘Alien Underworld’ to National Geographic International Channels. International audiences were secured for Kath and Kim following deals signed with broadcasters in New Zealand, UK, South Africa and Canada.
A reciprocal representation stock footage agreement was signed with the National Geographic Film Library. The ABC upgraded its relationship with Associated Press Television News (APTN) by increasing its holdings of APTN material. Overall gross revenue from the sale of footage from the ABC archives 88
Annual Report 2002-03
Finance and Support Services
The Finance and Support Services Division provided cost effective services whilst responding to the changing requirements of the Corporation.
Finance Services Completion of Annual Financial Statements The Corporation’s annual financial statements for 2001-02 were completed within the required timeframe and received an unqualified audit certification by the Australian National Audit Office.
Finance Systems The Division achieved improvements in the Presenter Deborah Kennedy, Board Director efficiency and effectiveness of the Corporation’s Ross McLean and State Director Geoff Duncan turn the first sod for the building of the ABC’s SAP Finance System support service through a new East Perth complex. number of initiatives. A substantial reduction in outsourced facilities management costs was negotiated while maintaining service levels. The Division developed a comprehensive Finance System Test Strategy providing a risk-based, standardised approach to testing, as well as related documentation. A computer-aided test tool was adopted, increasing testing efficiency and reducing demands on end-users. The Division also offered training in the Finance System at all capital city locations, supplemented by self-guided learning materials delivered via the ABC’s intranet.
Funding At the request of the Federal Government (and as part of a rolling program involving government departments), the ABC undertook an Output Pricing Review (OPR), aimed at evaluating outputs in terms of quality, quantity and price, as well as identifying any potential efficiencies and savings. The results of the review were to form the basis for subsequent appropriation funding. ABC Divisions 89 Annual Report 2002-03
The OPR, completed in October 2002, • detailed advice on rights issues, concluded that in real terms the ABC was regulatory regimes and the common law producing and broadcasting substantially and statutory obligations of all Divisions more output than it did in the mid-1990s. of the Corporation; and The results, which demonstrated substantial • submissions to Federal and State government gains in ABC productivity and efficiency bodies about reformation of the law. over the period, were included in the ABC’s Triennial Funding Submission 2003-06 to Major projects undertaken by Legal Services Federal Government. included assisting in new accommodation projects in New South Wales and Perth; a Finance Committee detailed consideration of retransmission During the year, the ABC Board Finance risk; the renegotiation of satellite, archive Committee met on six occasions to consider conversion and complex technology and papers prepared by the Division, including transmission contracts; the renegotiation of the Corporation’s annual budget, quarterly blanket rights agreements; and the review financial reports, revenue information, of ABC Editorial Policies. reviews into efficiency and performance measurement and treasury/finance related Consistent with previous years, the Legal policies and procedures. Services department continued its media law training program to minimise the possibility of NOIE Project legal proceedings against the Corporation. This The ABC is partnering in an eProcurement was facilitated during the year through specialist demonstration project facilitated by the in-house media law workshops for personnel National Office for the Information Economy in the Corporation responsible or producing (NOIE). The project provides the opportunity programs, such as researchers, program makers for the ABC to explore the potential benefits and journalists. Topics covered included of eProcurement in a low risk context. This will defamation, contempt of court and copyright. enable the ABC to achieve a ‘proof of concept’ for longer-term application of eProcurement to Property Services meet ABC business requirements. The project Regional Property commenced in December 2002 and is due to The ABC’s Property Services team continued to be completed at the end of September 2003. implement its Regional Property plan throughout the year. Properties purchased in Ballarat, Legal Services Victoria and Wagin, Western Australia during The Legal Services department continued the previous financial year were refurbished to provide a comprehensive range of during 2002-03 and became fully operational services including: Regional Radio Studios. Construction work • pre-publication advice on a 24-hour commenced on the ABC’s new Port Macquarie Australia-wide basis to Radio, Television radio studio in New South Wales in March, and New Media and Digital Services; with expected completion in September 2003. • conducting and resolving litigation These new facilities will replace the regional commenced against the Corporation; radio studio at Kempsey. New premises were 90
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Finance and Support Services (continued) secured in Nowra, New South Wales, with relocation to take place in July 2003, and On 22 November 2002, ABC staff and guests studios in Bundaberg, Maroochydore and the watched ABC Board member Ross McLean, Gold Coast in Queensland were refurbished. Western Australia State Director Geoff Duncan, and Television News Presenter, Deborah Kennedy Other projects jointly turn the first sod in searing heat. The major part of the refurbishment of the ACT premises that was commenced in 2001-02 The new complex will accommodate around was completed with most staff settled in their 230 ABC staff and will incorporate Local new accommodation. The refurbished radio Radio, Television and Online production; studios went on-air from 28 May 2003. News and Current Affairs; Classic FM; Radio National; Triple J; production studios; Security upgrade works for the Brisbane site outside broadcast facilities; and associated at Toowong were partially completed. Fire management, administrative and support services were upgraded and Building Code operations. of Australia (BCA) compliance works and general accommodation replanning works Poor ground conditions caused a slowdown in were undertaken during the year. the initial excavation phase. Construction is now expected to be completed by August Throughout the year, identification, assessment 2004 and technical fit out and relocation by and control of various occupational Health and early 2005. Safety-related issues across all properties was undertaken as part of a program to minimise the Sydney ABC’s risk from non-compliance with Australian Accommodation Project Standards, the Occupational Health and Safety See Sydney Accommodation Project (Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991, BCA (page 45). and other building standards and regulations.
Security Security arrangements at all major sites were reviewed in response to advice from the Attorney-General’s Department regarding the need for heightened security awareness. The ABC’s obligations to function as an element of the critical communications infrastructure for the purposes of counter-terrorism were assessed and action was taken to improve security measures where warranted.
Perth Accommodation Project Construction of the ABC’s new Radio, Television and Online centre at East Perth in Western Australia commenced in November 2002. ABC Divisions 91 Annual Report 2002-03
Human Resources
In 2002-03, the Human Resources Division concentrated efforts on connecting its strategic initiatives with the corporate goal of supporting a skilled and diverse workforce. This included a review of the ABC’s occupational health and safety policies and procedures by Comcare; continued support of performance management across all Divisions; negotiation of a number of new enterprise agreements; and the continuation of high quality accredited training programs. These initiatives were developed to provide employees and managers with the best opportunities to play a part in satisfying the ABC Charter and organisational goals.
Performance Management The Staff Performance Management System introduced in 2001-02 remains one of the most significant reforms ever undertaken by the ABC At the Australian Training Awards in November 2002, the ABC was awarded to enhance the quality of the Corporation’s the Australian National Training Authority people management. The continuing evolution Board Award for outstanding leadership of the system has presented challenges, but in training. remains a priority.
In its second year of operation, the ABC focussed on finetuning the system. While the Corporation has yet to achieve uniform compliance, significant progress was made in raising the level of consciousness and accountability for performance management among managers. There is growing recognition among managers of the benefits of using the system as a people management tool. Staff are responding favourably to the time spent with their manager and the increased sense of participation, ownership and clarity about their work and performance.
Human Resources will continue to work with Divisions to tailor the system to better fit operational needs. Training, individual coaching and other support will also continue to be provided in order to achieve improved compliance by the end of the 2003 calendar year. 92
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Human Resources (continued)
Employment Agreements was the development of a framework for the In 2002-03, the ABC successfully renegotiated use and re-use of ABC produced content three separate enterprise agreements with staff across many platforms, including the ABC’s and unions: the ABC Employment Agreement multichannels and online services, ABC Asia 2003-06, the ABC Retail Agreement 2002-05 Pacific, and third party platforms such as and the ABC Actors’ Agreement. interactive television and video-on-demand.
In December 2002, following two months of Training negotiations, the ABC, the Community and Development and training opportunities are Public Sector Union (CPSU) and the Media an important aspect of the ABC’s approach Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) to motivating employees. In 2002-03, over signed a new agreement covering the bulk 78 000 hours of structured training was of the Corporation’s 4 000 Program Makers, delivered for staff. The ABC is registered to Technologists and Admin/Professionals. The deliver 16 qualifications. The Corporation agreement, known as the ABC Employment issued more than one hundred qualifications Agreement 2003-06, came into effect on 13 and sixty Statements of Attainment. Training January 2003 after being overwhelmingly is delivered by formally recognised experts endorsed by staff, albeit with a low voter in the appropriate discipline. participation rate of 43%. The ABC is recognised as a leader within The new Agreement refines the employment the national training framework and recently framework established in the previous agreement. received three major training awards. In It provides an 11.5% pay increase over three November 2002, the ABC was awarded the years and provides the minor improvements in Australian National Training Authority Board staff benefits, including a lift in the casual loading Award for outstanding leadership in training from 15% to 20%, and the introduction of salary in Australia at the Australian Training Awards. sacrificing (subject to feasibility and cost neutrality). The ABC was also one of four finalists in the “Employer of the Year Award” and won the The ABC Retail Agreement 2002-05 came into Industry Award for the Cultural, Arts and effect on 4 November 2002. It provides a 3% Media industry. This was the first time that per annum wage increase over three years and the ABC entered the awards since becoming continues aligning wages and conditions as a Registered Training Organisation. closely as possible with retail industry standards. Recruitment The Agreement was made directly with Human Resources pursues a recruitment approximately 180 retail staff after being strategy based on attracting and selecting overwhelmingly endorsed - 83% voted ‘yes’ with the best possible candidates. In 2002-03, an unprecedented participation rate of 90%. the ABC continued to assert its strong branding and identity in the broader community with The ABC and the MEAA finalised discussions more than twelve thousand applicants in March 2003 on variations to the ABC Actors registering an interest in advertised positions, Agreement. A key objective of the negotiations an increase of 30% over 2001-02. ABC Divisions 93 Annual Report 2002-03
State and Territory Directors 0.5% Development 0.5% Corporate Affairs 0.9%
International 1992Ð93 5504 Broadcasting 2%
Overseas
NT 1993Ð94 5523 Human Resources ACT New
2.9% Tasmania Television 1994Ð95 M 5437 3.6%
edia
Content Rights .6% 1995Ð96 5343 WA 2.5% 25.3% 6.3% 3.8%4.5% 1996Ð97 4887 Enterprises Production 2.4% 4% 1997Ð98 4177 4.4% Resources SA 8.5%Finance and Support Services 1998Ð99 4134 5.3% NSW 47.2% 1999Ð00 4293 8.8% 2000Ð01 4116 10.4% Radio QueenslandTechnology and 20.3%
2001Ð02 4260 Distribution 17.7%
2002Ð03 4321 17.6% ABC by Division 2002-03 Staff Staff Numbers (Full-Time Equivalent Staff
News and
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 Victoria
Current Affairs
Overseas 0 NT
ACT
2.9% Tasmania
3.6%
WA .6% 6.3% 4.5% Admin/Professional
SA 8.5% Program Maker NSW 47.2%
8.8% Senior Executive
Queensland Technologist
17.6% Retail Staff
ABC by Region 2002-03 Staff Victoria 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 ABC Staff by Job Group 2002-03 by Job Group ABC Staff 94
Annual Report 2002-03
Human Resources (continued)
The ABC has also commissioned a The ABC has been recognised for supporting comprehensive recruitment and selection and developing a diverse work culture. The intranet site to assist and guide staff Corporation was a finalist in the Australian through the recruitment process. To Chamber of Commerce and Industry National improve selection processes, the Division Work and Family Awards in 2002, and was a is developing a recruitment and selection joint winner of the Single Innovative Initiative training program. This program will outline Award category for the publication, Visions the processes involved in recruitment and of Balance: Juggling family with work selection, while providing employees with in television. information about best practices in selection techniques, including awareness of cultural differences, to ensure that candidates are appropriately assessed and selected.
A major focus for the year was the development of a new Equity and Diversity Management Plan for 2003-06 to encourage an environment that promotes flexible and supportive work practices, and recognises and respects the unique differences within the ABC’s workforce.
Indigenous employment remains a priority with the introduction of initiatives to attract, develop and retain staff as part of the Corporation’s objective of 2% Indigenous representation; the current level is around 1.3%. In order to meet and exceed this objective, the Division has developed a number of strategies. The ABC Indigenous Staff Conference held during NAIDOC Week, is an example of such a strategy intended to increase awareness both within and outside the Corporation. To this end, during 2002-03, seven new Indigenous staff were recruited in Adelaide, Darwin and Sydney. ABC Divisions 95 Annual Report 2002-03
Corporate Affairs
ABC Corporate Affairs provides a range of Corporation-wide administrative support functions in relation to corporate policy and strategy, governance and the ABC’s position and influence in the internal and external environment.
Corporate Marketing The ABC established a Corporate Marketing unit in February 2003 to manage cross-divisional marketing needs, including corporate branding, advertising, community events and sponsorships. Launched in August 2002, the ABC’s On The Road Exhibition Trailer visited Corporate Marketing has produced 14 sites in five states and was seen comprehensive Logo and Brand Guidelines, by an estimated 200 000 people. which have assisted in the continuing rollout of the Corporation’s updated logo.
Cross-Promotions management has been restructured to centralise planning and research and make more effective use of Radio and Television airtime dedicated to cross-promotional campaigns. The ABC Corporate Plan 2001-04 requires that, of available promotional airtime, 20% should be devoted to the cross-promotion of ABC services.
The unit has initiated an audit of all ABC partnerships and sponsorships with the aim of broadening the Corporation’s support role across the community, and providing a whole-of-corporation approach to existing partnerships such as capital city-based arts festivals.
Corporate Marketing plans and manages events ranging from Outside Broadcasts and launches to Open Days and ‘ABC in the community’ events. It launched the ABC’s On The Road Exhibition Trailer in Sydney at the ABC’s Gardening Australia Live New South 96
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Corporate Affairs (continued)
Wales in August 2002. The interactive trailer of the ABC’s five-year strategic outlook to help features ABC Television, Radio, New Media inform strategic decision-making. This included and Digital Services and Shops. In its first year research to examine patterns and trends in of operation the trailer visited 14 sites in five the ways various segments of the Australian states and was seen by an estimated community use media. 200 000 people. The unit also continued to monitor performance Corporate Communications against the current ABC Corporate Plan The Corporate Communications unit administers 2001-04 and Divisional Plans. ABC media relations, policy announcements and internal and external communications, Corporate Policy including the ABC intranet. The Corporate The Corporate Planning and Governance Communications unit managed the public unit coordinated major ABC-wide policy release of significant ABC documents and development, including: statements, including the Newspoll ABC Appreciation Survey in September 2002 and • revision of the Corporation’s record the public summary of the ABC’s Triennial keeping and information management Funding Submission 2003-06 in early 2003. practices in accordance with the Designing The unit managed the official opening of the and Implementing Record Keeping Systems ABC Ultimo Centre, Sydney in November (DIRKS) methodology used by the National 2002 and coordinated the ABC’s public Archives of Australia; response to Federal Budget outcomes. • review of all ABC policy-related documentation to ensure that it is appropriate, accurate and Other significant matters dealt with by up-to-date, and is readily accessible to Corporate Communications during 2002-03 all employees. included: media responses to the ABC’s successful defence of the defamation case The unit coordinated a major review of ABC brought against Media Watch by Richard Editorial Policies which the Board adopted Carleton and Channel Nine; the death of in July 2002. During 2002-03, Corporate freelance Australian camera operator Paul Planning and Governance coordinated Moran while on assignment for the ABC in submissions to the: Iraq; and assistance with the ABC Bushfire Support Concert held in Canberra. • Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts in response to Planning Activities an options paper on structural reform in The Corporate Planning and Governance unit spectrum management; worked closely with the Managing Director and • Australian Broadcasting Authority on proposed the Director of Finance and Support Services conversion scheme amendments to enable to prepare the Corporation’s Triennial Funding digital channel planning and transmission in Submission 2003-06. remote areas of Australia; • Cultural Ministers’ Council to update In preparation for a major update of the ABC-related information in a discussion Corporate Plan, the unit undertook a review paper on public broadcasting in Australia; ABC Divisions 97 Annual Report 2002-03
• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade The unit coordinates and responds to on issues related to the Australia-US Parliamentary and departmental requests Free Trade Agreement; for information, builds collaborative working • Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and relationships, and monitors developments Trade References Committee inquiry into in Parliament of interest to the ABC. the General Agreement on Trade in Services and Australia-US Free Trade Agreement. The ABC provided formal submissions to a number of Parliamentary inquiries including The unit contributed to submissions coordinated Australia’s relations with Indonesia; Australia’s by other ABC Divisions, including submissions relations with Papua New Guinea and Oceania; to the Australian Competition and Consumer libraries in the online environment; and future Commission on content sharing agreements opportunities for Australia’s film, animation, in the subscription television sector. special effects and electronic games industries.
ANAO Implementation The ABC appeared before the Senate The Corporate Planning and Governance Estimates Committee on three occasions unit continued to monitor and assist with during the year under review and answered the implementation of the 14 agreed 81 written Questions on Notice. recommendations arising from a major performance audit conducted by the International Relations Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) - The ABC continues to strengthen its Corporate Governance in the Australian relationships with a range of likeminded Broadcasting Corporation (Audit Report overseas broadcasters, and to promote No. 40, 2001-02). actively the value of public service broadcasting in international fora such as the Asia-Pacific Representatives of Corporate Affairs appeared Broadcasting Union, the Commonwealth before a public hearing of the Joint Committee Broadcasting Association, the International on Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) on 23 Telecommunications Union, Public August 2002. They provided the JCPAA with Broadcasters International and the a progress report on implementation and European Broadcasting Union. answered questions on a range of matters arising from the ANAO report. In November 2002, the Chairman addressed the Public Broadcasters Appendix 6 (page 173) provides a summary International conference in Hong Kong of implementation to date. on the subject of ‘The Vision of Public Broadcasting in the 21st Century’. Government and During 2002-03, the ABC also received Parliamentary Relations delegations from a number of countries, The Government and Parliamentary including China and Korea. Relations unit oversees the Corporation’s relationship with the Parliament of Australia, and Commonwealth Government departments. 98
Annual Report 2002-03
production studios in Australia. Project staff completed the technical fit-out of Ultimo prior to the end of June 2003. The production and broadcast of live television programs began in January 2003 when television news bulletins and updates, and daily television current affairs programs, were broadcast from the new facilities. By April, weekly television news and current affairs programs were relocated, and by June, all television production operated from Ultimo.
The innovative Field Store and The Canberra radio studios were refurbished Forward system, developed during with new on-air broadcast consoles and a the Iraq conflict to allow correspondents purpose-built central room housing radio and to file high quality audio and video stories inexpensively from any location. television master control rooms and the television presentation area. New edit and production facilities were installed in the rebuilt Local Technology Radio area, as well as the combined radio and Distribution and television newsroom.
The Technology and Distribution By the end of June 2003, Regional Studios Division develops and supports the ABC’s with radio and online production facilities transmission and technological services. were completed and on-air in Wagin, Western Australia, and Ballarat, Victoria. In 2002-03, the ABC continued to install digital production and transmission equipment Six of eight digital television outside broadcast and extend its digital television infrastructure. vans were delivered to the ABC. At the end of June, four were in use around Australia, while Significant challenges for Technology and two more were undergoing commissioning and Distribution during 2002-03 included the gradual acceptance testing. These vans are replacing migration of Gore Hill-based production staff the ABC’s existing fleet, which was acquired to new premises in Ultimo, Sydney, and the in 1974-75 for the introduction of colour first phase of a redevelopment of the ABC’s television broadcasting. offices on Northbourne Avenue, Canberra. These major projects required the Systems The need to receive stories from reporters Engineering, Technical Services and the ‘embedded’ with US forces during the conflict Information Technology and Communications in the Middle East in early 2003 provided the groups to undertake extensive planning and catalyst for the ABC’s Broadcast and New technical work. Media Research and Development group to create an innovative, inexpensive and The completed Ultimo complex boasts one of comparatively light-weight method of sending the largest and most sophisticated television video material back from inaccessible locations. ABC Divisions 99 Annual Report 2002-03
This initiative, known as Field Store and Forward, projects were closed, many digitisation-related, allows high quality audio and video to be sent with a total value of more than $50 million. from any location using a standard laptop PC Three quarters of these were technical capital and satellite mobile telephones. It also allowed projects. In 2001-02, the ABC closed 140 the Corporation to avoid both the cost of the outstanding capital projects with a value of premium rates demanded for program links over $57 million. from the region and competition for link time with other broadcasters. While this work was Technical Training done specifically for the coverage of the Iraq Technology and Distribution delivered sixty-five conflict, it has much wider application technical training courses to ABC staff during throughout the ABC. the year. These courses were conducted to introduce and familiarise ABC staff in the The Broadcast and New Media Research use of a wide range of digital television, radio and Development group also provided specialist and transmission equipment to accompany support to enable New Media and Digital the delivery of digital equipment. Regulatory Services’ exploration of Short Messaging training occurred for staff in the area of cabling Service (SMS) applications for online and and in Queensland and the Northern Territory broadcast use during the year, including the technical staff commenced training for National provision of election updates during the 2003 Restricted Electrical Licenses. Re-certification New South Wales State election. programs were also implemented for staff maintaining digital video editing equipment and Technical Project tower rescue. Work commenced on the creation Management of a three-year learning and development During 2002-03, Technology and Distribution program for Entry Level Technologists in ABC established a Division-wide Project Office to technical areas as part of the ABC’s succession support a common Project Management planning strategy for technical staff. Methodology across the traditional broadcast engineering and information technology groups. IT Infrastructure The Project Office incorporates a blend of and Applications existing tools and other best practice approaches The Information Technology (IT) group to oversee and assist the implementation of in 2002-03 gave high priority to improving capital projects, co-ordinate project status resilience of the ABC’s information technology reporting and promote Division-wide project infrastructure, which now supports online management disciplines. Monthly status and broadcast applications, as well as reporting was instituted for all major projects administrative and management systems. as a measure of performance against time, budget and required outcomes. In particular, it worked to ensure the reliability and future growth potential of the infrastructure The Division implemented an enhanced supporting ABC Online. This was substantially Technology Strategy and Planning framework to achieved and ABC Online coped with the support the ABC Executive and to improve the significant increase in demand experienced planning and execution of technology projects. during the Iraq War. During 2002-03, 200 outstanding capital 100
Annual Report 2002-03
Technology and Distribution (continued)
Improved security of the ABC Wide Area During the year, the ABC was actively Network (WAN) was also achieved by upgrading involved in industry consultations with the firewall and virus protection software. As a Commercial Television Australia (CTVA), result, the ABC remained relatively clean during Commercial Radio Australia (CRA), Australian a number of international virus scares. Communications Authority (ACA), Australian Communications Industry Forum (ACIF) and The Avstar computer system was consolidated the Wireless Technology Forum (WTF). for radio and television news in Melbourne and Sydney to meet the requirements of the News The ABC worked with other broadcasters on and Current Affairs Division now operating from a range of common technical issues, including collocated news rooms. Avstar is a newsroom the possible digitisation of Electronic News computer system that manages the production Gathering (ENG) services within industry-wide of television, radio and online newscasts for budget constraints. This is of particular impor- the ABC, and allows staff to write and manage tance for local and regional television news. their news stories throughout the program The ABC worked with Commercial Radio production process. Before this consolidation, Australia on planning for the Band III VHF ABC Radio and Television used separate Digital Radio Trial in Sydney, commencing Avstar systems and sources of information. in the second half of 2003. Further enhancements were added to the existing television production and Transmission scheduling systems to allow better The ABC plans the roll-out of television and record-keeping of the output from the radio transmission services and manages ABC’s new digital television channels. analog transmission service contracts in excess of $85 million per annum with transmission A longer-term project is under way to remove service providers Broadcast Australia. legacy systems and reduce the number of applications requiring continuing support Transmission Fault Restoration and maintenance from IT staff. Following the During 2002-03, the average time for restoration implementation of a new Human Resources of service after a transmission fault was 15.17 system, previous Human Resources and Payroll minutes (14.04 minutes in 2001-02) for A-Class data was archived and an enquiry system transmitters (State capital works), and 39.14 created to allow access to this archive. minutes (43.95 minutes in 2001-02) for B-Class transmitters (major regional centres). Government and Regulatory Issues New Analog Services The ABC’s technical interests are represented The ABC’s minor extensions and enhancement at national bodies such as the International program established the following new services Radiocommunications Advisory Committee in 2002-03: Local Radio at Apollo Bay, Victoria, (IRAC) and ABC technology experts are actively and Gosford, New South Wales; Radio National involved in the formulation of decisions by at Busselton, Western Australia, and Hamilton, international bodies such as the Asia-Pacific Victoria; Classic FM at Emerald, Queensland, Broadcasting Union (ABU) and the International and Narrogin, Western Australia; and ABC Telecommunications Union (ITU). Television at Margaret River, Western Australia, and Mount Beauty, Victoria. ABC Divisions 101 Annual Report 2002-03
ABC Distribution and Transmission Network Aggregated 2002-03 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) 2002-03 2001-02 Target 2002-03 2001-02 2002-03 2001-02 %% % %% % % ABC Classic FM 67 99.98 99.92 99.83 99.93 98.95 99.91 99.92 Triple J 57 99.98 99.97 99.82 99.93 99.40 99.91 99.89 Local Radio 237 99.74 99.77 99.79 99.89 99.25 99.85 99.83 ABC NewsRadio 12 99.80 99.85 99.89 98.72 99.81 99.93 99.95 Radio National 256 99.91 99.92 99.74 99.82 99.56 99.80 99.83 Analog Television 443 99.91 99.91 99.75 99.83 99.23 99.77 99.85 Digital Television 50 99.03 99.72 99.90 99.87 99.96 99.78 99.67
State NSW 242 99.73 99.92 99.80 99.89 99.60 99.87 99.89 NT 55 99.82 99.60 99.71 99.81 99.62 99.76 99.71 Qld 310 99.92 97.28 99.76 99.83 99.66 99.74 99.82 SA 76 99.71 99.90 99.79 99.88 98.56 99.85 99.89 Tas 82 99.98 99.73 99.81 99.88 99.14 99.85 99.81 Vic 123 99.97 99.91 99.82 99.85 99.52 99.85 99.90 WA 178 99.87 99.55 99.75 99.82 99.23 99.79 99.84
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 Australia. The network includes outsourced satellite and terrestrial broadcast distribution services, from telecommunications carriers such as Optus and Telstra.
Note: Local Radio, serving remote and regional Australia, is reliant on non-redundant Telstra broadcast lines and these performed as expected in the financial year 2002-03.
2. Broadcast Australia Transmission Network (ABC Transmission Contractor): The reported transmission network performance, provided by Broadcast Australia, was above expectations, improving overall on the previous year. New digital services and installation of improved monitoring equipment at transmission sites continued to be introduced throughout the year. These works have not impacted adversely on the audience.
ABC NewsRadio reported transmission performance was below expectation, relative to the performance of the other networks. This network is not a fully redundant service. As a consequence any failure has a direct impact on the results for the year. This year a few major equipment failures adversely impacted on overall performance. However during most of these faults a service was sustained at reduced quality, hence the audience impact was minimised. (See Total ‘On-Air’ Availability statistics.)
3. Total ‘On-Air’ Availability: The total ‘On-Air’ availability shows the direct impact of all outages experienced by the audience where some level of service continued to be provided throughout faults and maintenance. That is, where there was no total loss or denial of service to the majority of the audience. This measure shows that Broadcast Australia have delivered consistent overall service, above expectations, with a marginal decline on the total period services were ‘off’, in comparison to the previous year. 102
Annual Report 2002-03
Technology and Distribution (continued)
New Digital Television Services presentation and distribution services. ABC In 2002-03, the ABC commenced digital Asia Pacific broadcasts ABC Asia Pacific television transmissions in 41 locations, digital television, the Radio Australia English providing the largest terrestrial coverage Language Program Service (ELP) and the of all Australian broadcasters. New stations Radio Australia Foreign Language Service (FLP). were established at Ballarat, Bendigo, Bouddi, Currumbin, Darling Downs, Elizabeth South, Radio Australia moved from the Palapa Ferntree Gully, Gold Coast, Gosford, Goulburn satellite to the wider coverage PanAmSat-8 Valley, Horsham, Illawarra, Kings Cross, Kotara, satellite platform. The ABC Asia Pacific and Latrobe Valley, Manly/Mosman, Marysville, Radio Australia services were extended onto Merewether, Mildura/Sunraysia, Murray Valley, the PanAmSat-2 satellite platform, further North East Tasmania, Nhill, Noosa/Tewantin, increasing the area in which signals can Nowra North, Renmark/Loxton, Roleystone, be received. In addition to the two satellite Safety Beach, Selby, South Yarra, Southern platforms, rebroadcast arrangements with Downs, Stanwell Park, Toodyay, Toowoomba, high power relay transmitter stations continue Tuggeranong Valley, Upper Murray, Upwey, to deliver Radio Australia throughout Asia and Warburton, Western Victoria, Weston the South Pacific to a growing audience. Creek/Woden, Wollongong and Wyong. Across the region, many local cable systems are now carrying ABC Asia Pacific, Cyclone Subsidy Scheme significantly increasing audience reach. Under the ABC’s self-help subsidy scheme for communities located in cyclone incident areas Coverage Mapping in northern Australia, new self-help ABC Local The ABC completed a project to re-map Radio services commenced in Ramingining in the coverage of all ABC radio and television the Northern Territory. Funding was granted transmission services. This project was initiated to the following communities: because of the paucity of accurate information for network operations and management. Northern Territory: Milikapiti, Warruwi (Goulbourn Island), Pulumpa Community, The maps were produced using coverage Umbakumba, Numbulwar, Ngukurr (Yugul contours generated directly from the planning Mangi), Kalumbura, Minjilang, Bulman, tools of the ABC’s transmission services Gapuwiyak, Bickerton Island and Maningrida. supplier, Broadcast Australia, and represent the best available map information regarding Western Australia: Djarindjin, Beagle Bay, network coverage. The ABC is one of the Warmun and Looma. first organisations to have comprehensively mapped its services in this manner. Queensland: Bloomfield/Ayton Aurukun.
International Services The ABC Asia Pacific service is well established after 18 months of operation. New Skies Networks and PanAmSat continue to provide ABC Divisions 103 Annual Report 2002-03
Coverage Maps
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Technology and Distribution (continued)
Triple J
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