26

Behind the News explains events and issues in our increasingly complex world in terms that children aged between 10 and 13 can understand. It engages “I was just thinking how much I’ve and educates viewers using the language, visuals, music and learnt from [the ABC] over the years.” popular culture of young people. Caitlin P, Rapid Creek, NT The program screens on ABC Television on Tuesdays at 10am with repeats on Wednesday at “I really can’t understand how anyone 10.30am and on ABC2. could understand Australia properly Primary and secondary schools without listening to the ABC.” programs on subjects including maths, history, science and English Nick J, Marysville, Victoria texts are broadcast on ABC Television in the mid-year term.

Hack (5.30pm weekdays on triple j) Steve Cannane hosts Hack, a current affairs program that looks at issues in a way that is relevant to a youth audience. The program recently received a National Drug and Alcohol Award for Excellence in Media Reporting.

Catalyst (8pm Thursday on ABC Television, repeated on ABC2) Catalyst brings a mix of Australian and international stories on science breakthroughs, as well as visiting scientists at work. Hosted by Dr Maryanne Demasi, it investigates the implications, ethics and politics of science-related issues.

ABC NewsRadio (24 hours a day) Australia’s only continuous news station provides around-the-clock news and information features, 10:00am parliamentary broadcasts and podcasts of Question Time in the classroom from Parliament. watching Behind The News 27

part of everyday life 28

Average Weekly Radio Reach—Five City ABC Audiences Source: Nielsen Media Research ABC Local Radio Audience Trends Australian audiences have increasing choice Radio National and control over when, where and how they consume media. These choices have been triple j 2001-02 facilitated by the rise of technologies such as 2002-03 digital media players (iPods and MP3 players), 2003-04 ABC Classic FM digital personal video recorders, and video 2004-05 and audio downloads using computers 2005-06 connected to the Internet via broadband. ABC NewsRadio

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 The continuing challenge for broadcasters Millions and other content providers is to anticipate and adapt to the possibilities these Aggregate ABC Radio Audience Share (%) Source: Nielsen Media Research technologies are creating. In the past year, the ABC has expanded the range of content Sydney 2001-02 it makes available via these technologies, Melbourne 2002-03 while continuing to explore newer platforms Brisbane 2003-04 such as television content delivered to 2004-05 mobile phones and datacasting. Adelaide 2005-06 Perth

Despite the impact of these media, the Newcastle traditional media forms of television and radio Canberra remain pivotal to the ABC’s performance. Traditional media consistently reach the Hobart vast majority of the population and provide Darwin most of the content for new media platforms. 0 10 20 30 40 50 The reach of traditional ABC media detailed % below illustrates this strength and also highlights some emergent trends. Radio There were a number of key developments in Significantly for the ABC, ABC Online the radio industry during 2005–06, including continues to grow at rates two or three times the introduction of new commercial stations greater than growth in the overall uptake of to the metropolitan radio markets of Sydney, the Internet.1 The breadth and depth of content Melbourne and Adelaide. Media consumption —and the ever-expanding range of original patterns continued to evolve with podcasting, content—means that audiences not only time-shifted listening and “live” streaming via use ABC Online to complement their ABC the Internet entering the everyday radio lexicon. broadcast experiences, but also engage with compelling new content that originates online. In this environment of heightened competition, ABC Radio performed strongly. Overall five-city The ABC’s combined reach across television, average weekly reach decreased marginally radio and online declined slightly from 75% by 2% on 2004–05 to 3 704 000 (33% of the in 2003–04 and 2004–05 to 73% in 2005–06.2 five-city metropolitan population aged 10 or This is primarily attributable to slight over).3 The 2004–05 reach of 3 766 000 was decreases in ABC Television audiences, 1 Nielsen // NetRatings: Home and Work panel data which are discussed below. July 2005–June 2006. 2 Newspoll, ABC Awareness and Usage survey and ratings data analysis, June 2006. 3 All five-city radio data is drawn from Nielsen Media Research. 100 000 200 000 300 000 400 000 500 000 600 000 700 000 800 000 Source: Nielsen//NetRatings;Home&Work Panel ABC RadioStationsMonthly OnlineAudiences January03–June06 websites increased by over 50% to an average In 2005–06, thereach oftheLocal Radio to 299 000andshare upto 12.1%from 11.5%. Perth continued to rise,withreach upby4% from 11.1%.Reachandshare for 720ABC up by1%to 207000and share upto 11.7% and share continued to increase, withreach 8.3% from 8.7%.891ABCAdelaide’s reach by 4%to 265000andshare decreased to 11.2%. 612ABCBrisbane’s reach decreased to 784000andshare increased to 11.9%from 774 ABCMelbourne’s reach increased by3% share decreased to 8.4%from 9.1%in2004–05. weekly reach increased by1%to 678000, level as2004–05.While 702ABCSydney’s 2 233000,while share was10.2%, thesame reach wasup2%on2004–05,to arecord networks. ABCLocal Radio’s average weekly Performance varied across individualradio fell to 42.0%from 44.1%. 22.6% from 20.8%in2004–05and,Canberra, The ABC’s share inNewcastle increased to compared with4.189millionin2004–05. eight-city reach in2005–06was4.124million, ABC Radio’s estimated average weekly was down marginally. recorded inMelbourneandAdelaide.Perth 2004–05 result of20.4%.Increases were was 20.1%,a0.3pointdecrease onthe Radio’s overall five-city share in2005–06 the highest annualaverage onrecord. ABC 0 Jan 03 Feb 03 Mar 03 Apr 03 May 03 Jun 03 Jul 03 Aug 03 Sep 03 Oct 03 Nov 03

Dec 03 ABC Local RadioOnline triple j Radio National Jan 04 Feb 04 Mar 04 Apr 04 May 04 Jun 04 Jul 04 Aug 04 Sep 04

4 Oct 04 Nov 04 Dec 04 Jan 05 Feb 05 monthly reach of450000uniqueusers. In 2005–06,thereach ofthe 1.5% in2004–05. remained steady at1.4%,compared with at 643000(642in2004–05)andshare NewsRadio’s weekly reach remained steady 2.1%, compared with2.0%in2004–05.ABC to 653000andshare remained steady at five-city weekly reach wasdownby1% 2.5% in2004–05.RadioNational’s overall remained steady at2.4%,compared with decreased by4%to 664000,while share ABC Classic FM’s five-city weekly reach mobile technologies. on otherplatforms, includingonlineand result doesnotreflect useof continuing to minimisethedecline.This technologies andnewentrants. Work is of theyouth mediamarket driven bynew declines reflect thecontinuing fragmentation share decreased to 3.9%from 4.7%.These decreased by11%on2004–05to 968000and triple j per month,while theRadioNationalwebsite reaching onaverage 165000uniqueusers The National websites increased significantly. 5 Nielsen//NetRatings, Homeand Work Panel, 2004–05 and 4 NielsenMediaResearch radio ratings surveys 2005–06.The Mar 05 July 2005–May 2006. and Sydney. Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart,Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth cities surveyed inmetropolitan ratings surveys are Adelaide, Apr 05 May 05 triple j Jun 05

’s five-city average weekly reach Jul 05 Aug 05 Sep 05

site recorded a27%increase, Oct 05 Nov 05 Dec 05 Jan 06 Feb 06 Mar 06 Apr 06 May 06 Jun 06 triple j triple j and Radio services 5 29

ANNUAL REPORT 2005–06 30

ABC Radio Regional Reach and Share, 2005–06 (%) Source: Nielsen Media Research

All ABC Radio Local Radio triple j ABC Classic FM Radio National News Radio Share Reach Share Reach Share Reach Share Reach Share Reach Share Reach Sunshine Coast (Qld) 32.5 42.1 8.9 16.3 5.2 10.8 3.5 6.6 3.3 7.8 0.4 2.7 Central Coast (NSW) 16.2 24.8 7.3 13.6 3.4 6.5 1.9 3.3 1.3 4.0 1.5 4.7 Wollongong (NSW) 26.9 35.8 12.6 20.1 6.8 11.2 2.3 4.3 1.5 3.3 — — Horsham (Vic) 38.0 49.4 25.9 37.0 3.3 6.8 1.4 3.6 2.7 8.5 — — Ballarat (Vic) 34.7 46.1 5.3 12.6 4.1 10.9 3.8 6.6 5.0 10.2 — — Renmark (SA) 41.9 53.9 30.9 43.4 3.6 9.4 0.7 3.9 1.4 5.3 — — Alice Springs (NT) 26.5 43.1 10.1 18.9 6.3 14.6 2.7 8.6 6.2 16.8 — —

Brisbane, 720 ABC Perth and 936 ABC Hobart. ABC Audiences The stations used the research to maximise continued listener satisfaction in each of these markets. recorded a 42% increase in reach to an average of 185 000 unique users per month.6 During August and September 2005, qualitative research undertaken for Radio A total of seven radio surveys was conducted National, in Sydney and Melbourne, provided in regional areas in 2005–06.7 The ABC an overall review of the station and explored participated in surveys in 2005–06 in Ballarat, levels of satisfaction among listeners, with the Central Coast, the Sunshine Coast, a particular focus on Breakfast. Wollongong and Horsham. In these five markets, ABC Local Radio achieved shares of The research was followed in September– 5.3%, 7.3%, 8.9%, 12.6% and 25.9% respectively. October 2005 by qualitative research in Sydney that focused on maximising the The ABC also commissioned surveys in potential of Radio National in Australian two regional areas (no commercial stations universities and assisting in the development chose to participate in these surveys). ABC of strategies to market the station’s content Local Radio achieved a share of 10.1% in to the tertiary education sector. Alice Springs and 30.9% in Renmark. Also during September–October 2005, Focused Radio Audience Research qualitative research undertaken for ABC During 2005–06, ABC Audience Research NewsRadio in Sydney and Melbourne explored undertook nine major research projects attitudes among regular, infrequent and on behalf of ABC Radio. Five projects were non-listeners to the station, with a specific commissioned for ABC Local Radio, two focus on Breakfast and Drive. for Radio National, one each for NewsRadio and triple j. Acknowledging that today’s youth face a vast array of media and entertainment choices, Qualitative research was undertaken on behalf triple j commissioned qualitative research of ABC Local Radio during June–October to explore the lives, attitudes and behaviours 2005. The research was conducted in Sydney, of its target market and to examine the role Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Hobart and of media in the lives of modern youth. This provided an overall “health check” of 702 research was carried out in October– ABC Sydney, 774 ABC Melbourne, 612 ABC November 2005.

6 Nielsen//NetRatings, Home and Work Panel, 2004–05 and July 2005–May 2006. 7 All surveys conducted by Nielsen Media Research. 300 000 1 200000 1 500000 100 000 200 000 400 000 500 000 Source: Webtrends all Radionetworks andLocalRadiostations ABC Total Live RadioStreams, monthly, including Source: Webtrends networks andNews andCurrent Affairs ABC Total podcasts, monthly, includingallRadio 300 000 600 000 900 000 0 0 allocated 50/50to theMayandJunetotals Windows Streaming. Theweek endingJune4is This isbasedonweekly data combining Realand (3 weeks only) March 2006 a 6Fb0 a 6Ar0 a 6Jun06 May06 Apr06 Mar06 Feb 06 Jan 06 8 GfKMarketing Services, such adevice. of 2005,anestimated one-in-five adultsowned media players to thepointwhere, bytheend Australian audiences have embraced digital Podcasting a very substantial riseinthelast quarter of a rapid riseinsales during2005, including of digital mediaplayers inAustralia shows 9 GfKMarketing Services, 11 Webtrends, measurement ofABCOnlineactivity. 10 Webtrends, measurement ofABCOnlineactivity. Half 2005 Second Half 2005 , April2006. pi 06My20 June2006 May2006 April 2006 , April2006. 8 Data onthevolume ofsales Canon DigitalLifestyle Index:Second Canon DigitalLifestyle Index: Average Live RadioStreaming Affairs andaudiofrom ABCTelevision. all ABCRadionetworks,NewsandCurrent of podcast files, representing content from 1.5 millionsuccessful andcomplete downloads In June2006,theABCregistered just under the year. TheABCbroadcast its broadcaster) were discontinued during broadcasts ofWorld Audio(anoff-bandAM a numberofcommunity broadcasters; trials includetheABC,SBS,Sport927and stations, theABCandSBS.TheMelbourne The Sydney trialsinclude11commercial (SBS)) andBroadcast Australia respectively. the ABCandSpecialBroadcasting Service (a consortium ofCommercial RadioAustralia, being conducted byDigital RadioAustralia in Sydney andMelbourne.Thetrialsare During 2005–06,digital radio trialscontinued Digital RadioTrials recorded inthemonthsofMayandJune. popular, withover 400000live streams listening to live radio streaming hasproven this system commencing inearly March 2006, for live radio streaming. Since reporting from Corporation to measure activitylevels recorded web measurement tool whichenabled the In 2005–06,theABCinvested inasophisticated in bothcities to assess functionality, capability Research from audience panelsestablished information suchasmusictrack details. and pictures to receivers, aswelltext experimenting withdelivering graphics receiver capabilities. They have alsobeen performance oftransmission systems and such ascoverage andinterference issues, The trialshave beentesting technical matters, as wellABCNewsRadioinMelbourne. service andABCClassic FMinbothcities, 864 000unitswere sold. in thefinalthree monthsoftheyear, when 479 000,althoughtheaverage nearly doubled volume ofdigital mediaplayers in2005was estimated thatthequarterly average sales that year. Market research organisation GfK 9 dig music 10 11 31

ANNUAL REPORT 2005–06 32

ABC Television Reach (Four Weekly) Source: OzTAM Television Ratings and Regional TAM ABC Audiences Sydney continued Melbourne and levels of interest in this new media, indicate Brisbane high levels of enthusiasm for the service.12 Adelaide Better sound quality, clearer reception, tuning

Metropolitan Perth by station name, an information screen and 5 City Metro a “re-wind” or stored audio function are all Southern NSW highly-valued features. There is also interest Northern NSW in the potential for new services, such as Victoria the ABC’s dig music service. Queensland Regional Tasmania Television Regional All Two powerful forces shaped the landscape in 0 102030405060708090100 % which ABC Television competed for audiences 2004–05 2005-06 in 2005–06. The first was the fierce competition among the commercial free-to-air networks ABC Television Share 2005–06 6am–midnight in a tight and highly contested market. Source: OzTAM Television Ratings and Regional TAM The second force was the continuing rise

Sydney 2004–05 in viewing of subscription television. Since 2002, subscription television has increased Melbourne 2005-06 Brisbane its average audience by approximately 13 Adelaide 30%. This increase has been at the expense

Metropolitan Perth of free-to-air networks. Of all free-to-air 5 City Metro networks, the ABC has been affected most, Southern NSW due to the lure of genre-specific content Northern NSW available on subscription television— Victoria most notably coverage of sports and Queensland

Regional children’s content. Tasmania Regional All In the face of these forces, 30 programs 0 5 10 15 20 25 on ABC Television attracted five-city % audiences of more than one million viewers. ABC Television Share 2005–06 6pm–midnight Ten of these were Australian productions, Source: OzTAM Television Ratings and Regional TAM including Da Kath and Kim Code, Enough Rope with Andrew Denton, The New Sydney 2004–05 Inventors and My Favourite Film.14 Melbourne 2005-06 Brisbane Adelaide In 2005–06, ABC Television maintained a

Metropolitan Perth significant share of free-to-air television 5 City Metro viewing. In the five cities markets of Southern NSW Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide Northern NSW and Perth, ABC Television’s prime-time Victoria household share was 16.7%, compared with Queensland

Regional 17.9% in 2004–05. All-day (6am–midnight) Tasmania free-to-air household share for ABC Television Regional All in the metropolitan markets was 15.6%, 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 12 Colmar Brunton Research for Sydney trial and Millward % Brown Research for Melbourne trial, 2004–05 and 2005–06. 13 OzTAM five-city Total Telelvsion 2002–June 2006. 14 All five-city free-to-air television ratings data from OzTAM, July 2004–June 2005 and July 2005–June 2006. awn7–2 uut20 0220.8 21.6 15.9 15.6 20.2 21.4 14.9 6pm–midnight 6am–midnight 17.2 24July 2005–20August 2005 Local share excludes spillstations where applicable. Note: asthefrequency ofsurveys anddates vary from 7–27August year 2005 to year, comparative data isnotavailable. 7–20August 2005 Survey Dates Regional WA Port Pirie/Broken 7–20August 2005 Hill 14August 2005– Remote Central andEastern Riverland/Mt Gambier Darwin Region Source: NielsenMediaResearch ABC Television HouseholdShare, RemoteRegions,2005–06(%) audiences. devices that deliver videocontent to Australian as wellalternative mediaplatforms and competition from subscription television, population since 2002 asaresult ofincreased declined asapercentage ofthefive-city Total free-to-air metropolitan reach has 19.2% in2004–05. ABC Television was17.8%,compared with free-to-air prime-timehouseholdshare for Southern NSW,Victoria andTasmania), the markets inQueensland,Northernand electronically (Aggregated regional television regional television markets thatare measured compared with17.2%in2004–05.Inthe in Darwinand15.6%Riverland/Mt Gambier. Remote Central andEastern Australia, 20.8% prime-time householdshare was30.8%in reflects thesedifferences. ABCTelevision’s audiences varies andtheABC share ofviewing free-to-air television stations available to Australia. In theseareas, thenumberof Pirie/Broken HillandRegionalWestern Remote Central andEastern Australia, Port audiences inDarwin,Riverland/Mt Gambier, ABC participated indiarysurveys oftelevision rather thanelectronically. In2005–06,the areas ofAustralia are measured bydiary, Television audiences inthemore remote with 18.9%last year. in regional markets was17.2%compared free-to-air householdshare for ABCTelevision 17 ABC Television’s average 15 All-day (6am–midnight) 0Arl20 7My20 1122.5 30.8 21.1 28.8 30 April2006–27May 10 September 2005 16 that themajorityofschoolsused theprogram territories of Australia. Theresearch found Behind theNews applications oftheABCTelevision program quantitative research into theusageand undertaken in2005–06wasqualitative and Among thestrategic research projects marketing andpromotional activity. and consumer database to inform program viewer preferences; andasyndicated media genres andnewprograms, andtrends in tools to monitor audience attitudesto program databases; theuseofqualitative tracking detailed analysis oftelevision ratings strategies. Theresearch undertaken includes programming, schedulingandmarketing and data sources. Research findingsinform quantitative andqualitative research projects audience behaviourandattitudesthrough ABC Television keeps informed about compared with68.6%in2004–05. representing 65.3%oftheregional population, compared with4.29millionin2004–05, ABC Television’s reach was 4.12 million, with 64.7%in2004–05.Intheregional markets, of themetropolitan population,compared 8.88 millionin2004–05.Thisrepresents 61.5% to 8.54millionin2005–06,compared with metropolitan weekly reach alsodeclined 18 Regional TAM free-to-air television ratings data, July 17 OzTAM five-city free-to-air television ratings data, July 16 RegionalTVdiarysurveys conducted byNielsenMedia 15 Allregional free-to-air television ratings data from Regional 2004–June 2005 andJuly 2005–June 2006. 2004–June 2005andJuly 2005–June2006. Research, July 2005–June2006. TAM, July 2004–June2005andJuly 2005–June2006. in schoolsallstates and 18 33

ANNUAL REPORT 2005–06 34

Audience estimates for ABC2 were also ABC Audiences collected via a national telephone survey continued conducted in June 2006 among adults aged for reasons including that it keeps students 18 and over. The survey found that 23% of up to date, makes difficult events easy to adults claimed to have ever watched ABC2, understand, is topical and fits well within up from 12% reported in the same survey teaching activities. Other issues explored conducted in June 2005.22 included how the program fits within the curriculum, the length of segments, production Online and Emerging Services and presenter style and how the program ABC Online meets or could better meet the needs of ABC Online achieved a record 110 million different age groups. monthly page views in March 200623 and 2.2 million unique Australian users in May.24 ABC2 In addition, ABC Online delivered 1.5 million The digital television channel ABC2 can be podcasts of ABC Radio programs and more seen in Australian households with a digital than 400 000 plays of live radio streams by television, a set-top-box or a subscription to the end of June 2006.25 a digital pay television service. At the end of March 2006, the estimated household take-up ABC Online was ranked the ninth most popular of free-to-air digital television was close website in Australia. Its reach equated to to 1.4 million (18%) Australian homes.19 In almost one-fifth (19%) of Australians who addition, digital pay television subscriptions used the Internet each month and over the reached over 1.4 million by June 2006.20 six-month period to May 2006 it had 4.7 million unique users and a reach of 33%.26 In 2005–06, ABC2 attracted increasing viewer numbers. For the quarter ending 3 June ABC Online’s audience continues to grow at 2006, the channel’s average daily reach was a rate that is two to three times faster than estimated to be 191 000 viewers, up from the growth of Internet population. During the 92 000 viewers in the equivalent quarter past year, the shift to broadband connections in 2005.21 continued and by May 2006, 74% of Australians who accessed the Internet from home did so National* ABC2 Average Daily Reach via a high-speed connection, compared with All People Q1, 2005 – Q1, 2006 57% in May 2005. ABC Online’s home audience Source: OzTAM / Regional TAM had a higher penetration of broadband than 200 000 the general population, with 82% of its home audience using broadband in May 2006.27

150 000 ABC Online’s Australian audience composition was 62% metropolitan and 38% non- metropolitan in May 2006, and reach was 100 000 consistent in both areas at around 19%.28

19 Digital Broadcasting Australia, March 2006. 20 FOXTEL, June 2006 and Austar, May 2006. 21 OzTAM and Regional TAM data, 2005–06. 22 Newspoll, ABC Awareness and Usage Survey, June 50 000 2005 and June 2006. 23 Webtrends, measurement of ABC Online Activity, March 2006. 24 Nielsen//NetRatings, Home and Work Panel data, to May 2006. 25 Webtrends, measurement of ABC Online Activity, 2006. 26 Nielsen//NetRatings, Home and Work Panel data, 0 May 2006. Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 27 Nielsen//NetRatings, Home and Work Panel data, (Mar–Jun 05) (Jun–Sep 05) (Sep–Dec 05) (Dec 05 (Mar–Jun 06) 2004, 2005 and to May 2006. –Mar 06) 28 Nielsen//NetRatings, Home and Work Panel data, * National is defined as 5-city metro and regional people to May 2006. meter markets (overlap discount applied). 1 000 1 500000 2 000 2 500000 Audience Reach 500 000 1 000 1 500000 2 000 2 500000 Monthly accesses - Millions 500 000 100 120

20 40 60 80 Jun-Jul 0 0

Jan 01 45.9% July 2005 Feb Source: ABCServer Statistics ABC OnlineMonthly accesses January2000–June2006 Source: Nielsen//NetRatings;Home&Work Panel ABC OnlineAudience Retention (month-on-month)July 2005–June2006 Source: Nielsen//NetRatings;Home&Work Panel ABC OnlineMonthly Audience ReachJuly 2005–June2006 Mar Jul-Aug Apr May 49.9% Jun August Jul Aug Aug-Sep September Sep

Oct 47.7% Nov Dec Jan 02 Sep-Oct Feb October Mar Apr 42.3% May November Jun Oct-Nov Jul Aug Sep 46.6% December Oct Nov Nov-Dec Dec January 2006 Jan 03 Feb

Mar 47.8% Apr Dec-Jan May Jun February Jul Aug 48.8% Sep treated asequivalent here than accesses for thesameperiod,they have been separately. While pageview figures willbelower podcasts andstreamed content now reported rather thanserver accesses, whichincluded views asameasure ofactivityfor ABCOnline, Note: InJanuary2006,theABCbeganusingpage Jan-Feb Oct Nov Dec March Jan 04

Feb Feb-Mar 48.4% Mar Apr May April Jun Jul Mar-Apr Aug 42.0% Sep May Oct Nov Dec Apr-May June Jan 05 45.2% Feb Mar Averag Apr May May-Jun Jun Jul 46.9% e Aug Sep 0 10 15 20 Oct Nov 48.4% Dec Jan 06 Audience Reach (%) Retention Rate (%) New Audience Retained Audience Feb Mar Apr Reach % Active Audience May (Unique Audience) Audience Reach Jun 35

ANNUAL REPORT 2005–06 36

In 2005–06, the average monthly reach of ABC Audiences the ABC News Online website from within continued Australia was 471 000, an increase of 41% Datacasting on the previous year.32 The combined ABC During 2005–06, the ABC participated in a News and Current Affairs online sites trial of the first full datacasting service on recorded 5.2 million average weekly free-to-air digital television in Australia. accesses in the six months to December Datacasting allows for the broadcasting of 2005,33 and 6 million weekly page views in text, audio and video content via the digital the six months to June 2006.34 The latter television spectrum. During the year, the figure is a 33% increase over the same trial featured six information services from a six-month period of 2005. range of content providers. The ABC provided a news, sport and weather service that proved ABC Appreciation Survey 2006 to be among the most appealing content In June 2006, the ABC commissioned Newspoll to current users involved in the audience to conduct the seventh ABC Appreciation research for the trial. The research also Survey. These surveys provide an overview found that for those considering taking up of community attitudes about the ABC and digital free-to-air television, the ABC news, allow the Corporation to assess the value sport and weather service was a key driver.29 the Australian public places on its services and the delivery of its Charter obligations. News and Current Affairs Newspoll conducted similar surveys in ABC News and Current Affairs continued 1998, 1999 and 2002 through 2005. The to attract and retain substantial audiences 2006 research was conducted by telephone across the three platforms in 2005–06. between 16 and 29 June 2006 and drew upon a national sample of 1 900 people On ABC Local Radio, the 7.45am News aged 14 years and over. achieved a five-city average weekly reach of just over one million listeners (steady with Overall Value of the ABC the previous year). The unduplicated average Overall the 2006 results show beliefs and weekly reach of Early AM (Local Radio) and opinions about the ABC across the community AM (Radio National and Local Radio) was at large are generally consistent with those 1.29 million listeners (up by 3% on the expressed in the 2005 survey. Nine-in-ten previous year).30 (90%) Australians continue to believe the ABC provides a valuable service to the On ABC Television, the weeknight 7pm News community and half (50%) believe it provides had a five-city average audience of 993 000 a “very valuable” service. and The 7.30 Report 856 000 (down by 10% and 7% respectively on the previous year). It Results for this dimension, compared with is noted that the 7pm timeslot faced very strong those recorded in the 2005 survey, show competition from commercial networks in three areas of improvement, all of which the second, third and fourth months of 2006. are reflected in increases in the proportion Consistent performers among the flagship believing the ABC provides a very valuable current affairs programs were: Four Corners, service to the Australian community. with an average audience of 761 000 (up 3% Specifically, there is an increase in the on the previous year); Foreign Correspondent, proportion of females who believe that with an average audience of 589 000 (up by 29 Millward Brown Research, Datacasting Research, 2% on the previous year); and Australian December 2005. 30 Nielsen Media Research five-city radio data. Story, with one in two episodes recording 31 OzTAM five-city free-to-air television data. 32 Nielsen//NetRatings, Home and Work Panel data, to May 2006. audiences of more than one million.31 33 ABC Server Statistics, July–December 2005. 34 Webtrends, cite-centric measurement of ABC Online activity, January–June 2006. 37

% Overall Value of the ABC 100 91 90 90 88 86 89 89 80

60 49 5048 47 50 44 41 40

20

0 1998 1999 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Statistically Very Valuable Total Valuable significant

% Television—Quality of Programming 100 80 80 80 75 75 78 79 77 Good 60 43 40 41 40 41 40 38 39 23 20 20 18 20 20 22 23 4 5 5 5 667 0 2 3 2 2 1 22 12 11 9 8 9 10 7 20 1918 18 19 24 21 21 40 50 60 53 5451 53 56 54 80 ABC Commercial TV 100 Poor 1998 1999 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 1998 1999 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Very Poor Very Good Statistically significant change Total Poor Total Good

% Radio—Quality of Programming 100 80

Good 63 63

61 05–06 60 60 58 59 60 58 58 40 55 53 55 55 56 22 20 17 19 21 20 22 22 12 13 10 12 1314 13 0 1 2 112 2 2 7 6 776 20 8 8 12 12 12 1312 13 13 40 29 29 31 3029 30 32 60 80 ABC Commercial Radio 100 Poor 1998 1999 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 1998 1999 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Very Poor Very Good Statistically significant change ANNUAL REPORT 20 Total Poor Total Good

All of the graphs above are based on a total sample aged 14 years and over. “Don’t Know” responses are not displayed. Source: Newspoll 2006 ABC Appreciation Survey. 38

18-to-24-year-olds, there is more of a trend ABC Audiences apparent in this age group, with a gradually continued increasing number who feel ABC Television the ABC is very valuable (up from 44% to does a poor job at providing content they 50%), a similar rise among people living personally like to watch. in capital cities (up from 45% to 50%) and a rise among heavy users of the ABC Compared with 2004 there has been an (up from 57% to 63%).35 increase in the number of women (up from 23% to 28%) and people in country and Looking over the past two years, there has regional areas (up from 20% to 25%) who been an increase in the proportion of males believe the quality of ABC Television is very who believe that the ABC provides a valuable good. Compared with 2003, there was also service (up from 88% to 92%). an improvement for ABC Television in doing a very good job in terms of the number of Television shows people like to watch among those Consistent with results from 2005, a large aged 35–49 (up from 19% to 25%) and among majority of Australians (80%) continue to heavy ABC TV viewers (up from 32% to 38%).36 believe the quality of programming on ABC Television is good, and close to three-quarters The 2006 survey included a new measure of (72%) believe that ABC Television does a people’s opinions of Australian-made shows “good job” in terms of the number of shows on ABC Television and commercial television.37 it provides they personally like to watch. Consistent with other measures relating to As found in previous years, community television, opinions were more favourable for perceptions about ABC Television are far ABC Television than commercial television, more positive than perceptions about although the relativity between the two was commercial television. far closer on this measure. The proportion of the community who rated ABC Television as Compared with results from the 2005 survey, good on this dimension was 74% compared there have been few changes among the with 60% for commercial television. While different segments of the community. Among 10% rated the ABC as poor, one third (32%) younger people, aged under 25, opinions tend rated commercial television as poor. to oscillate year to year, and in 2006 this is evident among those aged 14–17, where Radio there has been a decline in the proportion Consistent with previous tranches of the who think that the quality of programming survey, the majority of Australians (63%) on ABC Television is very good (down from believe the ABC provides good quality radio 18% to 9%), which follows an increase from programming. Similarly, six-in-ten (59%) 8% to 18% in the previous year. There has Australians believe ABC Radio does a “good been an accompanying rise in the proportion job” in terms of the amount of programming who think ABC Television does a poor job in it provides to which they personally like terms of the number of shows they personally to listen. like to watch (up from 17% to 29%) following a decrease in this measure the year before. There is a greater similarity in beliefs about Notwithstanding similar oscillation among ABC Radio and commercial radio than between ABC Television and commercial 35 For this study a Heavy ABC user is defined as someone who claims to watch or listen to ABC Television or ABC Radio for television. This similarity is borne of the more than six hours per week. 36 For this study a Heavy ABC Television viewer is defined as more diverse and fragmented radio market someone who claims to watch ABC Television for more than six hours per week. 37 Specifically, respondents were asked to provide their ratings in the context of “…Australian made TV shows, particularly Australian drama, comedy and entertainment programs.” 100 20 40 60 80 % 0 Does notinclude“Don’t know”or“Poor” responses. Based onthoseaged 14years andover whoever watch/listen to therespective program. 93 2003 40 100 Source: Newspoll2006ABCAppreciation Survey ABC Website—Quality ofContent* Source: Newspoll2006ABC Appreciation Survey ABC Program DoesaGoodJobofBeingBalanced andEven-Handed Does notinclude“Don’tknow”or“Poor” responses. Based onthoseaged14years andover whoever visitthewebsite. * In1999–2004,thequestion wasasked inrelation to ‘qualityofinformation’. B p esTe73 eotA/MTheWorld Today AM/PM The 7:30Report ABC 7pmNews 20 40 60 80 % 0 494 94 2004 42 92 1998 2005 Total GoodJob 434 34 43 83 95 2006 1999 49 87 2003 90 37 2002 32 89 2004 39 98 89 89 89 2003 91 2005 38 eyGo o Statistically significant change Very GoodJob 43 93 2006 87 2004 44 29 90 2003 45 2005 91 2004 34 47 888 88 2005 2006 44 28 89 2006 41 585 85 2003 41 90 change significant Statistically Total Good Very Good 2004 50 2005 44 2006 42 39

ANNUAL REPORT 2005–06 40

Consistent with results from the 2005 survey, ABC Audiences eight-in-ten (79%) ABC Online users believe continued the website adds to the value and relevance in which ABC Radio operates. It is noted that that the ABC has for them. The results also commercial radio tends to attract a higher indicate that the website contributes to the level of criticism than ABC Radio. consumption of other ABC content, that people are using the additional content Year-on-year there are few changes in available, and the website extends the life attitudes towards ABC Radio. Of note are of ABC content in a variety of ways. improvements in attitude among those aged 18–24. Countering a trend apparent since For example, in 2006, 45% of the site’s users 2002 among this age group, there has been claim to have seen something on the site an increase in the number believing that the that prompted them to either watch ABC quality of programming on ABC Radio is Television or listen to ABC Radio. Many ABC good (up from 55% to 67%), and compared Online users also claim to have consumed with 2004, in the number who think it is very ABC Television, video or Radio content directly good (up from 10% in 2004 to 23% in 2006). through the website. For example, in the past three months: 37% of the site’s users Other improvements in attitude were also claim to have read a transcript of an ABC recorded among those defined as heavy ABC Television or ABC Radio program on the Radio listeners, where the number believing website; 34% say they have listened to that ABC Radio does a good job in terms of ABC Radio content (live, time-shifted or the amount of programming it provides that downloaded) through the website; 20% say they like to listen to rose (up from 92% to 97%, they have watched some type of ABC video including the number who feel it does a very content; and 18% have played games on the good job, (up from 39% to 49%).38 website—either by themselves or with children.

Among those aged over 50, there was a Coverage of Country News decline in the number believing the quality and Information of programming on ABC Radio is good (down Community perceptions about coverage of from a peak of 68% in 2005 to 61% in 2006, country news and information continue to with the level this year being more consistent be far more favourable for the ABC than for with earlier tranches of the survey). It is also commercial media. This remains apparent noted that the decline was not accompanied both among people in capital cities and people by a rise in negative opinion, but a higher level in country/regional areas. The vast majority of uncommitted response (don’t know / of Australians (79%) believe the ABC does a neither rose from 28% to 34%). good job covering country/regional issues, compared with 43% for commercial media. Online Almost one-in-four Australians (23%) claim Other Specific Charter Obligations to ever access the ABC website. As found in previous years, the majority of Australians also believe the ABC is doing “a Nine-out-of-ten (89%) of these ABC Online good job” in meeting various other Charter users believe that the quality of the site’s obligations covered by the research. Compared content is good and the same proportion with the 2005 results, there have been three say the site does a “good job” in terms of 38 For this study a Heavy ABC Radio listener is defined as the amount of content it provides on things someone who claims to listen to ABC Radio for more than six hours per week. they use it for. believing theABCdoesa reporting news andcurrent affairs, thenumber of beingbalanced andeven-handed when On thedimensionofdoing“agoodjob” reflected inrisesthe statistically significant positive changesall result remained steady at73%. to 26%),while the overall does-a-“goodjob” very an increase intheviewthatABCdoesa nature (upfrom 83%to 86%).There wasalso broadcasting programs ofaneducational belief thattheABCdoesa“goodjob”on statistically significant improvement inthe Compared with2004there hasbeena does a“goodjob”remained steady at70%. from 22%to 27%,while theoverall result believing theABCdoesa “efficient andwellmanaged”thenumber steady at84%.Onthedimension ofbeing believing itdoesa“goodjob”remained from 31%to 36%,while theoverall number believing theABCdoesa people withspecialinterests, thenumber appeal andalsoprograms thatappealto between broadcasting programs ofwide On thedimensionofhavingagoodbalance “good job”result remained steady at83%. from 34%to 38%,while theoverall doesa good jobbeinginnovative (upfrom 22% very very very very good measure. good jobrose good jobisup good jobisup politics andgovernment. federal politicsandgovernment andlocal who feel there is changes were smalldecreases inthenumber Year-on-year, theonly statistically significant the amountofcoverage is“aboutright”. nearly allissues amajorityofABCusers feel Consistent withtheprevious twosurveys, on ABC to specificnewsandcurrent affairs issues. about theamountofcoverage given bythe The survey explored community perceptions News andCurrent Affairs Content 39 ABCusers for thisanalysis are definedasthosewhoclaim of newsandcurrent affairs atleast once afortnight. to useABCTelevision, ABCRadioorOnlineasasource too much coverage of 39 41

ANNUAL REPORT 2005–06 42

When children can’t wait for their favourite program to air, children’s “[ABC Kids] keeps my one-year-old DVDs published by ABC Enterprises can come to the rescue. Instead entertained and I can always trust of a tearful world, It’s a Wiggly that, you know, it’s going to be Wiggly World. something relevant for her age.” Children’s DVDs complement ABC Andrea G, Punchbowl, NSW Television, which devotes seven hours each weekday and two-and- a-half hours on Sunday to programs “The integrity we’ve always relied on” for youngsters in various age Liz T, Myrtleford, Victoria groups. ABC2 extends the availability of ABC Kids programs during the day with additional timeslots. Together, the two channels provide twelve-and-a- half hours of children’s television each weekday.

Play School (9.30am and 3.30pm weekdays on ABC Television) For 40 years, Big Ted, Little Ted, Jemima, Humpty and friends have been a part of early childhood for Australians. One million children view the program each week.

The Playground and Rollercoaster (ABC Online) The Playground is designed to entertain and involve the ABC Kids audience and provide resources for parents. Rollercoaster invites 8–14 year olds to play games and get all the information they want about ABC Television programs and the things that matter to them.

Blue Water High (5.25pm Wednesday on ABC Television) An ABC co- produced teen drama series set in a high performance surf academy where seven 16-year-olds spend 12 months on schooling and surf training. 43

part of everyday life

1:30pm in the lounge room watching It’s a Wiggly Wiggly World on DVD 44

service broadcasting by short wave, ABC Services satellite and rebroadcast arrangements to Asia and the Pacific In achieving its vision, the ABC delivers • ABC Asia Pacific, an international television comprehensive programs and services and online service broadcasting via satellite which reflect the interests and aspirations and rebroadcast arrangements to Asia of diverse Australian communities. and the Pacific

Services Transmission Radio The ABC transmits its programs via: • Four national radio networks comprising • 961 terrestrial transmitters around Radio National, ABC Classic FM, triple j, Australia for analog television services, and ABC NewsRadio (on the Parliamentary including Self Help and Broadcasting for and News Network) Remote Aboriginal Communities Scheme • dig, dig jazz and dig country—three music- (BRACS) facilities based services available via the Internet. • 1 037 terrestrial transmitters around The four radio networks, dig and dig jazz Australia for analog radio services, are also available by FOXTEL and AUSTAR including Self Help and BRACS and on free-to-air digital television • 177 terrestrial transmitters around • Nine metropolitan radio stations in capital Australia for digital terrestrial television cities and Newcastle services, which include the radio services • 51 regional radio stations throughout dig and dig jazz Australia • A digital satellite service to remote homesteads and communities within Television Australia carrying ABC analog television, • National analog television service Radio National, ABC Classic FM and triple j, • Digital television from 177 transmitters nine different regional radio services (two around Australia (simulcast with analog) each for the Northern Territory, Queensland • ABC2, the ABC’s second free-to-air and Western Australia, one each for New digital television channel South Wales, South Australia and Victoria), • Local television in each state and territory and ABC NewsRadio and Parliamentary broadcasts on the Parliamentary and New Media Services News Network • ABC Online, serving more than • ABC Television retransmission on various 2.267 million pages of web content subscription television platforms, including • Content and services on emerging platforms FOXTEL, Optus TV, AUSTAR, TransACT including broadband, SMS, podcasting, and Neighbourhood Cable mobile services for 3G phone and other • ABC Asia Pacific transmitted on the wireless devices, and interactive television PanAmSat 2, PanAmSat 8 and AsiaSat3s satellites, and via rebroadcasts in countries Commercial Enterprises across Asia and the Pacific • 41 ABC Shops • Radio Australia services via shortwave • 90 ABC Centres throughout Australia transmission from Brandon in Queensland, • ABC Shop Online Shepparton in Victoria, Darwin, Singapore, • Customer Delivery Service (fax, telephone Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates; and and mail orders) the PanAmSat 2, PanAmSat 8 and AsiaSat3s satellites in association with ABC Asia International Broadcasting Pacific. For Radio Australia frequencies, • Radio Australia, an international radio see Appendix 25 (page 227). oetcSotae09%00%00%00%00%01%00%86.45% 0.00% 0.19% 53.37% 94.86% 0.00% 91.07% 67.18% 0.00% 76.50% 79.60% 80.93% 95.67% 65.16% 0.00% 99.14% 99.23% 95.04% 82.54% 99.54% 99.63% 89.68% 0.00% 79.70% 96.38% 98.77% 94.31% 0.97% 78.23% 97.88% 99.50% 97.96% 99.46% 99.78% 97.49% Domestic Shortwave 99.12% 99.69% 95.66% 98.51% 99.36% ABC NewsRadio 78.84% triple j 95.00% 98.80% ABC Classic FM 97.01% Radio National 97.35% Local Radio 98.83% 99.22% dig jazz 98.19% (includes Digital Television Analog Television Proportion ofthepopulationable to receive transmissions from ABCbroadcasting services. ABC Broadcasting Coverage satelite coverage and RadioAustralia ABC AsiaPacific 61%9.5 87%9.8 31%9.8 98%72.86% 89.89% 95.28% 93.18% 95.18% 98.76% 97.15% 96.19% ) dig and London utai S/C i l AS a NT Tas SA WA Qld Vic NSW/ACT Australia 51%9.0 79%9.0 88%9.7 56%67.18% 95.67% 94.77% 88.82% 93.20% 97.92% 97.10% 95.19%

New Delhi Johannesburg Jerusalem Amman

Moscow ABC international bureaux and correspondents Jakarta Beijing

Bangkok

Tokyo Port Moresby Auckland Washington New York

45

ANNUAL REPORT 2005–06 46

ABC in the Community

The ABC reaches communities across initiated by the Corporation may be organised Australia through the country’s most at a local level or be supported at an ABC extensive radio and television transmission Corporate level. coverage—and via ABC Online, which is visited by over two million Australians every The ABC’s travelling Exhibition Trailer, month. Local communities across the offering a variety of interactive activities continent use the ABC to connect with as well as a stage for concerts and outside one another, the nation and the world. broadcasts, was launched in 2002 and has become a popular addition to agricultural The ABC has Local Radio stations in shows and events around the country. Its 51 regional centres, as well as in nine outings in 2005–06 included Royal Shows in metropolitan cities. They have a local focus, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane (EKKA); reflecting the lives and interests of their Gardening Australia Expos in Sydney and respective audiences. In times of crisis, Melbourne; a North Queensland tour, where such as a bushfire or flood in the area, it was a feature at the Townsville and Cairns these stations provide vital information Shows; a Western Australian tour on which that has the potential to save lives. the trailer visited Wagin, Bunbury and Perth; the Australia Day celebrations in Sydney’s In regional areas, the small local broadcasting Hyde Park and Play School 40th Birthday teams not only instigate special events for concerts in Central Australia. their listeners but also play significant roles in the daily life of their communities. Festivals ABC Radio participates in and supports a A team of 70 specialist rural reporters is number of music festivals around the country deployed across the country with one reporter such as the Tamworth Country Music Festival, at each regional radio station and one or two Queenscliff Music Festival, the Port Fairy in each capital city. In some outposts, such Folk Festival, WOMADelaide, the East Coast as Kununurra in Western Australia, the rural Blues and Roots Festival, the Dreaming reporter is the only staff member. All the Indigenous Festival of music and arts in rural reporters travel constantly around their Queensland and Canberra’s National Folk regions and, in remote areas, often stay on Festival. Through live and recorded broadcasts properties and present outside broadcasts from such events, the ABC showcases from them. Their close contact with people Australian musical talent to a wider audience means that these ABC staff members have than it would otherwise reach. a personal knowledge and understanding of the issues that affect those who live and Particular arrangements for media support work in the region. and broadcast are also made with a number of major comprehensive arts festivals. These Events include the Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide In regional and metropolitan centres, Open Arts Festivals, the Brisbane Music Festival Days and organised guided tours welcome and the Brisbane Writers Festival, the Sydney the general public to ABC studios to meet Writers Festival and Rockhampton’s Arts in the people they hear and see on air. the Park, which the Local Radio team was instrumental in establishing in conjunction The ABC is a major player in community with the local council in the early 1990s. events across Australia. Those that are ot n dl hiscm t youth and adult choirs came 2006, 7000singers from more made bylisteners. Between March sele countdown concert featured the CD boxed setbyABCClassics andan nation’s top 100opera moments.Aneight- association with Opera Australia to findthe a survey ABCClassic FM conducted in were registered inthe inaugural year. In Over 250schoolssubmitted entriesinthe music programs inAustralian schools. campaign, showcases themost outstanding association withthe Flame Awards of competitions andspecialevents. to themusical life ofthe nationwithanumber ABC Television. ABCClassic FMcontributes with thesupportofABCLocal Radioand manuscript wasconducted byABCBooks best original,unpublishedadultfiction and Touring Exhibition; Awards; theAustralian SnapshotsCompetition Short StoryProject 2005–06, itsmanyprojects includedthe talent andradio andonlineproduction. In regional Australia, fostering local artistic audiences diverse voices from around to radio, onlineand,more recently, ABC2 which wasestablished in2001,hasbrought The ABCRadioRegionalProduction Fund, Giving voice toAustralia publishing. preferences reflected inprogramming and audiences theopportunityto have their creative life ofthecommunity andoffered competitions expanded theABC’s role inthe In 2005–06,thelaunchofanumbernew for radio andonline. a numberofradio playsanddocumentaries Hour’s 60thAnniversary Travelling Showand concerts intowns visited bytheCountry Concert inOrange, NewSouth Wales; free in regional areas; theSSO drought Relief Fresh Air Australian acts—often for thefirst time; experience oflive musicfrom well-known Stand , whichgives regional youth the , atalent search for musicians The ABCFictionAward , runbyABCClassic FMin 2006, over 10000votes ; theNewcastle Music Music PlayforLife Classic 100Opera triple j ’s ’s ogether to than 250 One Night and June for the The ction opera , in locations allover Australia. public events featuring ABCScience people ABC Science Outreach, which presented were offered in allstates and territories, and Women inEngineeringScholarships, which made available bytheABCincluded the Two educational andinformation opportunities Christmas Concert attheAlbany Town Hall. Western Australia, ABCSouthCoast’s free WESTECH FieldDaysinBarcaldine. the NSWPremier’s SpellingBeeandthe Week celebrating IndigenousAustralia to Games Queen’s Baton RelayandNAIDOC community activitiesfrom theCommonwealth continued to take partinadiverse range of In 2005–06,ABCstaff in all ABCbranches record 800entriesfrom across Australia. youth achance to beheard, attracting a competition 2005 marked theeighthyear for thenational and Townsville. sessions were heldinevery capital city for ABCClassic FM hear eachothersinginauditionsessions the awareness, especially atholiday time,and Radio broadcasts dedicated to road safety examples in2005–06were specialLocal is ongoingandtakes manyforms. Two The ABC’s contribution to community welfare Community welfare Appeal; the support for theSalvation ArmyChristmas Christmas collections; ABCQueensland’s Love; Tasmania andVictoria’s Future Kids Night inaidofthechildren’s charity included 891ABCAdelaide’s CharityQuiz and on-airsupport.In2005–06,these Local andnational charitiesreceive staff Media Reporting. Drug andAlcohol Award for Excellence in usage, whichwontheprogram aNational triple jHack Victorian BlanketAppeal ; the Heywire program’s coverage ofdrug NSW KnitIn Choir oftheYear , whichgives regional for Wrap with Giving Tree and, in Kids . These 47

ANNUAL REPORT 2005–06 48

ABC in the Community continued

Emergency coverage In 2005–06, the ABC, particularly through After the main Cairns FM translator went Local Radio, provided extensive emergency off air in the early hours of Monday, a special coverage to audiences affected by floods HF satellite service via Radio Australia’s in the NSW Far North Coast and Central Shepparton facility was provided for those West regions and Katherine and Top End unable to receive the AM service from Cairns. communities in the Northern Territory; Broadcasts were also heard via the Gordonvale bushfires on the New South Wales Central AM transmitter south of Cairns and live Coast and in Victoria’s Stawell region and streaming online from the Cairns studios. cyclones in Western Australia, Queensland When the cyclone passed, ABC Local Radio and the Northern Territory. staff began a series of outside broadcasts from affected communities. The ABC set The ABC in all states and territories, except up a temporary outpost in Innisfail, which New South Wales, have Memoranda of continued to service the area for some Understanding with their emergency service months. Operating out of the same building providers. Local Radio is the prime platform that housed the recovery task force, and of delivery and, in many areas, the only using a generator that enabled broadcasts platform for delivering emergency service to continue even when power supplies were information in a comprehensive and timely unpredictable, the outpost gave a direct link manner. New South Wales has a complex set to sources of information that were vital to of emergency providers that cannot be the rebuilding and recovery of the area. covered in a single MOU. A Memorandum of Understanding with the Rural Fire Service In May, the ABC mounted a free concert as a is in place and others are being negotiated. tribute to and morale booster for the people of Innisfail and surrounding communities. In April 2006, following the ABC’s extensive Managed by ABC Corporate Marketing and coverage of a spate of emergency situations, hosted and presented by ABC Queensland the ABC created the new position of Manager, and Local Radio, the all-day concert featured Emergency Services and Community entertainment for all ages. The previous day Development. This role manages and reviews ABC Radio’s AM program team as well as ABC network emergency broadcasting procedures, Far North Queensland’s Morning program services and training and liaises with external broadcast from the main street of Innisfail. emergency service organisations. A notable example of the vital community role of the The ABC community spirit was also in ABC in times of emergency is the coverage evidence in June 2006 when ABC Riverina and subsequent support given when category in Wagga Wagga organised a working bee 5 Cyclone Larry smashed into the far north to provide help to local landowners affected Queensland coast and Southern Tablelands by the January and February bushfires. in March 2006. From the Saturday morning, Over 100 listeners volunteered and the ABC ABC Tropical North (Mackay), 630 ABC North Riverina team coordinated their assignment Queensland (Townsville) and ABC Far North to 27 properties, as well as presenting four (Cairns) began alerting their listeners to the outside broadcasts from different locations. advance of the cyclone. These stations and ABC Western Queensland (Longreach) broadcast through the night with updates of the cyclone’s progress. of theworkforce. People withadisabilityrepresent 10% are from non-English-speakingbackgrounds. are IndigenousAustralians andafurther11% men and49%women,1.2%ofitsemployees community. Ithasagenderbalance of51% reflect thediversity oftheAustralian The ABCaimsfor itsworkforce to broadly around Australia andin14overseas bureaux. 100 different locations (63offices and41shops) overseas. TheCorporation’s staff workatover programs to itsaudiences inAustralia and support, develop, produce, present anddeliver over 5000people—who worked together to full-time equivalent staff members—or just At 30June2006,theABCemployed 4345 ABC People in November 2005.So far, more than50 New Managers’ Program waslaunched experienced andexecutive. Thepilot ABC of theirmanagementcareers: entry-level, cater for managers atthree distinct stages year, theABCexpanded itsprograms to considered critical to theABC’s future. This professionals withtheskillsandattributes been putinplace to buildacohort ofable the ABCandanumberofprograms have Management development isapriorityfor accredited training standards. competency inaccordance withnationally- Attainment, whichisatotal of494 units of 28 fullqualifications, 95Statements of in qualifications for staff. TheABCissued In manycases, this formal training resulted hours ofstructured training were provided. opportunities for staff. Thisyear, 60557 a widerange ofskills-development In 2005–06,theABCcontinued to provide and practice across theCorporation. sustaining highlevels ofprofessionalism The ABCiscommitted to improving and Developing ABCStaff of thethree-year course. all theavailable programs ofthefirst year Territory andVictoria successfully completed In 2005–06,sixrecruits from theNorthern of theABCbusiness, policiesandprocedures. and systems, aswellbroader knowledge maintain andsupportbroadcast equipment with theskillsandknowledge required to level staff to theTechnical Services areas 2004. Theprogram aimsto introduce entry- recruitment andtraining program beganin of theEntryLevel Technologist (ELT) technical experts for thefuture, development To ensure thattheABChaswell-trained program beganin2003. number ofparticipantsto 50since the Development Program, bringingthetotal participated inthesuccessful Leadership in August 2006.Afurther20seniorexecutives was launchedinlate Juneandwillbepiloted The ABCExperienced Managers’ Program managers have participated inthisprogram. misconduct andperformance issues. efficient andconsistent management of CaseTrack A comprehensive case managementsystem, ABC accepted alloftherecommendations. related mechanismsandprocedures. The improve execution oftheABC’s policyand report contained 25recommendations to Policy. Notwithstanding thesefindings,the the implementation oftheAnti-Bullying success inaddressing bullying issues since at theABC,andthatthere hasbeenearly widespread orpartofthewiderculture found thatbullying isnotperceived to be Policy andrelated procedures. IHR’s report review oftheCorporation’s Anti-Bullying firm IHRAustralia to conduct anindependent ABC engagedhumanresources consultancy that isfree from bullying andharassment, the commitment to provide aworkenvironment In October 2005,aspartofitsongoing Workplace Environment Creating aPositive , wasimplemented to ensure 49

ANNUAL REPORT 2005–06 50

ABC People continued ABC Staff by Job Group 2005–06

Admin/Professional

Program Maker

Senior Executive ABC Staff Numbers (Full-Time Equivalent) Technologist 1996-97 4 887

1997-98 4 177 Retail Staff 1998-99 4 134

0 1999-00 4 293 500 1 000 1 500 2 000 2 500 3 000 2000-01 4 116

2001-02 4 260

2002-03 4 321

2003-04 4 244 ABC Staff by Region 2005–06 ACT ACT 2004-05 4 298 WA

2005-06 4 345 6.3% 3.8% 0 1 000 2 000 3 000 4 000 5 000

Victoria

17.6%

4.6% Tasmania NSW 46.9%

ABC Staff by Division 2005–06 8.3% SA 9.0%

Television

5.4% Corporate Technology and 8.1% Strategy and Queensland 2.9% Distribution 8.7% Communications 2.6%

NT International 0.7% Enterprises Overseas 2.3% Broadcasting 2.4% 8.7% ces New Media and Business Services Digital Services 3.0% Human Resour

News and Current 20.4%

Radio 20.7% Aff airs 17.7%

Production Resources The WayAhead2006BenchmarkingStudy that participated inthe ranked inthetop 25Australian organisations and Family Awards 2005.TheABCwasalso Category oftheACCI/BCA NationalWork a finalist intheGoldAward–Public Sector This approach resulted intheABCbeing information andresources onthesubject. provided itsstaff withincreased access to conditions ofservice andtheABChas management assessment andbroader issues isincludedintraining, performance initiatives. Awareness ofwork/life balance in Corporation-wide plans,policiesand workplace environment. Thisisreflected important element ofachieving apositive work/life balance andflexibility isan The Corporation recognises thatsupporting Anti-Bullying Policy. policies intheIHRreview oftheABC’s registered theirknowledge oftherelevant to thehighpercentage ofemployees who Participation intheprogram contributed the training andfor newemployees. scheduled for staff whohave yet to receive the training. Further workshopshave been 97% oftheABC’s workforce hadundertaken workplace culture. AtJune2006,just over policies andcontribute to amore positive bullying, discriminationandharassment raise staff awareness ofconflict resolution, “Creating aBetter Place to Work” program to The ABCcompleted roll-out ofitsmandatory management across theCorporation. report andwillensure improved case recommendations intheIHRbullying CaseTrack While anumber ofnewIndigenousemployees represented 1.2%of total staff (1.3%in2005). representation. In2005–06,Indigenous staff include aminimumof2%Indigenous staff ABC policyisthatitsworkforce should Initiatives Indigenous Employment addresses someofthe Work/Life Initiatives: . with over 1000employees. October 2005inthecategory oforganisations and InclusionofIndigenousAustralians” in Diversity initiatives, theCorporation received anational implementation ofIndigenousemployment In recognition oftheABC’s continuous them across theorganisation. staff asameansofraising awareness of the Corporation’s Indigenousprograms and Ultimo Centre inSydney, whichshowcased ordinated aninaugural forum attheABC In April2006,theBonnerCommittee co- encourage retention of Indigenousemployees. career development opportunities and South Wales. Thesescholarships provide Week 2005to two employees from New Awards were presented duringNAIDOC The third IndigenousStaff Scholarship College, whichattracted over 400students. with anIndigenousCareers DayatDjarrugun and cultural protocols. Theevent coincided focused onemployment issues, programming 46 ABCdelegates. Conference proceedings Cairns, Queensland,andwasattended by Conference washeldinSeptember 2005in The Corporation’s biennialIndigenousStaff advisory group, theBonnerCommittee. Scholarship Awards andtheABC’s Indigenous Indigenous Staff Conference, IndigenousStaff staff representation. Theseincludethe awareness andbuildthelevel ofIndigenous to pursue anumberofinitiatives to raise in otherorganisations. TheABCcontinued to take-up specialist Indigenouspositions of fixed-term contracts andothers wholeft by thedeparture ofemployees oncompletion commenced duringtheyear, thiswasoffset reduction ininjuries, zero fatalities and Strategy (2002–12) andto achieving a40% OHS which iscommitted to theNational Safety isanimportant issue for theABC, Occupational HealthandSafety @ Work Award for “Employment 51

ANNUAL REPORT 2005–06 52

ABC People continued

better return-to-work outcomes following Knowledge Sharing injury. The ABC, its managers, supervisors Cross-divisional stimulus events promote and employees are responsible and a Corporation-wide focus on the future by accountable for safety and are expected encouraging a critical mass of people in the to adhere to a variety of legal instruments, ABC to engage in dialogue about changes in guidance documents, best practices and the the industry, likely impacts on ABC operations, ABC OHS Agreement 1998. The Agreement and future directions and ways of working. is between the ABC, its employees and In 2005–06, over 500 people participated in their representatives. a variety of events of this kind, including a Cross Media Production Conference in In 2005–06, the ABC continued to pursue Sydney sponsored by New Media and Digital improvements to its OHS management Services, and smaller workshops covering systems. Initiatives included operational risk topics such as podcasting. Similar innovative management training, whole-of-life plant events were also organised in Melbourne and equipment safety management guidance, and the smaller states. electrical safety improvements, a major manual-handling review in the Production Future Workforce Planning Resources Division and the safety and security Forward projections indicate that the management of the ABC’s involvement at proportion of Australians in the labour force Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. will shrink over the coming decades. This trend will reflect both the retirement of the Further details of the ABC’s OHS activities large “Baby Boomer” generation (people are contained in Appendix 12 (see page 193). born between 1946 and 1961) and declining numbers of younger people entering the Employment Agreements workforce as a result of the relatively low A number of ABC Employment Agreements fertility rates of recent decades. Moreover, expired during 2005–06. The terms of these the increasingly-rapid rate of change in the agreements remain in effect while the digital media environment is beginning to Corporation negotiates new enterprise change the skills mix required by media bargaining agreements with the relevant organisations such as the ABC. unions. The negotiations have been complex, in part because of the need to thoroughly In response to these anticipated changes, ABC review and assess the impact of the Human Resources has begun to develop a recently-introduced WorkChoices legislation. holistic workforce planning strategy to ensure that the Corporation’s future organisational Performance Management needs are met. In 2005–06, the Division held Performance Management continues to be consultations with ABC stakeholders and an important focus for the ABC. In 2005–06, undertook comparative research into best efforts were concentrated on supporting practice workforce planning in similar staff and managers to effectively engage and organisations. Based on this research participate in performance management and consultation, Human Resources will through provision of one-on-one coaching design a strategy in 2006–07 to address for line managers, as well as training more the ABC’s needs. than 380 staff and managers. 53

Corporate Governance

The ABC’s corporate governance system is Communications, Information Technology subject to continuing review and refinement. and the Arts, Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, Poor governance practices in an organisation said the change was intended to improve may be readily seen to result in under- corporate governance. She described the performance. Yet compliance with “better position of staff-elected Director as an practice” governance processes does not anomaly among Australian Government alone guarantee strong performance in a agency boards that gave rise to concerns demanding industry. For that reason the ABC about conflicts of interest and the effective endeavours to maintain a balanced approach functioning of the ABC Board. to its performance as a creative broadcaster and its need to comply with the formal The ABC Chairman, Donald McDonald, said obligations of a modern statutory corporation. in a public statement that amendments to the Act were a matter for the Government The success of this balanced approach found and ultimately the Parliament. Mr McDonald acknowledgment in 2005–06 not only in the said he had worked with three staff-elected form of strong audience and community Directors, each of whom had sought to make support but also the findings of a Government- a contribution to the Board. “Inevitably there appointed ABC Funding Adequacy and has been a tension between the expectations Efficiency Review conducted by KPMG (see placed by others on their role and their below). The Government took account of the established duties as directors of a findings of this Review in making its decision corporation”, he said. The interests of staff to provide additional funding to the ABC for and the ABC’s audiences would continue to the 2006–09 triennium. be among the main concerns of the Board.

ABC corporate objectives, strategies, policies On 15 June 2006, Senator Coonan announced and activities derive from the requirements the reappointment of Mr McDonald as ABC of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Chairman for six months until 31 December Act 1983 (“ABC Act”). Of particular relevance 2006 (his second, five-year term was to have are section 6 of the Act—the ABC Charter— concluded on 24 July 2006). The Minister and section 8, which lays out the duties of said the reappointment would provide a the Board (see page 240). The Act provides consistency of leadership during a transitional for both the editorial and administrative period following the appointment of Mark independence of the Corporation, thereby Scott as Managing Director. The Minister 05–06 investing the Board with considerable also announced the appointment of two new discretion. In acknowledgment of that non-executive Directors for five-year terms— independence, the ABC accepts the bringing the Board up to full strength for the obligation to meet the highest standards first time since early 2005. of public accountability. Board Governance Changes to the ABC Board The Board held twelve meetings during In June 2006, the Parliament amended the 2005–06, including two special meetings ABC Act to abolish the position of staff-elected in January 2006. Details of the six Board Director, the first legislative change to the Committees and Board members’ attendances

Corporation’s governance structure since at meetings are provided in Appendix 4 ANNUAL REPORT 20 the Act took effect in 1983. The Minister for (page 188). 54

Corporate Governance continued

During the year, Directors continued KPMG Funding Adequacy to place considerable emphasis on the and Efficiency Review role and performance of the following The Corporation welcomed a decision by the Board Committees: Government—originally at the suggestion • Audit and Risk Committee of the ABC Board—to engage independent (four meetings) consultants to review the adequacy of its • ABC Advisory Council Committee funding and the efficiency with which it used (three meetings) that funding. Undertaken by KPMG, this • Editorial Policies Committee became one of the most comprehensive (three meetings) external performance reviews of the • Executive Remuneration Committee Corporation in several decades, uniquely (two meetings). so in its focus on financial management and funding. Each Committee is entitled to the resources and information it requires, including direct At 30 June 2006, the Government had not access to employees and advisers. Senior released publicly the KPMG report, which Executives and other selected staff are invited it dealt with in the context of the 2006–07 to attend Committee meetings. A quorum Budget process. Specifically the Government of a Committee is at least two members. took account of the report when considering Following each Committee meeting, generally the ABC’s Triennial Funding Submission at the next Board meeting, the Chairman for the 2006–09 period. The Government’s of each Committee provides a verbal report. decision to provide the ABC with a total of Committee minutes are tabled at Board $88.2 million of additional funding over the meetings. The performance of Committees new triennium appeared to reflect the generally is discussed and reviewed, initially within favourable conclusions of the Review. This each Committee, and then as part of the additional funding was significant but not Board’s performance review. the entire amount requested in the Triennial Funding Submission. The Board’s Editorial Policies Committee continued work on a review of the 2002 An ABC project team convened by the Chief edition of the ABC Editorial Policies. This Operating Officer worked throughout 2005 to is the principal document of direction and ensure the consultants, when appointed, would guidance for all ABC program production have immediate access to comprehensive and media services. Under section 8 of and accurate performance information and the ABC Act, the Board exercises specific analysis. KPMG independently reviewed and responsibilities reflected in the Editorial analysed this data, supplemented it and Policies. These include a duty to ensure applied a range of comparative performance the independence and integrity of the benchmarks to the ABC. Corporation, that news and information is accurate and impartial according to The ABC demonstrated that it operated the recognised standards of objective efficiently and effectively, providing a high journalism, and to develop codes of practice volume of outputs and high levels of quality, relating to programming matters. relative to the funding it received from the Parliament. Like other broadcasters internationally and in Australia, the ABC property holdings. October 2006inrelation to theCorporation’s efficiency measures—and areport by ABC’s progress infollowing upadditional She asked to receive anannualupdate ofthe 2006–09 triennialfundingarrangements. Chairman to notifyhimoftheCorporation’s On 11May2006,theMinister wrote to theABC explored further. of additionalefficiencymeasures to be so after taking account ofasmallnumber programming andservices. Thisremained its existing range, quantityandmixof indexation) wasnotadequate to sustain its level ofAppropriation (includingannual ABC believed theanalysis confirmed that During thecourse oftheKPMGReview, the services required inthenationalinterest. and comprehensive archiving andlibrary mechanisms notprovided byotherbroadcasters extensive audience complaint andfeedback tended to consolidate theiroperations; centres atatimewhencommercial media operations across 60metropolitan andregional a geographic spread oftelevision andradio incurred significant uniquecosts, including: Charter-based obligations,theCorporation As apublicbroadcaster withparticular digital media,expanding itsservice offering. continued to adaptto thechallenges of Australian mediaenvironment. the accelerating transformation ofthe continuing workto positionitselffor for theperiodreflect theCorporation’s the people ofAustralia. Strategic priorities standards; andprovide maximumbenefit to the ABC’s independence, integrity and high innovative programs andservices; ensure identity; engageaudiences withrelevant and ABC Act:contribute to asenseofnational Objectives derived specifically from the operate, framed around four high-level The Performance Reporting Planning and Corporate Plan2004–07 continued to 2004–07 Performance Against the Corporate PlanSummary(page 13)and levels ofmeasurement issetoutinthe The ABC’s performance against thethree Corporation’s 15strategic priorities. actions andtargets setfor eachofthe Services; andtheachievement ofspecific Radio, Television andNewMediaDigital the performance ofABCoutputsacross the ABCinproviding benefitto thecommunity; at three levels: theoverall effectiveness of reports duringtheyear, withmeasurements The Board received twoperformance progress but nowreports to theManagingDirector. reported through the ChiefOperating Officer of General Counsel.Thispositionpreviously Legal Services whoalso performs the role reporting arrangements for the Headof In 2005–06,theCorporation changedthe report to theChiefOperating Officer. Human Resources andBusiness Services— and Distribution, Production Resources, of operational supportareas—Technology of theExecutive Committee. OtherDirectors to theManagingDirector butisnotamember The Director ofEnterprises reports directly and Communications. the Director ofCorporate Strategy is alsothechieffinancialofficer); and Affairs; theChiefOperating Officer (who Services; theDirector ofNewsandCurrent Television andNewMediaDigital consisting oftheDirectors ofRadio, chaired bytheManagingDirector and peak managementbodyoftheCorporation, The Executive Committee operates asthe revenue-generating enterprises. positioning, operational supportand content andchannelmanagement,strategic is builtaround four broad streams ofactivity: The ABC’s executive managementstructure Management Structure (page 112). Corporate Plan 55

ANNUAL REPORT 2005–06 56

Corporate Governance continued

The Head of Group Audit reports to the premium rate from 0.80% in 2004–05 to 1.14% Board Audit and Risk Committee, with in 2005–06. The ABC’s 2005–06 premium administrative accountability to the Chief rate of 1.14% of its total salary costs compares Operating Officer. favourably with a Commonwealth average of 1.77% of salary costs. As a result of lower Risk Management claims and costs than originally forecast, the The ABC takes a Corporation-wide approach ABC received a $609 000 rebate from Comcare. to risk management. In 2003, the ABC developed strategies in relation to its key Further information is provided in Appendix risks and the operational controls in place 12 (page 193). to manage them. In February 2006, as part of a three-year planning cycle, the Corporation Internal Audit undertook a review of these strategies to ABC Group Audit aims to provide an determine whether they still applied or if independent internal audit service that other risks had emerged, and to identify contributes to the achievement of the appropriate compliance processes. Corporation’s objectives and provides assurance to the Board and management. The ABC also engaged an independent review of the Corporation’s risk management and In 2005–06, it completed 41 audits in compliance framework. It included an accordance with the 2005–06 Strategic Audit assessment against better practice and risk Plan, was in discussion with management management standards (such as AS/NZ: about two audits and had another 13 in 4360 and COSO—the Committee of Sponsoring progress. As in previous years, Group Audit Organizations of the Treadway Commission). used a combination of in-house staff and It also considered the impact of proposed outsourced contractors so as to have access amendments to the Commonwealth Authorities to the most appropriate expertise. The unit and Companies Act 1997 on risk management also provided advice and guidance on good compliance. The results of the review were governance, policies and controls, as well to be provided to the Board’s Audit and Risk as advice on a number of projects and Committee meeting in July 2006. initiatives of the Corporation.

The Comcover 2006 Risk Management Group Audit conducted staff awareness Benchmarking Survey of 124 government sessions in each capital city, some regional agencies rated the ABC’s risk management locations, during staff induction programs practices as “comprehensive” and one of the and to Divisional conferences and meetings. highest amongst the Commonwealth agencies. The purpose was to improve knowledge and awareness of ABC policies and procedures, The annual workers’ compensation premium fraud, the responsibility for controls and paid for 2005–06 totalled $3 141 600. This the ABC’s Confidential Hotline. comprised a 24% increase on 2004–05, attributable to higher average claim costs Further information is provided in Appendix since 2002–03, despite the number and cost 5 (page 189). of claims having decreased in 2004–05. This resulted in an increase in the ABC’s 2005–06 issues for furtheraction. Tax Credits. TheATO noted there were no GST amountsandclaimingthecorrect Input obligations, charging andremitting thecorrect that theABCfully complied withallGST the ABCwithafavourable report. Itnoted Business ActivityStatements. TheATO issued undertook anauditoftheABC’s Taxation– In 2005–06,theAustralian Taxation Office ATO Tax Audit in annualreporting. qualitative criteria, includingoverall excellence 2004–05 AnnualReportfulfilled thefive Australasian ReportingAwards. TheABC’s Report received aGoldAward inthe2006 For thethird successive year, theABC Annual Annual ReportAwards to theothersixorchestra companies. then beconstituted to provide ongoingservices company, withnoconnection to the ABC,will up. Itislikely thatanewshared-services company, SymphonyAustralia, willbewound in the2006–07financialyear. Theseventh companies willbedivested from theABC that sixoftheseven symphonyorchestra recommendations. TheABCanticipates implementation oftheStrong Committee’s group to assist Government withthe ABC participated inacross-agency working by guarantee. Throughout 2005–06,the reconstituted aspublic companies limited symphony orchestra companies be The Reportrecommended thattheABC’s Review Report2005 published itsreport, from theABC.TheStrong committee boards andwithsources offundingseparate subsidiaries oftheABC,governed byseparate around Australia operated aswholly-owned Australia. Seven orchestral companies and efficiencyoforchestral services in Strong to chairareview oftheeffectiveness Government commissioned MrJames As reported in2004–05,theFederal Symphony Orchestras , on14March 2005. A NewEra:Orchestra Advice Line(phone,letter andemail). Consumer Affairs, NewsandCurrent Affairs andtheReception ABC Board andpublishedontheABCwebsite. The results ofthisanalysis are reported to the to track ABCcoverage. engages anexternal research company during campaign coverage, theCommittee internal monitoring ofeditorial performance about election coverage. Inadditionto political parties,andreviews anycomplaints grant ofpartyelection broadcasts to eligible The Committee alsooversees the Board accuracy, impartialityandbalance are met. that during coverage ofthecampaign to ensure Committee isto review ABCelection content Coverage Review Committee. Thetask ofthe is called, theABCconvenes anElection When astate, territory orfederal election Review Committee Election Coverage (a 1%increase). and particularABCprograms andservices switchboards instate andterritory capitals (a 9%decrease) and115321calls to This total included50329letters and emails audience contacts, a3%decrease on2004–05. In 2005–06,theABCreceived over 165 000 and policyenquiries. responses to arange ofprogramming Practice of theABC’s complaints referring to possible breaches program areas andinvestigates allwritten Consumer Affairs isindependentofABC Communications Division.Audience and Affairs unitoftheCorporate Strategy and referred to theAudience andConsumer balance, biasorinappropriate content, are concerns aboutfactual inaccuracy, lackof All complaints received bytheABC,suchas Audience Contacts 1 Combined audience contacts received byAudience and ABC EditorialPolicies or Charter. Theunitalsocoordinates Editorial Policies 1 requirements of , Code of 57

ANNUAL REPORT 2005–06 58

Corporate Governance continued

Table 1—Summary of contacts received Contact type Email/Letter Phone Total Number % Number % Complaint 11 616 23.1 15 571 13.5 27 187 Appreciation 5 883 11.7 9 280 8.0 15 163 Other* 32 830 65.2 90 470 78.5 123 300 Grand Total 50 329 100.0 115 321 100.0 165 650 * “Other” includes suggestions, requests for information, scheduling and transmission enquiries and general comments

Table 2 Subject matter of contacts received Subject Email/Letter Phone Total % Total Requests for information, programs, product availability, other matters 29 676 76 185 105 861 63.9% Complaints about program standards and scheduling 9 166 14 051 23 217 14.0% Radio and television transmission enquiries and complaints 3 206 14 286 17 492 10.6% Appreciation of programs and presenters 5 883 9 280 15 163 9.2% Complaints of factual inaccuracy 820 461 1 281 0.8% Bias (other than party political)* 749 352 1 101 0.7% Party political bias 431 459 890 0.5% Lack of balance 398 247 645 0.4% Grand Total 50 329 115 321 165 650 100.0% * Includes claims of bias in relation to issues such as sport and religion.

Key concerns reflected in the audience related to program standards and scheduling, contacts this year included the decision while four complaints alleged party political to take The Bill off air on Saturday nights bias, one complaint alleged inaccuracies and for eight weeks from August to October 2005, one complaint alleged a lack of balance. which generated 1 035 written and telephone complaints, and changes to the scheduling Of the total 27 187 complaints received, 1 991 of an Enough Rope interview with the former were claims of party political or other bias, Opposition Leader and author, Mark Latham, 645 alleged lack of balance and 1 281 were which resulted in 744 complaints. The ABC claims of factual inaccuracy. These complaints also received 1 705 contacts regarding the related to a broad range of ABC programs various series of Doctor Who broadcast. and services.

The ABC’s coverage of the 2006 Tasmanian During 2005–06, Audience and Consumer and South Australian State Election campaigns Affairs finalised 8 708 written complaints, resulted in 164 audience contacts, of which of which 500 (5.7%) were upheld. All upheld 149 were complaints. Of these, 143 complaints complaints are brought to the attention of (91%) received responses within28days. 24 298audience contacts. Ofthese,22218 Consumer Affairs responded directly to and 30June2006,ABCAudience and contacts within28days.Between1July 2005 ABC endeavours to respond to allaudience As outlinedinthe ABC website. Review Executive. Itispublishedonthe reviews finalisedbytheABC’s Complaints ABC Audience andConsumerAffairs andall and upheldprogram complaints finalisedby provides summariesofaudience contacts of theABCcomplaints process. Thereport increase transparency andaccountability Comments andComplaints a quarterly Since January2003,theABChaspublished to theABCBoard. All upheldcomplaints are reported indetail reviews ofandimprovements to procedures. correction ofmaterial onABCOnline,and staff, removal ofinappropriate content or apologies, counselling orreprimanding of to complainants, on-aircorrections and upheld complaints includedwritten apologies In 2005–06,actionstaken inresponse to corrective actionistaken whenappropriate. the senioreditorial staff responsible and question, themanner inwhichthecomplaint CRE hasbroad scope to review thecontent in Consumer Affairs and all program units,the Independent ofbothABCAudience and and MediaAuthority. Panel ortheAustralian Communications review viatheIndependentComplaintsReview preclude thecomplainant seekingexternal response to theircomplaint. Thisdoesnot with ABCAudience andConsumerAffairs’ for complainants whoexpress dissatisfaction provides anadditionallevel ofinternal review The ComplaintsReview Executive (CRE) Complaints Review Executive Public ReportonAudience ABC EditorialPolicies , inorder to , the quarterly ontheABCwebsite. A summaryoftheCRE’s findingsispublished complaints were notupheld. favour oftheDivisionsconcerned and the on theothertwodisputes, theCREfound in to theinitialcomplaints beingupheld,while of Audience andConsumerAffairs, leading the disputed matters, theCREfound infavour compared withthree in2004–05.Infour of ABC Divisionsover responses to complaints, between Audience andConsumerAffairs and The CREalsoadjudicated onsixdisputes these matters were upheldinpartorfull. initial response to theircomplaint. Two of a complainant wasdissatisfied withthe Consumer Affairs referred 29for review after with 41in2004–05.Ofthese,Audience and reviewed atotal of35complaints, compared In theyear ending30June2006,theCRE are reported to theABCBoard. the ABCacted appropriately. AllCREfindings Consumer Affairs, andto determine whether was originally handled byAudience and Independent Complaints Review Panel (ICRP) In theperiod1July 2005to 30June2006,the panellists selected from the nominations. appoints aConvenor oftheICRPandtwo the StJamesEthicsCentre). TheABC Board bodies (theCommunications LawCentre and are nominated bytwoindependentexternal external to theABC.Two ofthethree members factual inaccuracy. Ithasthree members bias, lackofbalance, unfair treatment or to adjudicate onmatters related to serious to thecomplainant. TheICRPisempowered independent review ofcomplaints atnocost Complaints Review Panel (ICRP)to undertake Board has appointed theIndependent response to awritten complaint, theABC For persons notsatisfiedwiththeABC’s Review Panel Independent Complaints 59

ANNUAL REPORT 2005–06 60

Corporate Governance continued

received 20 requests to review complaints, transmission provider, led to a series of which six were accepted for review. The of initiatives to better ensure continuity fourteen requests not accepted for review of service. either did not constitute serious cases of factual inaccuracy, bias, lack of balance or In 2004–05, BA instigated a number of unfair treatment, or involved matters outside measures to improve the reliability of its of the ICRP’s area of responsibility. emergency power plants (EPPs) used as stand-by power systems, including an The Panel concluded reviews of seven audit of all EPPs to review their design complaints during the year, none of which configurations and asset condition. This was upheld. In each case, a report of the work continued in 2005–06, with the Panel’s findings was made available on the implementation of a comprehensive ABC website. As at 30 June 2006, one review refurbishment and upgrade program of was in process. works. The program included the replacement of a number of EPPs, mains switchboards Appendix 18 (page 200) provides details and associated control systems, voltage of matters reviewed by the ICRP and the regulation and earthing systems. BA revised decisions of the Panel. servicing, maintenance and testing practices, as well as implementing various telemetry Australian Communications improvements to enhance remote monitoring and Media Authority and control capabilities. Members of the public who complain to the ABC about matters covered by the As a result of these initiatives, the annual Corporation’s Code of Practice and who performance of emergency generators are dissatisfied with the ABC’s response used as stand-by power systems improved or the handling of their complaint or the from 96% in 2004–05 to 97.5% in 2005–06. adjudication of the ICRP may seek review A target of 98% is projected for 2006–07. from the Australian Communications and While BA and the ABC are working to Media Authority (ACMA). improve the reliability of services during power failures, increasing numbers of During 2005–06, the ACMA finalised its commercial power failures across the investigations into ten such matters (19 in country during 2005–06, particularly in 2004–05). In each of these cases, the ACMA’s regional areas, led to a rise in outages investigation concluded that there had been at transmission facilities where there are no breach of the ABC’s Code of Practice. no emergency power plants. The ABC and BA are continuing to seek improvements Transmission Failures to mains power reliability from state and As the national broadcaster, the ABC is territory utility companies. expected to provide uninterrupted radio and television services. During 2004, specific The performance of the transmission and incidents relating to disruptions of commercial distribution network is reported in detail power systems at transmitter sites operated in the Operations Group section (page 99). by Broadcast Australia (BA), the ABC’s Financial Statements Completion ofAnnual Financial Summary financial year. of fundsbyfunction for the2005–06 broadly represents theABC’s application The chart“SplitActualExpenditure 2005–06” Application ofFunds budgeted sources for 2006–07. against actualsources for 2005–06andits budgeted fundsfor thevarious categories The chart‘ABC Source of Funds’ depictsABC’s other sources, includingABCEnterprises. The ABCalsoreceived some$186.7m from for 2005–06to $774.254m. funding, bringingthetotal appropriation provided additionalOutcome 3digital process inFebruary 2006,theABCwas Commonwealth BudgetAdditionalEstimates in theMay2005Federal Budget.Inthe The ABCwasappropriated $773.488m Sources ofFunds 2005–06 2005–06 financialyear. and Government appropriations for the operated withinitstotal sources offunds Consistent withprevious years, theABC Financial Outcome 2005–06 available ontheANAO website. This guidehasbeenpublishedandis Statements byPublicSector Entities”. practice guideon“Preparation ofFinancial agencies, to assist inpreparing abetter the ABCwaschosen,along withother Statements inthepublicsector. Subsequently, better practice inthepreparation ofFinancial ANAO considered thattheABCdemonstrated 2004–05 FinancialStatements audit,the unqualified auditopinion.Asaresult ofthe National AuditOffice (ANAO) issued an Financial Statements andtheAustralian endorsed thesigningof2005–06 On July 2006,theAuditandRiskCommittee nldn qiyijcin822.7 –82.0 Less Analog Transmission Funding including equityinjection Outcomes 1,2and3, Total appropriation per financial year is: renewal. TheABC’s fundingfor the2006–07 programming across Australia, andcapital and documentaries, non-metropolitan for funding Australian drama additional the ABC’s basefunding and provided The May2006Federal Budgetmaintained Efficiency Review conducted byKPMG. the report oftheFunding Adequacyand The Submission wassupplemented by Australian content, anddigital television. the ABCcan make to regional services, into thefuture, andthedistinctive contributions the Corporation’s fundinganditssustainability outlined proposals inrespect oftheadequacy the Australian Government. TheSubmission 2006–09 Triennial Funding Submission with In December 2005,theABClodged its Appropriation The Year Ahead Capital Strategy. will complete itsworkonthe Integrated conducted byKPMG.Further, theCorporation Funding Adequacy andEfficiencyreview the of thechangingmedialandscape and to explore strategic prioritiesinthelight During 2006–07,theCorporation willcontinue is aimedatmaintaining current activities. budget funds,the2006–07BudgetStrategy With nonewexternal sources ofongoing Budget Strategy 2006–07 financialyear. appropriation offundsbyoutputfor the 661.1 broadly represents theABC’s budgeted The chart“Appropriation byOutput2006–07” –74.6 Total Appropriation Funds Less Digital Transmission Funding $m 61

ANNUAL REPORT 2005–06 62

Financial Summary continued

ABC Source of Funds

General Appropriation Government Funding Analog Transmissions

Digital Transmissions 2005–06 Budget 2005–06 Actual Asia Pacific Revenue 2006–07 Budget

Equity Injection—Improved Asset Management Independent Enterprises Revenue

Other Revenue

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 $ Millions

Split Actual Expenditure 2005–06

Other

16% Radio Broadcast (including News and Current Affairs) 19% New Media

2%

8% Support Services

21% Appropriation by Output 2006–07 (includ Acquisitions ing

Transmission ABC2) Transmission Transmission

Analog Digital 6% Transmis

New

M sion Television Programs Produced ed (including News and Current Affairs,

ia 9% 10% 2% Captioning and ABC2) 28%

Radio 28%

Television 51% Five-Year Analysis qiy()7%7%7%6%5%56% 55% 67% 70% 70% 71% 492532 (c) Equityasapercentage oftotal assets. 531110 (b) Current assets dividedbycurrent liabilities. $’000 688215 387358 (a) Netcost of services iscost ofservices less operating revenue. 715 527 427955 716404 $’000 334271 178751 742154 310347 208607 Equity (c) 209282 308547 $’000 879890 218673 1.681.561.811.571.021.03 Current 125672 184949 302085 959065 208599 694941 Ratios 115635 214501 $’000 1022486 194712 744564 1025874 Ratio 134452 197602 1024951 174095 824884 Total 1044239 Equity 147567 209683 $’000 154518 816191 Total Liabilities (b) $’000 209682 815269 Non-Current Liabilities 248309 $’000 795930 Current Liabilities $’000 Total Assets Non-Current Assets $’000 Current Assets Financial Position 148334 $’000 781147 632813 146299 822856 676557 153712 $’000 858728 705016 201712 926161 724449 166430 $’000 891298 724868 187015 929236 742221 Revenue from Government Net Cost ofServices (a) Operating Revenue Cost ofServices ABC Operating 7 5 7752 5 3 7685 3 6 710565 733469 726895 757532 757532 774 254 06(EFS 0520 032002 2003 2004 2005 (AEIFRS) 2002 2006 2003 2004 2005 (AEIFRS) 2006 Recast 2005 Recast 2005 63

ANNUAL REPORT 2005–06 64

Perth Accommodation Project

The ABC Perth Centre is a three-storey and productivity. The high-quality technical complex on a 5 700-square-metre site fit-out enhances on-air performance and accommodating 230 staff and incorporating promotes operational flexibility. Local Radio, Television, News and Current Affairs, Classic FM, Radio National, triple j, Notable technical facilities include the ABC’s production studios, outside broadcast first Content Distribution Centre (incorporating facilities and associated management, Radio Master Control, Television Master administrative and support operations. Control, Television Presentation, Television News Exchange, and Radio News Lines Site works for construction commenced Room in a single acoustic space), a 600- in November 2002 and the building was square-metre television production studio, completed on schedule in late 2004. The a 220-square-metre music studio and a ABC’s technical fit-out continued after fully-equipped radio drama studio. building handover and in March 2005 staff commenced relocation to coincide with the As part of the project, the ABC commissioned first radio broadcasts. The final move was a number of Western Australian artists and completed in August 2005. The project craftspeople to produce works for the new was delivered within the approved budget. building, including a striking mural by artist Brian McKay at the main entrance. The ABC Perth Centre was opened on 29 September 2005 by the Prime Minister, There has been an overwhelmingly positive the Hon. John Howard MP. The ceremony reaction to the building from both ABC staff was attended by over 500 staff and guests and visitors. The success of the project was from all levels of Western Australian further acknowledged when the building government, business and the community. received an architectural award from the Western Australian Chapter of the The open design of the building facilitates Royal Australian Institute of Architects communication and interactivity amongst in June 2006. staff and talent and encourages creativity

The ABC East Perth Centre Counsel Stephen General Collins ABC DivisionalStructure Note: TheBoard Secretariat provides administrative support totheBoard News and Cameron Director Current Members oftheABCExecutive Affairs Director Howard Jean-Gabriel Manguy John Radio Sue Chief ofStaff ABC AsiaPacific Radio Australia Broadcasting International Ian Carroll ABC AdvisoryCouncil New Media and Digital Television Marshall Services Director Director Dalton Lynley Kim Gary Linnane Managing Director ABC BOARD Communications Gary Dawson(a) ACT—Elizabeth McGrath Qld—Chris Wordsworth Strategy and State andTerritory Rep—Geoff Duncan Corporate Territory Directors’ NT—Mark Bowling NSW (State Rep)— WA andState and Director Tas—Rob Batten Winter-Dewhirst Mike McCluskey SA—Sandra Vic—Vacant Directors Murray Green (a) Board Secretariat Enterprises Director Robyn Watts ABC Resources Business Services Director Director Burgess Palmer Human Trevor Colin Operating Pendleton Officer David Chief Distribution Technology Cruttenden Production Resources Knowles Director Director David Colin and Head of Dindar Group Audit Aziz 65

ANNUAL REPORT 2005–06