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Annual Report 2010 Camera Operator Bronwyn Allomes Keeps a Close Eye on the Action As the Gruen Transfer Is Recorded in Studio 22 at the ABC’S Ultimo Centre, Sydney

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Annual Report 2010 Camera Operator Bronwyn Allomes Keeps a Close Eye on the Action As the Gruen Transfer Is Recorded in Studio 22 at the ABC’S Ultimo Centre, Sydney Annual Report 2010 Camera Operator Bronwyn Allomes keeps a close eye on the action as The Gruen Transfer is recorded in Studio 22 at the ABC’s Ultimo Centre, Sydney. PUBLIC BROAD CASTING PUBLIC BENEFIT ABC3 has a lot to offer 10-year-old Rachel and her brothers. Aimed at 6–15 year olds, the new channel provides a mix of content to keep them all engaged. Public broadcasting. Public benefit. The idea of public broadcasting arose soon after broadcasting itself commenced, based on an acknowledgement that civic and cultural needs—informing, educating and entertaining—might not always be commercially possible or profitable. To fill that gap, policy makers of the day established public broadcasting services to deliver a unique combination of public benefits—universality, diversity, quality, independence and localism—thereby meeting a range of important community needs. The social profit derived from those benefits remains as essential to The ABC has been entertaining television audiences for contemporary life as it was almost a century ago. decades. Many well-known Public broadcasters provide a universal service to all citizens Australian performers started their career on the ABC. From regardless of age, income or location. They deliver diverse content and The Norman Gunston Show to choices that reflect the interests of the widest possible range of groups The Chaser, from The Inventors in society. They present programs that continually add to and refresh a to The Gruen Transfer, the ABC sense of national identity and reflect cultural diversity. provides a valuable, creative space for Australian talent to Without the need to ensure financial profitability, public broadcasters develop and Australian content are able to pursue high-quality, informative and challenging content to be made. that enriches society, adding to audiences’ experience, tastes and understanding. The ABC has a well established reputation for providing high- Public broadcasters strengthen democracy by providing independent quality children’s programming. news and information—free from political or commercial influence— A commitment to local content that facilitates and stimulates public debate. means Australians can be confident that their children Consistent with their commitment to universality, public broadcasters are hearing Australian stories engage with local communities and deliver local news and information. and perspectives being told in Public broadcasters are particularly intrinsic to regional life, as the Australian voices. With ABC Kids on 2, and now ABC3, children of relative cost of providing localised services beyond major population all ages have access to quality centres is not a commercially attractive proposition. content on the ABC. The ABC is Australia’s primary public broadcaster, there for all Australians. It was created in an era of media scarcity to deliver services that would not otherwise have been available to every Australian. In today’s age of media abundance, the ABC provides a continuing return on the public investment by delivering those fundamental services and fulfilling its Charter obligations to deliver programs of wide appeal and specialist interest. As the environment in which it operates changes, so must the ABC, adapting to technological advances and the changing expectations of its audiences. In doing so, the ABC will continue to deliver benefits to the public. 1 Office of Maurice L. Newman AC Chairman ABC Ultimo Centre 700 Harris Street Ultimo NSW 2007 5 October 2010 Australia GPO Box 9994 Sydney NSW 2001 Senator The Hon Stephen Conroy Minister for Broadband, Communications Tel. +61 2 8333 5363 and the Digital Economy Fax. +61 2 8333 2967 abc.net.au Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Dear Minister The Board of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation is pleased to present the Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2010. The Report is prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983. It provides a comprehensive review of the ABC’s performance in relation to its legislative mandate and as a diversified media enterprise operating within a fast- evolving industry environment. This year’s editorial theme of the report – Public Broadcasting–Public Benefit – demonstrates how the ABC is fulfilling its Charter and, by doing so, is adding value to the lives of all Australians. Yours sincerely Maurice L. Newman AC Chairman 2 About the ABC Corporate overview 5 1 Snapshot of ABC services 6 Role and responsibilities of the Board 12 ABC Board of Directors 13 Board Directors’ statement 16 ABC Vision and Values 20 Executive Leadership Group 22 Outlook for the year ahead 27 ABC strategic objectives 28 Audience experiences Content performance 31 2 Audience trends 32 Radio 36 Television 42 News 52 Online 57 International audiences 60 Consumer experiences 64 Running the ABC Systems and services performance 71 3 Editorial standards 72 Infrastructure and operations 74 ABC people 76 Corporate functions 80 Governance Corporate performance 85 4 and sustainability Corporate governance 86 Performance against the ABC Corporate Plan 92 Government outcomes 103 Reconciliation Action Plan 108 ABC Advisory Council 110 Sustainability report 112 Financial Performance Financial summary 119 5 Independent auditor’s report 123 Financial statements 125 Appendices Appendices 171 6 Glossary 233 Index 234 3 Big Ideas host Tony Jones reviews a script with Series Producer Ian Walker. Big Ideas is a television, radio and online space for intellectual, political, cultural and economic debate in Australia. PUBLIC BROAD CASTING PUBLIC BENEFIT Clement Paligaru, presenter of Australia Network’s Pacific Pulse, with Gilbertese children in the Solomon Islands. 4 CORPORATE OVERVIEW Section About the ABC 1 Corporate overview Keeping audiences informed Snapshot of ABC services about local, national and international events and issues Roles and responsibilities is fundamental to the ABC’s of the Board role. As a public broadcaster, the ABC has a duty to ensure ABC Board of Directors that the gathering and presentation of news and Board Directors’ statement information is accurate and impartial. For audiences in ABC Vision and Values Australia and in the region, the ABC is a trusted source of news and current affairs. Executive Leadership Group The ABC’s Charter requires it Outlook for the year ahead to broadcast internationally in order to encourages awareness ABC strategic objectives and understanding of Australia and its values in other nations. Audiences in Asia and the Pacific have access to credible and reliable sources of news and information from a uniquely Australian perspective through the ABC’s Radio Australia and Australia Network services. Since 1930, Australians have relied on the ABC to inform, educate and entertain them. As audiences become more diverse and new media platforms develop, the ABC has embraced the challenge of meeting the demand. CORPORATE OVERVIEW 5 Snapshot of ABC services To achieve its vision, the ABC delivers comprehensive programs and services which reflect the interests and aspirations of diverse Australian communities. ABC Radio ABC Television • Four national radio networks, • 10 digital radio channels in each • ABC1, the ABC’s primary comprising ABC Radio National, mainland capital city, including television channel, available ABC Classic FM, triple j and ABC simulcasts of the four national in analog format from 439 NewsRadio (on the Parliamentary networks and metropolitan transmitters, and digital format and News Network). Local Radio services, as well as from 342 transmitters. • ABC Local, comprising nine digital-only services ABC Dig • ABC2, the ABC’s second free-to- metropolitan radio stations in capital Music, ABC Jazz, ABC Country, air digital television channel. ABC Grandstand Digital and cities and Newcastle, New South • ABC3, a dedicated digital ABC Extra, an occasional Wales, and 51 regional radio stations children’s television channel. throughout Australia. special events channel. • iView, an internet-only catch-up • All digital radio services except television service. ABC Grandstand Digital are streamed online. ABC Dig Music • Local television in each State and and ABC Jazz are also available Territory. on free-to-air and subscription services. The four national networks and some Local Radio services are available via digital satellite subscription television. 6 CORPORATE OVERVIEW 1 ABC Online ABC Commercial ABC International and other platforms • ABC Retail, owning and • Radio Australia, an international • ABC Online, providing content managing 45 ABC Shops and radio and online service available via streaming, licensing 114 ABC Centres broadcasting in eight languages podcasting, vodcasting, throughout Australia. A Customer by shortwave, satellite video-on-demand and Delivery Service processes and terrestrial rebroadcast content uniquely designed for orders via phone, fax, mail and arrangements to Asia and the broadband delivery. online through ABC Shop Online Pacific. (www.abcshop.com.au). • ABC services are also available • Australia Network, an via WAP, SMS, 3G and other • ABC Publishing, managing a international television and wireless devices including a stable of lifestyle and children’s online service, broadcasting range of smartphones. magazines. via satellite and rebroadcast • ABC Sales and Distribution, arrangements to 44 nations in responsible for DVD, Program Asia and the Pacific. Sales Worldwide, licensing,
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