The recent protest about cuts to ABCRN services (‘Radio protest turns local’ 25/1) points to what is the tip of a bureaucratic and bloated, Sydney-centric iceberg which is destroying so many services nationwide, especially those which are relied on in our many regions.
The latest folly is that the ABC has shut down it short wave services to the north of the country.
They say that new satellite services may be used instead.
Maybe it can if you’re in a stationary position.
However, if you’re on a boat, or driving a truck or grader or tractor, what then?
The $1.7 million in savings will go – guess where – to two regional cities.
Constantly, we in regional areas are bombarded with promos for all the many platforms where ABC product can be enjoyed: digital, on mobile phones, ABC app, podcasts and of course you can join the conversation on facebook, twitter, or text…
Well, sorry, you superannuated fat cats at Sydney’s Ultimo headquarters, many of us cannot.
How many of us do not get mobile phone service and have internet speeds which mean that streaming is intermittent at best.
Further, there is no digital transmission here so we’re forced to us analogue radios.
This means that when Parliament sits, we’re obliged to listen to their regular rantings on NewsRadio rather than the regular programming.
Meanwhile, our local radio programming is constantly interrupted with promos for shows we can’t get, and station idents ad nauseum.
We know who we’re tuned into, than you very much.
I’ve had a professional involvement with the ABC for 40 years and it was difficult enough getting product made for the national network out of WA because we were part of the so-called BAPH states (Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart.)
I remember managing to get the first Leeuwin concert – with Ray Charles and the WA Symphony Orchestra to air in 1988 and we managed three before the ABC said ‘no more’.
The first regular national music series, “Rock Arena” (precursor to “Rage” came out of Perth before its success meant the Melbourne’s Entertainment division took it over.
The ABC’s first movie show, “Talking Pictures” originated in Perth but was pinched by Sydney.
Now there is no TV production at all in the BAPH states and radio has been cut right back.
With its latest managing director, appointed last year, Michelle Guthrie, the situation will only get worse.
With no broadcasting or journalism experience, this $90,000 a year plus extras, one of the first acts of this ex-Google executive’s acts was to employ a high-price outside consultant to do much of her job for her.
And what she is determined to do is to focus on digital above all, and unless there is more protest from the regions, radio and television outside of capital cities will suffer.
- Ian Parmenter
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“The music programs on Radio National, in all their diversity, play a vital role in developing Australian songwriters, composers and musicians. Their proposed savage reduction on a network that serves the whole country is a senseless blow to our culture.”
– Paul Kelly, musician
“At a time when it seems every element of home-grown culture is under siege, it’s bewildering to see Radio National stripping music shows from its programming. For years Radio National has been a defender of Australian culture and a means by which new writers, players and composers find an audience. RN listeners treasure eclectic musical programming; we appreciate being treated as grown-ups. When RN is already overburdened with talk, why unbalance things even more? This is a mistake.”
– Tim Winton, author.