The ABC has backflipped on its plan to abolish eight local 7pm Sunday TV news bulletins in favour of a national one after a public outcry, its managing director, David Anderson, has told staff.
The reduction of eight state-based television bulletins to a single national one was the centrepiece of the ABC’s plan to transform the public broadcaster into a digital-first media organisation and would have generated significant savings.
“After listening to audience feedback, it is clear that there are some members of the Australian public who continue to rely on the local Sunday night state bulletin,” Anderson said in an all-staff email.
“As a result, we will not be proceeding with this current proposal.”
However, Anderson suggested the dumping of the plan may mean another service, program or more staff will be targeted for savings.
“This will require us to identify more savings for further reinvestment over the course of the Five-Year Plan,” he said.
The secretary of the ABC section of the Community and Public Sector Union, Sinddy Ealy, said it was an unwieldy plan.
“It wasn’t well thought through politically or operationally, and it’s positive that news management listened to staff concerns and common sense has prevailed,” she said.
Sources said the ABC’s state newsrooms were concerned that local news stories would not get aired if they had to compete with national stories.
There was also a heated debate about where the national bulletin would be broadcast from and the location had not been announced.
If the bulletin came out of Sydney it would anger all the other states who already complain the ABC is too Sydney-centric.
Six weeks ago the ABC announced it would abolish the multiple Sunday local news bulletins, as well as cut 120 jobs, as part of sweeping changes in line with its updated five-year plan.
“In June the ABC announced a number of proposals that will produce financial savings to meet increasing costs, and to strategically invest in the future of the ABC,” Anderson said. “As you know, some of these proposals result in staff losses and we are still working through that difficult process and supporting those staff directly affected.”
Anderson said the transformation into a digital-first organisation would continue because in the future most of the audience will access the ABC through its digital services such as ABC iview, ABC News and ABC listen.
“As audiences of every demographic continue to move to primarily consuming ABC News content via digital platforms, we will continue to adjust our efforts and resources to meet their needs,” he said.
“The ABC is fully committed to maintaining traditional broadcasting services for as long as they are essential to keep all Australians informed and entertained.”
Greens spokesperson senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the ABC should be congratulated for their change of heart.
“Local news bulletins are vital for keeping our communities informed which is why the Greens fought so hard in the parliament and the public to have these proposed cuts stopped,” she said.
