Humphries wants ads on the ABC

colsim,
They did run a weekly business show of some sort but it got shafted a year or two ago – quite rightly, it was pretty dire.
I think they do run international business stories on news occasionally…it is “World News” and therefore not much local corporate stuff gets on (unless its ‘big’ enough).

On the question of SBS news/caff – is it just me or do you almost never see stories about big business on SBS news. Not saying that this is due to external pressures, most likely it’s that there’s more than enough depressing world affairs stories to fill a bulletin without needing to look at corporations but for a more nationally focussed broadcaster like the ABC, local corporate stories do get a lot more play.

(And yes, SBS do still have a lot of great doco’s that some advertisers mightn’t like so much – as much as they love the SBS A/B audience)

Hi Mael and Thumper – no offence intended (I have enough trouble with English 🙂 – I was just responding to the comment about the so-called ghetto-effect of language programming (my words, I know)

OK, Spectra, here’s a little challenge for you…
It’s one thing to refer us to John Doyle’s speech (and I’ve got no problem with it whatsoever – the parts I read at the time), and to raise the spectre of what COULD happen to the ABC should it go down the advertising path.
But – what’s your solution? How about an idea or two heh?
I think limited advertising is one option; I can’t think of anyone I know in SBS News/CAff who feels that advertising has impaired the independence or integrity of that department – and they’ve had it for some years now.
Another model perhaps is licence fees, as in the UK. And talking UK, I don’t think anyone claims that ITN or any ITV current affairs shows have been influenced by advertising.
So over to you Spectra: the ABC ain’t gonna get a massive funding boost from govt coffers, the standards of many of the programs are slipping….so how are we going to get more money into the joint to improve production values and attract the best program-making talent?

I’m ever the optimist…

AND the Govt swears to maintain the triennial funding at a respectable level

Ahahahahahaha – thanks best laugh I’ve had in ages. Better remember to ask them if it’s a core or non-core promise. And if they’ll “never ever” cut that funding.

Agreed, the content (apart from some of the News/CAff progs) is pure shite. As mentioned, if advertising were to be introduced, with the revenue going to all divisions except News/CAff, AND the Govt swears to maintain the triennial funding at a respectable level – then we might see improvements.
But that’s only part of it: get rid of the morons overseeing Arts programming, too. ‘Vulture’ is truly the sludge at the bottom of the septic tank.

Aside from buying the best english shows, the content is crap-awful.

There’s no TV news from midnight to midday, that’s 12 of 24 hours.

So aside from nostalgia for a glorious past what are we eulogising here?

Don’t get me wrong, they’re my first choice for news and current affairs. AM on the radio is the best way for anyone to start the day.

On the other hand commercial incomes would only encourage the Government to reduce funding further and how long would news hold out in the long run?

There’s a lot of issues but I still think the SBS model has some merit.

I would highly reccomend John Doyle’s (aka Rampaging Roy Slaven’s) speech at the Andrew Olle Media Lecture this year to anyone who didn’t catch it on ABC2 a few weeks back. You can get a copy in MP3 format (as well as a full transcription) at http://margokingston.typepad.com/harry_version_2/2005/10/the_andrew_olli.html#more
It’s a far better discussion than I could ever hope to give here (or anywhere) about just how important the ABC is to this country. Take a listen.

You know Maelinar – apparently there’s a joke in Asian diplomatic circles

What do you call someone who speaks two languages?
Bilingual
What do you call someone who speaks three languages?
Trilingual
What do you call someone who speaks one language?
Australian

Worse things in the world than speaking more than one language – and I’d say with this country being so heavily English focussed, there wouldn’t be too many people surviving day to day only speaking one.

(In addition to which, SBS has gradually been dropping content in other languages in prime time in the chase for ratings – I do like the programming they have on but given the original sbs charter to serve those parts of the community not represented on mainstream tv, it’s not hard to see what happens when ratings play a part.