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Aussies want more local content on ABC: poll

By Rebekah van Druten and wires

Posted December 1, 2008 14:20:00
Updated December 1, 2008 14:36:00

According to the MEAA, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation has been underfunded for too long. (ABC News: Giulio Saggin)

• Map: Sydney 2000

A majority of Australians want the Federal Government to increase the ABC's funding to allow it to make and broadcast more local television programs, according to an opinion poll.

A Newspoll, commissioned by the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), suggests 79 per cent want more funding for documentaries, 65 per cent want more children's programs and 64 per cent want more drama.

Meanwhile, more than 60 per cent of Australians believe it is important that TV programs are available through new media platforms, such as the internet.

Equity director of the MEAA, Simon Whipp, says the ABC has been underfunded for too long and wants the Government to take heed of the poll's findings.

"Primarily because they gave a commitment in their election policy to introduce local content rules on the ABC, acknowledging that the ABC had not been broadcasting the same levels of local content as Seven, Nine and Ten," Mr Whipp said.

"We're very hopeful that the consideration they'll give to ABC funding for the next three years in next year's Budget will respond to the concerns which the public has shown and will deliver on their election promise," he added.

Around 1,200 people were polled nationally.

The poll's findings have been released as part of an agenda-setting television conference being held in Sydney today and tomorrow.

Tags: arts-and-entertainment, television, broadcasting, abc, television, australia, nsw, sydney-2000

Comments (35)

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• LGL:

  01 Dec 2008 3:22:20pm

  Advocacy research at its best. :)
  
  Whilst the intent is noble the origin of the research has to considered tainted. At least the Arts and Media alliance is using the popular poll rather than the need to maintain cultural heritage as an excuse to keep the local industry alive.
  
  Good luck to them, the ABC needs funding to maintain the quality output they have constantly created. It would be a crime to lose yet another local industry to cost cutting.

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• Glasswalker:

  01 Dec 2008 3:32:32pm

  funny that this is open for comment on the ABC website LOL
  
  Seriously though, it would be good to see more funding to both the ABC and SBS... a much better use of govt funds than a $10.5 million populist handout...
  
  

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  • watcha:

    01 Dec 2008 4:27:59pm

    The ABC is doing an excellent job as the Nnations national broadcaster.
    
    I would rather the extra funding went toward educational and documentary type programming available on the net rather than any soaps type programs.
    
    btw - My mother is on a single aged pension and the extra cash is much needed, timely and appreciated.

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• Spooky:

  01 Dec 2008 3:38:48pm

  More local content?
  
  Like Australian Idol? Home and Away? Big Brother?
  
  God forbid. The ABC is probably the only bastion from dunce-o-vision.
  
  If they want to change anything, then get better documentaries. More witty BBC comedies and dramas. Cult favourites like Black Books and Absolute Power.
  
  Dont touch local broadcasting with a barge pole.

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  • that you are:

    01 Dec 2008 4:06:08pm

    Local content!
    
    Like the Chaser. Enough Rope and all the way back to The Late Show (Spawning the Panel) ..etc
    
    Although I agree Black Books was funny, why do we always have to import last years set list from overseas. I'm sure you'd be happy with a marathon of the Bill, Keeping Up Apperances and Monty Python. However, these shows have had thier day in the sun, go collect them on DVD.
    
    Lets give some young aussie talent a go. It's worked in the past and will work again, given some funding.
    

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    • Glasswalker:

      01 Dec 2008 4:18:32pm

      The chaser all the way. Long may they reign as the kings of satirical comedy... provided they don't actually manage to get jailed...
      
      however, repeats of brit clasics like python and keeping up appearances still make for great viewing especially during the entertainment starved summer TV period... bring on shows like the vicar of dibley again...
      
      or, for a really good laugh, watch parliament question time, you wont see a bigger bunch of clowns anywhere (and that goes for both parties) Roll up to see the walking ego Kevin the magnificent Rudd... watch your tax dollars go down the tube as Swan bumbles... watch julie bishop pretend she has a clue...

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    • Spooky:

      01 Dec 2008 4:25:55pm

      I stand corrected. The Chaser and Pals are certainly welcome on our ABC. Shows like the Glass House and Gruen Transfer are also good examples.
      
      And while Black Books is funny (I do have the DVD) I dont need to see it repeated every six months. Point taken.
      
      The problem is the more commercial shows.
      
      We need to make sure that we dont go overboard and end up with another version of Channel 10.

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    • Brad:

      01 Dec 2008 4:44:58pm

      Not forgetting local drama like MDA, Seachange, Wildside, Police Rescue, GP, etc. It's a shame the funding only allows a decent drama series about once every 5 years.
      
      And comedy. ABC has done some wonderful mockumentaries, satire, panel shows and sitcoms in the last decade but they have been few and far between, or run for a short time before being lured away to the commercial networks (and gone down hill very quickly after that).

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  • Ben:

    01 Dec 2008 4:12:22pm

    and the Bill is high quality drama????? Du-oh!!!! Most of the good dockies are already on SBS.... if you can live with the infatuation with all things Islam! I am heartily sick of X Gen British doc makers where they all think it absolutely necessary to require image changes every 10 secs; and their propensity to zoom in and out of an image at light speed leaves the viewer feeling slightly epileptic! If local dockie makers overcome that, get rid of the pommy crap!

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  • George:

    01 Dec 2008 4:48:41pm

    There's no reason Australia can't produce a few great comedies or dramas, just like those you've mentioned.
    
    The problem, of course, is that the ABC can't afford to produce a block of great programming, and that leaves this responsibility up to the commercial networks.
    
    And as we see year after year, the commercial networks won't lift a finger to support local creative talent, and instead their local programming consists largely of either complete or spiritual imitations of shows in the USA, and to a lesser extent, Britain.

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• Si:

  01 Dec 2008 3:43:36pm

  Unfortunately, the government needs the commercial media onside, and the commercial media don't want the competition.

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• M:

  01 Dec 2008 3:44:52pm

  I'd rather the money be spent on removing the advertisements from SBS.

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  • Akroc:

    01 Dec 2008 5:08:38pm

    Hear hear! It's turned me right off.

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• Michael:

  01 Dec 2008 3:54:09pm

  How many said they wanted more important english cop shows? Because at the moment that seems to be what the ABC is giving us.

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  • AJ:

    01 Dec 2008 4:07:31pm

    There is actually some great Australian TV on the ABC and SBS. Just not on the weekends.

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  • Brad:

    01 Dec 2008 4:46:42pm

    Why isn't the ABC making its own police drama instead of importing everything of that genre made by the BBC? Not that the BBC stuff isn't good, but surely Auntie could do the same with decent funding.
    
    Maybe even an Aussie version of Life on Mars?

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• Bob B:

  01 Dec 2008 4:02:33pm

  Support the ABC. Don't let them take that away from us.

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• Remark:

  01 Dec 2008 4:06:19pm

  The ABC could surely spend the money more sensibly than on determined partisan hacks such as Piers Akerman, Andrew Bolt and Michael Duffy who spew their discredited far right wing propaganda on 'The Insiders' and 'Counterpoint'.
  
  A broom through the Board and programming areas to clean out the toxic Howard plants (and the plants of the Howard plants) would also be a decent and positive move.

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  • Big Yin:

    01 Dec 2008 4:14:27pm

    As opposed to the far-leftists hacks such as Tony Jones, Kerry O'Brien, David Marr & Barrie Cassidy? You blinkered view is astounding as well as hypocritical!

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    • Big Yawn:

      01 Dec 2008 4:51:03pm

      The fact that anyone would consider Jones or O'brien as 'far left' shows just how far to the right the political spectrum has drifted in Australia in the last 40 years. These guys are just moderately left of centre. They don't advocate or stand for Marxist principles - just a little social justice.
      
      There are no far left journos that I can think of in the mainstream media. By contrast, Akerman could easily be Attilla the Huns media spokesthing (in fact maybe he was)
      
      

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• AJ:

  01 Dec 2008 4:06:32pm

  Possibly a babyboomer bias towards infotainment has influenced the poll?

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• Regs:

  01 Dec 2008 4:07:10pm

  One suspects that atleast 60% of Aussies dont watch the ABC or watch it on a regular basis.
  So what good is this survey.

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• Di:

  01 Dec 2008 4:09:01pm

  The old saying - You can't please all of the people all of the time- comes to mind.
  
  I don't think a poll of 1200 nationally constitutes a true representation of public opinion.
  
  I'm with spooky - keep away from the Big Brother etc. You don't have to lower ABC's standard. Local content - not necessarily needed. It has a fair representation over all of the networks.
  
  ABC needs to continue with its documentaries, educational programs and the odd drama.

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  • Tim:

    01 Dec 2008 4:41:31pm

    "I don't think a poll of 1200 nationally constitutes a true representation of public opinion. "
    
    Actually, a sample size of 1200 nationally is quite large, and assuming that reasonable precautions were taken it probably does constitute a true representation of public opinion.
    
    A heck of a lot of decisions are made on polls that have a much smaller sample size than this one does.

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• cupofcoffee:

  01 Dec 2008 4:14:39pm

  Hallelujah! There could be some local content coming to the ABC at long last.
  
  I am heartily sick of American rubbish which is being run and re-run for years and years.
  
  Come on ABC value our minds and let us see some decent programs for a change and you are very capable of bringing us great TV. I might even switch mine on again!!!

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  • Brad:

    01 Dec 2008 4:49:18pm

    What American rubbish is being rerun on the ABC? The imported stuff seems to be almost entirely British.

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• EC:

  01 Dec 2008 4:14:48pm

  I love the ABC
  
  Please dont dumb your news down to get ratings, there are still some intelligent people around :)

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  • Kocsonya:

    01 Dec 2008 5:02:28pm

    "there are still some intelligent people around"
    
    Damn, so much effort and they're still around! Must try harder. Let's see: dumbing down education: check. Remove funding from culture and arts: check. Overload with mindless American entertainment: check. Hmmm... What else.... Got it! Let's censor the Internet!
    

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• DJR:

  01 Dec 2008 4:15:36pm

  Yeah, but quality programmes: not crap like the usual stuff.

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• Green:

  01 Dec 2008 4:33:34pm

  Given that the commercial stations pump out drivel like "20-to-1" and "Big Brother" to try and meet their local content quotas, it is fortunate that we at least have the ABC to make some quality Australian programming.
  
  The more funding, and the more decent Australian series the ABC can make, the better.

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• henalf:

  01 Dec 2008 4:34:38pm

  More local content on theABC! You must be joking. The junk programmes from Australia,have got so bad that I cannot imagine any sane person watching them. Australian TV is at an all time low,and I have no doubt that to turn ABC & Sbs into complete commercial stations is in the offing.What a blessing,we have good public librarys.

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• mcfarm:

  01 Dec 2008 4:37:36pm

  Whatever, but no more sport, please!!!!!!!1

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• AuntyFan:

  01 Dec 2008 4:49:10pm

  I'd love to see more Aussie stuff, not just for the content but also to give our local industry some support.
  
  My favourite local series show is still Round the Twist even though it was for kids and made eons ago. I adore spicks n specks and things like that - funny stuff, love Einstein factor and love local docco's. Local drama I haven't seen much of but it usually gets a good reception. I enjoy SOME of the comedies I get a laugh from Stupid Man but can't stand Summerheights High but well others like it.
  
  I'd love to see more locally produced stuff, the commercial stations have plenty of dross so lets avoid stuff like that and go for quality, but also give up and coming things a go. More 'out there' shows. Some local fantasy, local sci fi and so on.
  
  And not the sort of idiotic crud they'd make for a commercial channel! Ugh.... let's make local content that is a bit above par yes?
  
  Like Absolute Power - that was a brilliant thinking persons comedy. And speaking of importing - if you must - at least try to get some of the good stuff!! We never got QI down here, and it's amazingly awesome in every possible way.
  
  oh and please stop selling all the good stuff to the commercial channels ads gimme the irrits.
  
  I love ABC, watched it my whole life and will continue to do so. Also SBS.

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• peter mitchell:

  01 Dec 2008 4:55:45pm

  If ABC gets more money please give SBS some as this channel is now going downhill since they put the Ads on please scrap them as I used to be an avid viewer of SBS as well as ABC.
  
  
  

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• Jim:

  01 Dec 2008 5:00:10pm

  Personally, I'd settle for anything that isn't from the British isles.
  
  This week's evening for ABC, if you exclude documentaries & current affairs, you'll find two Australian show, both reruns - Stupid Stupid Man, and Summer Heights High (which I didn't like, but which did very well by any measure - ratings, critical, commercial, etc), and by my count 11 British shows: Party Animals, Hustle, My Family, Wallace & Gromit, Star Stories, Marian Again, The Thick of It, Rose & Maloney, The Bill, The Last Detective, A Good Murder.
  

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