Media Release

Budget 2009: More Australian stories from ABC and SBS

Australian families will see more Australian programs on our national broadcastersthe Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS)including a dedicated ABC children's digital television channel, thanks to funding of $185.3 million in the 2009-10 Budget.

"The ABC and SBS play an important role reflecting our culture by telling Australian stories," the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy said.

"The Rudd Government is providing funding so that the ABC and SBS can produce more Australian programs, news and information.

"New Australian drama production slumped to 20 hours a year because of cuts by the Howard Government. Increased funding means the ABC will be able to produce around 90 hours of drama programs a year."

The Government will provide the ABC with $136.4 million in new funding over the next triennium to support the ABC's plans for an advertising-free, digital children's television channel and a significantly increased annual output of new Australian drama.

"This additional funding will allow the ABC to provide similar levels of Australian drama as that required of the commercial broadcasters and fulfils a 2007 election commitment," Senator Conroy said.

The children's channel, announced by the Prime Minister in April, is a key priority for the Government and implements one of the nine practical initiatives of the Australia 2020 Summit.

"The new digital-only children's channel will offer high-quality educational, commercial-free viewing options for Australian families," Senator Conroy said.

"It will provide a high level of age-appropriate, Australian entertainment and educational material during peak television viewing times and online."

The ABC will also receive $15.3 million over three years under the Rural and Regional National Broadband Network Initiative to deliver more than 50 enhanced ABC Local Broadband Hubs in regional Australia.

"The ABC will encourage and assist the development of user generated content and create online avenues for local communities to connect and collaborate," Senator Conroy said.

"It will establish community websites and portals, and create 'virtual town squares' for communities to share experiences."

A further $13.6 million in capital supplementation will be provided to the ABC in 2009-10 to assist the organisation to maintain its extensive asset base.

The SBS will receive an additional $20 million in Government funding over three years to enable it to provide up to 50 hours of new Australian content annually.

"New funding for SBS will help it to continue to play its valuable role reflecting our cultural diversity and helping to define Australia's social landscape," Senator Conroy said.

"This additional $185.3 million for the ABC and SBS will provide an important economic stimulus to the Australian production sector and increase jobs in Australia's creative industries," Senator Conroy said.

In addition to this new funding, the ABC will receive ongoing operational base funding of $698.7 million in 2009-10, $716.0 million in 2010-11 and $725.8 million in 2011-12.

The SBS will receive ongoing operational base funding of $118.7 million in 2009-10, $120.6 million in 2010-11 and $123.3 million in 2011-12.

Transmission and distribution

In addition to ongoing operational base funding, the ABC and SBS will receive ongoing transmission funding for the triennium of $546 million and $249 million respectively.

The Government has made a commitment to complete Australia's conversion to digital television by December 2013. Savings of $11.4 million over the triennium will result from the progressive closure of analog television signals for the ABC and SBS.

The ABC and SBS have agreed to identify further savings over the coming triennium from the more efficient use of transmission and distribution services.

ends

Date: 12 May 2008
Contact: Tim Marshall 0408 258 457