Well, this could be interesting. A new Federal Government report, obtained today by Fairfax, has proposed that the production of all ABC television shows, with the exception of the national broadcaster’s news and current affairs programs, be outsourced to private industry.
The report, a result of Prime Minister Tony Abbott‘s cost-cutting review, says that if the ABC were to sell off its production facilities and stop making TV in-house, the estimated saving would be a net $70 million. In other words, “let’s gut this sucker like a fish.”
These recommendations are just suggestions for now, and any decisions about the future of ABC programming remain with the station’s board. The report does confirm, however that the government has its eye on the ABC, and is determined to do some downsizing.
Managing director Mark Scott has been under pressure to save money, and will reportedly be making some major announcements about cost-cutting and changes to management structures some time in August.
Spending by the ABC and SBS will be put under greater scrutiny, with a view to bringing employees’ pay and work conditions more closely into line with the private sector.
The ABC currently films shows like Play School and At The Movies in its own production studios. Interestingly, At The Movies posted a link to the Fairfax piece on its Facebook wall this morning, but said post is now deleted.
There’s no way of knowing what a privatised Play School would look like, but the worst case scenario would probably involve Big Ted shilling for Big Macs in-between staring hauntedly at kids and teaching them to count.
Margaret Pomeranz hasn’t spoken out as yet, but I’m pretty sure there’s no way she’ll stand for this.
via The Age
