Budget cuts to the ABC are threatening the broadcaster’s ability to commission children’s programming, according to one senior Australian producer.
Essential Media and Entertainment partner/head of kids Carmel Travers says the reduced funding is severely challenging the ability of producers to make premium kids’ content.
“The ABC is being constantly subjected to budgetary reviews by a government that is determined to shrink the financial capacities of the ABC,” Travers told C21 Media at the Mip Junior market in Cannes, where she launched Bubble Bath Bay, an animated pre-school series commissioned by the ABC.
“That is having a huge impact on its capacity to commission as much programming as it used to, and that has a very real impact on the production community in Australia.
“When the ABC is the only shop in town for some genres of children’s shows, that poses a real risk to premium content.”
Bubble Bath Bay, a co-venture with Malaysia’s Ideate Media and Telegael Ireland, follows the adventures of Sydney the Sailboat, Zip the Water Taxi and their nautical friends in magical waterways, islands and coves. The series director is former Disney Studios Animation director Steve Trenbirth. Colin Friels voices the harbourmaster, Terry the Tug.
.