The Federal Government has committed $4.2 billion in funding for the public broadcasters over the next three years, while concurrently outlining the next steps in its media reform agenda.
The ABC has used its submission to the Federal Government's media reform green paper review to request an additional $90 million in funding, while at the same time joining SBS in dismissing content obligations as "unnecessary".
The ABC and First Nations Media Australia (FNMA) have announced a 12 month partnership aimed at amplifying Indigenous voices and stories in the media.
Freeview Australia has unveiled its HbbTV (Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV) service, providing access to a library of more than 50,000 individual programs and episodes.
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher has doubled down on criticism of the ABC for its response to potential local content obligations, but has sympathised with other industry views on the green paper – namely the call for streaming platforms to spend 20 per cent of their local revenue on Australian content.
ABC managing director David Anderson reiterated his opposition to local content obligations for the broadcaster at Senate Estimates on Tuesday, describing it as a "breach of independence".
ABC managing director David Anderson has rejected the Federal Government's proposition public broadcasters be mandated to produce Australian content, as outlined in its recent green paper.
ABC managing director David Anderson said today the broadcaster is farewelling 229 staff, a combination of voluntary and forced redundancies.