SBS managing director James Taylor rejected an offer from his counterpart at the ABC, David Anderson, to share offices and explore other merged services such as travel in a terse email exchange about how the two government-funded broadcasters could save money.
"I do not believe that SBS staff co-locating to an ABC location in either Sydney or Melbourne is a feasible or desirable option for a range of reasons, including current long-term SBS leasing arrangements in Melbourne which were facilitated by a generous lessor incentive, and your view that there is insufficient available space in Ultimo," Mr Taylor said.