The ABC is pursuing new sources of revenue, which may result in users of ABC websites being charged for online services, according to new Managing Director Mark Scott.

Scott has told The Australian: “We are going to have to make changes and make choices. We are going to have to be bold. I won’t make any blanket statements about what we will rule in and what we will rule out… We are looking at ways of maximising revenue and, of course, of protecting our reputation.

“People already pay for the ABC’s archive. If people decided they would rather download the program from the website and pay for that download, would that be appropriate? Perhaps.”

Mark Scott says the ABC could benefit greatly from increased revenue, which could be put towards program-making.

He believes there no reason to believe the federal Government would cut funding if the broadcaster started raising more of its own revenue.

radioinfo has been following this story since a Senate estimates hearing last year and tip offs from Radio National staff worried about the implications on editorial integrity if ABC websites accept advertising.