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I have commented briefly on this site about how the ABC could save money without affecting programs.
* reduce power consumption of transmitters and reduce CO2. If commercial metropolitan and rural transmitters can succeed and survive on 5kW (ocassionally 10kW) and 2kW, why can't the ABC? For example Sydney's 702 (2BL) and RN (2FC) are 50kW each.
* reduce the management levels. During the long industrial dispute of the early 1990s, a person I knew remarked to me that during that time, the ABC hired more managers than actual workers. In addition, given significant technological changes in broadcasting since the 1980s have the hierarchical industrial structures of the ABC kept pace with technology?
An example of keeping pace with technology was the launch of Aussat (now Optus) which meant central distribution of programming material instead of state-based duplication of distribution. This later evolved in recent years of automating and outsourcing its presentation/master control operations to a private company at Ingleburn.
Nevertheless, have the hierarchical industrial structures remained?
* amalgamate childrens' content on ABC2 and ABC3 and put some childrens' content on ABC (main).
I stand corrected on these issues.
It seems that since the 1976 budget freeze of the ABC, programs seem to be affected. Ironically since the 1976 cuts, there is more program output on radio and TV: in radio, RN and metropolitan (702 (2BL), 774 (3LO)) used to close at 0100 and 0000 respectively. Now they are 24 hours. Similarly on TV, ABC TV, the station opened at 0700, there was about four hours of test pattern (Philips PM5544) and music. Now it's 24 hours.
If the ABC is really squeezed for funds, then it may have to look at its internal hierarchical structures, power consumption and extra channels to contain costs.
Regards
Anthony of exciting Belfield