The Australian reports today that the ABC’s $223 million Australia Network Asian broadcasting service might be scrapped in the May budget to save money and end the pursuit of “soft diplomacy” in the region through television.
When the controversial long term contract was finally awarded, the ABC joined its foreign radio and tv services together in a restructure, combining Radio Australia with Australia TV and some international news services, ditching the position of Radio Australia CEO and making Mike McCluskey redundant.
If Australia TV goes, then the structure will need to be reviewed again, with more emphasis on the surviving radio service.
The Australia TV contract was controversial because rival commercial media, who wanted the contract for themselves, lobbied against the ABC’s bid. The latest move, reported by News Limited papers, may reflect more lobbying. News Limited was involved in the commercial consortium bidding for the TV contract.
The Australian’s report says federal cabinet has “already discussed the option of dropping the ABC’s contract to broadcast Australian news and entertainment in the region, with the Government Solicitor providing advice on the ramifications of stripping the ABC of its 10-year contract.”
Radio Australia is nearly 75 years old.
On December 20th 1939 the voice of Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies was heard around the world as he opened Australia’s first international broadcast with the now well-known quote, “The time has come to speak for ourselves”.
Initially named “Australia Calling”, the first broadcast was aimed to serve Australian troops stationed in Europe and North Africa. At the end of WWII the service was renamed “Radio Australia” and in 1950 became part of the Australian Broadcasting Commission (now Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s Radio Australia played an instrumental role in providing high quality coverage of news and current affairs for the region, and in recent years has diversified its transmission strategy beyond short wave, to rebroadcast partnerships and online delivery. More of the history of RA can be found here.