ABC

For the first time ABC TV’s iconic Play School series will be available to view online via the ‘video’ section on the ABC 4 Kids website and on ABC iview.

ABC TV negotiated the online rights as part of its move to expand the children’s online offerings. 

The Play School episodes will be available to view from May 2 and will be uploaded on a regular basis to abc.net.au/abc4kids/video  and  abc.net.au/iview.

ABC TV’s Head of Children’s programming and Acquisitions, Barbara Uecker said “ABC Children’s TV is thrilled that Australians will have 24-hour access to one of their favourite preschool shows as well as being able to watch it weekdays on ABC2 and ABC1.”

Play School celebrates its 45th birthday on July 18 and will commemorate the milestone with four weeks of new episodes in July, along with unveiling new opening titles. 

The Play School website will also be revamped as part of the July birthday celebrations.

Play School’s current presenters include: Karen Pang, Justine Clarke, Andrew McFarlane, Emma Palmer, Jay Laga’aia, Leah Vandenberg, Rhys Muldoon, Georgie Parker, Alex Papps, Teo Gebert, Sofya Gollan, Luke Carroll, Jolene Anderson, Hugh Sheridan, Essie Davis and Abi Tucker.

From May 2 Play School screens weekdays at 9.30am and 4.30pm on ABC 4 Kids on ABC2 and 3.05pm on ABC1.

Due to popular demand ABC2 will repeat the hit two-part series Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo this Sunday (April 24) at 8.30pm – in a 180 minute marathon screening!

The program won its timeslot on Sunday and Monday nights and became the highest rating program on ABC1 this year to date.

On Sunday night part one won its timeslot with a five city average audience of 1.2 million and a 22.3% share.

Last night part two won its timeslot with a five city average audience of 1.34 million and a 24.5% share.  

It was the second highest rating program last night and the top rating program in Sydney and in Melbourne.

ABC iView recorded 17,028 plays of Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo (as of end of Monday, April 18).

The series stars Gold Logie Award-nominee Asher Keddie as Ita Buttrose, Rob Carlton as Kerry Packer and Tony Barry as Sir Frank Packer, plus Jessica Tovey, Matt Day, Ian Meadows, Maeve Dermody, Annie Maynard, Cheree Cassidy, Octavia Barron-Martin and Olivia Pigeot.

Paper Giants: The Birth Cleo was produced by John Edwards and Karen Radzyner, directed by Daina Reid and written by Christopher Lee.

SBS has announced the appointment of a new managing director in Michael Ebeid.

Ebeid, currently Executive Director of Corporate Strategy and Marketing at ABC, will take over from the departing Shaun Brown who has been in the role since 2006.

Before he joined ABC, Ebeid was Director of Commercial Operations for the Consumer Division at Optus Communications.

SBS Chairman, Mr Joe Skrzynski, said: “Mr Ebeid brings to SBS a special set of personal and professional skills, with the right blend of operational and strategic experience from his twenty-four years in the Media, Telecommunications and IT technology sectors which represent the three arms of the convergence changing the entertainment and information landscape in Australia.

“He is extremely well suited to lead SBS in its mission to promote social harmony by helping migrants to settle and participate fully in Australian society, and assisting all Australians to understand and appreciate the benefits of cultural diversity.

“As SBS moves into its fourth decade, its Charter is more vitally relevant than ever. Not only is our population manifestly more complex and diverse, but today there are three million Australians whose first language is not English and that is twice as many as when we were first formed.”

Source: TV Tonight

The ABC will host a live one-hour televised debate between the NSW Premier Kristina Keneally and the Leader of the Opposition Barry O’Farrell at 7.30pm on Friday, March 18, just one week before voting day in the state election. The debate will be broadcast on the ABC’s new ‘7.30’ program.

Hosted by presenter and journalist Quentin Dempster, the debate will be broadcast on ABC1 (in NSW) and nationally on ABC News 24 at 7.30pm AEDT.

The ABC’s Director of News Kate Torney said, “I am delighted that we can facilitate this major engagement for New South Wales electors in prime time.”

After weeks of contentious discussion the leaders have just reached agreement with the ABC on the timing for the debate.

Quentin Dempster said, “March the 18th was our preference from the start.  It should be about the last word from the leaders before voters go to the polls.   

All cards and policy platforms will be on the table by the 18th and it should be the climax of the campaign”.

Premier Keneally originally offered February 11.

 At no stage did Mr O’Farrell decline debating the Premier but in spite of his offering alternative dates, February 25 and March 4, no consensus could then be reached. 

“I am delighted that both leaders have now accepted our suggestion to engage with voters at the very time they are thinking about their decisions.   With the polls indicating there may be a change of government in New South Wales the debate promises to be dynamic, informative and intense.  It will cover the economy, transport, planning, health, education, the environment, law and order, service delivery and governance,” Mr Dempster said.

Visit the ABC’s Election website  for Antony Green’s Election Preview and all the information on electorates and candidates, leading up to NSW Votes 2011.

ABC’s Head of Continuous News Gaven Morris today announced the appointment of Lyndal Curtis to the ABC News 24 Political Editor’s position, replacing Chris Uhlmann.

Lyndal Curtis has reported on Federal politics for nearly twenty years. She began working in Parliament House in 1988, and has worked for the ABC since 1993 in Radio News, Radio Current Affairs, TV News, Radio National and ABC Online.

Lyndal has reported on five Prime Ministers, seven elections and more budgets than she cares to count. Lyndal has reported on Prime Ministerial and Ministerial visits to a number of different countries ranging from the United States to Kiribati. She has also escaped politics to report on the Atlanta and Sydney Olympic Games.

Lyndal spent five years running the Canberra ABC Newsroom as State Editor and returned to political reporting in May 2008 as Chief Political Correspondent for AM, The World Today and PM.

Lyndal will start her new role as Political Editor on 7 March.

As part of her new role, Lyndal will also be hosting ABC News 24’s Capital Hill program which will be on air from Monday, March 21.

In 2011, Capital Hill will be daily, with a 15 minute program Monday to Thursday and a half hour program each Friday.

An ABC news crew covering the unrest in the Egyptian capital of Cairo have been caught up in the violence in the city’s streets.

Pro-government supporters surrounded the crew and threw punches and kicks at the ABC crew, as Mark Corcoran explains.

“We were re-entering Tahrir Square which is the centre of the anti-Mubarak movement. 

“And literally as we turned a corner we walked straight into the opening waves of the violence today – just caught between the two lines throwing rocks, bottles, sticks at that stage. And from there we took shelter behind a tank. 

“The soldiers were doing absolutely nothing – they were just sort of standing by watching the two sides go at each other.

“And then we’re not which group, but we were basically pushed aside up an alley and then set upon – basically attacked – by one mob, while members – other individuals attempted to shield us while we beat a retreat.

Corcoran believes the reason behind the attack was simply down to the resentment against foreign media.

“I think we were targeted basically because from the pro-Mubarak faction there’s resentment against the foreign press.

“I think a lot of that centres on what they regard as the critical views of Al Jazeera’s reporting – but that’s now broadened into general resentment against all foreign press.”

Source: ABC

Sara Ramsden, the creative force behind the commissioning of such factual hits as 1900 House and Scrapheap Challenge joins ABC TV as a Factual Entertainment Consultant.

Her short term appointment follows recent announcements by ABC TV launching factual entertainment initiatives with the South Australian Film Corporation and ScreenWest. These initiatives involve independent producers in South Australia and Western Australia developing brand new factual series for family audiences on ABC1 and ABC2.

Sara brings a breadth of experience and expertise to ABC TV most recently having consulted on Jamie’s Dream School for Channel 4 and Executive Producing Jamie’s Fish Supper.

Sara has worked as Creative Director for the factual arm of EndemolUK, as Channel Controller for Sky One, Head of Events & Factual Entertainment for Channel 4, and Head of Science and Education for Channel 4 where she personally came up with the idea that resulted in the breakthrough format 1900 House. In addition, she helped to develop Scrapheap Challenge, a series that continues to delight audiences on ABC2.

Sara will be running factual entertainment workshops with successful South Australian and Western Australian applicants, and developing and overseeing the commissioning of series from both states.

Jennifer Collins, Head of Factual said “Sara’s unique experience and skill in working with producers and developing and creating new Factual Entertainment formats is exceptional. Through our initiatives in South Australia and Western Australia we are aiming to develop a new slate of factual entertainment series for ABC audiences and with Sara at the helm we look forward to working with independent producers to break into new factual territory”.

Sara will be working with ABC TV until April, starting next week February 7.

ABC TV and ScreenWest announce a new $1.6million initiative aimed at developing original ideas for series of factual programs, to be produced out of Western Australia, and to air on ABC1 and ABC2 in prime-time.

Jennifer Collins, ABC TV Head of Factual said, “We are looking forward to commissioning a number of short series from the West. Up to 16 half hours in total, they’ll be stories that celebrate the unique WA environment – whether set in the desert, beach, bush or in a mine. We’re looking for larger than life characters – most importantly, we’re looking for series that resonate with family audiences. “

Culture and the Arts Minister John Day said, “Western Australia has a long history of producing excellent factual programs through partnerships with the ABC and with ScreenWest support.  Together, we look forward to bringing more quality programming from the West to viewers around the country.”

Western Australian producers are invited to go to www.screenwest.wa.gov.au for further details.

Three Boys Dreaming – Tuesday, February 1st at 8.30pm on ABC1 

A feature length documentary (85”) that follows three indigenous boys (from Syd/Perth/Tas) as they chase their dream of becoming professional AFL footballers. Filmed over four years it’s an emotional roller coaster ride – and much more than a film about sport – it’s about life, and life in Australia today. 

The Trophy Room – Wednesday, February 2nd at 8.30pm on ABC1 

Australia’s most affable armchair athlete Peter Helliar’s special guests include Olympic golden girl, Cathy Freeman; former Wimbledon champion, Pat Cash; muso (and keen rugby league fan), Pete Murray; and comedian Dave Thornton. 

2011 Women’s Australian Open Golf – Thursday, Feb 3rd – Sunday, Feb 6th on ABC1 

The world’s elite female golf players will converge on Melbourne from February 3 – 6 for the nation’s most prestigious golf tournament for women. ABC TV Sports presenter, Stephanie Brantz, hosts ABC1’s exclusive four-day coverage from the Commonwealth Golf Club, Melbourne. 

Indigenous Allstars vs Richmond Tigers – Friday, February 4th at 8.30pm on ABC1 

Australian Rules football gets prime time coverage for the first time on ABC1 when the Indigenous Allstars tackle the Richmond Tigers. This unique cultural and sporting event pitches the nation’s best Indigenous Australian rules footballers up against AFL team, the Richmond Tigers, under lights in Alice Springs. Please note: new date and venue 

Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) – Saturday, February 5th at 1pm on ABC1 

The stakes get higher each week as the WNBL season approaches finals time. Today, the Canberra Capitals meet Queensland’s Logan Thunder in a must win match for both teams. 

W-League semi-finals – highlights Sat. & Sun. February 5th & 6th at 6pm on ABC1 

ABC TV will telecast all the highlights from the W-League semi-finals. On Saturday, Brisbane Roar host Canberra United at Ballymore Stadium, while on Sunday, Sydney FC tackle fierce rivals Melbourne Victory at Campbelltown. Sydney have a chance to make it not only back-to-back W-League Finals but a chance to make sporting history with the W-League’s Premier’s and Championship double following their double success in season two. 

ABC TV and the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) tonight announced a new $2.1 million initiative aimed at developing original ideas for a series of factual programs, to be produced out of South Australia, and to air on ABC1 in prime-time.

Jennifer Collins, ABC TV Head of Factual said “It is a pleasure to be working with SAFC on this initiative, entitled The FACTory. We are looking forward to commissioning up to 20 half hour programs from South Australia – a brand new slate of factual entertainment that the whole family can enjoy”.

The FACTory complements and builds on FilmLab and TV MiniLab, creative development strategies designed to support the growth of the South Australian film and television sector.

Minister John Hill, South Australian Acting Minister for the Arts, said “Along with Adelaide Studios’ opening in mid 2011 this sends a strong national message that South Australia is focused on and ready for a strengthening of production activity in the state.

The ABC’s involvement in this initiative shows their confidence in the South Australian industry to deliver.”

Richard Harris, SAFC’s Chief Executive, said “This initiative represents a wonderful opportunity for South Australian production companies. Instead of being commissioned for one-off programs, successful local production companies will be able to develop longer factual series, which will air on ABC1.

“This really takes their businesses to the next level, and once again, demonstrates SAFC’s commitment to getting South Australian talent out there, on the bigger stage.”

South Australian producers are invited to go to www.safilm.com.au for further details. Applications close on January 17, 2011.