ABC

Following ABC TV’s current reorganisation, the network announced today the appointment of three senior positions.

Justin Holdforth has been appointed Head of Sport & Events. Justin had been acting in this role since mid 2009. Justin has over 23 years experience with the ABC and has worked across many programs in a variety of roles.

Prior to acting as Head Sport & Events, Justin was Executive Producer Sport & Events where he was responsible for managing the national sports slate including the Beijing Paralympics, W-League Football, The Hopman Cup and Women’s Open Golf. Justin will report to the Head of Factual and begins in the role immediately.

Debbie Lee has been appointed Head of Comedy. Since July 2009, Debbie has been Acting Head of Comedy responsible for programs such as Lowdown, The Librarians, Angry Boys, Review with Myles Barlow and John Safran’s Race Relations.

Prior to this she was an Executive Producer in the Arts & Entertainment Department. Debbie joined the ABC in early 2008, having previously worked for SBS where she was a Commissioning Editor for Drama and Comedy. Debbie takes up her role on August 2nd and will report to the Head of Fiction.

Natalie Edgar has been appointed Deputy Controller ABC TV and will work across ABC1, ABC2 and, in terms of inventory management, ABC News24. Natalie has been with ABC TV since 2007 in the role of Programmer ABC2. She has grown the audience and reach of ABC2 during her tenure, and has overseen the establishment of ABC2 as a key channel in the suite of ABC TV network channels.

Natalie has now been given an expanded role in the Television Division and will be working closely with the Controllers of ABC1 and ABC2. Natalie will begin in this role on August 9th and will report to the Controller of ABC1.

Arul Baskaran has today been appointed the new Controller of ABC TV’s Multiplatform Production department.

Arul has been acting in the role for the last 14 months and will officially take up his role on August 9.

Prior to joining the ABC in 2004, Arul worked in New York and Europe for digital agencies with a focus on broadband services and interactive production. He holds an MA in Communications from the University of Pennsylvania.

Kim Dalton, Director of ABC TV said “Over the past 14 months Arul has contributed to strategically positioning the ABC as the leading Australian broadcaster in the area of the multiplatform delivery of its content – on the web, on wireless devices, and increasingly in the mobile space.

“Arul also has a strong and award-winning background in the development, design and creation of web content and online applications. In this new role of Controller of Multiplatform, he will ensure that the ABC continues to lead in this area and that more of our content is made even more available to our audiences.”

As Controller of Multiplatform, Arul is responsible for ABC TV’s strategy and execution around four areas: internet broadcasting; convergent production; development of innovative new services, tools and applications; and creating websites and social communities around ABC TV content on the Internet, hand held devises and on emerging platforms.

He oversees Australia’s leading video podcasting service, as well as ABC TV’s acclaimed iView on-demand internet television service.

The Multiplatform team’s projects have won a number of interactive awards both in Australia and overseas, including the 2008 Australian Interactive Industry (AIMIA) Award for Best Cross-Platform Content.

ABC managing director Mark Scott is unhappy with the way ABC handled the breaking news last week of Julia Gillard’s rise to power and has ordered a review of how the broadcaster will manage such events in the future.

Scott admits ABC could have done a better job in bringing the coverage of what was a major Australian event to the viewers.

“I think there were some communication problems, some issues with the technology and we’ll review those protocols. It’s inevitable when you have a big new enterprise like that,” he said yesterday.

The big new enterprise he speaks of is a brand new digital play-out centre in western Sydney which will handle all of ABC’s channel’s in every city.

It is believed the new technology is to blame for the technical problems the channel suffered during its coverage last week.

“We should have done better, we’ll do better in the future and we’ve learnt from the experience,” Scott said.

However Scott sent out an email to ABC staff on Friday night saying how happy he was with the team’s work on the event: “From Wednesday night we were able to showcase the very best of the ABC in action — on radio, television and online.”

Former ABC director Janet Albrechtsen was quoted in The Australian yesterday as saying that Sky New Australia had become the default national broadcaster on the night the story broke.

But Scott has sidelined this claim, saying that Sky didn’t do any better than ABC in covering the story.

“Sky did a totally different job on the night,” he said. “It’s an unfair point of comparison frankly. I think a fair point of comparison would be if we had our 24-hour news channel running. You’ve got to remember the ABC broke the story.”

Source: The Australian

ABC HD is gone to make way for the ABC’s new 24 hour news channel – ABC News 24. The new channel will be broadcast in HD, meaning that the existing ABC HD – which currently is mostly a simulcast of ABC1 (NSW) will be no more.

Digital channel 20 – where ABC HD lived is now a standard definition simulcast of ABC1. When the new channel launches, channel 20 will disappear and the new channel will appear on digital channel 24, in HD.

The free to air arrangement of the ABC channels will be as follows:
2 & 21 ABC1 – ABC’s main channel, with a variety of programming throughout the day, over the full 24 hours.
22 ABC2 – Pre school programming from 9am – 6pm daily, general entertainment including some ABC1 repeats until 2am daily.
23 ABC3 – Children’s programming, aimed at 6-14’s from 6am – 9pm daily
24 ABC News 24 – 24 hour news channel.

On Foxtel:
102 ABC1
126 ABC2
723 ABC3
202 ABC New 24.

From the ABC website:

What’s happening to ABC HD?
We are changing our HD channel in preparation for the launch of our new 24 hour news channel. This first stage of this change is to replace the HD channel with a SD (standard definition) broadcast of ABC1 (NSW). The second change will occur when ABC News 24 launches, at which time the ABC1 HD channel will be taken off air.

Why will the HD channel be removed?
The ABC only has a specific amount of digital spectrum in which to broadcast all its services. To launch ABC News 24, we need the spectrum currently being used to broadcast our ABC1 HD channel. To continue to watch ABC1 once ABC News 24 starts, please switch to channel 2 or 21 if you are watching free-to-air television or channel 102 for Foxtel and Austar.

Does this mean that ABC will not broadcast anything in HD?
ABC News 24 will be broadcast in HD. All other channels (ABC1, ABC2, ABC3) will be broadcast in SD (standard definition).

How will I find ABC News 24?
When it launches, ABC News 24 can be found on channel 24. If you are watching through Foxtel it will be channel 202 and if you subscribe through Austar, it will be channel 24. Optus viewers will not be able to access ABC News 24, as their service does not offer HD.

The Matildas historic triumph over North Korea in the final of the 2010 Women’s Asian Cup will be replayed on ABC1 on Sunday, June 6th at 10.35pm.

The full replay will include all the action from China’s Chengdu Sports Centre, including the extra time played in near monsoonal conditions, and Australia’s amazing penalty shootout victory over North Korea.

Australia’s hard-fought success on a sodden pitch in the small hours of Monday was a gutsy effort rewarded with a memorable victory and qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany next year.

Nerveless Sydney FC 18-year-old striker Kyah Simon converted the Matildas fifth spot kick in the deciding penalty shootout after both teams had played themselves into a standstill through 120 minutes of normal and extra time.

ABC sports broadcaster, Peter Wilkins, who provided commentary on Australia’s matches during the tournament said Australia’s “competitive instinct” was on show in the Matildas gripping penalty shootout win.

“The women’s game is unfavourably compared to the men’s game in many aspects,” he said. “But the Matildas are on a par in many areas, not the least confidence.”

The full match replay is also available on the ABC’s online catch up TV service, iView.

Brendan Dahill has been appointed the new Channel Controller for ABC1.  In this role, he will be responsible for the vision, branding and programming strategy for the channel.

Currently the Director of Television for BBC Worldwide Channels, Australasia, Mr Dahill has had an extensive career in television.  He began working in research with Carlton Television, going on to spend seven years with the BBC, including three and a half years as Head of Planning and Scheduling for BBC Three, before moving to Australia in 2004.

After four years as Head of Programming, Presentations and Promotions Australia and New Zealand for UKTV, Mr Dahill was appointed to his current position with BBC Worldwide Channels Australasia.

In this role, Mr Dahill has been responsible for production, programming, acquisitions, on-air promotions and presentation for the BBC’s suite of channels within Australasia – including UKTV, BBC HD, BBC Knowledge, BBC World News and CBeebies.

“I am delighted to be able to welcome Brendan to our management team at ABC TV,” says Director of Television, Kim Dalton.

“He brings a great depth of experience in the areas of programming, acquisition and commissioning along with a passion and commitment for Australian content, Australian audiences and Australian public broadcasting. His experience and success in recent years in the Australian multi-channel market along with his background in UK broadcasting makes him ideally suited for this new role at ABC TV.”

“I am thrilled to be joining the ABC at the start of this new and exciting chapter in its history.  I look forward to ABC1 being the home of choice for Australian audiences and also Australian producers and talent,” says Brendan Dahill on his appointment.

Mr Dahill will take up his new role at ABC TV in August, based in Sydney.

ABC’s catchup tv service, ABC iView will be accessible on Sony’s new range of BRAVIA internet connected televisions as well as the new range of Sony internet-connected Blu-Ray players which will launch mid next month.

The BRAVIA Internet Video deal comes at a time when the Australian launch of the new Doctor Who series, will premiere on ABC iView Friday night at midnight, before its ABC1 screening on Sunday 18 April. 

With more and more Australians turning to online to catchup and view television content, the collaboration between ABC TV and Sony to bring iView to their new range of televisions was a logical next step, says ABC Director of Television, Kim Dalton. “Australians enjoy using iView because it gives them convenience and choice. Now, those benefits can be accessed directly on a television screen, as well as on a computer or via the Sony PlayStation®3.”

“ABC is a leader in the delivery of web-based TV content to Australians and is an ideal partner for our BRAVIA Internet Video service,” said Paul Colley, Sony Australia’s Technology Communications Manager. “With an understanding of the value of catch-up TV services and pioneering with the debut of television programming online, ABC TV has demonstrated its desire to keep TV content relevant and engaging in Australia.”

ABC iView is Australia’s favourite catchup tv service. Currently more than 175 programs are available from ABC1, ABC2 and ABC3. In March, ABC iView recorded 471,000 visitors and 1.671 million visits. This was the highest number of monthly visits ever recorded. Top programs for March included The IT Crowd, Sanctuary, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, QI, Good Game, Total Drama Action, Hungry Beast, Peep Show and The Young Ones.

The BRAVIA Internet Video launch comes five months after ABC TV and Sony Computer Entertainment successfully worked together to offer ABC iView on Sony’s PlayStation 3 in November last year.

The move to deliver ABC iView content to internet-connected televisions requires a change in the way the content is formatted. This presents a number of challenges, which the iView team is working to resolve, but in the short-term, it means that some of the news content (7pm Bulletin, Four Corners, 7.30 Report, Insiders, Lateline, Lateline Business, Midday Report and Foreign Correspondent) will not be available at launch.

In addition, accessing ABC iView on a BRAVIA TV will be metered, even in those households which are connected to an ISP that offers unmetered access to ABC iView on a PC. Currently in Australia, no video content served from the internet to TVs and mobile devices is unmetered.

Finding out about the latest content available on iView will also be easier from today, with the launch of the ABC iView widget. The widget is a small, compact window that lists and lets you watch the latest programs available on iView. It can be embedded on any webpage such as a blog, social media site, website or even installed on a computer desktop. The widget allows users to see directly what new programs are available without having to visit the ABC iView homepage every day, and then launch playback.  The widget can be accessed from http://www.abc.net.au/widgets

The ABC have announced plans to restructure their management, based more on how the BBC in the UK do it, with separate management for each of their channels ABC1, ABC2, ABC3 and the soon to launch ABC News channel set to broadcast on the channel now called ABC HD.

Currently, ABC broadcasts pre school content on ABC2 from 9am – 6pm, as well as some pre shcool shows on ABC1. ABC3 broadcasts nothing but children’s TV from 6am – 9pm daily focussing on the 6-14 year olds. Some of these shows ALSO appear on ABC1. ABC4 or ABC HD (there is not officially a name for the new channel yet) is set to be nothing but news. ABC News breakfast currently seen on ABC2 from 6am-9am would most likely move to the News channel.

Like all networks, the ABC are limited in what they can show on ABC1 by classification rules at certain times of days as well as children’s programming requirements. While we still have people analogue, we will not see much of a change to the dynamics of programming offered by ABC1 regardless of whether the content is duplicated on ABC2 and ABC3 or even the new ABC News channel.

I often see in forums discussing the ABC calling for less or even no programming for children especially considering the advent of children’s programming on ABC2 and ABC3. Come 2014, when Australia is 100% digital, we will then see massive changes, not just to the ABC but to the other networks as well. No longer will they have the restrictions of what has to be shown on the “main” channel. And the whole idea of a main channel should then hopefully vanish in any case.

In 2014 we could well see no children’s programming on ABC1 with ABC2 and ABC3 left to carry that content. Then again, under new management structures, visions and directions, the end result could very different to what we have now. After all – they would then have four channels to play with.

The end result should be a better ABC for everyone with more options and content. The only problem then will be that no content will be in HD other than the news on the HD channel – well at least from the time the news channel launches later this year. But that too could change in the future.

The ABC are restructuring to take on a model of management more like that of the BBC in the UK. Under such a scheme, each channel would have its own channel manager who would be responsible for its branding, vision and strategy. With the ABC recently announcing that ABC HD would become a 24 hour news channel, that would mean there are four channels to be managed as such, together with multi platform content.

The new approach will reflect the changing dynamic of the ABC which used to have just the one channel and a management structure based on that.

“When I was appointed to the ABC four years ago, I was appointed to run a single linear TV channel,” Director of Television Kim Dalton told The Australian.

“Yet the underpinning structures to deliver all that are basically the ones that were put in place 20 to 30 years ago to service a single channel.

“We have currently got systems that are at times inefficient, at times dysfunctional and don’t allow us to build up our channels. That’s meant uncertainty about where functions are performed.”

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Sally Riley has been appointed to the newly-created position of Head of ABC TV’s Indigenous Department.

Currently Head of Screen Australia’s Indigenous Unit, Sally has been in this role for the last nine years. Over that period she has been integral to the development of Indigenous Australian filmmaking.

Her activities have covered film support, professional development of Indigenous filmmakers and international relations. She was one of the key drivers in Screen Australia’s new industry handbook, Pathways & Protocols – a filmmaker’s guide to working with Indigenous people, culture and concepts.

Sally has also been responsible for developing and overseeing the production of a significant body of short films, documentaries and feature films, and she has fostered the development of a new generation of exciting new Indigenous filmmakers. One of Sally’s major achievements during her time at Screen Australia was her contribution to the development, financing and production of Warwick Thornton’s award-winning film Samson & Delilah.

An experienced filmmaker, Sally’s film, Confessions of a Headhunter, won the AFI Award for Best Short Film in 2000.

A member of the Wiradjuri nation, Sally was awarded the Australian Public Service Medal in 2008 for her services to the development of initiatives that have increased the participation of Indigenous Australians in the film and television industry.

In her new role as Head of Indigenous at ABC TV, Sally will be responsible for developing and commissioning an expanded slate of prime-time drama and documentary as well as the ongoing production of the long-running weekly Indigenous magazine program Message Stick.

Director of ABC TV Kim Dalton said “During her time as Head of Screen Australia’s Indigenous Unit, Sally has made a major contribution to the development of a vibrant independent Indigenous screen sector. Sally has also been responsible for developing and financing an impressive body of short dramas, documentaries and feature films.

“Last year ABC TV was able to screen a number of these, including Warwick Thornton’s outstanding Samson and Delilah. However, it’s time ABC TV stepped up and engaged more actively both with this fundamental part of our Australian culture and the emerging group of exciting and impressive Indigenous program makers. There is nobody more qualified than Sally to lead this work and I am very excited about welcoming her to ABC TV.”

Sally Riley said “I’m extremely excited to be joining ABC TV and expanding on my work with our brilliant Indigenous filmmakers. A concerted push into TV has been on my mind for a while now, and the commitment from ABC TV is both forward thinking and inspired. I look forward to working with Kim Dalton and the other content heads to create new and engaging Indigenous programming for Australian audiences.”

Sally will take up her new position in May.