Australian Broadcasting Corporation facts for kids
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Formerly
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Australian Broadcasting Commission (1932–1983) |
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| Statutory corporation | |
| Industry | Mass media |
| Predecessors | |
| Founded | 1 July 1932 |
| Founder | Lyons government |
| Headquarters | ABC Ultimo Centre,
Sydney, New South Wales
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Australia
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Area served
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Worldwide |
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Key people
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| Products |
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| Services |
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Operating income
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$1.247 billion (2022–23) |
| $60.960 million (2022-23) | |
| Total assets | $1.994 billion (2022-23) |
| Total equity | $1.171 billion (2022-23) |
| Owner | Australian Government |
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Number of employees
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3,805 (2022–23) |
| Divisions |
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The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is Australia's national public broadcaster. It's like a big media company owned by the Australian people. The ABC gets most of its money from the Australian Government. It is managed by a special board chosen by the government.
The ABC is designed to be independent from politics. This means it can report the news fairly without being told what to say by the government. It has rules to follow, like publishing yearly reports. The ABC also earns some money from its business side, ABC Commercial, which helps pay for its shows.
The ABC started on 1 July 1932. Back then, it was called the Australian Broadcasting Commission. It took over from a private company that used to provide radio shows. The ABC was given special powers to gather news and stay independent. It was similar to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
At first, the ABC was paid for by people buying radio licences. But Australia is a big country with not many people, so this wasn't enough money. By 1949, the government decided to fund the ABC directly. Licence fees were still collected until 1947, but they went into the government's general money. The ABC got its current name in 1983.
Today, the ABC offers radio, television, online, and mobile services. You can find it all over Australia, in cities and regional areas. ABC Radio has four national networks and many local stations. It also has digital stations and an international service called Radio Australia. ABC Television has five free channels and the ABC iview streaming service. News and current affairs are made by the news team for all platforms.
A fun fact: The ABC's postal address in every Australian capital city is PO Box 9994. This is a tribute to the amazing batting average of Australian cricketer Sir Donald Donald Bradman.
Contents
What is the ABC's History?
How the ABC Started
Before the ABC, public radio stations began in state capitals from 1924. The government then created the National Broadcasting Service in 1928. This service took over the main radio licences. A private company, the Australian Broadcasting Company, was hired to provide shows for this new national broadcaster.
Running the National Broadcasting Service became tricky for the government. So, on 1 July 1932, the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) was created. This new organisation took over the old company and ran the national radio service.
People started calling the ABC "Aunty." This was similar to how the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was nicknamed. The ABC's structure and shows were largely based on the BBC. Many programs not made in Australia were bought from the BBC.
A very important person on the ABC Board was Dick Boyer. He became chairman in 1945. He is known for starting the Boyer Lectures in 1959. He worked well with Sir Charles Moses, the general manager, and made sure the ABC stayed independent.
The ABC During War Times
In 1942, a new law was passed. It gave the ABC the power to decide when to broadcast political speeches. If a minister wanted to tell the ABC what to broadcast, they had to write it down. This power had to be mentioned in the ABC's yearly report. This helped the ABC stay independent.
The ABC from 1950 to 2000
The ABC started showing television programs in 1956. The first TV station, ABN-2 in Sydney, was opened by Prime Minister Robert Menzies. James Dibble read the very first TV news. At first, news had to be sent to each city by a special machine, then prepared and read separately.
In 1975, Australia started broadcasting in colour TV. Within ten years, the ABC was using satellites. This made it much easier to send shows across the country.
Also in 1975, the ABC launched a 24-hour rock music station in Sydney called 2JJ (Double Jay). This later grew into the national Triple J network. A year later, a national classical music network started on the FM radio band. It was first called ABC-FM, known for its "fine music."
The ABC faced budget cuts starting in 1976 and continuing until 1998. The biggest cuts happened between 1985 and 1996.
In 1983, the organisation's name changed to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Even though the government owns and funds the ABC, it is still editorially independent. This means it makes its own decisions about what to broadcast. The ABC also changed its structure, splitting into separate TV and radio parts. Local show production greatly increased from 1986 to 1991.
Live TV broadcasts of some parliamentary sessions began in 1990. By the early 1990s, all major ABC channels started broadcasting 24 hours a day.
In 1991, the ABC helped launch the popular Australian children's music group, The Wiggles.
The ABC's Sydney radio and orchestra teams moved to a new building, the ABC Ultimo Centre, in 1991. In Melbourne, the ABC Southbank Centre was finished in 1994.
In 1992, the Australian children's TV show Bananas in Pyjamas first aired.
The international TV service ABC Australia started in 1993. At the same time, Radio Australia reached more countries. However, funding cuts in 1997 led to fewer staff and shows for Radio Australia.
The ABC Multimedia Unit was created in July 1995 to manage the new ABC website, which launched in August.
The ABC from 2000 to 2010
In 2001, digital television began. The ABC's multimedia team was renamed "ABC New Media." It became a main part of the ABC, like TV and radio.
In 2002, the ABC launched ABC Asia Pacific. This replaced an older international TV service. A digital radio service, ABC DiG, also started in November that year.
On 8 February 2008, ABC TV was renamed ABC1. A new channel for children, ABC3, was announced and funded by the government in June. A new online streaming service, ABC iview, launched in July of the same year.
ABC News 24, now called ABC News, is a 24-hour news channel. It started on 22 July 2010. On 20 July 2014, ABC1 went back to its original name, ABC TV.
In November 2014, the ABC faced a funding cut of $254 million over five years. This meant the ABC had to reduce its staff by about 400 people. Some regional and local shows were cut, and the Adelaide TV production studio closed.
In November 2016, the ABC announced that ABC News 24 and its online news would all be called ABC News. This change happened on 10 April 2017.
Between July 2017 and June 2018, the ABC changed how it was organised. The TV and Radio departments were no longer separate. Instead, teams now create different types of shows (like comedy, kids' programs, news) for TV, radio, and online.
There were some leadership changes in 2018. The ABC's managing director, Michelle Guthrie, was dismissed. The ABC Chair, Justin Milne, also resigned after concerns about political interference.
In February 2019, Ita Buttrose was named the new ABC Chair. David Anderson became the managing director in May 2019.
On 5 June 2019, police searched the ABC headquarters. They were looking for articles from 2017 about alleged misconduct by Australian special forces in Afghanistan. The ABC fought this in court, but the case was dismissed. Later, the police suggested charging a journalist, but the case was dropped in October 2020.
The ABC in the 2020s
In June 2020, the ABC announced it needed to cut 229 jobs and some programs. This was due to a freeze on its budget. Over five years, 737 jobs were lost, but the total number of staff only dropped by 313 because the ABC also hired new people.
In June 2021, the ABC planned to move about 300 staff to offices in Parramatta. The goal was to have 75% of journalists and producers out of the Ultimo building by 2025. This move helps reduce costs and earn more money from renting out space in the city.
In December 2021, the ABC announced it would create over 50 new jobs in regional Australia. This was thanks to agreements with digital platforms.
In May 2024, the ABC started moving from its Ultimo office to the new Parramatta office. The first show broadcast from the new Parramatta studio was ABC Radio Sydney Mornings.
What is the ABC Logo?
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The ABC logo is one of the most famous symbols in Australia. In the early days of TV, the ABC used Lissajous curves as patterns between shows. In 1963, the ABC held a competition for staff to design a new logo.
In 1965, ABC designer Bill Kennard created a design. It looked like a Lissajous curve, which is a pattern made by electronic signals. The letters "ABC" were added, and it became the official logo. Bill Kennard received £25 for his design.
On 19 October 1974, the logo was updated. The lines were made thicker, and it could now be used in colour. It also had an "over and under" effect, showing how the lines crossed.
To celebrate its 70th birthday in 2002, the ABC adopted a new silver, 3D logo. However, the classic 1974 logo started to be used again from 2014. The most recent change happened in February 2018, with a new look and the slogan Yours. The 2002 silver logo is no longer used.
How is the ABC Managed?
The ABC is managed by a board of directors. This board includes a managing director and five to seven other directors. The managing director is chosen by the board for up to five years. The rules for choosing directors are in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983.
Sometimes, people have criticised the government's choices for the ABC Board. They say that some chosen members have strong political connections.
In 2008, a new system was announced for choosing board members. It was meant to be based on merit, meaning people would be chosen for their skills and experience. However, in 2018, many board members were still chosen directly by the Communications Minister, even if they weren't recommended by the panel.
As of March 2024[update] the board members are:
| Name | Role | Start of term | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kim Williams | Chair | 7 March 2024 | Term ends 6 March 2029 |
| David Anderson | Managing director | 6 May 2019 | First term ended 1 July 2023 Second term ends 30 June 2028 |
| Laura Tingle | Staff-elected director | 1 May 2023 | Term ends 30 April 2028 |
| Nicolette Maury | Director | 16 October 2023 | Term ends 15 October 2028 |
| Peter Lewis | Director | 2 October 2014 | First term ended 1 October 2019 Second term ends 1 October 2024 |
| Georgie Somerset | Director | 23 February 2017 | Term ends 22 Feb 2022 |
| Louise McElvogue | Director | 16 October 2023 | Term ends 15 October 2028 |
| Mario D'Orazio | Director | 13 May 2021 | Term ends 12 May 2026 |
| Peter Tonagh | Deputy Chair | 13 May 2021 | Term ends 12 May 2026 |
As of July 2020, the ABC had 3,730 employees.
How is the ABC Funded?
The ABC mainly gets its money from the Australian government. It also earns some money from its business activities and shops. The ABC's funding is reviewed every three years.
Before 1948, the ABC was funded by radio licence fees. These fees were abolished in 1973. This was because almost everyone had a TV or radio, so public funding was seen as a fairer way to pay for government broadcasters.
In 2014, the ABC had to absorb $254 million in government budget cuts.
In 2018, the ABC's operating funding was frozen, saving the government $83.7 million over three years. This meant less money for the ABC when you consider inflation. However, the ABC has also shown that its funding from taxpayers actually increased by 10% between 1998 and 2021.
In 2023, the ABC moved to a five-year funding term instead of three years. This was a promise made by the Labor government.
You might hear the phrase "where your 8 cents a day goes." This refers to the cost of the ABC per person per day. In 2007–08, it was estimated to be 7.1 cents a day.
What Services Does the ABC Provide?
ABC Radio Services
The ABC runs 54 local radio stations. It also has four national networks and an international service called Radio Australia. In 2002, DiG Radio (now Double J) launched on digital platforms, leading to stations like ABC Country and ABC Jazz.
ABC Local Radio is the main radio station in each area. There are 54 stations, and they all have a similar style. They play local entertainment, news, talk shows, music, and sports. They also broadcast some national shows like AM and PM.
As of June 2021[update] the ABC operates 15 radio networks, available on AM, FM, digital platforms, and the internet:
- Radio National (RN): A general station with over 60 special interest shows each week. Topics include music, comedy, science, arts, and current affairs.
- ABC NewsRadio (ABC News on Radio): A 24/7 news service. It broadcasts federal parliament meetings and news updates every 15 minutes. It uses news from the ABC, Radio Australia, BBC World Service, and other international broadcasters.
- ABC Classic: A station focused on classical music, formerly known as ABC Classic FM. It also plays some jazz and world music.
- Triple J: A radio network for young people, especially those aged 18–35. It focuses on alternative and independent music, especially from Australian artists.
The ABC also has several stations only available online and on digital platforms:
- ABC Classic 2: A sister station to ABC Classic, featuring Australian artists. Only available online.
- Double J: A Triple J sister station for an older audience.
- Triple J Unearthed: A Triple J sister station that plays music from unsigned and independent Australian artists.
- Triple J Hottest: A Triple J sister station playing songs from the past 30 years of the Triple J Hottest 100 countdowns.
- ABC Jazz: A station dedicated to jazz music from Australia and around the world.
- ABC Country: A station playing only country music, focusing on Australian country music.
- ABC Grandstand: Now part of ABC Sport since November 2020.
- ABC Extra: A temporary station for special events.
- ABC Kids: Children's programs, a sister station to the ABC Kids television channel.
There is also ABC Radio Australia, which is the ABC's international radio station.
ABC Listen App
The ABC Radio app was launched in 2012. It was replaced by the ABC Listen app in September 2017. This app includes 45 ABC radio stations and audio networks.
ABC Television Services
The ABC runs five national television channels:
- ABC TV: This is the ABC's main TV service. It gets most of the funding for TV and shows new comedy, drama, documentaries, and news and current affairs. Each state and territory has a local news bulletin at 7 pm every night.
- ABC TV Plus: Launched in 2005, this channel shows comedy and some repeats from ABC TV. It broadcasts daily from 7:30 pm to around 3 am. It shares its broadcast time with the ABC Kids programming block, which runs from 5 am to 7:30 pm.
- ABC Me: This channel became a full channel on 4 December 2009. It broadcasts from 6 am to around 10 pm on weekdays and 6 am to 2 am on weekends. It has a wide range of shows for young people aged 6–15, especially 8–12 year olds.
- ABC Kids: This is a block of children's programs for ages 0 to 5. ABC Kids broadcasts during ABC TV Plus downtime, from 5 am to 7:30 pm daily.
- ABC News: This is a 24-hour news channel. It features programs from ABC News and Current Affairs, some shows from the BBC World News channel, coverage of Parliament's Question Time, documentaries, and election coverage.
The ABC's main office in Sydney helps send programs across the country. But the ABC Television network also has eight state and territory stations. Each is in its capital city and supported by smaller repeaters:
These eight ABC stations also show local programs. Besides the nightly 7 pm news, they used to broadcast weekly state editions of 7.30 on Friday evenings and live sports on Saturday afternoons in most areas.
There is also ABC Australia, which is the ABC's international TV service.
ABC Online and Digital Services
ABC Online is the name for the ABC's online services. This includes many websites for ABC News, its TV channels, ABC radio, podcasts, mobile apps, and video-on-demand through ABC iView.
ABC Online officially launched on 14 August 1995. At first, it used money from the TV and radio budgets, but later got its own funding. The ABC provided live online election coverage for the first time in 1996. Limited news content started in 1997.
In 2001, the New Media division became New Media and Digital Services. This new division was responsible for developing content for digital platforms like digital television. It also managed the ABC's two digital TV services, Fly TV and the ABC Kids channel, until they closed in 2003.
In December 2004, the ABC launched its first podcasts. By mid-2006, the ABC was a leader in podcasting, with many shows being downloaded hundreds of thousands of times each week.
In February 2007, the New Media & Digital Services division was changed. It was replaced by a new Innovation division. This team managed ABC Online and looked into new technologies for the ABC.
In 2008, there was a report that some ABC Online mobile sites might carry advertising. However, these were to be run by ABC Commercial and would have a different logo from the main, ad-free website.
In 2015, the Innovation Division was replaced with the Digital Network Division.
In December 2019, a new ABC homepage was launched. ABC News is one of Australia's biggest and most visited web sites. It has been a top-ranked website in Australia for several years.
In June 2023, the ABC announced a five-year plan. It aims to move more of its resources from radio and television to improve and promote its digital platforms.
ABC International Services
ABC International handles the ABC's operations around the world. This includes the international radio station Radio Australia, the Asia-Pacific TV channel ABC Australia, and its ABC International Development (ABCID) branch.
In June 2012, Lynley Marshall became the CEO of ABC International. The goal was for Radio Australia, ABC Australia, and ABC News to work more closely together.
There were worries about job losses in this division after big budget cuts in 2014. Also, a large contract with the Department of Foreign Affairs ended early.
On 24 May 2021, Claire Gorman was appointed to manage both the International Strategy and the International Development teams.
ABC Australia is an international satellite television service. It is funded by advertising and grants from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It is aimed at the Asia-Pacific region and shows a mix of English-language programs, including entertainment, sport, and news.
Radio Australia is an international satellite and internet radio service. Its broadcasts are aimed at South-East Asia and the Pacific Islands. It also broadcasts in different languages spoken in these regions, like Mandarin, Indonesian, and Vietnamese. Before 2017, Radio Australia used to broadcast on short-wave radio signals.
ABC International Development, or ABCID, helps develop media in other countries. It promotes journalism that serves the public interest and works with local media in the region. ABCID employs local people in Papua New Guinea and many Pacific countries. The team provides training and support to partner organisations.
How Independent is the ABC?
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 states that the ABC Board must "maintain the independence and integrity of the Corporation." It also says that the ABC's news and information must be "accurate and impartial" based on journalism standards.
The ABC's rules on impartiality mean it should not take sides. It is committed to basic democratic principles like freedom of speech and fairness. The ABC aims for "a balance that follows the weight of evidence, fair treatment, open-mindedness and opportunities over time for principal relevant perspectives on matters of contention to be expressed."
The ABC also has a policy on diversity. This means it should show content that covers many subjects from different viewpoints. It should reflect different experiences and be presented in various ways. However, this does not mean every opinion gets equal time.
What is ABC Commercial?
ABC Commercial is the business part of the ABC. It started in 1974 to sell products related to the ABC's activities. Its goal is to "create, market and retail high quality consumer products which reflect and extend the scope of the ABC's activities."
ABC Commercial includes ABC Music, a top independent record label. It also has ABC Events, which organises concerts, and publishing activities like ABC Books and ABC Magazines.
The ABC Shop Online closed at the end of 2018, along with the in-store ABC Centres. In early 2019, ABC Commercial became an independent business unit of the ABC.
In the financial year 2018–2019, ABC Commercial made a profit of $4.4 million. This money was used to help create new content.
The ABC Studios and Media Production rents out some of the ABC's studios and sound stages. These are in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth.
What About ABC Orchestras?
Before 1935, all music on the ABC was performed live. So, the ABC created orchestras in each state. It also had choruses and dance bands. This was called the ABC Concert Music Division.
In 1997, the ABC separated its orchestras into their own companies. These companies worked with a service company called Symphony Australia. On 1 January 2007, the orchestras became fully independent companies. The six state orchestras are:
- Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
- Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
- Queensland Symphony Orchestra
- Sydney Symphony Orchestra
- Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
- West Australian Symphony Orchestra
What are ABC Friends?
ABC Friends are independent groups in each state and territory. They are part of a national organisation called ABC Friends National Inc., which started in 2016. The first groups were formed in 1976 by people worried about government cuts to the ABC's budget.
The main goals of ABC Friends National are:
- To make sure the ABC gets enough money to keep being a national public broadcaster. They want it to promote Australian culture and diversity.
- To ensure the ABC remains independent from government and business interests.
See Also
In Spanish: Australian Broadcasting Corporation para niños
- History of broadcasting in Australia
- Timeline of Australian radio
Images for kids
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Australian Broadcasting Corporation logo
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Lissajous figure on an oscilloscope, on which Bill Kennard designed the current logo
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The silver 2002 logo, which was used by the corporation from 2002 to 2018.
