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annualreport1998–99
annual report1998–99
annualreport1998–991998–99
annual
report
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
AustralianBroadcasting
orporationA
nnualReport1998–99
ContentsCorporate Profile
• Mission statement 1• Significant events 1998–99 2• Programs and services 4• Organisation 9• Financial summary 10• Board of Directors 12• Executive 15• ABC History inside front cover
• ABC Charter inside back cover
This Annual Report 17
Many views — one ABC 18Connecting with our audiences 42The ABC — an integral part
of the industry 48Delivering a creative and efficient
organisation 51Symphony Australia Network 58
Corporate Plan summary 64
Financial statements 68
Program performance statement 95Appendices 96
1932 The Australian Broadcasting Commissionis established; first ABC broadcast on 12 radio stations
1946 National radio network system begins1946 Restructured Sydney Symphony
Orchestra is formed, followed byQueensland Symphony Orchestra(1947), Tasmanian SymphonyOrchestra (1948) Victorian and SouthAustralian Symphony Orchestras (1949)and West Australian SymphonyOrchestra (1950)
1947 The ABC’s independent news servicecommences
1950 Radio Australia becomes an ABC service1956 ABC Television begins broadcasting in
Sydney and Melbourne1960 ABC Television completes its expansion
to Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Hobart1962 ABC Television’s extension to 13 country
regions commences
1975 2JJ (later to become Triple J) commencesbroadcasting in Sydney
1975 ABC Television begins broadcasting incolour
1976 ABC–FM (now ABC Classic FM)commences broadcasting from Adelaide
1983 The Commission becomes a Corporation1985 Important changes to program formats
— Radio 1 emerges as the metropolitannetwork and Radio 2 is renamed RadioNational
1994 The ABC commences NewsRadio servicein State capital cities, Canberra andNewcastle broadcasting on theParliamentary and News Network
1995 ABC commences online services1996 Sydney Symphony Orchestra is established
as a wholly owned ABC subsidiarycompany (followed by the Melbourneand Adelaide orchestras in 1997 and theWest Australian orchestra in 1998)
History
ABC Annual Report
As Australia’s national broadcaster and major cultural organisation, the ABC’smission is to provide its audiences with the best programs, performances,products and services it can acquire and produce.
To achieve this the ABC will:
� transmit independent, comprehensive and innovative nationalbroadcasting services for all Australians;
� inform, entertain and contribute to a sense of national identity;
� reflect Australia’s regional and cultural diversity;
� broadcast programs of an educational nature;
� contribute towards the diversity of broadcasting services in Australia;
� broadcast programs that provide a balance between wide appeal andspecialised programs, making use of and being receptive to Australiancreative resources;
� provide an independent service for the broadcasting of news andinformation regarding local, Australian and overseas events;
� contribute to public debate concerning issues and matters ofimportance to Australians;
� encourage and promote the musical, dramatic and other performingarts in Australia;
� transmit broadcasting programs outside Australia; and
� utilise new production and delivery technologies to respond to audienceneeds.
The ABC may also:
� provide subscription broadcasting services and subscription and opennarrowcasting services.
Mission
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ABC Annual Report
Significant
1998—July• NAIDOC Week celebrations include outside
broadcasts of Stompem Ground fromBroome.
• Launch in Launceston of first Heywireproject, giving young people in regionaland rural Australia a voice.
• ABC Broken Hill celebrates fiftiethanniversary.
• Ten year anniversary of ABC Classics.• Passage of the Television Broadcasting
Services (Digital Conversion) Act 1998.
August• ABC for Kids Club launched by ABC
Enterprises.
September• ABC radio drama Rita’s Lullaby wins
prestigious Prix Italia.• ABC hosts inaugural National Poetry Day.• Audiostreaming NewsRadio Online begins
on trial basis.• Launch of Money, Markets and the Economy,
a co-production between Radio Australia,Radio National and Monash University.
• More than 90 hours of Kuala LumpurCommonwealth Games coverage broadcaston Local Radio.
• News Online records more than one millionaccesses in a week for first time.
• Two Fat Ladies tour Australia for ABCEnterprises.
October• Three ABC Science Media Fellowships,
funded by the Department of Industry,Science and Tourism, commence.
• ABC Classic FM celebrates sixtiethanniversary of Orson Welles’ radioadaptation of H.G. Wells’ The War of theWorlds.
• Extensive cross-media coverage of FederalElection.
• ABC journalists secure eleven WalkleyAwards, including Most OutstandingContribution to Journalism to ABC South Eastradio journalist Maurie Ferry.
• Introduction of SAP R/3 financialmanagement system.
• New shared services business unitestablished in ABC’s refurbishedCollinswood premises in Adelaide.
November• Wildside wins five AFI Awards.• ABC Classic FM broadcasts live Sydney
Symphony US tour concerts fromSymphony Hall Boston and Long Island.
• 1998 Boyer Lectures by David Malouf, TheSpirit of Play, broadcast on Radio National.
• Australian Music Week celebrated on ABCRadio.
• Official launch in Melbourne of ABCOnline’s Gateway to Arts and Culture, TheSpace.
• New ABC facilities open at Bega andKalgoorlie.
• 2BL Sydney celebrates seventy-fifthanniversary.
December• NewsRadio joins German public
broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, to stagesymposium on future directions in theAustralian and European media.
• South Australian television program TheInvincibles broadcast nationally at 8.30pmachieving the year’s highest rating ABCprogram for this timeslot.
• Radio and television news and current affairscollocated in new Adelaide newsroom.
• Commencement of first digital Remote AreaBroadcasting Service in Western Australia.
• Passing of National Transmitter Network SaleAct 1998.
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ABC Annual Report
—events
1999January• Triple J’s Hottest 100 Poll attracts record
number of votes: over half a million.• Local Radio metropolitan stations introduce
new rural update segment.
February• Albany multimedia trial for regional centres
begins.• First use of digital File Transfer Protocol
technology to send overseascorrespondents’ audio reports via Internet.
• ABC Board approves Sydney propertyredevelopment proposal.
March • First Indonesian station rebroadcasts Radio
Australia in Bahasa.• Traineeships begin for radio sports
broadcaster, three specialist soundengineers, six television productionoperations trainees and six cadet journalists.
• Landline reporter Ian Henschke winsinaugural ABC–British Government ReuterFoundation Scholarship to study at OxfordUniversity.
• Biggest foreign reporting operation in yearsto cover Kosovo crisis.
• Rural online gateway launched; NewsOnline begins streaming video images.
• National Networks assumes editorial andfinancial responsibility for televisionproduction following realignment ofcommissioning and production.
• ABC Board notes major propertydevelopment proposals for Canberra, Perthand Brisbane and approves construction ofnew drama sound stage at Gore Hill.
April• Eight of Corporation’s ten entries to the
Logie Awards win their categories.• The Arts Show premieres on ABC Television.
• Sale of Frenchs Forest drama facilities.• ABC’s Enterprise Bargaining Agreement
proposal presented to staff.
May• ABC celebrates National Science Week.• Triple J presents Brisbane Unearthed,
attracting more than 2000 entries.• ABC Online accesses peak at 2.6 million a
week.• ABC Radio Sport provides the only radio
coverage of World Cup cricket.• Victorian Parliamentary Economic
Development Committee tables report into‘The effects of government funded nationalbroadcasting on Victoria’.
• Heywire 1998 wins National Youth MediaAward for Best Feature/Interview on Radiopresented by the Department of Education,Training and Youth Affairs.
• Sale of the National Transmission Networkto NTL Australia completed; transmissionfunds transferred to ABC.
June• Coverage of Indonesian elections includes
bilingual online site with text, audio andimages, a collaboration between RadioAustralia and ABC News Online.
• ABC–Cinemedia Multimedia ProductionAccord ratified by Victorian Treasurer AlanStockdale.
• House of Representatives StandingCommittee on Communications, Transportand the Arts announces an inquiry into the‘Impact of the decision by ABC Radio todiscontinue its radio racing service’.
• Final Australia Television news bulletinbroadcast from Darwin.
• Launch of Digital Radio Broadcasting trialsconsortium.
• Mr Squiggle’s fortieth Anniversary.
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National Networks• Australia’s national television service.• Four national specialist radio networks.• An international radio service.• A dynamic internet service.
Vision
To provide all Australians with the mostcomprehensive information, entertainmentand cultural programming and an Australianvoice to Asia and the Pacific.
Programs and Services
ABC TelevisionA national television service with State news,current affairs and sport with production andtransmission centres in all States andTerritories. ABC Television provides allAustralians with comprehensive information,entertainment and cultural programming.
Radio NationalRadio National provides a unique nationalforum for ideas and culture through high-quality journalism, presenting in-depthinformation and analysis of international andnational issues and specialist fields, as well asperformance and music.Its diverse programming explores thecapabilities of the radio medium in a widerange of forms, including features,documentaries, panel discussions,performance and music.
ABC Classic FMABC Classic FM is a national stereo FMnetwork devoted to classical music, jazz,drama and acoustic art and is a major culturalforce in Australia.
Triple JTriple J is the ABC’s national youth radionetwork, broadcast on stereo FM in all capitalcities and 44 regional areas. Its programminghighlights new, innovative and adventurous
music, with a strong commitment toAustralian music, as well as news, informationand entertainment for young Australians.
NewsRadio on the Parliamentary and NewsNetworkNewsRadio is Australia’s only continuous newsand current affairs radio service. Itscomprehensive and innovative programmingis based on immediacy, accuracy, impartialityand reliability. It is broadcast in all capitalcities and Newcastle on the Parliamentary andNews Network when Federal Parliament is notsitting.
Radio AustraliaRadio Australia, the ABC’s internationalservice, broadcasts by short-wave, online,satellite and local rebroadcasts to theAsia–Pacific regions and world-wide, inEnglish, Indonesian, Tok Pisin, Chinese,Vietnamese and Khmer. It is a leading providerof Australian, regional and international newsand information, as well as knowledge andcultural programming.
ABC OnlineABC Online, the ABC’s internet network,extends and enhances ABC radio andtelevision programming as well as being amajor creator of online content in its ownright. It provides a distinctively Australianperspective on local, national andinternational activities to internet usersdomestically and overseas.
Audiences
• The average weekly reach of ABCTelevision in the 6am to 12 midnighttimeslot was 8.9 million people in the fivemetropolitan cities, and 4.2 million peoplein regional areas.
• ABC Television’s overall (6am to midnight)five city audience share increased to 15 percent for the 1998–99 financial year, withthe evening (6pm to midnight) shareaveraging 14.9 per cent.
ABC Annual Report
Programs &
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• Radio National’s overall eight city weeklyreach was up (by 4.1 per cent) to 654 000.Its average annual share was up from 1.7per cent to 1.9 per cent.
• ABC Classic FM’s eight city weekly reachwas steady at 750 000 and its share wassteady at 2.8 per cent.
• Triple J’s eight city weekly reach increased(by 1.4 per cent) to 1 549 000 and its sharewas steady at 6.9 per cent.
• this year NewsRadio increased its eight cityweekly reach to 526 000 (up 15.1 per cent).
Its share increased from 0.9 per cent to 1.1per cent.
• 330 hours of Radio Australia programs arenow rebroadcast or relayed weekly by 76stations across 20 countries of theAsia–Pacific regions.
• A total of 256 hours a week are broadcastby short-wave in English, Chinese,Indonesian, Tok Pisin, Khmer andVietnamese.
• ABC Online accesses doubled from onemillion to two million per week.
ABC Annual Report
Services
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Karratha
Geraldton
Bunbury
Albany
Kalgoorlie
Alice Springs
Broken Hill
Wollongong
Tamworth
Lismore
Gold CoastToowoomba
GladstoneRockhampton
Mackay
Townsville
Cairns
Longreach
Mt Isa
Muswellbrook●
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Pt PirieRenmarkPt Lincoln
Pt Augusta
Horsham
Mt GambierWarrnambool
Shepparton
Bendigo
Mildura
SaleTraralgon
Burnie Launceston
Dubbo
Orange
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●Wagga Wagga
Adelaide
Perth
Darwin●
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Kununurra
Broome
Kempsey
Bundaberg
Nowra
BegaWodonga
MaroochydoreMaryborough
Metropolitan Services▲ ABC Television production centres▼ Metropolitan Radio◆ Radio National ✚ Triple J youth network ✹ ABC Classic FM★ NewsRadio on the Parliamentary
and News Network❖ State Symphony Orchestra✪ ABC Shop
Darwin▲ ABC–TV▼ 8DDD 105.7◆ 8RN 657✚ 8JJJ FM103.3 ✹ 8ABC FM107.3 ✪ ABC Shop
Brisbane▲ ABC–TV▼ 4QR 612◆ 4RN 792 ✚ 4JJJ FM107.7✹ 4ABC FM106.1 ★ 4PB 936❖ QSO✪ ABC Shop
Sydney▲ ABC–TV▼ 2BL 702 ◆ 2RN 576✚ 2JJJ FM105.7✹ 2ABC FM92.9 ★ 2PB 630❖ SSO✪ ABC Shop
Newcastle▼ 2NC 1233◆ 2RN 1512✚ 2JJJ FM102.1✹ 2ABC FM106.1★ 2PB 1458✪ ABC Shop
Canberra▲ ABC–TV▼ 2CN 666◆ 2RN 846 ✚ 2JJJ FM 101.5 ✹ 2ABC FM 102.3 ★ 2PB 1440✪ ABC Shop
Hobart▲ ABC–TV▼ 7ZR 936 ◆ 7RN 585 ✚ 7JJJ FM 92.9✹ 7ABC FM 93.9★ 7PB 729❖ TSO✪ ABC Shop
Melbourne▲ ABC–TV▼ 3LO 774◆ 3RN 621 ✚ 3JJJ FM107.5✹ 3ABC FM105.9★ 3PB 1026❖ MSO✪ ABC Shop
Adelaide▲ ABC–TV ▼ 5AN 891◆ 5RN 729 ✚ 5JJJ FM105.5✹ 5ABC FM103.9 ★ 5PB 972❖ ASO✪ ABC Shop
Perth▲ ABC–TV▼ 6WF 720◆ 6RN 810✚ 6JJJ FM99.3✹ 6ABC FM97.7★ 6PB 585❖ WASO✪ ABC Shop
Key
Regional Services ● Regional Radio Studios ◗ Regional Studio outposts▲ Television Production Centres✦ Radio Australia Transmitters
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Local and Regional Services• Local Radio services to metropolitan and
regional audiences.• Television production in each State and
Territory for local and at times, nationalbroadcast.
• Local Online services including The Backyardand Rural Online.
Vision
To be the preferred voice of communitiesthroughout Australia.
Programs and Services
• Local Radio:– Metropolitan stations in nine cities
including Newcastle – Regional stations in 48 locations
(including eight smaller studios) providing information, entertainment,specialist rural and sports coverage in local,State and national formats.
• Local Television in each State and Territoryprimarily for local audiences and at timesbroadcast nationally.
• Rural Radio: specialist rural information forboth regional and metropolitan audiences.
• Radio Sport: coverage of major national andinternational sports and sporting events.
• Indigenous Broadcasting: Indigenousprogramming for general audiences andliaison between ABC and Indigenouscommunities.
• Local Online: regional and metropolitanstation websites providing local entry pointsto all ABC Online services.
Audiences
• Metropolitan Radio’s weekly audience reachacross eight cities is 1.96 million, slightlydown (by 3.9 per cent) on the 1997–98figure.
News and Current Affairs• Authoritative and independent television,
radio and online news.• It broadcasts news and current affairs
programming on ABC Television, ABC Radio(National, Metropolitan and Regional), ABCOnline and on Radio Australia.
• Australia’s most extensive network ofoverseas correspondents.
Vision
To be Australia’s most authoritative,comprehensive and accessible provider ofnews and current affairs.
Programs and Services
• Coverage of regional, State and Territory,national and international news ontelevision, radio and online.
• ABC News and Current Affairs employs over600 journalists in 50 capital city andregional centres around Australia, and morethan 20 staff correspondents in 13 ABCoverseas bureaus.
• Leading current affairs programs on radio,television and online including AM, PM,7.30 Report, Lateline and Four Corners.
• News Online service with regular updatedheadlines featuring audio and videostreaming and specialist sites for key issuesand major breaking stories. News Onlineincludes State and Territory and regionalnews sites, and sport, business, science andtechnology, rural and weather pages.
ABC Annual Report
Programs & Servicescontinued
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Audiences
• In 1998–1999, ABC Television News gained a22.6 per cent share of audience on averageat 7pm on week nights. This was anincrease of 2.7 per cent on the share for1997–1998.
• News Online average weekly accesses forthe first half of 1999 were 672 600, makingit the ABC’s most popular online service.
ABC Enterprises• Production of books and magazines,
classical and contemporary recordings,music publishing, spoken word cassettes,videos, multimedia, licensed content andproducts and events management.
• Television content sales to other televisionbroadcasters and program makers.
• 27 ABC Shops, 85 ABC Centres and a mail,telephone and online order service.
Vision
Working within the ABC Charter to achievemaximum financial returns to the Corporationby profitably managing the ABC’s intellectualproperty rights and ABC shops.
ABC Annual Report
● Tokyo
● Moscow
●Jerusalem
Beijing●
● Johannesburg
Washington●
London●● Brussels
● Port Moresby
● Bangkok
New Delhi●
● ABC Bureaus and Correspondents
● Amman
Jakarta●
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Services• ABC Shops situated in all Australian States
and Territories• ABC Centres predominantly in regional
areas • ABC Audio (spoken word)• ABC Books and Magazines• ABC Classics• ABC Contemporary Music• ABC Films and Events • ABC Footage Sales• ABC Licensing• ABC Program Sales• ABC Music
Publishing• ABC Video
Sales
• ABC Enterprises recorded a 50 per centincrease in cash contribution to the ABCduring the last financial year providing a$12.1 million return to the ABC.
• ABC Shops enjoyed a buoyant year withsales up 8 per cent on the previous year andprofit up by 20 per cent, bolstered by salesof Teletubbies and South Park merchandise.
• High selling product included:– Fun with Teletubbies audio cassette: 5500
units sold– Good News Week video: 29 000 units
sold – Sing book: 94 000 books sold– Swoon 3 CD: 55 000 units sold– Triple J Hottest 100 No 5: 318 000 units
sold– Warwick Todd — Back in the Baggy
Green: 55,000 books sold– Wiggles Toot Toot video: 176 000 units
sold
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ABC Annual Report
Programs & Servicescontinued
ABC Annual Report
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Organisation
TechnologyStrategy andDevelopment
Head: Colin Knowles*
Finance &BusinessServices
Head: Russell Balding*
ABCEnterprises
GeneralManager Terry Moloney
SymphonyAustralia
ManagingDirectorDerek Watt
Local andRegional Services
Head: Sue Howard*
NationalNetworks
Head: Andy Lloyd-James*
News andCurrent Affairs
Head: Paul Williams*
Program Production
Head: Don Reynolds*
CorporatePlanning and
Communications
Head: Janet Clayton
National AdvisoryCouncil
Minister forCommunications
Information Technology and the Arts
ABC Board
FederalParliament
ManagingDirector
Brian Johns*
ABC Development
Ian McGarrity
* ABC executive members
Human Resources
Head: JacquieHutchinson*
Financial outcome 1998–99Following a significant cut in the permanentfunding to the ABC in 1996 and 1997, thisyear saw the consolidation of the reshaping ofthe One ABC and cost efficiency savings flowfrom initiatives that have been implementedthrough the improved business systems andprocesses. The Corporation was able tooperate within the limits of its total source offunds and Government appropriations.The 1998–99 financial year saw for the firsttime in five years, the net cost of servicesexceed Government appropriation. Thisresulted from a significant increase indepreciation and amortisation expense inexcess of $16 million as a consequence of theCorporation valuing its fixed assets during1997–98 using the Government’s deprivalvalue methodology.
Financial outlook 1999–20001999–2000 is the third and final year of thecurrent triennial funding and will be the firstyear in which the Government moves from acash based appropriation to a new outputbased accrual funding. The Corporation willbe entering into negotiations with theGovernment later this year to secure fundingfor the next triennium.
ABC Annual Report
Financial
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Revenue from Government$millions
300
350
400
450
500
550
600
xxxxx
19991998199719961995
Operating expenses
Interest 2%
Depreciation and Amortisation 7%
Suppliers 48%
Employee related 43% Sale of goods and services 89%
Net gain from disposal of assets 1%
Interest 5%
Other 5%
Operating revenue Revenue from independentsources
Revenue from Government 72%
Transmission services 10%
Independent sources 18%
ABC Annual Report
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Five year analysisABC ABC ABC ABC ABC1999 1998 1997 1996 1995$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000 $’000
OPERATING
Cost of Services (a) 664,697 631,218 707,106 719,807 698,700
Operating Revenue 117,554 123,854 131,777 126,504 122,889
Net Cost of Services (b) 547,143 507,364 575,329 593,303 575,811
Revenue from Government (a) 542,383 522,666 588,112 597,736 587,563
FINANCIAL POSITION
Current Assets 130,989 145,478 142,743 149,602 127,361
Non-Current Assets 624,604 678,313 505,071 504,163 475,094
Total Assets 755,593 823,791 647,814 653,765 602,455
Current Liabilities 91,350 185,847 206,381 123,187 96,924
Non-Current Liabilities 184,365 137,764 142,962 236,965 239,088
Total Liabilities 275,715 323,611 349,343 360,152 336,012
Total Equity 479,878 500,180 298,471 293,613 266,443
RATIOS
Current Ratio (c) 1.43 0.78 0.69 1.21 1.31
Equity (d) 64% 61% 46% 45% 44%
(a) Includes Transmission Services supplied by National Transmission Agency.(b) Net cost of services is total operating expenses, including transmission services, less operating revenue.(c) Current assets divided by current liabilities.(d) Equity as a percentage of total assets.
Summary
ABC Annual Report
Board of‘We have to convince the public, who pay for theABC, that they should go on doing so, becausewe offer something of unique value and value formoney. We must make sure that ourdistinctiveness as a broadcaster is moremeasurable and important than the mereabsence of advertisements.’
Donald McDonald AO, BComAppointed Chairman for a five year term from24 July 1996. Mr McDonald is a Fellow of the Senate of theUniversity of Sydney and Chairman of TheReally Useful Company (Aust) Pty Limited. Heis a member of the Board of the SydneyOrganising Committee for the OlympicGames, Chairman of the Cultural Commissionfor the Sydney Olympic Games and Chairmanof the State Opera Ring Corporation in SouthAustralia.
‘What I love about the ABC is the way it tows thecountry together: brings the city to the countryand the country to the city, the west to the eastand the north to the south.’
Diana Gribble AMAppointed Deputy Chair for a five year termfrom 27 June 1995. Ms Gribble is a Director of Text Media Group,a Board Member of Cinema Papers and amember of the Advisory Board of the Centrefor Philosophy and Public Issues, University ofMelbourne.
‘The ABC is in the midst of profound change:technology is allowing us to make newconnections with audiences in a range of stylesreaching beyond traditional radio and televisionprogramming. Yet Australian content has to be atthe heart of everything we do — content relevantto regional communities, the States andTerritories and to our understanding of ourselvesas a nation.’
Brian Johns AOAppointed Managing Director for a five yearterm from 17 March 1995.Mr Johns is a Council Member of the AustralianNational Gallery, Board Member of theNational Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA),Council Member of the United States NationalAcademy of Television Arts and Sciences(NATAS), a member of the InternationalInstitute of Communications’ Editorial Panel forthe Global Report Series. In November 1998 hewas appointed Vice President of theAsia–Pacific Broadcasting Union.
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ABC Annual Report
Directors‘The thing that stands out positively in the pastfew years has been the way in which the ABChad rediscovered and re-embraced its regionalcharter.’
Hon. J.C. Bannon BA, LLBAppointed a Director for a five year term from24 July 1994.Mr Bannon is currently undertaking post-graduate research on the Federation ofAustralia at Flinders University, South Australiaand edits The New Federalist, the nationaljournal of federation history. He is a memberof the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra Boardand Chair of the South Australian Chapter ofthe Constitutional Centenary Foundation.
‘Independence, quality, and the capacity to reachsectors of the Australian community not alwaysserviced by the commercial media.’
Russell BateAppointed a Director for a five year term from20 December 1995.Mr Bate is Managing Director of SunMicrosystems Australia Pty Ltd. He is a Boardmember of Australian Information IndustryAssociation, a member of Musica Viva AdvisoryBoard and a member of the InteractiveInformation Institute Advisory Board.
‘A valuable public space for ideas, for storytelling,for news and current affairs, for performancethat doesn’t have to obey commercial laws.’
Kirsten GarrettRe-appointed staff-elected Director from 15 June 1998 for her second two year term. Ms Garrett had been Deputy staff-electedDirector on the ABC Board since 1988. She isthe Executive Producer of Radio National’sBackground Briefing, which she joined in 1988.
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ABC Annual Report
‘We need to forcibly ensure that we’re at theforefront of new technologies and that wemaintain our position as a leading broadcaster.’
Michael Kroger B Juris, LLBAppointed a Director for a five year term from5 February 1998.Mr Kroger is the Chief Executive of JTCampbell and Co, a merchant bank inMelbourne. He has had extensive experiencein the media as a columnist, occasionalbroadcaster and political commentator.
‘The more our lives change within this globalisingworld, the more we need a public broadcaster ofthe quality and calibre and breadth and depth ofthe ABC.’
Hon. Ian Macphee AO, LLB, MAAppointed a Director for a five year term from9 December 1994.Mr Macphee is a consultant to CorrsChambers Westgarth.
‘With online, the ABC is producing aprogramming stream that’s highly accessible toyounger Australians, who are turning to theInternet as their prime communication with thewider world.’
Wendy Silver BA, B Soc WkAppointed a Director for a five year term from1 July 1994.Ms Silver is the Chief Executive Officer ofRelationships Australia (WA).
ABC Annual Report
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Brian Johns AO, Managing DirectorBrian Johns was appointed Managing Directorin March 1995.Prior to this he was Chairperson of theAustralian Broadcasting Authority, ManagingDirector of the Special Broadcasting Servicefrom 1987–92 and Publishing Director ofPenguin Books from 1979–87.
Paul Williams, Head News and CurrentAffairsPaul Williams joined the ABC in 1968 as arural radio reporter in Queensland. He wenton to produce a number of documentariesincluding A Big Country and Heartlands andworked as a field producer, SupervisingProducer, and Executive Producer for the FourCorners and Lateline programs. He wasExecutive Producer for the Gold Walkleywinning Labour in Power series. In 1995 hewas appointed Head of Television News andCurrent Affairs.
Sue Howard, Head Local and RegionalServicesSue Howard was born and educated inMelbourne. Before embarking upon a careerin radio, she worked in the publishing industryand as a teacher.Since 1986, Sue has worked in the ABC as apresenter for Radio National, ABC FM andLocal Radio, and in management since 1995. Sue was appointed Head Local and RegionalServices in December 1996.
Andy Lloyd James, Head National NetworksAndy Lloyd James joined the ABC in 1967and became a producer and executiveproducer, in Documentaries and Features.In the early eighties, he became Head ofTelevision Features. In 1988 he wasappointed Head of Television at SBS and in1994 he initiated and became GeneralManager of SBS Independent, theindependent commissioning wing of SBSTelevision. In 1996 he rejoined the ABC asthe Head of Television Drama.Above, from left: Russell Balding, Sue Howard, DonReynolds, Brian Johns, Paul Williams, Jacquie Hutchinson,Andy Lloyd James, Colin Knowles.
Executive
ABC Annual Report
Don Reynolds, Head Program ProductionDon Reynolds is an experiencedinternational film and television producer andmanager. Before joining the ABC, he ran hisown production house, Tasman, out ofLondon since 1995. Prior to that he workedwith the Grundy Organisation in Londonand was Head of Production and Co-production with Television New Zealandand Chief Executive Officer and Head ofProduction for South Pacific Pictures, TVNZ’sseparate drama production subsidiary.
Jacquie Hutchinson, Head Human ResourcesJacquie Hutchinson joined the ABC in 1995.Her employment history has focussed onemployee relations and leadership andmanagement in higher education and thepublic sector. She has been a member ofindustrial relations tribunals and a seniorofficial in a large public sector union. Jacquiehas also undertaken major research andconsultancy in both the public and privatesectors. She undertook research for theIndustry Task Force on Management andLeadership Skills and co-authored a bookGender: A Strategic Management Issue.
Russell Balding, Head Finance and BusinessServicesRussell Balding joined the ABC as GeneralManager Finance in early 1996 and wasappointed Head, Finance and Business Servicesin December 1996. Prior to this he wasFinance Director with the NSW Roads andTraffic Authority. He has extensive seniormanagement experience in the NSW publicsector having also held senior financialmanagement positions in the NSWDepartment of Housing and Department ofHealth.
Colin Knowles, Head Technology Strategyand DevelopmentColin Knowles joined the ABC as HeadTechnology Strategy and Development inAugust 1997. Prior to this he was GeneralManager – Planning and Corporate with theAustralian Broadcasting Authority. He has over30 years experience in broadcasting,telecommunications and engineering and hasbeen actively involved in the development ofdigital broadcasting technology since 1983.
The technical possibilities opened upby digital technology are enormous.The challenge is to discover which ofthese are truly useful to our audienceand to our program makers.Colin Knowles
The dominant issue over the next fewyears will be the development andexploitation of Australian content inall media: local, regional andnational.Andy Lloyd James
Our new business support modelpromises to place the ABC at thevanguard of financial and businesssupport services management in boththe public and private sectors.Russell Balding
The news business is getting tougher,more competitive. That meansspending as much of our resources aspossible on content, on reporting andanalysing the news, while loweringthe cost of getting programs to air.Paul Williams
Over the past twelve months we haveseen a positive shift in therelationship between managementand employees as we plan for thetransition to digitalisation.”Jacquie Hutchinson
“We are committed to applying newand traditional technologies to betterparticipate in the lives of localcommunities and to enable thosecommunities to more fully participatein the life of Australia.”Sue Howard
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This Annual Report highlights the ABC’s primary role as a content provider,adding value for audiences and the industry through the range,distinctiveness, and authority of its programs. Like its audience, theCorporation encompasses many ideas, styles, regional allegiances andinterests, all shaping a vibrant and responsive broadcaster.The ABC is no longer a broadcaster of discrete services — radio, television oronline. By breaking down these divisions, the ‘One ABC’ strategy hasresponded to the creative challenges of a converging media environment. Ithas also delivered productivity through rationalisation and collaboration. This year’s outcomes demonstrate the value of the ABC’s strategicpositioning. Within its restricted funding base, the Corporation has shownthat, by merging skills in all media forms, and using its resources acrossAustralia and overseas, it can bring a greater range of quality programs toAustralians, in more accessible ways. In a competitive environment marked by the inroads of Pay TV andaccelerated investment in commercial online services, the ABC this yearmaintained its audience base across radio and television, and saw thecontinued strong growth of ABC Online. In a year of momentousinternational events, the ABC’s news and current affairs coverage drewcritical acclaim. And in terms of peer recognition through awards, theCorporation had one of its most distinguished periods.Some of the most exciting developments were in regional Australia, wherethe ABC is investing strategically for the future. With the digital environmentand expansion of the internet, major opportunities are now emerging forimproving services beyond the urban fringe.The ABC Board and management are committed to taking the Corporationinto the new century with a powerful vision for public broadcasting,supported by a robust infrastructure. The results for 1998–99, as detailed inour report, justify the ABC’s confidence in its future.Donald McDonald, ChairmanDiana Gribble, Deputy ChairBrian Johns, Managing DirectorJohn Bannon Russell Bate Kirsten Garrett Michael Kroger Ian Macphee Wendy Silver
ABC Annual Report
this AnnualReport…
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The ABC occupies a unique position inAustralia’s public landscape. It is a majorcultural institution; a trusted provider of news,current affairs and information; and a centralplayer in a changing media industry. These key roles are built on several vitalfactors: its position at the leading edge ofbroadcasting, the efforts and imagination ofABC employees, the ABC’s geographicalspread, and its comprehensive programmingon radio, television and online. The Corporation serves a complex andchanging society. Similarly, the ABC ischanging. But what remains fixed are itstraditional values of integrity, quality,independence and commitment to meetingthe needs of all Australians. As the range of media services expands, thechallenge for the ABC is to hear and reflect thevoices of a diverse Australia. The ABC strives tosatisfy the needs of the nation, each State andTerritory and individual local communities, aswell as many communities of interest, such asarts, sport, science, religion and rural. All this creates a large canvas, with obligations
and opportunities. And with the conversion todigital production, broadcasting andtransmission — the biggest single change inAustralian broadcasting since 1956 — thecanvas will soon become even greater andmore challenging.Continuity is an ABC strength. But so too isadaptability and positive change. Nowhere isthis clearer than in programming. To stayrelevant, the ABC has to balance existingoutput with the shifting needs of Australians,most of whom have definite and oftendiffering views about ‘their’ ABC. This sense of identification and ownershipbestows special responsibilities.This year the ABC sharpened its commitmentto creating distinctly Australian product,stretching its resources to develop newprograms and services. Yet loyalty to long-established shows remained strong. Many hadan urban edge; others appealed to ruralaudiences; still others targeted the youngergeneration. All came under the ABC’s new banner, ‘ManyViews: One ABC.’
ABC Annual Report
Many views– one ABC
18
Left: Queen Kat, Carmel and St Jude. Right: Merlinda Bobis, author of Rita’s Lullaby
Drama — engaging theimaginationThe ABC continued its commitment tooriginal drama, offering entertainment andreflecting many facets of Australian life. Therewas ample evidence that ABC audiencesincreasingly enjoyed locally-produced drama.The beachside lifestyles reflected inSeaChange, a co-production with ArtistServices, pushed the series to record ratings inits second season, drawing almost two millionregular viewers weekly. Contrasts between cityand country life also surfaced in the successfulmini-series Queen Kat, Carmel and St Jude, co-produced with Trout Films. With a tougher urban edge, Wildside, co-produced with Gannon Jenkins Television,continued to draw critical acclaim, scoopingthe television drama pool at Australian FilmInstitute Awards in November. Thisconfronting drama ran over 60 episodes — 34of them broadcast in the reporting period —
and pushed the boundaries of productionstyle and targeted controversial subjects.These major initiatives were supported by thestrength of the ABC’s relationship with localco-producers. But the high cost of producingquality drama and the difficulties experiencedby broadcasters and producers in gainingsubstantial overseas sales remain problems forthe industry.The ABC continued to produce mini-series andfeature films which, in subject and style,added depth and breadth to Australiantelevision. The ABC–Southern Star co-production, A Difficult Woman, drew strongratings and critical acclaim. Strange Fits ofPassion, a feature film produced under theABC–Film Victoria/Arena Accord for newdirectors, was selected for the Critics Weekscreening at the Cannes International FilmFestival in May.Short and Sweet, a festival of Australian andinternational short films, went to air in Januaryas part of the ABC’s commitment to showcase
ABC Annual Report
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Across a range of genres, the ABCwon significant awards this year:
• The Dragons of the Galapagos, madefor the ABC’s Natural History Unit,won more than a dozen prizes,including the World Wildlife FundGolden Panda Award; producersDavid Parer and Elizabeth Parer-Cook were the first film-makers toreceive this award twice;
• the tri-lingual radio drama Rita’sLullaby written by Merlinda Bobisand directed and produced byChristopher Williams won theprestigious Prix Italia;
• Triple J took out Best Media Websitein the Australian Internet Awards, thethird consecutive win for the ABC inthis category in the three years sincethe awards began. The ABC won fiveAustralian International Multimedia Industry Association(AIMIA) Awards for co-produced CD-ROM titles;
• Heywire received the National Youth Media Award for Best Feature/Interview on Radio,presented by the Federal Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs;
• the ABC won 12 Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism; ten AFI Awards, including fivefor the drama Wildside; and three ARIA music awards;
• ABC Enterprises’ Meryl Gross was voted Music Industry Person of the Year; and Head of theNatural History Unit, Dione Gilmour and Chris Masters senior journalist with Four Corners,received a Public Service Medal.A full list of awards won by the ABC appears in Appendices 6, 7 and 8.
Winners’ circle
Above: A dragon ofthe Galapagos
Right: Elizabeth Parer-Cook and DavidParer producers of TheDragons of Galapagos
the work of new and interesting filmmakers.Radio drama also had a strong year. Rita’sLullaby, written by Merlinda Bobis andproduced and directed by ChristopherWilliams, won the prestigious Prix Italia forFiction.Major radio drama prizes funded by the IanReed Foundation went to Perth playwrightTom Horne for his work Green Meat is for TakeAways, Benjamin Brady for A is For Geophysicsand Suneeta Peres de Costa for Watermark. Allwere produced by the ABC this year. TheFoundation also sponsored a new award forradio drama from the Australian Writers’Guild. The inaugural award went to SarahRossetti for Surfers’ Tension.
Arts and performance —enriching lifeOnce again the ABC was at the forefront ofAustralian arts broadcasting with enthusiasticprogramming that reflected a wide range ofcultural activities.The Arts Show hosted by Andrea Stretton wentto air in April after much anticipation,replacing Express with a longer, prime-timeprogram. Sunday Afternoon on ABC Television hasbrought more Australian content toaudiences, including commissioneddocumentaries on subjects such as ClariceBeckett and Tracey Moffatt, as well asAustralian jazz, performance, dance andinterviews.
The ABC’s commitment to the arts wasreflected on ABC Radio, with Radio National’sdaily Arts Today at the centre of a range ofprograms featuring books and writing, music,drama, poetry, features, and Aboriginal art.Arts Today’s broad coverage included theMelbourne Biennale and celebrations ofimportant anniversaries, such as PeterSculthorpe’s 70th birthday. New in 1999 wasShort Story, featuring fiction by leadingAustralian and international writers, plus theinnovative Australia Talks Books. Arts and performance also went online.Development for the ABC’s Online Arts serviceattracted the support of the Department ofCommunications, Information Technologyand the Arts through Australia’s CulturalNetwork program. In November, the HonPeter McGauran, Minister for the Arts and theCentenary of Federation, launched an onlinegateway, The Space, which includes an onlinearts magazine, Headspace.Performance on air continued across ABCnetworks. This year, Australian music targetsset by ABC Classic FM, Triple J, Radio Nationaland Local Radio were exceeded.A new contemporary performance programwas introduced to the television line-up —Studio 22 — supplementing coverage of majorevents such as the Leeuwin Estate Concert inMarch from Western Australia, featuring operastars Bryn Terfel and Yvonne Kenny. ABC Classic FM brought special performancesto ABC Radio, with the world premiere ofAnne Boyd’s Dreams for the Earth featuringsoloist Roger Woodward. ABC Classic FMbroadcast 60 hours of live music from theMelbourne International Chamber MusicCompetition.The process of corporatisation of theorchestras in the Symphony Australia network
ABC Annual Report
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From left: Paul Hester in The Shed; The Hoffman Trio fromHungary in performance at the Melbourne InternationalChamber Music Competition; Studio 22 with Marcia Hinesperforming; Andrea Stretton presenter of The Arts Show.
continued. During the year further work wasundertaken on establishing the orchestras inQueensland and Tasmania as self-governing,wholly owned subsidiary companies of theABC (see pages 58–63).ABC Enterprises remained a vital link with ABCaudiences. Highlights this year includedrestoring and remastering, in digital format,Nureyev’s ballet version of Don Quixote, forworld rights re-release on film, video, CD anddigital video disk (DVD). It was broadcast onABC Television.In July, ABC Classics celebrated its tenthanniversary and embarked on a year ofreleases showcasing Australian performers,orchestras and composers.24 Hours, the ABC’s magazine featuring ABCClassic FM and Radio National listings andcovering music and arts, increased itscirculation and subscription levels. This year the Corporation celebrated NationalPoetry Day, with special programs across allABC networks on 1 September. Over twoweeks, the Online site received 18 000accesses, including visitors voting for theirfavourite poem or participating in interactivepoetry writing.ABC News and Current Affairs also enhancedits coverage of arts news, personalities andissues across its mainstream programs.Highlights included News stories on theimpact of the Goods and Services Tax on thearts and The Ring Cycle in Adelaide, profiles ofsinger Billy Bragg, artist Arthur Boyd andactress Judy Davis on The 7.30 Report, Latelineexplorations of rap music, arts funding andentertainment in the world economy and aFour Corners investigation into Aboriginal artfraud.
Comedy and entertainment— stretching the boundariesGood News Week continued to entertain ABCaudiences in 1998. The move of this successfulsatire series to the Ten Network in 1999demonstrated the value the industry places onABC innovation and risk-taking.It also underlined the importance ofcontinuing to develop new ABC comedy andentertainment strands. This year Melbourneproved a strong source of comedy talent, withMicallef and The Adventures of Lano andWoodley entertaining viewers. Hessie’s Shed, aco-production with Beyond Entertainment,won a dedicated late night following. This year also saw the last of Roy and H.G.’slong-running television success Club Buggery,featuring an ITV co-production, PlanetNorwich, filmed in the United Kingdom. Theunconventional duo continued with theirsatire, This Sporting Life, on Triple J.The ABC provided extensive radio coverage ofthe Melbourne Comedy Festival. 3LO andTriple J broadcast Breakfast and Driveprograms from festival venues and supportedthe Raw Comedy Festival, including judgingand recording ofcompetition finalists forbroadcast. As well, acollaboration between ABCOnline’s The Space andVictoria’s Performing ArtsMuseum produced Fools’Paradise, an audiovisualexploration of 12 years ofthe Festival through thephotography of Peter Milneand audio tours withcomedians Judith Lucy andLynda Gibson.
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Shaun Micallef
ABC Annual Report
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The ABC again made a strong contribution toAustralian television content and much of itrated well with audiences. For instance, at theend of the reporting period, of the ABCTelevision’s top ten shows, seven wereAustralian made, including the dramasSeaChange and Queen Kat, Carmel and St Judeand a new cooking series, A Gondola on theMurray; as were half of the next ten best-performing shows, including Four Corners, The7.30 Report, Media Watch and ForeignCorrespondent.
Overall Australian content level this year(6.00am-midnight) was 55.2 per cent, slightlyup on the previous year.
ABC Program Production delivered, either asproducer or co-producer, approximately 1200hours of first-run Australian-made material forABC Network Television. This included themajor drama series Wildside and SeaChangeand other successful ABC shows like Quantum,Compass, Media Watch, Bananas in Pyjamas,Mixy, Playschool, Gardening Australia, Behindthe News; and The Arts Show. ABC News and Current Affairs producednearly 2000 hours of national and State andTerritory-based television content, while Localand Regional Services added to this another580 hours of State and Territory-sourcedtelevision.
Australian Content 1995–99
Per Cent
54.3
49.4
55.4 55.4
53.253.751.8
57.3
54.7 55.2
6pm to Midnight6am to Midnight
19991998199719961995
First run programs
Per cent80.6
73.6 73.6
66.568.4
55.2
48.9 47.9
42.5 44.0
6pm to midnight6am to midnight
19991998199719961995
Most popular programs 1998–99Audience
(000’s)1 Seachange (Series 2) 19492 Her Majesty Mrs Brown 16033 The Bill (Saturday) 14764 Seachange (Series 1 Repeat) 13875 Ballykissangel 13136 Pie in the Sky 12667 Fawlty Towers 12588 Vicar of Dibley (Easter special) 12389 The Bill (Tuesday) 123510 Vicar of Dibley 118611 Edinburgh Military Tatoo 117512 Life of Birds 113813 The Human Body 110214 Two Fat Ladies 109615 News (Evening) 109516 News (Late Edition) 104817 Scolds Bridle 102118 News (Sunday) 101219 Living Edens 100620 Yes Prime Minister 1000
Television content analysis
Seachangestars William
McInnes (MaxConnors) and
SigridThornton
(Laura Gibson)
ABC Annual Report
Network Television Content 1998–996am to Midnight
Overseas Repeat 33.7%
Overseas First release 11.1%
Australian Repeat 22.3%
Australian First release 32.9%
Network Television Content 1998–996pm to Midnight
Overseas Repeat 24.7%
Overseas first release 22.1%
Aust repeat 6.9%
Aust first release 46.3%
ABC made programs (first run)
Hours broadcast
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
6pm to midnight6am to midnight
19991998199719961995
Australian ContentFirst run vs repeat programs
6am to midnight
Per cent
6pm to midnight
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
repeat
first run
repeat
first run
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
x1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
Television program analysis
Hours broadcast
0
500
1000
1500
2000
OverseasAustralian
Spor
t
Scie
nce
& Ta
lks
Relig
ious
New
s
Mov
ies
Feat
ures
Ente
rtai
nmen
t
Educ
atio
n
Dram
a
Docu
men
tary
Curr
ent A
ffairs
Com
edy
Child
ren'
s
Arts
23
Overseas ContentFirst run vs repeat programs
Per cent
0
10
20
30
40
50
repeat
first run
repeat
first run
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995x
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
6am to midnight
6pm to midnight
News and Current Affairs —a valued serviceA trusted name in Australian journalism, theABC continued to give Australians news andinformation about their community, thenation and the wider world, backed by itsNews and Current Affairs team of more than600 journalists in 50 centres around Australiaand more than 20 correspondents in 13 ABCoverseas bureaus. This spread provided Australians with a broadrange of news and views. ABC news andcurrent affairs programs were prominent thisyear across all networks, providing around-the-clock reporting and analysis of events.Programs such as AM, The World Today andPM on radio and The 7.30 Report and Latelineon television added analysis to coverage;weekly investigative and feature programs likeFour Corners and Foreign Correspondent carriedbroader perspectives on national andinternational issues; and Australian Storyportrayed a more personal side of Australiansfrom all walks of life. Online News made news
accessible to increasing numbers of peopleand the ABC’s 24-hour radio news network,NewsRadio on the Parliamentary and NewsNetwork, continued to steadily buildaudiences in metropolitan Australia.The ABC’s reputation for quality internationalcoverage from an Australian perspective wasenhanced this year. Foreign storiesdominating the news agenda included theGulf Crisis, President Clinton’s impeachmenttrial, war in the Balkans and the continuingturmoil in Indonesia. The situation in Kosovo saw the ABC’s biggestforeign field operation, with up to ten ABCcorrespondents and camera-sound operatorsreporting the conflict and refugee crisis directfrom the Balkans region, with backup storiesfrom London and Washington. ABC teamsworked long hours in the war zone, underthreat of NATO bombing. The jailing of twoAustralian aid workers added anotherdimension to this complex story.Closer to home, South-East Asian reportingwas dominated by rapidly-moving events inIndonesia and Malaysia. Street unrest in Kuala
ABC Annual Report
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ABC Correspondents in action. Top, Eric Campbell and Katie Kronin reporting the Kosovo conflict. Bottom, Mark Bowlingand Geoff Thompson reporting from Indonesia and East Timor
Lumpur accompanied the trial of formerDeputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim; andrioting in Jakarta triggered intense coverage ofIndonesia, ranging from the national electionsto the violence and divisions in East Timor, inthe lead-up to voting on the territory’s future.On these stories, ABC correspondents andcamera operators often worked in highlydangerous situations. The ABC also mounted a one-hour special onIndonesia’s uncertain future, hosted fromJakarta by Kerry O’Brien, with ABC reportageand interviews with some of the country’sleading figures.On the domestic front, ABC News andCurrent Affairs balanced breaking news storiesand political issues, dominated by the Federalelection in October. The ABC respondedquickly and comprehensively to the Victorianrefinery explosion and the subsequent gascrisis. Satellite gear was brought to the sceneenabling live crosses into ABC Television Newsover several days. Other major news stories
included Cyclone Thelma’s havoc acrossAustralia’s Top End, the Sydney to HobartYacht Race, with its coverage of theremarkable rescue effort, and refugees landingillegally in Western Australia, NorthQueensland and New South Wales.This year’s coverage of Federal election night,hosted by Mark Colvin on radio and KerryO’Brien on television, with analysis by theABC’s election expert Antony Green, waspraised for its focused and accurate delivery.The Election 98 website was linked to themain Tally Room computer and gaveinstantaneous polling results and analysis onthe night. During election week the sitereceived over 800 000 accesses.The ABC also provided substantial coverage ofthe national debate about Australia’s heroinproblem; the upcoming 1999 referendum onwhether Australia becomes a republic; theFederal Budget, with radio and televisionspecials from Parliament House in Canberra;the Goods and Service Tax debate; State
ABC Annual Report
The ABC’s stable of television current affairsprograms continued to be a major drawcard.With the year 2000 fast approaching, The 7.30Report devoted a program to the MillenniumBug, questioning whether the Y2K problemworldwide would bring Apocalypse orAnticlimax? Four Corners explored the tsunami tragedy thatstruck the northern coast of Papua NewGuinea, filming The Survivor’s Story among theWarapu people as they struggled to rebuildtheir broken lives.Landline looked at the vexed issue of CarbonCredits and how international trading in thisnew ‘commodity’ could bring extra cash tohard-pressed Australian farmers.On Foreign Correspondent, viewers went Insidethe Taliban State for a account of Islamicfundamentalism and the tensions ruling life individed Afghanistan.Australian Story took a first-hand and surprisinglook at a Man For All Seasons, exploring thechallenging world of Brisbane Broncos footballcoach Wayne Bennett.When the Dow broke through the 10 000points barrier, three of the most powerfulanalysts on Wall Street found themselvesTaking Stock in a Lateline debate on the worldmarket outlook.
Four CornersThe Survivor’sStory
The 7.30ReportApocalypse orAnticlimax?
ForeignCorrespondentInside theTaliban State
25
elections in Tasmania and NSW; and thearrival of 4,000 refugees from Kosovo.In common with many electronic newsorganisations, News and Current Affairs feltthe impact of rising costs, particularly in itsoverseas operations. Budget pressure in1998–99 was felt sharply with the high costsof a heavy foreign news year.
Stimulating debateThroughout the year, the ABC played animportant role in contributing to the nationaldiscussion of major issues affecting Australians. There was increased coverage of significantpublic lectures. On television, these includedthe Sir Robert Menzies lecture by Don Argus,Managing Director and Chief Executive Officerof the National Australia Bank; Canadianphilosopher John Ralston Saul’s lectureDemocracy and Globalisation in January,repeated due to public demand; and theWallace Worth Memorial lecture by Irishpolitician Gerry Adams. On Radio National, Australianauthor David Malouf presentedthe 1998 Boyer Lecture Series,The Spirit of Play, on the shapingof the Australian character andnation. The final lecture waspresented before a live audienceat Government House in Sydney.Radio National also broadcastthe BBC Reith Lectures byProfessor Anthony Giddens, whoexplored globalisation inRunaway World.News and Current Affairs hosteda special referendum debatefrom the Senate Chamber inCanberra’s Old Parliament
House, and Online News coordinated the first‘cybercast’ of the National Press Clubluncheon, a joint venture in which televisioncoverage was streamed live on ABC andTelstra sites. The ABC also provided forums for publicdebate. Australia Talks Back on Radio Nationalcontinued to provide daily discussion ofimportant national issues. Introduced to theprogram was the monthly Australia TalksBooks, which allowed listeners across thenation and beyond to contribute to in-depthanalysis of books, ideas and writing on radioand the Internet.Rural Radio’s online service held forums onrural issues. The first of these sought views onthe Federal Government’s decision to freezethe wool stockpile and attracted more than 80contributions in the first fortnight. Another,The Rural Vote: An Overview, centred on theFederal Election and regional issues. Radio National’s Late Night Live public forumsin Dubbo and Sydney explored The
City/Country Divide in July. TheComfort Zone hosted ahypothetical, Designing theAustralian Dream, from theRoyal Australian Institute ofArchitects in Sydney; andWomen Out Loud held a publicforum to discuss Is FeminismHistory? The George MunsterJournalism forums wereproduced with the Centre forIndependent Journalism at theUniversity of Technology,Sydney and broadcast inSeptember; and a three-partseries for Sunday Special, TheRepublic: What Next? wasbroadcast in October.
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No. of accesses a week (millions)
News Online accesses
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
JulJunMayAprMarFebJanDecNov Oct SeptAugJul
Separate electionsite posted
Federal ElectionBuild-up
Christmas holidaydownturn
Kosovo crisis
GST negotiations& Kosovo crisis
In The Century Series, Radio National exploredshifts in spirituality, politics, culture andphilosophy over the past hundred years. Theprograms, broadcast in a range of slots, wereproduced by Radio National’s specialists andexperts. Background Briefing broke new ground withseveral investigative stories on secrecy ingovernment and outsourced activities,including alleged abuse of commercial-in-confidence and contracts issues, and the roleof consultants.Local and Regional Services produced andbroadcast three television forums in Tasmaniatitled On the line. They examined the use ofzero tolerance as a crime deterrent inTasmania, discussed perceptions of otherAustralians about the State and looked atoptions for Tasmania’s youth.
Documentary and society —reflecting the AustralianexperienceThe ABC remained the major network fordelivery of quality Australian documentaries.Prime time television this year hosted someremarkable insights, with the Inside Story andBig Picture documentary slots building theiraudiences. Highlights included Bastards FromThe Bush about poet Les Murray and writerBob Ellis; The Pitch, life inside an advertisingagency; Wool Princess, about the fallen gloryof landed families; and Facing the Demons, themeeting of murderers and a victim’s family.The spectacular Dragons of Galapagos drewbig audiences, acclaim and awards. The LivingEdens, a twelve-part series, brought thespectacle of the world’s wilderness to ABCviewers. These highlighted the continuingsuccess of the ABC’s award-winning NaturalHistory Unit based in Melbourne. Aninnovation was the unit’s series of five-minutestop-animation stories, Bunch of Fives.
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Top left: producer of The Living Edens, Rory McGuinessfilming a crocodile underwaterTop right: The Living Edens producer Rebecca Scott filming inKakaduBottom left: Creator of A Bunch of Fives animator NickHilligoss with his little look alikeBottom right: Stefano de Pieri in A Gondola on the Murray
While the ABC has not held a strong positionrecently in lifestyle television programs,Hobart-based Gardening Australia and ABCcooking programs maintained loyal audiencefollowings. This was boosted by Stefano dePieri’s A Gondola on the Murray series,distinguished by its regional and multiculturalflavour. ABC Enterprises supported thetelevision series with consumer products inbooks, CDs and video.After 23 years, Women Out Loud on RadioNational ended in 1998 and its staff joinedwith those from the Social History Unit toform the Social Features Unit in 1999. Thisproduced two new program strands for RadioNational: Earshot, a half-hour programexploring issues confronting Australian societyat the end of the twentieth Century; andVerbatim, a half-hour oral history programcharting events of the twentieth centurythrough the voices of ordinary Australians. TheUnit also produces the social historydocumentary program Hindsight.ABC Local Radio and Radio Nationalcontributed a wealth of intelligence andinformation on issues affecting everyday life.Radio National strengthened the positioningof its 8.30 weekday programs — reports onHealth, Religion, Law, Media and Sport —with a focused marketing campaign; andLocal Radio stations focused on issuespertinent to their communities.
Specialist programs —linking interestsThe ABC continued to offer one of itstraditional strengths: specialist programs fordiverse communities of interest. Andincreasingly, these reached audiences throughcross-media activity.
ScienceThe ABC kept up its commitment to scienceprograms, with intensive coverage in May ofthe third National Science Week. Thiscollaboration — between the AustralianScience Festival, the Australian ScienceTeachers’ Association and the ABC, withfunding from the Department of Industry,Science and Resources — was a cross-mediacelebration of science around Australia, fromScience in the Pub to Triple J outsidebroadcasts. A highlight was the tour byDouglas Adams, author of Hitch Hiker’s Guideto the Galaxy, who attended ABC events inSydney, Newcastle, Canberra and Melbourneand appeared on Triple J, Recovery, ABCClassic FM and Radio National.ABC Online’s science website, The Lab, theofficial site for National Science Week,continued to build accesses. Cross-mediainitiatives, from Dr Karl Kruszelnicki’s Triple Jslots to The Lab’s ‘technogirl’ Bernie Hobbs,drew youth audiences; and LabNotes offeredcurriculum support for science educators. Anew feature was the ‘Science News Ticker’enabling any website to display the latestnews from The Lab’s News In Science service.The result was that half the accesses to NewsIn Science originated from non-ABC websites. In May The Lab launched a new interactiveelement, Backyard Birdwatch, allowing peopleto identify birds in the urban Australian
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From the Inside Story documentary series. Left: The Wool Princess, narrator, writer and producer, JaneRamsey at the siding of her old country town ofHannaford. Right: Les Murray and Bob Ellis, The Bastards from the Bush.
environment. The site was developed incollaboration with the Australian Museum andBirds Australia.The Lab, together with ABC Television(Quantum) and Radio (Life Matters), has alsobeen pioneering the potential for true cross-media coverage of particular issues. One teamof ABC reporters provided coverage of the1999 Consensus Conference on GeneTechnology for all three media. The websitecomponent, ‘Waiter, there’s a gene in myfood!’, has become a popular resource on thesubject. The site was developed by two of thethree ABC cross-media science trainees,funded by the Department of Industry,Science and Resources.In its fourteenth year, Quantum continued itsexploration of scientific discoveries andadvances. To broaden its appeal, theQuantum website offered more informationon stories and, where possible, links to otherscience topics online. Radio National held its strong commitment toScience programming. During the year, TheScience Show was reshaped; a new program,In Conversation with Robin Williams, wasintroduced; and other Science programs, TheHealth Report, Earthbeat and Ockhams Razorcontinued to be among the most popularprograms on the network. NewsRadio’sStarstuff covered the latest developments anddiscoveries in space sciences and astronomy.
Religion
The ABC continued to report and explorereligion across a range of programs, such asSunday night’s Compass, presented byGeraldine Doogue; a Sunday morning ‘faithand devotion’ hour on ABC Television; DavidBusch’s Religion and Spirituality, networked onLocal Radio; and Encounter, The Religion Reportand The Spirit of Things on Radio National andrelated websites.Millennial Dreams, a seven-part Radio Nationalseries produced as part of The Spirit of Things,examined millenarian thinking and history inworld religions and spiritual movements. Aspart of The Century Series, Encounter presenteda sixteen-part series on the impact of majorevents on religion and beliefs this century:World War I, Communism, the Holocaust,peace movements, Vatican II, indigenouscultures, Islam, and science and religion.Compass included a five-part series Seasons ofChange, looking at the conflict of religiousbelief and society in five developing nations inthe Southern hemisphere.
Sport
Across all media, the ABC brought diversityand an authoritative voice to sports coverage.ABC Sports broadcasters continued to developcross-media skills, with some working on bothradio and television. The ABC’s comprehensive radio sportscoverage included more than 90 hours ofcoverage of the Kuala LumpurCommonwealth Games on Local Radio, alongwith World Cup cricket. The ABC acquired thenon-commercial radio rights to the 2000Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games.The desire of NewsRadio to extend its newsformat across the weekend and to drop itsAustralian Football League (AFL) coverageaffected negotiations with the AFL for therights to broadcast the national competitionon Local Radio over the next three years.A satisfactory outcome which offers listenersgreater choice was achieved. Local Radiosecured the broadcast rights for the next threeyears and NewsRadio is able to run a newsformat during matches in all States andTerritories except New South Wales andQueensland. In those States, NewsRadio willcarry AFL coverage on Friday nights, Saturdayafternoons and nights and Sunday afternoons.The ABC tradition of sports comment andanalysis continued on Local Radio’s weekendGrandstand, and Radio National’s The SportsFactor put sport in its cultural, historical andphilosophical context.The ABC cannot afford to televise ‘big ticket’sports because of their prohibitive rights costs.Instead, ABC Television has concentrated onState-based codes and selected mainstreamnational events. This year saw the first ABC transmission of theNational Soccer League, with a live two-hourtelecast every Sunday from October to May.The season’s highlight, a live semi-finalbroadcast to a loyal Western Australianaudience, scored high ratings in Perth. The ABC continued its television coverage ofNetball, with weekly telecasts of theCommonwealth Bank Trophy and coverage ofthe Australian Netball Team’s Test matchesagainst England and South Africa.Men’s and Women’s basketball was againfeatured on ABC Television during thesummer. Other summer highlights includedtelevision coverage of the Hopman Cup andthe Australian Sport Awards.A dedicated ABC Olympics unit was
ABC Annual Report
29
ABC Annual Report
ABC on the Web
Audience use of ABC Online doubled thisyear, from an average of one million tomore than two million accesses per week.This growth saw it outperform locally someof the world’s top Internet operations, at afraction of the cost. By attracting a strongaudience in the 14–34 year age group,Online is building and extending the ABC’soverall audience base. The network wonseveral high-profile awards, including ‘BestMedia Website’ for the 3rd consecutive yearin the Australian Internet Awards.The Space (Arts and Culture) and RuralOnline were launched, joining populargateways News Online, The Drum (youth),The Playground (children’s), Learn Online(education) and The Lab (science), withMessage Stick (Indigenous) and The Backyard(local) in development. With an expanded journalistic team, NewsOnline’s Brisbane-based operations this yearoffered video from ABC Television News andaudio from Radio Current Affairs as well asspecialist pages for business, internationalaffairs and sport.In the first stage of development of regionalonline services, all of the ABC’s regional
No. of accesses a week (millions)No. of accesses a week (millions)ABC Online accesses 1998–99
0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
JulJunMayAprMarFebJanDecNov Oct SeptAugJul
Federal Electionbuild-up
Federal Election2 Oct 1998 Christmas holiday
downturn
Christmas holidaydownturn
Kosovo crisisGST negotiations& Kosovo crisis
30
established to coordinate the ABC’sinvolvement in the Sydney 2000 Games.These include negotiation of radio rights,deployment of staff and facilities, coverage ofthe Olympic torch relay, the Gamesthemselves and Olympic Cultural festivals.The ABC will make a major nationalcontribution to the Games, both as a keyradio rights holder and through the provisionof staff and facilities for the television hostbroadcaster coverage.
Rural
ABC Rural Radio began serving countryaudiences more than fifty years ago and itsflagship program, The Country Hour, is thelongest-running radio program in Australia.Its position as the leading source of ruralinformation in Australia, as well as thenation’s only daily rural online news serviceprovider, was enhanced in March with theintroduction of the Rural gateway on ABCOnline.Rural also provided live audio streaming ofkey industry events, including the nationalcommunications conference, ‘Connecting theCountry’, in August from Albury, and the‘Outlook 99’ conference in Canberraorganised by the Australian Bureau ofAgricultural and Resource Economics. TheseABC initiatives gave more Australians inremote and regional locations access to majordevelopments in the rural sector.Radio National made significant changes toits rural programs, introducing National RuralNews on weekdays, Country Breakfast withShane Mahoney on Saturdays, and InConversation with Shane Mahoney onTuesdays.On television, Landline continued its livelycoverage of agricultural and social issues inrural Australia. This year the Brisbane-basedshow looked at the shortage of countrydoctors and the closure of country banks andstirred debate with specials on water access,shaping up as significant rural issues of thenext century. Aimed primarily at countryviewers, Landline also scored healthy ratingsin capital cities.
ABC Annual Report
31
newsrooms went online. International newswas also offered via the Radio Australia site,including hourly updates, daily summaries,and news in six languages: English, TokPisin, Khmer, Chinese, Vietnamese andIndonesian.Special online news coverage was mountedfor major events including the Federalelection, the crises in Kosovo andIndonesia, the Commonwealth Games, thecricket World Cup and the national taxdebate.The Sydney-to-Hobart website, developedin conjunction with the Tasmanian StateGovernment, was launched in Decemberand played an unforeseen part in keepingpeople informed about the developingtragedy. The site received an estimated 4million accesses in a three week period, 60per cent from outside Australia.Jim McLeod from ABC Classic FMpresented a new weekly show — forinternet only — called Jazztrack On Line.The first three-hour program featuredAustralian artists only, and mostlyAustralian composition, and an onlineforum.Online forums linked to on-air programsproved successful elsewhere, helping tobuild ABC audiences and loyalties throughthe Web. Radio National’s Australia TalksBooks and The Europeans, ForeignCorrespondent and Australian Story on ABCTelevision made good use of the medium.The Triple J Morning Show conducted anonline health forum following talkback onthe show. A forum on the Lab following anABC Television documentary on coralbleaching, Silent Sentinels, attracted 43 000accesses.The ABC Shop Online, relaunched in April1998, was further developed over the yearand is trading well. ABC Online looked and sounded better,with high quality navigation, moreinteractivity and a true multimedia mix ofaudio, video, text and graphics. Audiostreaming drew new local and globalaudiences, with Triple J, Radio Australia andNewsRadio all going live across the world24-hours a day, and special multimediaevents showcased the power of online toextend and enhance ABC cross-mediacontent.
Youth
Triple J continued as the centrepiece of theABC’s youth programs.Triple J’s Hottest 100 Poll for 1998 attracted arecord number of votes from more than half amillion listeners, with Internet voting up byalmost 300 000 on the previous year. TheHottest 100 CD is Enterprises’ highestperforming release this year. Triple J’s websitegained the second highest number of accessesacross the year, behind News Online.Triple J was heavily involved in social issuesthroughout the year, including the Rock EnrolInitiative, involvement in NAIDOC Week,World Aids Day, World Environment Day andDesert Rap.Over recent years, ABC Television has scoredmajor successes with younger audiences,delivering distinctive and relevant programs.Still enjoying strong audiences wereHeartbreak High, acquired by the ABC fromGannon Television and now in its third series,and Recovery, which enjoyed its fourth year ofsuccess. Rage, the all-night music showscreening nationally on ABC Television andsimulcast on Triple J, continued unabated intoits twelfth year.The success of Race Around The World led todevelopment of a children’s Race Around TheCorner series, giving teams of 12 to 16 yearolds the chance to produce films on issues andevents in their communities. The Race AroundAustralia series also went into production.Across the networks, support for thedevelopment of young music-makerscontinued with Triple J’s Unearthed projectand The Young Performer Awards, simulcast inSeptember on ABC Television and ABC ClassicFM. For the first time since it began in 1992,the Adelaide world music festival Womad was
covered on ABC Radio, Television and Online.Producers from Perth, Sydney, Melbourne andAdelaide collaborated to record music andinterviews, and conduct live-to-air segments.
Indigenous
Exploring cultural and community issues inAboriginal Australia and the Torres StraitIslands has long been an ABC priority. Inaddition to regular Indigenous programs,special programs this year coincided withIndigenous community events such asNAIDOC week. On television, new Indigenous programsincluded the animation series The Dreaming,screening on Sundays before the 7.00pmNews; and Songlines, a venue forcontemporary Indigenous performance. UrbanClan profiled choreographer Stephen Page,composer David Page and performer Russell
ABC Annual Report
32
In July, the ABC launched Heywire, giving avoice to young people in regional Australia.It proved an immediate success. Young Australians aged between 15 and 22sent in audio tapes giving their account oflife outside the major cities. More than 260entries were received Australia-wide, with40 winning entries produced into four-minute items for broadcast on Local Radio,Triple J and ABC Rural Online.Audiences heard Lewy Barnett fromMerimbula in New South Wales despairingthat his dream of being a professional
soccer player would ever come true whileliving in a community of 300, far from amajor city. Susan MacDougall fromNarrogin in Western Australia described aday in the life of a young person on a farm,several hours from the city; and five youngmen from the Riverina Justice Centre inWagga Wagga spoke of the issues they faceas 17 and 18 year olds ‘on the inside.’Each regional winner attended a youthforum in Canberra in February, providingleadership training and opportunities todiscuss many issues raised during theproject with key decision-makers, includingthe Prime Minister.
Heywire
Page, the creative core of the Bangarra DanceTheatre. Live and studio band performances wererecorded at Stompem Ground ’98 for Triple Jto broadcast at a later date.Postcards from Halls Creek, a multimedia eventin conjunction with Radio National’s Awaye!,featured photographs of daily life taken byresidents of the small Kimberley town. Itaimed to highlight the importance ofIndigenous transition in the lead-up to 2000. In a co-venture with the Indigenous ProgramsUnit, ABC Television broadcast live cover ofthe Indigenous Rugby League FootballCarnival final in Coffs Harbour in October.
Children
The ABC continued to lead in innovativechildren’s programs, with Australia’s mostcomprehensive range of programs, from pre-school animation to teen dramas.ABC Television attracts a particularly strongaudience share for its children’s programming.Between 8.30am and 10.00am, Monday toFriday, 43.5 per cent of all viewing by five to12 year olds and 64.4 per cent of all viewingby 0 to 4 year olds is on the ABC. Between3.00pm and 6.00pm, Monday to Friday, 57.5per cent of all viewing by 0 to 4 year olds and51.4 per cent of all viewing by five to 12 yearolds is on the ABC.Children’s shows on ABC Television in1998–99, such as Mixy, Play School and theBananas in Pyjamas special, reflected thequality, Australianness and non-commercial
attributes of the program mix. The inclusionof Australian material in Sesame Street wasnotable.One highlight was the children’s drama co-production with BBC Television, See How TheyRun, filmed in Australia and Britain and post-produced in Australia.The best of international children’s programswere also screened, including Daria, Rugrats,and Animorphs. Bananas in Pyjamas continuedto attract strong domestic and overseasaudiences.The Playground Online site was enormouslysuccessful, one of the ABC’s most popular sitesthis year.
Education
The ABC has traditionally played an importantrole in Australia’s education system, with linksto programs at major universities andinstitutions. It also sees education as a majorarea of future development, with digitaltelevision offering opportunities for extramedia outlets and the potential for audienceinteractivity. A new cross-media ABC Education Servicesunit was established in Adelaide, aimed atforging partnerships with the educationindustry while developing ABC educationalcontent for digital broadcasting and online.The unit will also develop education streamingon any ABC digital multi-channels whichemerge. Groundbreaking work with Monash Universityin delivering educational programs via Radio
ABC Annual Report
33
Left: Cast of See How They Run. Middle: Jess Keeley presenter of Couch Potato. Right:Tania Nugent presenter of BTN
Australia, Radio National and ABC Online,brought success with the Money, Markets andthe Economy series, and a new collaborativeprogram about the emerging digitalenvironment, In the Pipeline: ConvergingCommunications.On ABC Online, the Learn Online gateway waspopular and the Education Online unit createdseveral innovative projects. These includedBaroque On!, an interactive music educationsite; Mock Trial Online, which ran successfulonline mock trials between widely separatedschools, and The Common Good, a civics andcitizenship education resource. The Talkback Classroom radio and onlinecollaboration grew into a national project in1999, involving schools from NSW,Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia.Several international collaborative projects,such as Glyn to Gulgong, also linked schoolsaround the world.ABC Television continued its longcommitment to schools programs, broadcastbetween 10.00am and noon during schoolterm. Much of this was funded by incomecollected in rights for the copying and use ofprograms.The popular weekly news and current affairsprogram for schools, Behind the News (BTN),continued production out of Adelaide. BTNcelebrated 30 years on air in June.Other shows included Numbers Count, a seriesfor middle primary schools exploringnumeracy, Many Nations One People, a serieson Aboriginal culture and society, newprograms made for the Food and Space series,
popular with lower primary students; andPathways to Australian Science for secondaryschools, which took an historical approach toscientific research.The ABC was also an important teachingresource for adults doing tertiary studiesthrough the Open Learning Agency, withLifelong Learning Service programs broadcastbetween 3.00am and 7.30am on weekdaysthroughout the year. These are designed to berecorded by students. Programs included anupdate of the Marketing: Theory and Practiceseries, with new episodes on the wine andmusic industries; and a co-production with theDepartment of Defence, Hazards, Disastersand Survival, which looked at personalpreparedness for natural hazards in Australia. The annual national survey of schools, completedin 1998, showed significant viewing of ABCTelevision programs in primary and secondaryschools by both teachers and students, an
ABC Annual Report
34
In 1999, the ABC celebrated the InternationalYear of Older Persons (IYOP) with a broadrange of services, including:
• a local Television debate in Queensland, AQuestion of Age, to coincide with theState’s October launch of IYOP;
• in the ACT, a series of local oral historiesfeaturing long-term Canberra residents,Reflections in Our Region, broadcast on2CN; and on local Television, a series ofSnapshot Reflections with older Australians,and an IYOP forum;
• Local Radio in Kempsey collaborated withthe University of the Third Age to producea forum and radio packages on older
people and learning, views on youngpeople, health and life after work;
• extensive coverage on issues related to theelderly on Radio National’s Life Matters;
• a telemovie, Time and Tide, and adocumentary profiling the everyday lives ofoctogenarians, to be broadcast on ABCTelevision in the second half of 1999;
• a series of six interviews with eminent olderAustralian musicians and ChristmasMemories, six voice pieces from olderAustralians, broadcast on ABC Classic FM;
• interviews on issues affecting older peopleon Australiawide and news coverage onNewsRadio.
International Year of Older Persons
audience not captured in the normal ratingsfigures. More than a million primary students and over34 000 of their teachers Australia-widewatched BTN in 1998, with more than half theteachers using at least 50 per cent of theprograms broadcast. In secondary schools, anestimated 801 000 students and 20 550teachers saw Quantum in 1998.• Of those who responded to the survey, 80
per cent of secondary school teachers and68 per cent of primary school teachersindicated that they had used an ABCTelevision program at some point duringtheir classes in 1998.
• The programs used by the highestpercentage of secondary teachers wereQuantum, Four Corners, Media Watch,Scientific Eye, Foreign Correspondent, Behindthe News, Ancient Civilisations, Eureka!,Hazards, Disasters and Survival and Lateline.
• The programs used by the highestpercentage of primary teachers were BehindThe News, For the Juniors, Mathica’sMathshop, Magic Library, Rat-a-tat-tat,Minibeast Environments, More than Words,Book Bug, Play School, Shape Shape Shapeand Behind the News Specials.
Broadcasting the world’s best Australian audiences enjoy overseas productand the ABC continued to make a significantcontribution to the range of foreign programsavailable to viewers and listeners. The ABC’sstrong links with overseas public broadcastersand quality producers are an important sourceof quality programming.
These close associations were highlighted onNewsRadio. All Things Considered fromNational Public Radio was a significantaddition to the network, which also offersnews and information from overseasbroadcasters including Deutsche Welle, RadioNetherlands, the BBC and Radio Canada.ABC Classic FM broadcast thirteen operasfrom the New York Metropolitan Opera’s1999 Season and 150 international concertsfrom overseas.Television featured programs from US publicbroadcaster WGBH, Scottish Television,Channel 4 and the BBC. Overseas programsincluding Vanity Fair and new series ofBallykissangel and The Bill gained strongaudiences. The Australian television premiereof Her Majesty Mrs Brown in May won its timeslot nationally. Foreign documentaries included MacArthurand Truman (WGBH, United States), The LifeOf Birds narrated by Sir David Attenborough,which drew a national audience of more than1.1 million viewers; The Human Body series,again with more than 1million viewers; andthe Reputation series profiling the lives ofpublic figures. The controversial Channel 4series, Against Nature attracted criticism fromenvironment groups.Children’s animation from overseas includedAlbert, The Fifth Musketeer (English/French/German co-production), Koki (Spain) andDaria (US).
ABC Annual Report
35
Top left: Her Majesty Mrs Brown with Dame Judi Dench asQueen Victoria, and Billy Connolly as John Brown.Middle: Life of Birds narrated by Sir David Attenborough.Above: Vanity Fair, the BBC adaptation of WilliamThackeray’s classic novel.
Broadcasting to yourcommunityThe spread of Local and Regional Servicesacross 57 locations Australia-wide continues tobe a unique ABC strength. Across the nation,Local Radio production increased from over62 000 to more than 66 000 hours of localcontent, plus local news and sport. In Queensland, Local Radio mounted a majorbroadcast in June to mark the 140thAnniversary of Queensland Day, looking at theState’s prospects for the next Century. TheState’s ten regional radio locations, 4QRBrisbane and reporters in another nineQueensland locations joined in a singlestatewide program across the day, exploringdifferent themes, such as people, industry,education and health, from the State’sperspective.5AN in Adelaide broadcast Radio Daysconcerts with the Adelaide SymphonyOrchestra, providing a mix of music and old-style radio plays with sound effects and LocalRadio personalities among the casts.Local Radio and Television in the NorthernTerritory covered the fifth Arafura Games, abiennial sporting event that brought togethermore than 5000 athletes and officials from 25countries for a week of competition andcultural exchange.In Victoria, coverage of the Castlemaine StateFestival represented the State’s mostsignificant radio outside broadcastcommitment for the year. Participatingprograms included Statewide Afternoons,
Regional Drive, Central Victoria Breakfast and3LO’s Morning and Sunday Arts program andABC Classic FM brought the festival to anational audience.3LO Melbourne introduced the Streetscapeconcept which took the station intoMelbourne homes to get opinions fromresidents about current local issues. Local Radio in New South Wales hosted aseries of talks in regional towns on Science inthe Bush. A Government-funded initiative, thetalks by leading scientists were aimedparticularly at regional women’s organisations.The first, at Lightning Ridge, was delivered byDr Cobie Brinkman, a neuroscientist at theANU.2BL in Sydney celebrated its 75th anniversaryin November with a special outside broadcastfrom Martin Place. Following an extendedBreakfast program, presenters broadcast fromlocations including the Harbour Bridge, theAMP Tower, a ferry and the ABC helicopterover the city. 2CN Canberra hosted The Golden Days ofRadio Show in conjunction with the NationalFilm and Sound Archive’s exhibition marking75 years of radio. This included live music,quizzes and the performance of a radio playCapital City, complete with audienceparticipation, a theatre organist and soundeffects. The play was written and directed by2CN Afternoon producer, Jeremy Lee, andperformed by other 2CN broadcasters. The Tasmanian Election was broadcastsimultaneously on television and Local Radiostations in Tasmania as well as on NewsRadio
ABC Annual Report
36
The Unearthed project, Triple J’s quest for new talent.Above, Geraldton Unearthed. Top right, Brisbane Unearthed. Bottom right,Melvin Starr, winners of Newcastle Unearthed
and with audio streaming on ABC NewsOnline.In September, the ABC conducted majorresearch to identify opportunities forimproving Local Radio’s performance and itsappeal to metropolitan audiences. Researchsessions in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane,Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle, Canberra andHobart involved a total of more than 400listeners, with questionnaires and groupdiscussions.In rating the overall quality of ABC Local RadioStations, 84 per cent of respondents ratedtheir local ABC station as excellent or good.Listeners were asked to write what they likedand disliked about their local ABC station.
Overall results showed the most popularelements were news and informationcoverage, the presenters and the fact that ABCstations are ad-free. Problems included lowrecall for ABC station slogans and variedopinions about the style and quantity of musicplayed.Increasingly, regional audiences were servedby new technology. This year saw progresstowards the development of the ABC’sregional stations as multimedia centres. The possibilities of digital broadcasting wereillustrated at Albany in Western Australia,where, in a multimedia trial, video gathered inthe community by ABC Radio staff was placedon the local ABC website and went into to a
ABC Annual Report
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On four significant occasions this year, ABC Local Radio stations broke away from widernetworked programs to cover emergencies and give vital community information.• In August, ABC Illawarra ran more than eight hours of emergency programs and 80 special
updates during floods.• In March, Local Radio in Queensland gave extensive coverage to Cyclone Rona which
caused major flooding and crop damage in and around Cairns, Mackay and Townsville.Local stations in each centre provided essential information to affected communities.
• In June, an outside broadcast by the Country Hour and Local Radio at Moora in WesternAustralia provided local and statewide coverage of the town’s flooding and evacuation.
• Also in June, ABC Local Radio at Geraldton in Western Australia stayed on air overnight togive emergency information on floods at Greenough, 200 kilometres away.
• Radio Australia also provided extensive coverage of the Papua New Guinea tsunami disaster,as well as support and information to listeners in the devastated area. The Tok Pisin Servicemounted a special message service for relatives of survivors, using lists of patients obtainedfrom mission hospitals on the north coast of PNG.
Your ABC – there when it counts
four-part television documentary seriesproduced during the year, Radio Pictures. Thissaw collaboration between four regional radiostations in Western Australia and a Perth ABCTelevision production team. Radio staff usedsmall digital cameras to capture life inKalgoorlie and the Goldfields, Broome and theKimberley, Karratha and the Pilbara, andAlbany and the South Coast.In the coming year, The Backyard project willgive all ABC Local Radio stations their ownhigh-quality online presence, with contenttailored to individual communities and a localentry point to the wider ABC Online.
The Unearthed project, Triple J’s quest for newtalent, continued its success. Warrnambool inVictoria was Unearthed in August, Newcastleduring October, Orange and Bathurst inFebruary and in May, Brisbane was Unearthedin an event streamed online. More than 2000bands and performers entered, bringing totalentries to more than 6000 since the project’s1995 start. In all, 69 winners have beenUnearthed across Australia.ABC Classic FM’s Improvisatory Music Festivalheld semi-finals in all States, with the finalbroadcast from Melbourne. The networkbroadcast six concerts from Townsville as partof the Australian Festival of Chamber Music toa national audience.
The ABC: a federalbroadcaster in the States andTerritoriesThe ABC is a national organisation with astrong physical and program presence in eachAustralian State and Territory. The Corporation’s commitment to optimisethe spread of production delivered real resultsthis year: in addition to the daily State andNorthern Territory news services and Stateline,580 hours of State and Territory-sourcedtelevision was produced. This included 44hours of new programs produced primarily fora State audience, although many programsachieved national exposure.
ABC Annual Report
38
Albany Multimedia trial: video gathered by ABC Radio staff was placed on the local ABC website and went into the four-partdocumentary series Radio Pictures. Pictured right, John Cecil, Regional Program Manager Albany.
In May 1998, the Victorian Premierannounced his intention to hold an inquiryinto the effects of government-fundednational broadcasting on Victoria. Unusualas it is for a state parliamentary committeeto inquire into a federal agency, the ABCagreed to cooperate, and devotedconsiderable time, effort and resources toproviding three major submissions andattending hearings and meetings. TheCommittee tabled its report in May,arguing, among other things, for moreABC production to be based in Melbourne.For its part, the Corporation wasdisappointed that the Committee did notrecognise the vital contribution that theABC makes to Victoria.
Victorian Inquiry
These included Saltwater Rock, A Night ofIndigenous Music, broadcast in the NorthernTerritory in February; Canberra’s TenthAnniversary of Self-Government, aired in May;in Adelaide the Memorial Services for formerSouth Australian Premier Don Dunstan and inBrisbane former Senator and ABC Boardmember Neville Bonner, both broadcast inFebruary.This year, Melbourne was responsible for all ofthe ABC’s natural history television productionand more than 50 per cent of its drama,comedy and arts programming and somedocumentaries were produced in Melbourne.In Sydney, science, religion, talks and somedocumentaries were produced as well ascomedy, drama and children’s programs,while Hobart continued to produce GardeningAustralia. Brisbane contributed Landline andAustralian Story for the network. Adelaideremained the source of ABC educationproduction and sport was produced in allStates and Territories.During the year, planning began for a newAdelaide-based television quiz show, a musicprogram in Perth and a new Victorian dramaseries. Further development of State-basedABC production will involve cooperation ofco-producers and public investment. Decisions to break out of the nationaltelevision schedule to broadcast soccer finalsin Perth and basketball finals in Adelaide andMelbourne showed the ABC’s ability torespond to the needs of State-basedaudiences. One issue unresolved this year was thesustained demand for State and NorthernTerritory-based television current affairs.Stateline continued to draw a dedicatedweekly audience in each state, but the ABCwas pressed from many quarters to provide anightly State-based current affairs program.The issue remains one which must beresolved.
International broadcasting— linking with the regionThe ABC’s international broadcasting activitiescontinued a process of adjustment to newtechnology, a reduced funding base and alesser role in international television.
In April the ABC sold its remaining preferenceshares in Australia Television. The SevenNetwork, which bought Australia Television in1997, decided not to renew the contract withthe ABC to supply Australia Television News,which was produced in the ABC’s newsroomin Darwin. The ABC continued to providepresentation and transmission services forAustralia Television from Darwin andmaintained program supply agreements withAustralia Television.The ABC has had a six year involvement withAustralia Television, highlighted by the qualityand cost effectiveness of the special ABCproduced news bulletin beamed into Asia.Radio Australia’s relatively weak shortwavesignal to Asia remains of concern. It continuedto limit audiences for its English and Asianlanguage services (Indonesian, Chinese,Vietnamese and Khmer). Radio Australiavigorously pursued alternative arrangementswith radio stations in China and South-EastAsia, and as a result, 330 hours of RadioAustralia programs are now rebroadcast orrelayed weekly by 76 stations across 20countries of the Asia-Pacific region.Rebroadcasting arrangements are constrainedin some instances by their reliance onapproval of the relevant government. Accessto Radio Australia in the Pacific improved withthe ongoing installation of AusAid-fundedsatellite downlinks, which allow local stationsto rebroadcast a quality radio signal via thePalapa C2 satellite. In early March, Radio Australia launched anevening Indonesian broadcast in response tothe dramatic pace of change in Indonesia. Thisprogram was aimed at listeners in easternIndonesia where the Radio Australia shortwavesignal is good, and also allowed Indonesianstations to replay Radio Australia broadcasts.For the Indonesian elections, Radio Australiaand ABC News Online created a bilingualonline site, using text, audio and images sentdaily from the field. This received more than100 000 accesses.Radio Australia also broadcasts up to ten hoursa day of Radio National’s programs. Duringthe year, Radio National’s Arts Talk joined theRadio Australia schedule and a special editionof Music Deli now reaches 30 million listeners aweek through Radio Zhejiang in China.
ABC Annual Report
39
40
ABC Annual Report
ABC Radio
The overall weekly audience reach for theABC’s radio services in the eight major cities(Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide,Perth, Canberra, Hobart and Newcastle)increased by 0.4 per cent to an annualaverage of 3 924 000. The ABC’s regionalareas were not surveyed in 1998–99. Infuture the regional areas will be surveyed onan annual basis.The ABC’s aggregate share of radio listeningremained steady in Sydney (19.1 per cent). Itincreased in Adelaide (21.2 per cent), Perth(25.7 per cent) and Canberra (46.1 per cent)and is slightly lower in Melbourne (19.5 percent), Brisbane (22.0 per cent), Newcastle(18.6 per cent) and Hobart (37.8 per cent).Metropolitan Radio’s weekly audience reachacross the eight cities is 1 956 000, slightlydown (by 3.9 per cent) on the 1997–98figure. In Sydney, 2BL’s weekly reach and share weresteady at 541 000 and 7.5 per centrespectively. In Melbourne, 3LO’s weeklyreach and share were down marginally to590 000 and 9.3 per cent. In Brisbane, 4QR’sweekly reach and share were close to lastyear’s averages at 234 000 and 8.3 per cent.In Adelaide, 5AN’s reach and share weredown to 155 000 and 6.7 per cent. In Perth,6WF’s reach and share were down to228 000 and 9.0 per cent. Canberra’s 2CN’sweekly reach and share were down to 83 000and 15.6 per cent. In Hobart, 7ZR’s weeklyreach and share were both down slightly to60 000 and 20.6 per cent. In Newcastle2NC’s reach and share were down to 63 000and 7.6 per cent.
Radio National’s overall eight city weeklyreach was up slightly (by 4.1 per cent) to654 000. Its average annual share was upfrom 1.7 per cent to 1.9 per cent.ABC Classic FM’s eight city weekly reach wassteady at 750 000 and its share at 2.8 percent. Triple J’s eight city weekly reach increasedfractionally (by 1.4 per cent) to 1 549 000and its share was steady at 6.9 per cent. The strongest growth of all the ABC’s radionetworks this year was NewsRadio whichincreased its eight city weekly reach to526 000 (up 15.1 per cent). Its shareincreased from 0.9 per cent to 1.1 per cent.
ABC Television
ABC Television’s average weekly reach in the6.00am to 12 midnight timeslot was 8 880000 people in the 5 cities of Sydney,Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth and4,203,000 in regional areas.* In percentageterms, ABC Television’s 5 city weekly reachwas 70.6 per cent and the regional reach was72.5 per cent. In individual cities, ABCTelevision’s weekly audience reach increasedslightly from the previous year in Brisbane (to72.6 per cent), Adelaide (72.5 per cent) andPerth (72.3 per cent) and decreased slightlyin Sydney (69.8 per cent) and Melbourne(70.0 per cent). ABC Television’s average four weekly reach(6.00am to 6.00am) was 11 015 000 for thefive cities and 5 141 000 in regional areas.*In percentage terms, the four weekly reachwas 87.1 per cent in the five cities and 88.4per cent in the regional areas.
Audiences
Radio audience share
Per cent
0
10
20
30
40
501999
1998
1997
1996
1995
HobartDarwinCanberraNewcastlePerthAdelaideBrisbaneMelbourneSydney
41
ABC Annual Report
Radio ReachNetworks
Audience (millions)
0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.01999
1998
1997
1996
1995
Regional RadioNews RadioTriple JABC Classic FMRadio NationalMetropolitan
Television – average weekly reach
Per cent
60.0
62
65
67
70
72
751998–99
1997–98
1996–97
1995–96
1994–95
Perth AdelaideBrisbaneMelbourneSydney
Television Audience Share
Per cent
4
6
8
10
12
14
16 1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
Perth AdelaideBrisbaneMelbourneSydney
ABC Television’s overall (6am to midnight)five city audience share increased to 15.0 percent with the evening (6pm to midnight)share averaging 14.9 per cent.
* Note that there is some duplication ofmetropolitan and regional survey areas, so thesefigures cannot be added to arrive at anAustralian total.
The ABC values its strong links with itsaudiences and fosters these by welcomingcomments, suggestions and complaints andmaking information freely available toaudiences.Comments assist the Corporation to evaluatewhat pleases audiences as well as identifyingareas where the public is unhappy withperformance. In addition to hundreds ofthousands of contacts made directly toprogram areas, networks and regional andbranch offices, this year the ABC received:• more than 15 000 calls logged by capital
city switchboards;
• 9179 emails sent [email protected] or via thecomments or complaints forms on theABC’s Internet site; and
• 4175 letters addressed directly to theManaging Director or Corporate Planningand Communications.
News and Current Affairs also registerscontacts by audience members. During theyear, some 14 000 direct phone calls to Newsand Current Affairs programs were received,along with 3600 emails and letters.
ABC Annual Report
42
CCoonnnneeccttiinnggwwiitthh oouurraudiences
In July, the ABC Board approved a newService Commitment, a statement of whatindividuals are entitled to expect in theirdealings with the ABC. The ServiceCommitment was made available tomembers of the public, including throughpublication on the ABC’s Internet site. TheABC is committed to the following standardsof service:• treating audience members with fairness,
courtesy and integrity;• respecting legitimate rights to privacy and
confidentiality;• complying with relevant legislation such as
the Commonwealth Freedom of InformationAct 1982;
• responding to audience inquiries promptlyand as comprehensively as possible;
• welcoming comments and answering, asfar as possible, all written correspondence;
• welcoming and responding to complaints;• providing accurate information;• making information such as the Service
Commitment and the ABC Code ofPractice freely available;
• making program information, includingclosed captioning details and timely adviceon program changes, widely available;
• monitoring audience concerns expressedthrough phone calls, mail and presscoverage; and
• ensuring relevant staff are provided withinformation about audience response toprograms.
The ABC reports on its performance againstthese commitments throughout this Chapterof the Report.
Service Commitment
The ABC’s level of trust with its audiences ishigh, and the majority of contacts fromaudiences are expressions of appreciation,suggestions and requests for furtherinformation. However, this year the ABC wasagain not without its critics. Processes forhandling contentious issues are wellestablished, with major complaints handled byCorporate Planning and Communications.As with previous years, of calls logged bycapital city switchboards, sports coverage wasthe most popular subject accounting for morethan 5200 calls. There was special interest inbasketball coverage in Adelaide, soccer inPerth and the perennial favourite, cricket. A worrying increase in transmissionbreakdowns and reception difficulties in themonths before the transmitters used for ABCservices were privatised led to some 3800telephone complaints — a new record.Also attracting significant attention was theABC’s television coverage of the marriage ofHRH The Prince Edward to Ms Sophie Rhys-Jones, with more than 2000 calls ofappreciation.Coverage of the 1998 Federal Election causedvaried comment with more than 2300 calls.Of these, nearly 1000 complained thatnormally scheduled programs had beeninterrupted for party political addresses. 440 callers found bias and some 200 of theseclaimed the ABC had not given fair coverageto One Nation candidates. The remainderfound bias for or against all the other politicalparties and even some Independentcandidates.Of calls, letters and emails logged by Newsand Current Affairs, nearly 59 per cent werepositive contacts, registering audience
appreciation of ABC news and current affairsprograms, presenters and stories, while justover 41 per cent were complaints over a widerange of issues, from news values to use oflanguage.This year three elections — in Tasmania, NewSouth Wales, and the Federal Election —resulted in complaints of ABC bias in Newsand Current Affairs programs both for andagainst the Coalition and the ALP, and for andagainst One Nation, the Greens and otherminor parties.The 7.30 Report received around a quarter ofall complaints logged by News and CurrentAffairs. The 7.00pm News and Four Cornersalso drew significant numbers of complaints. News coverage of the Desert Fox bombingraids on Iraq drew allegations of pro and anti-American bias, and pro and anti-Iraqi bias,while complaints of bias for and against bothSerbia and NATO were lodged over the ABC’sKosovo coverage. The Managing Director and the Boarddefended the ABC against accusations of biasin relation to its October 1998 Federal Electioncoverage. Both internal and independentexternal monitoring showed that the ABC’scoverage was balanced and fair. That said, theABC acknowledged error in four instances.One of these, an interview on Triple J with TimFreedman from ‘The Whitlams’, went to theissue of balance. The Australian Broadcasting Authority and theIndependent Complaints Review Panel eachupheld a complaint about ABC programs.These are detailed in Appendix 11.
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Agfest 1999 Carrick Tasmania
The ABC continued to make informationavailable to audiences through Corporatepublications such as the Annual Report, theCode of Practice and the ABC ServiceCommitment. These are available on theABC’s website, together with a host of ABCeditorial, program related and corporatedocuments.Program information, including closed captiondetails and timely advice on program
changes, was made widely available via thepress, on air announcements and throughABC Online.The ABC has a longstanding commitment todeaf and hearing impaired people. Based onprogams broadcast on a single transmitterduring the reporting period, 51.6 per cent or1170 hours of prime time (6pm to midnight)programs and 27.4% or 2315 hours of allprograms were captioned. TTY facilities arealso available.
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The ABC’s complaints handlingarrangements are benchmarked against theAustralian Standard and accord with theprinciples laid down by the Australianchapter of the Society of Consumer AffairsProfessionals (SOCAP), of which the ABC isa member.The ABC’s Code of Practice, which containsthe essence of the Corporation’s EditorialPolicies, is freely available to the membersof the public. The Code of Practice sets outprogram codes, program classificationdetails and ABC program complaintsarrangements.Complainants who remain dissatisfied withABC handling of their complaints may refertheir concerns to either the AustralianBroadcasting Authority (ABA) or theIndependent Complaints Review Panel(ICRP), a body unique to the ABC.
Australian Broadcasting AuthorityIf a listener’s or viewer’s complaint iscovered by the ABC Code of Practice andshe or he is not satisfied with the ABC’sresponse, the complainant can take thematter to the ABA.During 1998–99 twelve such matters wereinvestigated by the Australian BroadcastingAuthority. The ABA found a breach of theABC Code of Practice in three cases. In oneof these cases, the ABA issued a noticeunder the Broadcasting Services Act for anon-air apology to be made. This apologywas broadcast without delay.
Independent Complaints Review Panel
The Independent Complaints Review Panel(ICRP) reviews written complaints allegingserious cases of bias, lack of balance or unfairtreatment arising from ABC broadcasts. Complainants may seek a Panel review oncethe ABC’s normal complaints handlingprocedures have been completed and if thecomplainant is dissatisfied with the ABC’sresponse. ICRP findings are carefullyconsidered by the ABC Board, particularlywhen updating ABC Editorial Policies.The ICRP consists of Ted Thomas, Convenor,Margaret Jones, Deputy Convenor, ProfessorMichael Chesterman, Stepan KerkyasharianAM and Bob Johnson. Members of the Panelhave been appointed for their knowledge ofor experience in journalistic ethics and practice,media operations and program production,complaints handling and other review processes.In its eighth year of operation, the ICRPreceived fourteen requests to reviewcomplaints. Many of these complaints did notmeet the Panel’s criteria as they had not beendealt with by the ABC or involved mattersoutside the Panel’s area of responsibility. TheICRP accepted four requests for review, one ofwhich was completed during the reportingperiod. In addition, three complaints acceptedfor review the previous year were completedduring the reporting period.The four reviews completed during the yearwere requested by Mr Jerry and Ms JillianBennette, AMP Limited, Senator the Hon.Jocelyn Newman and Mr Peter Whelan.Refer to Appendix 11 for a summary of ICRPfindings.
Complaints handling
National AdvisoryCouncilThe ABC National AdvisoryCouncil is a statutory body.Section 11 of the ABC Act sets outthe role of the Council as ‘eitheron its own initiative or at therequest of the Board, to furnishadvice to the Board on mattersrelating to broadcasting andtelevision programs of theCorporation’. The NationalAdvisory Council Subcommittee ofthe ABC Board considersrecommendations and executiveresponses following each Councilmeeting. As part of this process,the Board Subcommittee alsorefers program related issues to the Councilfor review, examination or consideration.Members of the public are invited to apply tojoin the Council through promotions on ABCRadio and Television. The twelve members ofthe Council are appointed by the ABC Board,usually for a three-year term. This year, RyanHonschooten from Western Australia, StevenMavrigiannakis from Tasmania and DrEdmund Sweeney from New South Waleswere appointed to the Council. Council meets three times during the year fortwo days. Council put forward a submission tothe Federal Government’s Review intoMultichannelling by the National Broadcastersand formulated a response to therecommendations of the VictorianParliamentary Committee Report into theEffects of Government Funded NationalBroadcasting in Victoria. Both these responseshighlighted the need for the ABC to maintainits Charter obligations as a comprehensivenational broadcaster. ABC Executives and members of the ABCBoard Subcommittee attend Council meetingsby invitation. Some of the areas where Councilmade recommendations and receivedexecutive responses included programstandards and the use of warnings, Australiancontent, science programming and sportsprogramming.Complete membership details for the NationalAdvisory Council are given at Appendix 9.National Advisory Council recommendationsfor 1998–99 are detailed at Appendix 10.
Community EventsThe ABC was an active participant incommunity events in every State and Territorythroughout the year. Local arts, music,agricultural, community and multiculturalfestivals and events featured prominently inlive radio and television broadcasts.Live broadcasts from community eventsenabled audiences to meet ABC broadcasters,observe programs being made, try the ABC’swebsite and CD-ROMs and enjoy specialentertainment presented for the occasion.The sixth Central Queensland MulticulturalFair, organised by 4RK Rockhampton andCentral Queensland University, was held inAugust. Opened by Deputy Prime MinisterTim Fischer MP, the Fair attracted over 30 000people. The ABC broadcast from the eventand provided entertainment from the Bananasin Pyjamas and Playschool team, along with arange of performances from representatives ofthe many cultural communities in the region.During serious rainstorm and floodingdevastation in the Illawarra district of NewSouth Wales, Ian McNamara’s nationalAustralia All Over program broadcast fromWollongong. This enabled Australians toexperience vividly the extent of the damageand the work of the community andemergency services in dealing with it.
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The National Advisory Council. Back row from left: MrDouglas Stott, Mrs Charlotte Samiec, Ms Jillian Crowe, MissKatie Biggs, Associate Professor Robin Stuart-Harris(Convenor), Mr James Salmon, Mr Steven Mavrigiannakis,Mr Mathew Draper, Dr Edmund Sweeney.Front row from left: Ms Lesley Bangama Fogarty, Mr RyanHonschooten, Mrs Audrey Tremain
3LO participated in the Melbourne Food andWine Festival, with broadcasts from specialevents and coverage of Festival activitiesacross a range of programs. The stationsupported the Melbourne InternationalComedy Festival, beginning with a livebroadcast gala from the Iwaki Auditorium atSouthbank, The Sound of Laughter. 3LO wasalso a principal supporter of the MelbourneInternational Festival of the Arts, providing afree Sunday Arts broadcast concert, livebroadcast of the opening night eventattended by over 60 000 people, andextensive coverage of Festival events.There were similar opportunities to connectwith ABC audiences right around Australia,including in Darwin, Newcastle, Hobart andLaunceston, Canberra, Perth, Adelaide,Sydney and through events held in localcommunities in each State.ABC Events produced a number of theatricalshows and concerts, featuring ABC Music actslike the Flower Pot Gang and popular
characters including Spot, Pingu, and Miffy.These ABC For Kids live concerts, includingPlay School Big Show and Play School LittleShow, toured nationally. The ABC For KidsChristmas Spectacular, aimed at pre-school
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An inaugural annual performance survey was conducted in December 1998 on audienceperception and appreciation of ABC services. Newspoll surveyed a national sample of 1290Australians. Overall, 88 per cent of respondents rated the ABC and its services as valuable tothe Australian community. Excluding those who declined to comment:• 92 per cent of respondents agreed the ABC was doing a good job at being distinctively
Australian and contributing to national identity;• 86 per cent of respondents rated ABC Television programming as good compared to only
44 per cent for commercial television;• 81 per cent felt the ABC did a good job at providing television programs they personally
liked to watch — 50 per cent thought commercial television did a good job;• 89 per cent rated ABC Radio programming as good quality compared to 66 per cent for
commercial radio; • 85 per cent thought ABC Radio did a good job in providing the amount of programs they
liked to listen to; 66 per cent thought commercial radio did a good job; and• amongst the 8 per cent who had visited the ABC website, 100 per cent agreed it provided
good-quality information.AMR Quantum Harris’s AustraliaSCAN 1999, based on a national survey of 2 000 randomlyselected adults conducted October to November 1998, asked respondents how satisfied theywere with the service offered by ten public services. The survey shows that 82 per cent of thepopulation are satisfied with the ABC, second only to Postal Services (86 per cent) forsatisfaction among public services. Respondents were also asked ‘Compared to a year ago, isthe quality of these services improving, getting worse or staying the same …’. Based on netresults, only Postal Services and the ABC were considered to have improved their service.
Is the ABC valued?
The Two Fat Ladies, Clarissa Dickson-Wright and the lateJennifer Paterson
children, attracted around 100 000youngsters and parents nationally.The ABC For Kids Club, an initiative of ABCEnterprises, was launched in September andnow has around 3000 members.In other events supported by the ABC, countrysinger Lee Kernaghan’s Pass The Hat Aroundtour raised half a million dollars for ruralAustralia; while the Two Fat Ladies oftelevision cooking fame toured the easterncoast cities in September, making contactwith 40 000 Australians.
Freedom Of InformationThe Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act)gives the public the right to access documentsheld by the ABC. Schedule 2 Part II of the Actgives the ABC an exemption in relation tomaterial which is program related. During the year the ABC received eightrequests for access to documents under theFOI Act. Access was granted in part to sixrequests. Two requests related to personnelrecords and were dealt with outside theFreedom of Information legislation. Onerequest for Internal Review was not upheld.
Categories Of Documents
The ABC holds documents under three broadcategories:• general records including correspondence,
reports and minutes of meetings relating to
ABC policy, program development, externalrelations and internal management,program transmission documents, reportson audience reaction to ABC programs andpublicity on programs and activities;
• records subject to copyright includingscripts and transcripts of programs (alsosubject to availability), recorded programsand other recordings;
• articles available for purchase, includingmerchandise from ABC Shops and selectedABC program material.
As noted above, program related material isexempt under Schedule 2 Part II of the FOIAct.
Requests For Access
Written requests for access to material underthe FOI Act, including the $30 application fee,should be addressed to:The Managing Director Australian Broadcasting Corporation GPO Box 9994 in your State or Territorycapital city.Requests addressed to the Managing Directorcan also be lodged at the nearest ABC office(see Appendix 20).Formal requests under the FOI Act will beacknowledged within 14 days of receipt andapplications will be processed within 30 days.
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The value and strength of the ABC goes wellbeyond its daily broadcasting role. It is aninfluential player in every aspect of the mediaand arts industries, from encouragingperformers to shaping technical standards.The ABC is a significant part of the criticalmass Australia needs to maintain a viablemedia and arts production sector.The ABC interacts daily with private industry,through a range of co-productions and othercommercial arrangements such as employingfreelancers and hiring facilities; and throughits book publishing, music recording anddistribution and sales of ABC Enterprisesproducts. The Corporation acknowledges thatpublic, community and private sectors areessential to create diversity in broadcastingand production. The ABC’s presenceguarantees that.In June, the ABC gave evidence before theProductivity Commission inquiry into theBroadcasting Services Act, arguing that theCorporation provided an efficient andcontinuing platform for the delivery of mediadiversity. It called for guarantees thatAustralian content would be protected in anychanges to the regulatory environment. This year the ABC also made majorcontributions to Government reviews intodigital broadcasting, established underlegislation to introduce digital television
broadcasting in January 2001. In all, ninereviews were looking at issues ranging fromdatacasting and high definition television tochanges in legislation required to allow theABC and SBS to use the digital spectrum formultichannelling. The ABC sits on all majorstandards committees.The ABC broadly argued that its distinctiveplace in the broadcasting industry requiredmaximum flexibility in the use of digitalspectrum, to enable it to choose the mostappropriate form — high definition, multiplestandard definition channels or datacasting —to deliver on its Charter obligations. By givingthe ABC such flexibility, the Governmentwould help the industry to test new servicesand delivery forms, and encourage the take-up of digital broadcasting.In June, the ABC joined a consortium knownas Digital 2000 with three commercial radiooperators — Austereo, Australian RadioNetwork and 2KY Racing Radio — to begintrials of Digital Radio Broadcasting (DRB) inSydney. The trial will investigate technical andprogramming issues associated with theintroduction of DRB into Australia.The ABC is a significant force in internationalbroadcasting bodies.It is a founding Trustee of the CommonwealthBroadcasting Association, which formally linksthe Corporation to the BBC, CBC in Canada,
The ABC – aanniinntteeggrraall ppaarrtt oofftthhee industry‘For the industry, the ABC is a source of innovation, quality standards, newtalent and training. The ABC’s investment in local production contributes to thecritical mass necessary for the Australian creative and production industries tosurvive and flourish.’ ABC Corporate Plan
Radio and Television New Zealand, the SouthAfrican Broadcasting Corporation and smallerCommonwealth broadcasters throughoutAfrica, South-East Asia, the Pacific and theCaribbean. This year the Managing Director became Vice-President of the Asia-Pacific BroadcastingUnion (ABU), anticipating the ABC’s hosting ofthe 36th General Assembly in Sydney inNovember 1999. He also delivered a keynoteaddress in Rome to the International Institutefor Communications.The ABC works closely with various industryand government groups. Funding by theScience and Technology Awareness Program,for example, supports ABC initiatives toenhance science reporting, including its highlysuccessful award-winning website, The Lab;media fellowships for scientists; and three yearcross-media production skills traineeships forgraduate scientists.The ABC continued as a major trainingorganisation for outside groups. With fundingfrom AusAID, the CommonwealthBroadcasting Association, the ABU and others,ABC staff provided training and consultanciesin Fiji, Vanuatu, Laos, Vietnam, Nepal, SouthAfrica and other countries. The ABC also organised placements foroverseas broadcasters and broadcastmanagers; and gave placements to outsiders,particularly young Australians entering theindustry. This year the ABC and the AustralianFilm Television and Radio School (AFTRS)agreed to an initial strategy of involving AFTRSstudents in ABC Drama productions, withplans for documentary and new mediaplacements.But the Corporation’s strongest link with the
industry was again in television co-productions, which equalled 44 per cent ofABC Television’s general Australianproduction, excluding News and CurrentAffairs. Co-productions announced in Februaryincluded a broader range of program strands,including a live action children’s drama ortelemovie for 12 year olds and over, a comedyvariety show and a distinctive telemovie. Twodocumentary strands were included: atravel/adventure series and a series exploitingthe opportunities offered by digital cameras.Through co-productions, as well as its own in-house slate, the ABC supports Australianactors, writers, designers, musicians,producers and directors. It gives rise to freshtalents by allowing artists the freedom tocreate. It champions the new, the risky, theexperimental. Many television genres wouldnot be available without initial ABCdevelopment and support. ABC Enterprises, the Corporation’scommercial arm, continued to forge links withAustralian creative life. It is now Australia’sbiggest country music recording label, and amajor force in classical music. It meets theneeds of children with quality products andevents. ABC Books, continues to encouragelocal writing, and two of its releases, CarolineJones’s An Authentic Life, and the WarwickTodd Diaries Back In The Baggy Green, wereamong Australia’s top ten bestsellers for 1998.
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Left: Signing contracts for the British Government and theABC to fund the ABC–Chevening Scholarship at the ReuterFellowship program at Oxford, British High Commissioner,Alex Allen, and ABC Chairman, Donald McDonald.Above: ABC Managing Director, Brian Johns (right) at thesigning of the ABC–Cinemedia multimedia productionaccord, with Victorian Treasurer and Minister forInformation Technology and Multimedia, the Hon. AlanStockdale, and Film Victoria Director, Sally-Anne Kerr.
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As a national broadcaster and major culturalinstitution, the ABC interacts withorganisations and groups to produce contentfor a range of outlets. The ABC not only offersits expertise in the development andproduction of creative endeavours, but alsopresents the work of new and establishedartists and performers, particularly on theABC’s national networks.The ABC met with government agencies andfilm and television industry associations in allStates. In June the ABC/Cinemedia MultimediaProduction Accord was agreed with theVictorian Government, with Cinemediacommitting $1.6 million over 2–3 years andthe ABC matching that amount in resources,facilities and funds. The Accord will extendopportunities to independent multimediaproducers and ABC program areas.Launched in August, Black Writers on Awaye!encouraged both established and first-timewriters to produce original material for radio,on any aspect of Indigenous culture, inautobiography, fiction and drama. Anopportunity for Indigenous writers to reach anational audience, Awaye! began broadcastingsuccessful works from November.In a collaboration between ABC Audio Arts’ TheListening Room and SBS Television’s, Eat Carpet,a short film based on Dark Room (a seriesproduced by Virginia Madsen for The ListeningRoom) was produced and shown on Eat Carpetin July. In October, Triple J presented its ‘Rock TheHouse’ concert, in celebration of the 25thAnniversary of the Sydney Opera House, withAustralian band Powderfinger performing in theConcert Hall. In another collaboration with theSydney Opera House Trust, Triple J staged anUnearthed extravaganza at the new OperaHouse venue The Studio in May.ABC Classics continued to record the works ofAustralian composers, including Lisa Lim,Graeme Koehne and Larry Sitsky, played byAustralian orchestras and soloists. It producedthe first Australian recording of the BeethovenPiano Sonatas. ABC Classics also providedmusic for use in film, television and onlineservices. This resulted in successfulcollaborations including the best-sellingsoundtrack for the ABC Television series, AGondola On The Murray.The Creative Radio Consortium, jointlyestablished between Radio Arts and the newmedia arts section at the University of
Technology of Sydney (UTS) continued toplace work by UTS media students on bothRadio Eye and The Listening Room. Under Radio Drama guidance, German andAustralian makers of radio performance workcollaborated on a new production. Projectpartners were the Creative Radio Consortium,the Goethe Institute and German nationalbroadcasters Bayerische Rundfunk andHessische Rundfunk. Melbourne writer DanielKeene created the basis of the project. Theresulting bi-lingual play, Vanishing Points, wasbroadcast in both Australia and Germany.The National Networks Features Unitestablished an accord with the SwedishBroadcasting Corporation to produce TheSecond Eden, which will explore taxonomy andthe work of Swedish explorer and botanistDaniel Solander. Radio New Zealand and theFeatures Unit set up a co-production toproduce and broadcast Ocean of Time, ameditation on the history of the Pacificthrough the artefacts of recorded sound. Thiswill be placed online, and broadcast on RadioNational, ABC Classic FM simulcast with RadioAustralia and on Radio New Zealand’s nationaland international services.ABC Multimedia collaborated with the externalindustry to produce the Ingenious! educationalscience CD-ROM. Developed with a grant fromthe Department of Communications,Information Technology and the Arts Australiaon CD program, it was distributed to everypublic school and library in Australia. It wenton sale in July and won several industryawards.Radio National set up a creative partnershipwith the Sydney Writers’ Festival to record aseries of public forums for broadcast insummer. The literary program Books andWriting maintained close links with literaryfestivals and events around the country. Duringthe year, Ramona Koval chaired several forumsat the 1998 NSW Spring Writing Festival andinterviewed several guest writers at the 1998Melbourne, Brisbane and Byron Bay WritersFestivals. The Australian Film Commission, inassociation with Triple J and ABC Online,launched the Stuff-Art 99 competition, whichoffered young Australians producing interactiveentertainment the chance to win funding formultimedia artwork development.In association with German public broadcasterDeutsche Welle, NewsRadio staged asymposium in Sydney in December on futuredirections in the Australian and European media.
ABC - The Partner
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The ABC constantly seeks to providemaximum value for the public investment innational broadcasting. Within a restrictedfunding base, the ABC will also faceconsiderable additional expenditure in thecoming digital era. And it needs to retain itsskilled employees in a highly competitivemarket.Over the past year the Corporation embracedthese challenges and delivered value formoney. New business and production systemshave helped. So too have adaptations to theABC working environment, the developmentof innovative approaches to creating ABCprograms and services, and the broadening ofcareer paths for employees throughmultiskilling and cross-media work.Corporation planning is aimed at maximisingthe ABC’s existing investments via innovativework practices and application of newtechnologies. The object is not only a changedoutput strategy, but also a new workingenvironment. The ABC’s budget situation over the next twoyears will continue to be tough, given thehigh cost of Australian content and outlays forplanned digital broadcasting services.
An evolution in program-makingThe exponential growth in online services, theshift to digital production, broadcasting andtransmission, changing audience needs: thesehave all stepped up the pace of change. This
year, ABC employees were increasingly drawninto situations calling for innovation, moreflexibility and new approaches to stories andideas. Signs of change are clearly visible in News andCurrent Affairs, with cross-media operations incollocated newsrooms being developed acrossthe nation. Planning continued for specialistfinance and sports desks; and, in associationwith National Networks and Local andRegional Services, developing ways tomaximise the positioning of continuous newsservices across the day.ABC Television continued to support a ‘mixedmodel’ for production, with 54 per centinternally produced, 37 per cent co-producedand 9 per cent in the so-called contestablecategory, where ABC units compete withoutside groups for the production contract.Contestability was introduced in 1997–98 as ameans of benchmarking television production.In July, 340 proposals in ten program strandswere received. Those chosen included thecomedy/drama series Dogs Head Bay, athirteen-part children’s live action series, tenprograms on Australian artists, a five-partseries Animal Companions, a series on currentreligious phenomena in China, Malaysia, thePhilippines and Vietnam and a cooking serieswith Stephanie Alexander.In February, the contestable system wasaltered. The Board agreed CommissioningEditors in National Networks should be botheditorially and financially responsible for theentire production process, with productionstaff provided by Program Production to
DDeelliivveerriinngg aacreative andefficientoorrggaanniissaattiioonn
National Networks on a project-by-projectbasis. Program Production itself retains a coreprogram development unit which submitsproposals for contestable programs.
Behind the scenesMany areas of the ABC provide vital supportfor the ABC’s program output. This year theABC Marketing restructure came into play andABC Archives began preparing the ABC’s vasthistorical collections for easy retrieval in thedigital age. ABC Legal and Copyrightcontinued to provide vital in-house advice toprogram-makers.Increasing emphasis on all forms of marketingin the media saw the finalisation of a majorrestructure of the ABC’s Marketing begun inthe previous year. A new team was in place byOctober. Cross-promotion on ABC outlets grew in1998, to ensure Australians knew of thebreadth of services offered by theCorporation. Promotions for radio and onlineservices and Enterprises products appeared ontelevision; for television, online and Enterprisesregularly on radio; while ABC Onlinepromoted a wide range of services andproducts. In the area of litigation, ABC Legal andCopyright finalised the long-standing Bellinodefamation case which resulted from the‘Moonlight State’ program on Four Corners in1987. The High Court refused Mr Bellino’sspecial leave application, bringing to an end atwelve-year legal saga involving two trials(both won by ABC), two appeals to theQueensland Court of Appeal, one appeal to
the High Court, and one Special LeaveApplication to the High Court.
Financial performance andbusiness managementThis year the ABC began to sense the scale ofits restructuring achievements, begun in early1996. Having absorbed budget cuts in1996–97 and 1997–98, the Corporation againapplied sound financial management practicesand operated within its budget allocation. Thefocus was on ensuring that existingproduction levels were maintained, and oncreating an environment to support growthareas such as ABC Online and planned newdigital outlets. The staff reduction program, begun in 1996with the announcement of Governmentfunding cuts, was completed. Since 1996,average full-time employee numbers havebeen reduced by more than 700. This wasachieved in an environment of minimalindustrial disputation, and with Comcareclaims, particularly those relating to stress,reduced by more than 44 per cent.While the bulk of ABC revenue comes fromthe appropriation, the ABC intensified effortsto increase its income from other sources. ABC Enterprises was the primary revenuegenerator, from its retail, licensing,distribution and publishing operations. Thisyear, it delivered $12.1 million net cashcontribution to the Corporation — an increaseof $3.8 million over the previous year.Particularly strong performances came fromretail, contemporary music, classics and bookpublishing.
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Enterprises – Cash contribution to the ABC$ millions
3.7 3.7
8.1 8.2
12.1
19991998199719961995
EnterprisesRevenue activities
Retail
Publishing
Audio
Contemporary Music
Video
Licensing
Classics
Films & Events
In line with its strategy to intensify sales, theCorporation shifted responsibility for programmarketing to ABC Enterprises in March. TheABC sells its programs into a number ofmarkets. Domestically, an agreement withArtist Services licenses programs to theComedy Channel and there are ad hoc sales toother channels. Overseas sales remain difficultand highly competitive, as the Corporationfound in marketing SeaChange and Wildside. Nevertheless, success was achieved in morespecialised areas. The International ProgramSales catalogue now contains more than 700hours of programs across a variety of qualitygenres, including Documentary, NaturalHistory, Science, Drama, Children, Comedy,Arts, Lifestyle And Education. Bananas InPyjamas is sold to over 60 countries.One of the ABC’s major production arms,News and Current Affairs, continued todevelop strategies for placing its daily andspecialist output into evolving online marketsand to establish trial services with severalcommercial operators. It also targetedinternational markets for ABC journalism suchas Four Corners and Foreign Correspondent.In May, the Board agreed that Online salesand content licensing would become part ofEnterprises activities, including sales of ABCNews Online. By the end of the year, therewere early signs that licensing of onlinecontent would be a significant futurecontributor to ABC earnings.To improve tracking of internal performance,the ABC called for business plans from alloperational centres. This process, to bereviewed six-monthly, anticipated the radicalchanges facing the Australian andinternational broadcasting environment andthe ABC’s need to take full advantage of them:new media forms, changing audience needs,more outlets, greater immediacy andinteractivity in broadcast programs and onlineservices.
Capital planningThe ABC is in the midst of one of the biggesttechnology conversions in its history. Notsince the introduction of colour television hasthe Corporation faced such a large scalechange in technology as that from analog todigital across the country, in both televisionand radio.This facilities planning is proceeding financedby the ABC’s existing capital budget andadditional Government funds and is in theearly stages of implementation. Funding for
major elements of the conversion plan havenot yet been finalised with Government.Highlights of the capital program over the lastyear include:• completion of new regional radio studios at
Bega and Broome;• as part of the Digital Audio Workstation
trials, workstations were rolled out toBroome, Bunbury, Geraldton andKalgoorlie, and Karratha in WesternAustralia and Dalet to Bega, Muswellbrookand Tamworth in New South Wales,Bundaberg and Rockhampton inQueensland and Wodonga in Victoria;
• provision of digital cameras, video tapemachines and non-linear editors toTelevision News and Current Affairs inVictoria;
• continued implementation of Total AssetManagement principles across theCorporation with formalisation of financialpolicies and procedures for assetacquisition, transfers and disposals;
• upgrading of hardware and software fortelevision Sport and Election graphics; and
• replacement of graphics editing equipmentin Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart andDarwin.
Improving business systemsIn October, the ABC shifted to a newCorporate-wide financial and business supportsystem, employing SAP software. This fullyintegrated system also covers ABCprocurement, plant maintenance and projectand property functions. Implementing thesystem required major reengineering ofbusiness support functions and significant stafftraining including redesign of workloads andjob accountabilities involving more than 1000staff. The new software offered a platform tointegrate the ABC’s business systems,eliminate duplication and provide muchimproved information to ABC users.A new shared services business unit wasestablished in the refurbished ABCCollinswood premises in Adelaide, an exampleof the ABC’s commitment to decentralisingsupport functions where possible. Like all major organisations reliant oncomputer systems, the ABC has adopted apro-active strategy towards Year 2000 ‘bug’problems. Virtually all systems critical to ABCoperations were Year 2000 ready by the end
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of this reporting period. It is expected the ABCwill be fully compliant for this event.Across the Corporation, contingency planningalso began this year to tackle ‘worst case’scenarios on 1 January, 2000, including howto report and broadcast any major problemsin Australia and overseas.
Enhancing internalcommunicationsThe ABC is a highly decentralisedorganisation, with 57 locations nationally and13 locations overseas. A vital part of preparingthe ABC for the new media environment thisyear was the move to standardise and lease PCequipment for the desktop operatingenvironment, and to upgrade bothcommunications links to ABC regional centresand the Corporation’s total data networkcapacity. Also introduced was an upgradedRegional network and electronic mail systemallowing more creation and sharing ofinformation.The ABC’s intranet grew into the primary toolfor staff communications. A major drive toexpand content available combined with thespread of standardised PCs and improvednetwork capability resulted in staff use of theIntranet more than doubling. Over 2000 usersnow access the Intranet and makeapproximately 90 000 page accesses a week.A new Intranet home page and contentgateways were launched in August. Contentnow available includes: the SCOSEpronunciation database; corporate informationand publications; staff messages; staffnoticeboard; daily press clippings; informationfor program makers from ABC Archive andLibrary services and ABC Legal; SAPinformation and procurement services;Finance and Business Services; ProgramProduction and Technology Strategy andDevelopment and Human Resources portfoliosites; a South Australian site; and searchabledatabases of news stories in South Australia,Tasmania and Queensland Replacement was sought for the News andCurrent Affairs BASYS computer text system,for one also able to manipulate digital audioand video content. The computer system linksnewsrooms across all bureaus, with a databaseof stories from which bulletins can beconstructed for each network at either local,state or national level. An overseas study ofnews computer systems was undertaken, witha decision on preferred technology due by1 September 1999.
TransmissionNothing illustrates more graphically thespread of ABC services around Australia thanthe national transmission system. ABCTelevision is broadcast on 650 transmitterswhile ABC Radio is broadcast on a network of700 transmitters.Another 12 radio transmitters and 14television transmitters came into operationthis year, under the Self-Help BroadcastingReception Scheme. These licences are issuedlargely to communities, often through localgovernment, and also to mining companiesoperating in remote areas. On 1 May the ABC took over responsibility forthe delivery of analog terrestrial transmissionservices on radio and television, and onshortwave for Radio Australia. This followedthe Federal Government’s decision to sell theNational Transmission Network. As part of theprocess, the ABC entered into a compact withGovernment as well as a contract with NTL,the new provider of domestic transmissionservices. The contract for Radio Australiatransmission services is still to be finalised.In future the Corporation will be providedwith extra public funds ($71.2m for1999–2000) to buy transmission services. Thisprocess will bring new managementresponsibilities to develop, monitor and
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The ABC transmits its programs across: • 650 terrestrial transmitters around
Australia for analog television services • 700 terrestrial transmitters around
Australia for analog radio services• a digital satellite service to remote
homesteads and communities in Australiacarrying ABC analog Television, RadioNational, ABC Classic FM and Triple J,regional radio, and NewsRadio andParliamentary broadcasts on theParliamentary and News Network
• ABC Television retransmitted via cablesubscription services on Foxtel and OptusVision
• Radio Australia Services via shortwavetransmission from Brandon inQueensland and Shepparton in Victoria,the Palapa C2 satellite and viarebroadcasts on 170 stations and outletsin countries across Asia and the Pacific,Europe and North America.
Transmission
maintain its contracts with transmissionproviders.After three years of planning, the shift todigital satellite delivery of ABC Radio andTelevision services to re-transmission sites andremote listeners and viewers was successfullyconcluded in May. The new delivery system, known as theRemote Area Broadcast Services (RABS),enables a digital television signal to be fed toall States and Territories and transmission sitesas well as to Direct-to-Home receivers.
Property and collocationThe ABC continued its review of propertyrequirements to ensure the optimal use ofassets. Accommodation in Perth, Canberra,Brisbane and Sydney was assessed againstfuture production and resource requirements.Construction began of a new sound stage atGore Hill (Lanceley Place) to replace thefacility at Frenchs Forest, which was sold. Thenew sound stage will enable the ABC tocontinue making a full range of qualitydramas. Completion is due in January 2000. The ABC continued to assess strategies for therelinquishment and subsequent sale of thebalance of the Gore Hill site. Further detailedstudies on the proposal to collocate radio andtelevision operations in a new Ultimo buildingwere completed. Architects, project managersand consultants were appointed and workbegan on a submission to go to theParliamentary Standing Committee on PublicWorks in late 1999. Proposals for accommodation and property
rationalisation were considered for Canberra,Perth and Brisbane, with final decisionsscheduled for late 1999. In Melbourne, the ABC began detailedplanning to collocate its News and CurrentAffairs operations in a single purpose-builtfacility in the Southbank Centre. The newcross-media newsroom will eventually provideall material for television, radio and onlineservices, with a television studio, editingfacilities and enhanced desktop services. AMelbourne accommodation scoping studywas still underway by the end of the reportingperiod. Its key objective was to consider viableoptions for rationalising the ABC’s property inMelbourne while achieving the ABC’s strategicgoals and maintaining a firm commitment toMelbourne as a major production centre forthe Corporation.In Adelaide, collocation of Radio andTelevision News and Current Affairs allowedthe expansion of cross-media reporting, withgreater production efficiencies. The upgradeof Studio 511, new Local Radioaccommodation and a new staff cafeteria atCollinswood were all part of a five-yearstrategy to refurbish and upgrade thebuilding.In the regions, new premises were leased andfitted out in Bega and Kalgoorlie. Overseas,expanded premises were leased in Beijing anda new lease was negotiated for the ABC’sLondon premises.Over the financial year, improved facilitieswere provided for those with disabilityrequirements. These included modifications tolifts in Ultimo and new access ramps atCollinswood, Wagga and Kempsey.
ABC Annual Report
55
Skills and careers in a digitalageDigital technology has many advantages, forthe ABC and its audiences. But like alltechnology, it relies on the people who use it.To meet these challenges, the ABC focused onways of strengthening the workforce throughnew technology, workplace reform andimproved planning and people management. Through collocation, the traditional ABCmedia-based skills in radio and television willprogressively merge and the nature of work inthe digital environment is likely to change,opening up career opportunities. This raisesboth issues and opportunities. It will demandgreater flexibility in the way the ABC uses itsworkforce and will lead to a more challengingand rewarding workplace for staff. Existingindustrial agreements and work practices cansometimes hinder change and flexibility. Negotiations for an Enterprise BargainingAgreement (EBA) were central to this process.Throughout 1998–99, the ABC worked hardwith staff and unions on the complex andsensitive issues surrounding workplace reform. The Corporation’s ‘Way Ahead’ enterprisebargaining proposal allowed for the removalof unnecessary and outmoded demarcationswhich, over the years, had given rise torestricted work practices and unequal pay forthe same work. It sought corporation-widerelativities that recognised areas of specialistand overlapping skills, promoting equal payfor work of equal value. It had common termsand conditions with means to ensure theywere consistently applied. It supported a moremobile multiskilled workforce throughintroduction of broadbanded (including cross-media) classification structures. It alsoproposed a performance management systemaimed at facilitating job design at a local level,strengthening feedback and improvingrecognition for high performance. This isaimed at encouraging a good blend ofmultiskilled and specialist staff and improvingthe way people are managed to allow thesmooth introduction of new technology. All this was designed to maximise the ABC’screative and productive ability. Negotiationson the EBA proceeded slowly this year. Theexperience of the ABC, like that of otherorganisations undergoing majortransformation, was that sustainable reformtakes time. Nevertheless, ABC training continued to focuson multiskilling, in both technical and editorialdomains. In February, for example, National
Networks took on three Specialist SoundEngineer Trainees to work in high-level audiofor live music production, and in qualityfeatures and documentaries and radio drama.Traineeships were offered in many areas of theABC across a range of occupations, sometargeted at Indigenous and disability groups inthe community. In all, 49 trainees wereengaged across the Corporation.
ABC Staff AssistanceThis crossover period embraces technology,workplace changes and new productionprocesses. With more output produced by‘floating’ project teams, certain issues mayneed closer attention. Change in the workplace can be stressful andthe ABC is aware of the need to understandstaff needs and provide appropriate support.The ABC national Employee AssistanceProgram (EAP) introduced in July 1997 offers acomprehensive range of services to staff andtheir families which focus on assisting staff toresolve personal and/or work relatedproblems. The take up rate for the EAP in1998–99 was 6 per cent which is indicative ofa well utilised program in an organisation likethe ABC.Continued planning for and management ofEqual Employment Opportunity (EEO) alsocontributed to the ABC working environment.Following a review of management of EEO inthe ABC, a new Equity and DiversityManagement Plan was produced for theperiod 1998–2002. This takes a broader viewof EEO by embracing diversity, with the focuson the individual, recognising the diverse skills,cultural values and backgrounds of all staff. The Plan is supported by detailed strategies, inareas such as Disability, Indigenous, HumanResources Integration, Work/Life, GenderIssues and Cultural Diversity.In another development, a pilot teleworkingproject began in the Information Technologyarea, with potential to benefit staff and to helpthe ABC increase workplace flexibility.ABC staff forums around the country wereused to deliver information, encouragenetworking and obtain feedback. Theseincluded ABC women’s group ‘Network 99’discussion on ethics and sex discrimination; awork-and-family seminar for men; and Equityand Diversity / Cross-cultural workshops.Career development for Indigenous staff andtrainees focused on skills enhancement,mentoring and networking.
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ABC Annual Report
57
Staff 1990–99
No. of Staff (000s)
6360
6066
5545 5504 5523 5437 5343
4887
4177 4134
1999199819971996199519941993199219911990
Staff by Job Group
Legend
0
200
400
600
800
1000
x
TV tr
ansm
issi
on
TV P
rodu
cers
& D
irect
ors
TV P
rod.
Svc
s.
TV P
rod.
Ops
.
Seni
or E
xecu
tives
Jour
nalis
ts &
Rep
orte
rs
Engi
neer
ing
& Te
chni
cal
Broa
dcas
ters
Adm
in/s
uppo
rt
Staff by Gender
Female42.55%
Male57.45%
Staff by Portfolio
Technology Strategy & Development
Regional Services
Program Production
News and Current Affairs
National Networks
Human Resources
Finance and Business Services
Enterprises
Corporate Management
Staff by Region
Western Australia
Victoria
Tasmania
South Australia
Queensland
Overseas
NSW
Northern Territory
ACT
See Appendix 3 for detailedstaff statistics
Staff profile 1998–99
The following companies are self-governing,wholly owned subsidiaries of the ABC:• Symphony Australia Holdings Pty Ltd• Adelaide Symphony Orchestra Pty Ltd• Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Pty Ltd• Sydney Symphony Orchestra Holdings Pty
Ltd• West Australian Symphony Orchestra
Holdings Pty Ltd.
Symphony AustraliaSymphony Australia continues to provideadministrative and professional services to theorchestral network in such areas as artisticadministration, finance, human resources,music hire and publications. It alsocoordinates and manages the ArtistDevelopment program, which provides talentdevelopment through a range of activities.The 1998 Grand Final of the prestigiousSymphony Australia Young Performers Awardswas won by NSW pianist, Simon Tedeschi.The concert, hosted by the MelbourneSymphony, was simulcast on NetworkTelevision and ABC Classic FM. Under the direction of Maestro Gustav Meier,the Conductors’ Mastercourse was held inAdelaide with the Adelaide SymphonyOrchestra. The winner of the Westfield YoungConductor of the Year competition wasBenjamin Hur from Western Australia.A major initiative undertaken in 1999 was theexpansion of the Conductor Developmentprogram from a three week activity to twelveintensive weeks of training under the personaldirection of Maestro Jorma Panula, one of theworld’s finest conducting teachers. The
program now provides a unique trainingopportunity for Australian conductors of allages and experience.
Adelaide SymphonyOrchestraThe Adelaide Symphony Orchestra achievedinternational acclaim during the year for itsperformances of Australia’s first fully mountedproduction of Wagner’s Der Ring desNibelungen conducted by Jeffrey Tate. TheASO received glowing praise from the host ofinternational media visiting Australia for TheRing.The ASO’s planning and operations skills weretested to the full with the mammoth task ofperforming The Ring in the midst of a busyyear. Although the cycle took three months toprepare and present the ASO maintained itsextensive year round program of activities. Inorder to maintain the year round subscriptionprogram the ASO presented performances bythe Australian Chamber Orchestra and theTasmanian Symphony Orchestra during TheRing period. The orchestra worked with exciting younginternational conductors including David AlanMiller, James Judd and Takuo Yuasa, and suchoutstanding soloists as Hilary Hahn andRadovan Vlatkovic. Early in 1999 therenowned British cellist Julian Lloyd Webbermade an exclusive Australian appearance withthe ASO.Highlights of the Education program includedperformances of Ringlet, a mini version of TheRing and an extension of ‘The Big Rehearsal’which in 1998 culminated in a performance ofBritten’s St Nicolas. Developing the very
ABC Annual Report
SymphonyAAuussttrraalliiaaNetwork
58
successful marriage of popular entertainmentand orchestral music the ASO established‘Showtime’, a year-round popular series whichincluded performances with Michel Legrand,the hugely successful Radio Days presented inassociation with ABC Radio 5AN and Machine:a Percussion Spectacular presented as part ofthe Come Out Festival.In September the ASO said farewell to DavidPorcelijn who, during his five years as ChiefConductor and Artistic Director, helped shapethe orchestra’s high artistic standards.
Melbourne SymphonyThe Melbourne Symphony had numeroushighlights during this financial year includinga performance conducted by Markus Stenzwith soprano Sumi Jo which opened the 1998Melbourne International Festival. TheMelbourne Symphony was awarded thecoveted Age Critics’ Award for its contributionto the Melbourne Festival. Neeme Järviconducted the Australian premiere of RudolfTobias’s Jonah’s Mission. This was the firstperformance of this work outside of Europeand attracted much attention including a visitfrom the Prime Minister and Foreign Ministerof Estonia who travelled to Melbourneespecially for this event. Two sold-out performances with Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel as part of the Summerconcert series were Terfel’s only Melbourneperformances. Premiere performances atSpray Farm and Eyton on Yarra and a concertwith Dame Kiri Te Kanawa at Melbourne Parkadded to the Summer concerts. In addition,the Orchestra launched its first 20th Centurymusic festival, ‘Meltdown at the Malthouse’,playing to near capacity houses withnumerous Australian premieres and the worldpremiere of Gerard Brophy’s percussionconcerto Merge – a memoir of the senses. Theseconcerts were conducted by Chief ConductorMarkus Stenz and Conductor LaureateHiroyuki Iwaki.British cellist and music educator, MatthewBarley, spent a week with ten players of theOrchestra running a series of workshopsincluding improvisation, designed to developthe necessary skills for these musicians tocreate their own music education programsfor schools and community groups. The weekculminated in a performance with 20 primaryschool students at the ABC Southbank Centre.The Melbourne Symphony also launched itscorporate and education website madepossible through funding from Cinemedia’s
PAML project and recorded the score for thesoundtrack of Babe II – Pig in the City.Trevor Green joined the MelbourneSymphony as managing director coming fromthe National Academy of Music and with over20 years experience in running orchestras inBritain and Australia.
Queensland SymphonyOrchestraThe Queensland Symphony Orchestracontinues the move towards corporatisation in2000.With a vision to meet the needs and interestsof its local audiences and provide greaterflexibility, the QSO this year introduced threeexciting new series to replace the previousMaster Series – Premier Series, OpeningNights and Classic Selection.In February the QSO launched its highlypopular Summer Symphony series, featuringan all-Beethoven program along with ‘ClassicHits’. This two-concert series was a greatsuccess and two of Australia’s finest youngpianists, Anna Carson and Liam Viney,performed with the Orchestra to an audienceof over 2500.Highlights of the concert season includedperformances in the 1998 Brisbane Festival, aconcert with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa during herAustralian tour, the annual regional Northern
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59
Melbourne Symphony
Tour to Rockhampton, Cairns and Townsville,three concerts for the 1999 QueenslandBiennial Festival including QSO Faith andWallfisch Plays Bach.Recordings included Battle of the Bulge,Benjamin Frankel’s Violin Concerto and ViolaConcerto with Brett Dean, and Brett Dean’sown Ariel’s Music – co-winner of the 1999International Rostrum of Composers Award,featuring QSO Principal Clarinet Paul Dean.Over 50 guest artists from Australia andoverseas have performed with the Orchestra.The Queensland Symphony has performedover 40 major concerts, as well as fourregional tours, and numerous other specialevents.This year the QSO Education Unit has beendedicated to further developing concerts tobetter fit with the school curriculum. Animportant focus has been the development ofstrong communication links with both primaryand secondary schools around the state.The QSO Education Department also playedan active role in the innovative secondaryschool production of Music, Opera, Dance,Drama (Madam Butterfly) in May this year, acollaborative project between the QSO, OperaQueensland, Queensland Ballet andQueensland Theatre Company. The QSO alsoperformed with Opera Queensland for LaTraviata and Madam Butterfly, as well aspresenting a joint gala evening with theQueensland Ballet.
Sydney Symphony Orchestra1998–99 was an active, diverse and successfulyear for the Sydney Symphony. In addition toa full schedule of concerts in Sydney, theOrchestra performed in the New South Walescentres of Bathurst, Dubbo, Newcastle,Liverpool and Wagga Wagga.1998 culminated in a three-week tour (11concerts in nine cities) of the United States,including concerts in Symphony Hall, Boston,the Kennedy Center in Washington DC andCarnegie Hall, New York. Edo de Waartconducted the concerts, including music byBeethoven, Richard Strauss, and Australiancomposer Graeme Koehne. The concerts weregreeted with high critical praise andenthusiastic audiences.In June 1999 the Orchestra gave two concertperformances of Wagner’s Siegfried, markingthe third stage in the Orchestra’s project toperform the entire Ring cycle in concert. A castof outstanding Australian and international
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Concerts Attendances 1995–99
Attendances ('000s)
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200Free
Schools
Paidxxxxx
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
Concerts 1995–99
No of Concerts
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800Free
Schools
Paid
xxxxx
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
Performance ActivitiesNo of Concerts
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
Reco
rdin
gs
Oth
er
Acce
ss A
ctiv
ities
Deve
lopm
ent A
ctiv
ities
Ope
ra, B
alle
t & H
iring
s
Spec
ial E
vent
s
Popu
lar P
rogr
amm
ing
Cont
empo
rary
Ser
ies
Maj
or S
ubsc
riptio
n
singers joined Edo de Waart and the SydneySymphony in these performances.Leading international artists appearing withthe Orchestra included conductors DavidZinman, Reinbert de Leeuw, Marek Janowski,Mark Elder, Gianluigi Gelmetti and Hans Graf,instrumentalists Steven Isserlis, Gil Shaham,Christian Tetzlaff, Lynn Harrell, ChristianZacharias, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, ViktoriaMullova and Paul Meyer and singers DonaldKaasch, Anna Larsson, Louise Winter, AlanOpie, Bryn Terfel and Charlotte Hellekant.Leading Australian artists performing with the
orchestra included Simone Young, MichaelKieran Harvey, Deborah Reidel, Yvonne Kenny,Richard Tognetti, Diana Doherty, PeterColeman-Wright, Judi Connelli, Robyn Archerand the percussion ensemble Taikoz. Australian music featured prominently in theprograms, including works by Nigel Butterley,John Carmichael, Ross Edwards, GerardBrophy, Peter Sculthorpe, Graeme Koehne,Peggy Glanville-Hicks and Gordon Kerry.The Reach-Out initiative, funded by the NSWState Government, enabled the Orchestra topresent Edo de Waart conducting in the
ABC Annual Report
61
The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra performing the ‘Machine Concert’
ABC Annual Report
62
1998–99 1997–98No. of Total Average No. of Total Average
Concerts Attendances Attendance Concerts Attendances Attendance
New South Wales and ACTPaid Orchestral Concerts 115 237 133 2 062 121 234 055 1 934School Concerts 62 22 824 368 62 15 958 257Free Concerts 1 140 000 140 000 1 135 000 135 000Total 178 399 957 184 385 013
VictoriaPaid Orchestral Concerts 83 150 128 1 809 92 153 625 1 670School Concerts 22 13 552 616 29 22 457 774Free Concerts 5 49 500 9 900 5 49 800 9 960Total 110 213 180 126 225 882
QueenslandPaid Orchestral Concerts 58 71 163 1 227 52 48 561 934School Concerts 52 30 470 586 47 32 617 694Free Concerts 6 18 275 3 046 6 13 640 2 273Total 116 119 908 105 94 818
South AustraliaPaid Orchestral Concerts 79 82 436 1 043 90 85 515 950School Concerts 59 14 871 252 19 14 397 758Free Concerts 4 37 600 9 400 4 66 550 16 638Total 142 134 907 113 166 462
Western AustraliaPaid Orchestral Concerts 106 115 010 1 085 108 119 883 1 110School Concerts 12 5 400 450 10 5 117 512Free Concerts 2 35 000 17 500 2 25 000 12 500Total 120 155 410 120 150 000
TasmaniaPaid Orchestral Concerts 42 45 724 1 089 48 23 782 495School Concerts 35 12 307 352 17 4 524 266Free Concerts 11 10 072 916 6 7 530 1 255Total 88 68 103 71 35 836
AustraliaPaid Orchestral Concerts 483 701 594 1 453 511 665 421 1 302School Concerts 242 99 424 411 184 95 070 517Free Concerts 29 290 447 10 015 24 297 520 12 397
Grand Total 754 1 091 465 719 1 058 011
Concerts and Attendances
regional centres of Bathurst and Newcastle,while also providing education projects inWagga Wagga and Dubbo.In April the Orchestra played for theSymphony Australia Young ConductorsProgram, under the direction of Jorma Panula.The Sydney Symphony’s own Young ArtistsProgram offered masterclasses, recording andperformance experiences to outstandingyoung soloists from around Australia.
Tasmanian SymphonyOrchestraThe most significant development for theTasmanian Symphony Orchestra this year wasthe announcement that a new home for theorchestra would be constructed on the HotelGrand Chancellor site on Hobart’s waterfront.With funding contributions from all tiers ofgovernment, the ABC and private enterprise,the development will include an 1100-seatconcert hall, main rehearsal studio, practicerooms and administration facilities to housethe TSO and its administration.Work continued on the establishment of theOrchestra as an independent subsidiarycompany of the ABC.In October 1998 the TSO made a highlysuccessful tour to China, playing in Shanghai,Changsha, Wuhan and Beijing. A highlightwas the combined concert with the BeijingSymphony Orchestra. The Premier of Tasmanian,The Hon Jim Bacon accompanied the TSO toBeijing. Most concerts on the tour weretelevised by a variety of networks reachingaudiences of over 600 000. ABC Television isproducing a documentary of the tour.In addition to its busy concert schedule (88concerts, including 22 performances ofcontemporary Australian works), the TSO madea number of recordings. These included PerfectStrangers conducted by Guy Noble, withsingers Judi Connelli and Suzanne Johnston; atrack with Deborah Conway written by GeorgeDreyfus for the special album commemoratingthe International Year of the Older Person; andsongs originally made famous by the legendary
Peter Dawson sung by Gregory Yurisich. TheTSO also embarked on recording all theBeethoven symphonies with the TSO’s ChiefConductor David Porcelijn and soloist GeoffreyLancaster for ABC Classics.Other highlights included Symphony underthe Stars with David Helfgott, riotousperformances with the comedy duo, theScared Weird Little Guys, and a foil-wrappedOdeon stage for Rautavaara’s Symphony No.7 Angel of Light.The TSO continued its commitment to youngtalent development through its involvement inthe Australian Composers’ Orchestral Forum,Youth Music Australia Fellowship scheme andYoung Performers Awards.
West Australian SymphonyOrchestraSince corporatisation in early 1998, the WestAustralian Symphony Orchestra has takenmore music to more people with concerts andactivities that have included regional tours anda range of community access initiatives.A highlight of this financial year was theappointment of Richard Tognetti as ArtisticAdviser to the Orchestra. Richard Tognetti hasdeveloped new and exciting initiatives thatwill make the Orchestra even more accessibleto the general public.Simone Young conducted WASO for schoolsconcerts, featuring violinist Hilary Hahn.Primary and secondary school students fromaround the State attended these concerts.WASO also hosted the Stage Three final of theSymphony Australia Young Performers Awardand, in association with the tertiaryinstitutions, gave Australia’s finest youngperformers the chance to perform with theOrchestra.The ever-popular ‘Symphony Under the Stars’was transferred to a larger venue andattracted an audience of over 5000.Vladimir Verbitsky, WASO’s ConductorLaureate, conducted the opening concert ofthe 1999 season.
ABC Annual Report
63
Position the ABC to serve audiences, nomatter where they live or by what meansthey access electronic media, by using ourstrength in content across radio, televisionand online services.
• Cross-media events coverage includingTasmanian, Federal and NSW elections,Science Week, Australian Music Week,Comedy Week, Womad, International Yearof Older Persons and National Poetry Day.
• New Online gateways The Space, TheBackyard, Message Stick and Rural Onlineincreased cross-media collaboration andextended ABC content strengths.
• Increasing use of online forums, includingAustralia Talks Books and Rural Onlineforums.
• Increased number of News and CurrentAffairs staff reporting for more than onemedium; cross-media operationsimplemented in overseas bureaus.
• Collocation of News and Current Affairsachieved in Perth and Adelaide.
• Further enhancement of Radio Australia’saccessibility beyond the region — most in-house radio production available online intext and often audio; 330 hours ofprogramming now rebroadcast or relayedweekly by 76 stations across 20 countries ofthe Asia-Pacific region.
• Audiostreaming of Radio Australia’s Englishlanguage service, Triple J and NewsRadioonline.
• Extension of News Online service, includingsites for each current affairs program, accessto international, national, State/Territoryand local news and special sites andintroduction of subscription email newsservice.
• Completion of Remote Area BroadcastingService (RABS), a satellite based serviceproviding ABC services to re-transmissionsites and directly to remote audiences.
Provide a mix of services designed toacknowledge the diverse needs of audiencesand to connect Australians with their localcommunities, the nation and the world.
• ABC Television 5 city weekly reach(6am–6am) maintained on 71 per cent;unduplicated weekly reach for ABC radio (8city) 37 per cent (from 36 per cent);television and radio share maintained; ABCOnline accesses doubled from one millionto over two million per week.
• Increased level of news from internationalbroadcasters on NewsRadio.
• Australian music performance levels abovetarget on Triple J (39 per cent), Local Radio(37 per cent), Radio National (39 per cent)and ABC Classic FM (31 per cent); ABC ClassicFM — Australian composition levels abovetarget (8 per cent); Australian content ontelevision increased slightly to 55.2 per cent
• 88 per cent of Performance Studyrespondents rated the ABC and its servicesas valuable to the Australian community.
• Indigenous programs included Black Writerson Awaye!, providing opportunity forIndigenous writers to present their work toa national audience.
• Increased rural programming delivered byLocal Radio to capital city listeners.
• ABC’s first online Outside Broadcastsconducted by Rural Radio.
• Heywire initiative, giving young rural andregional Australians a voice on the ABC.
• Assistance provided to 15 independentIndigenous media organisations.
• Commonwealth Games coverage andexclusive coverage of the World Cup Cricketby radio sport.
• Coverage of major international, nationaland State/Territory stories on news andcurrent affairs.
• Many major awards acknowledged qualityof ABC programs (see Appendix 6)
ABC Annual Report
64
The ABC must create and deliver distinctive programming and services; inform and educateits audiences; and develop cultural and community identity. To fulfil this role in a new media environment we will…
Corporate PlanA summary of the ABC’s performance against the priorities setout in the Corporate Plan 1997–2000
ABC Annual Report
65
Expand the amount of local televisionproduced for local audiences in the Statesand Territories; and maintain the localidentity of Metropolitan and Regional Radiostations across Australia
• Increased local programming across radio,television and online.
• Production of additional 40 hours of localtelevision programs tailored to State–Territoryaudience; a third of these broadcastnationally.
• Local television programming totalled 584hours.
• Increase in hours of local radio produced byLocal andRegional Services, from over 62 000to over 66 000.
• Participation in community events andOutside Broadcasts exceeded annual targets.
• Cross-media use of local content, includingonline adaptation of SA’s television Snapshotand International Year of Older Persons ACTand Queensland forums on Local Radio andLocal Television.
• Flexibility demonstrated at local level tobroadcast vital information on floods,cyclones and other emergencies to localcommunities.
• Albany Trial — staff gathered local vision foronline and television.
• Production of Radio Pictures in WA.• Progressive roll-out of The Backyard, to be
launched in the second half of 1999, whichwill give every regional station in Australia anonline presence.
• Local News Online draws on thenewsgathering resources of ABC journalists in48 regional locations around Australia as wellas the eight State and Territory capitals.
Pursue opportunities in the Australian andinternational markets to support and extendthe value of ABC programs.
• Net revenue returned to the Corporation byABC Enterprises increased by 7.5 per cent.
• Current catalogue of ABC television programsfor sale and distribution contains over 700hours across all programming genres.
• Launch of ABC for Kids Club.• Bananas in Pyjamas now sold to over 60
countries and sales of Mother and Son toChina and Israel.
• Provision of ABC News Online to majorcommercial Internet sites on trial basis.
• ABC entered two year accord with Victoria’sCinemedia to stimulate development of newand innovative multimedia content.
• Maintained an accord with Australian FilmFinance Corporation to promote Australiandocumentary making, securing culturallyrelevant documentary production.
• ABC Video’s first release of a ‘rental’ video,the popular Her Majesty Mrs Brown.
• Training activities by ABC expert staffincluded courses delivered in Australia, theSouth Pacific (funded by AusAID), Africa(funded by the Commonwealth BroadcastingCorporation) and Asia (funded by theAsia–Pacific Broadcasting Union).
Summary
Re-engineer the management of assets andbusiness support systems to respondefficiently to the Corporation’s needs.
• Successful implementation of fully integratedbusiness finance system, including Finance,Procurement, Property Services and ProjectSystems.
• Relocation of shared business supportservices to Adelaide with the establishment ofThe Finance Shared Services group.
• Establishment of a cross-portfolio financialmanagement group which focuses on thedelivery of cohesive and consistent financialmanagement services to the Corporation.
• Development of property redevelopmentproposals for Perth, Brisbane, Canberra,Melbourne, Hobart and Sydney sites.
• New or upgraded facilities at Adelaide,Kalgoorlie, Bega and Rockhampton.
• Continued implementation of Total AssetManagement (TAM) across the Corporation,with formalisation of financial policies andprocedures for asset acquisition, transfers anddisposals.
• Development of the ITS desktop personalcomputer leasing initiative, progressivelyenabling all ABC staff to work from auniform, up to date and compatibleinformation systems platform.
Plan and develop the ABC’s technical environ-ment to exploit the benefits of current andemerging technologies in the gathering,storage, processing and delivery of programcontent.
• Significant progress in preparation for moveto digitalisation, including release of tendersfor production and broadcast facilities.
• Transition to the provision of transmissionservices to the ABC by NTL with sale of theNational Transmission Network by FederalGovernment.
• Submissions to Government reviews on highdefinition television, datacasting, enhancedservices, national broadcaster multichannelling,retransmission of digital television,commercial television in underserved areasand captioning standards, required by DigitalConversion legislation before introduction ofDigital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting.
• Input into Implementation Planning and DigitalChannel Planning reviews being undertakenby Australian Broadcasting Authority.
• New version of software developed, trialledon Tasmanian election and used for Federaland NSW election coverage.
• New long-term approach to capitalinvestment enabling planned replacement ofobsolete and unreliable equipment withmodern equipment.
• Participated in Standards Australia’sdevelopment of standards for digitaltelevision.
• Roll-out of PC/communications systems toregional studios, enabling internet access.
• Development, consultation and adoption ofsome critical standards for digital audioequipment across Corporation, including BitRate Reduction Audio Coding, Digital AudioFile Exchange and Audio Levels for DigitalAudio Systems.
• Expansion of ABC Video’s product range toinclude DVD (Digital Video Disk).
66
ABC Annual Report
The ABC must create and deliver distinctive programming and services; inform and educateits audiences; and develop cultural and community identity. To fulfil this role in a new media environment we will…
Corporate Plancontinued…
Develop and support a skilled and flexibleworkforce, committed to high standards,creativity and quality of service, within a safeand rewarding environment.
• Extensive provision of training, includingoperational, production, editorial, journalism,technical and multimedia skills, plus pilotdelivery in Adelaide of nationally accreditedAdministration Certificates for ABC supportstaff.
• Active trainee program with more than 50trainees across range of areas.
• Continuation of News and Current Affairscadetship program, with all 1998 cadetsgaining on-going bi-media journalistpositions, in Darwin, Longreach, Kalgoorlie,Orange, Port Pirie, Hobart and Melbourne.
• Appointment of Multimedia Training Co-ordinator and development of trainingprogram.
• Receipt of prestigious CommonwealthBroadcasting Association/Rolls Royce Awardfor Effectiveness in Training for ABC-designedTV Operator Training Scheme.
• Development and communication to staff ofEnterprise Bargaining Agreement proposals,to be put to staff vote in next financial year.
• Provision of Occupational Health and Safety(OH&S) advice and training, anddevelopment/review of several safetyguidelines.
• Reduction in OH&S incidents reported duringyear (192, down from 273 the previous year),with 5 reported to Comcare Australia and oneImprovement Notice issued.
• Development of new Equity and DiversityManagement Plan and progress report onABC Disability Action Plan.
• Pilot peer support program in Tasmania andteleworking program with InformationTechnology Services staff.
Project the ABC’s identity to stakeholdergroups to secure their acknowledgment of itscontribution to media diversity and its valueas an open, accountable and responsivepublic broadcaster.
• Maintenance of positive relationships withcommunity and industry groups.
• New appointments to the National AdvisoryCouncil to reflect the Australian community.
• Completion of the ABC Service Commitment,developed in consultation with staff and theNational Advisory Council.
• Provision of timely advice about ABC policies,including publication on the internet of awide range of material about the ABC.
• Advice from National Advisory Council onprogramming matters and policies welcomedand considered.
• Emphasis placed on gaining a broad range ofcommunity feedback, especially in regionalareas.
• Development of on-air promotions andexternal campaigns informing Australians ofdiverse programming on ABC.
• Growing community use of Online feedbackfacilities.
• Updated logo-drawing idents on ABCtelevision, using “celebration” theme.
• Initiation of comprehensive review on ABCmechanisms for assisting audience memberswith information and handling of complaints.
• Conducted first annual performance survey toassess value of ABC and its services toAustralian community, perceived quality ofprogramming and impressions of ABCperformance against Charter obligations.
• Monitoring of election coverage.• Maximised cross-promotional opportunities.• Participation in public inquiries including the
Productivity Commission and VictorianInquiry.
67
ABC Annual Report
Summary
68
PageIndependent audit report 69Statement by directors 70Operating statement 71Statement of assets and liabilities 72Statement of cash flows 73Schedule of commitments 74Schedule of contingencies 74Notes to and forming part of the financial statements
1 Statement of significant accounting policies 752 Expenses and revenues 793 Economic dependency 804 Goods and services expenses 805 Interest expense 806 Operating revenue from independent sources 817 Revenues from government 818 Extraordinary items 829 Abnormal items 8210 Debt 8211 Provisions and payables 8312 Equity 8313 Financial assets 8414 Non–financial assets 8515 Cash flow reconciliation 8816 External financing arrangements 8817 Financial instruments 8918 Remuneration of directors 9119 Related party disclosures 9220 Remuneration of officers 9321 Remuneration of auditors 9322 Trust funds 9323 Controlled entities 94
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
FinancialStatements30 June 1999
Financial Statements ABC Annual Report
69
Independent Audit Report
To the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
Scope
I have audited the financial statements of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation for the year ended 30 June 1999.The financial statements include the consolidated financial statements of the economic entity comprising theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation and the entities it controlled at the year’s end or from time to time during theyear. The statements comprise:
• Statement by Directors• Statement of Assets and Liabilities• Operating Statement• Statement of Cash Flows• Schedule of Commitments• Schedule of Contingencies, and• Notes to and forming part of the financial statements.
The Directors are responsible for the preparation and presentation of the financial statements and the informationthey contain. I have conducted an independent audit of the financial statements in order to express an opinion onthem to you.
The audit has been conducted in accordance with Australian National Audit Office Auditing Standards, whichincorporate the Australian Auditing Standards, to provide reasonable assurance as to whether the financial statementsare free of material misstatement. Audit procedures included examination, on a test basis, of evidence supporting theamounts and other disclosures in the financial statements, and the evaluation of accounting policies and significantaccounting estimates. These procedures have been undertaken to form an opinion whether, in all material respects,the financial statements are presented fairly in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards, other mandatoryprofessional reporting requirements and statutory requirements so as to present a view which is consistent with myunderstanding of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the economic entity’s financial position, the results oftheir operations and their cash flows.
The audit opinion expressed in this report has been formed on the above basis.
Audit Opinion
In my opinion,
(i) the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Schedule 2 of the Finance Minister’sOrders
(ii) the financial statements give a true and fair view, in accordance with applicable Accounting Standards,other mandatory professional reporting requirements and Schedule 2 of the Finance Minister’s Orders, ofthe financial,position of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the economic entity as at 30 June1999 and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the year then ended.
Australian National Audit Office
David C. McKeanExecutive DirectorDelegate of the Auditor-GeneralCanberra 29 September 1999
Auditor General for AustraliaAustralian National Audit OfficeGPO Box 707, CANBERRA ACT 2601Centenary House 19 National CircuitBARTON ACT
ABC Annual Report Financial Statements
70
Statement by Directors
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
In our opinion the attached financial statements give a true and fair view, for the Corporation, its controlled entities andthe entities it controlled from time to time during the financial year, of the matters required by Schedule 2 of the FinanceMinister’s Orders made under Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997.
Signed in accordance with a resolution of the directors.
DONALD McDONALD AO BRIAN JOHNS AOChairman Managing Director
29 September 1999
Financial Statements ABC Annual Report
71
Operating Statementfor the year ended 30 June 1999
Consolidated ABC1999 1998 1999 1998
Notes $’000 $’000 $’000 $’000
NET COST OF SERVICES
Operating expensesNational Networks 212 745 210 500 212 387 210 500 Program Production 135 053 120 264 135 053 119 458 News & Current Affairs 185 224 165 016 185 224 165 016 Local & Regional Services 132 033 136 244 132 033 136 244 Concerts (a) 68 842 60 079 0 00– 0 00–
Total operating expenses (before abnormal items) 2 733 897 692 103 664 697 631 218
Operating revenues from independent sourcesNational Networks 77 142 82 913 76 298 82 913 Program Production 16 939 16 770 16 939 16 735 News & Current Affairs 6 011 6 652 6 011 6 652 Local & Regional Services 18 306 17 554 18 306 17 554 Concerts (a) 24 966 26 063 0 00– 0 00–
Total operating revenues from independent sources 2 143 364 149 952 117 554 123 854 (before abnormal items)
Net cost of services (before abnormal items) 590 533 542 151 547 143 507 364
Gain or (Loss) on abnormal items 9 (1 820) 35 315 (13 587) 37 508
Net cost of services 592 353 506 836 560 730 469 856
REVENUES FROM GOVERNMENT
Parliamentary appropriations received 7A 474 767 468 496 474 767 468 496 Transmission revenue 7B 67 616 54 170 67 616 54 170 Funding from Commonwealth andState Governments 7C 41 251 33 325 0 00– 0 00–
Total revenues from government 2 583 634 555 991 542 383 522 666
Surplus (deficit) of net cost of services over revenues from government (8 719) 49 155 (18 347) 52 810
Accumulated surplus at beginning of reporting period 12 222 960 173 805 236 241 183 431
Accumulated surplus at end of reporting period 12 214 241 222 960 217 894 236 241
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these statements.
(a) Concerts figures relate to the orchestral subsidiaries (refer note 19,23).
ABC Annual Report Financial Statements
72
Statement of Assets and Liabilitiesas at 30 June 1999
Consolidated ABC1999 1998 1999 1998
Notes $’000 $’000 $’000 $’000
DEBT
Loans 10 142 479 202 351 142 479 191 552
Total debt 142 479 202 351 142 479 191 552
PROVISIONS AND PAYABLESEmployees 11A 107 694 110 482 99 014 102 393 Suppliers 11B 44 049 39 497 34 222 29 666 Other 11C 0 00 – 0 810 0 00– 0 00–
Total provisions and payables 151 743 150 789 133 236 132 059
Total liabilities 294 222 353 140 275 715 323 611
EQUITYReserves 12 261 984 263 939 261 984 263 939 Accumulated surplus 12 214 241 222 960 217 894 236 241
Total equity 476 225 486 899 479 878 500 180
Total liabilities and equity 770 447 840 039 755 593 823 791
FINANCIAL ASSETSCash 13A 18 171 19 949 5 254 5 683 Receivables 13B 50 993 69 595 50 846 69 683 Investments 13C 0 00– 5 759 1 887 7 646
Total financial assets 69 164 95 303 57 987 83 012
NON FINANCIAL ASSETSLand and buildings 14A 404 440 415 451 404 240 415 268 Infrastructure, plant and equipment 14B 198 015 235 773 195 318 233 105 Inventories 14C 57 568 57 960 57 568 57 960 Intangibles 14D 20 969 17 256 20 969 17 256 Other 14E 20 291 18 296 19 511 17 190
Total non–financial assets 701 283 744 736 697 606 740 779
Total assets 770 447 840 039 755 593 823 791
Current liabilities 104 802 211 256 91 350 185 847 Non–current liabilities 189 420 141 884 184 365 137 764 Current assets 144 720 159 125 130 989 145 478 Non–current assets 625 727 680 914 624 604 678 313
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these statements.
Financial Statements ABC Annual Report
73
Statement of Cash Flowsfor the year ended 30 June 1999
Consolidated ABC1999 1998 1999 1998
Notes $’000 $’000 $’000 $’000Inflows Inflows
(Outflows) (Outflows)CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIESCash received
Parliamentary appropriations 7A,7C 507 247 501 821 474 767 468 496 Sales of goods and services 137 089 118 322 119 972 114 867 Interest and bill discounts 5 665 7 986 4 966 7 268 Other grants 19 582 0 00– 10 811 0 00–
Total cash received 669 583 628 129 610 516 590 631 Cash used
Employees (331 726) (323 995) (297 080) (295 870)Suppliers (283 887) (284 427) (258 563) (278 792)Interest and other financing costs (8 469) (11 535) (8 469) (12 643)
Total cash used (642 082) (619 957) (564 112) (587 305)
Net cash from operating activities 15 45 501 8 172 46 404 3 326
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIESCash received
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 13 422 12 147 13 422 12 147 Bills of exchange and promissory notes 8 749 14 203 8 749 14 203 Repayment of loan – Arnbridge Pty Limited 0 00 – 0 00– 0 640 0 00– Proceeds on sale of investment 2 000 0 00– 2 000 0 00–
Total cash received 24 171 26 350 24 811 26 350 Cash used
Purchase of property, plant and equipment (21 998) (24 687) (21 383) (24 723)Payments to controlled entities 0 00– 0 00– 0(809) (3 000)
Total cash used (21 998) (24 687) (22 192) (27 723)
Net cash from investing activities 2 173 1 663 2 619 (1 373)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIESCash received
Proceeds from debt 50 000 99 452 50 000 99 452 Total cash received 50 000 99 452 50 000 99 452 Cash used
Repayment of debt (99 452) (99 140) (99 452) (99 140)
Total cash used (99 452) (99 140) (99 452) (99 140)
Net cash from financing activities (49 452) 0 312 (49 452) 0 312
Net increase (decrease) in cash held (1 778) 10 147 0(429) 2 265 Add cash at 1 July 19 949 9 802 5 683 3 418
Cash at 30 June 13A 18 171 19 949 5 254 5 683
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these statements.
ABC Annual Report Financial Statements
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Schedule of Commitmentsas at 30 June 1999
Consolidated ABC1999 1998 1999 1998$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000
BY TYPE
CAPITAL COMMITMENTSPlant and equipment 2 345 5 470 2 345 5 470
Total capital commitments 2 345 5 470 2 345 5 470
OTHER COMMITMENTSOperating leases 22 632 20 233 21 984 20 060 Other commitments (a) 388 755 70 343 380 522 65 140
Total other commitments 411 387 90 576 402 506 85 200
Total commitments payable 413 732 96 046 404 851 90 670
Commitments receivable (338 452) (1 570) (338 452) (1 570)
Net commitments 75 280 94 476 66 399 89 100
BY MATURITYOne year or less 43 053 48 448 39 378 44 971
From one to two years 15 035 20 929 11 871 19 453
From two to five years 16 721 23 879 14 679 23 456
Over five years 0 471 1 220 0 471 1 220
Net commitments 75 280 94 476 66 399 89 100
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these statements.
(a) The Corporation’s main other commitments are detailed as follows: PT Satellite $ nil (1998 $9 249 654), Optus Networks Pty Ltd $19731 762 (1998 $21 597 621), Program Purchases $ 22 338 217 (1998 $29 578 775), NTL Australia Pty Limited (refer note 7B) $338452 414 (1998 $ nil)
Schedule of Contingenciesas at 30 June 1999
SCHEDULE OF UNQUANTIFIABLE CONTINGENCIESIn the normal course of activities claims for damages have been lodged at the date of this report against theCorporation and certain of its officers. The Corporation has disclaimed liability and is actively defending theseactions. It is not possible to estimate the amounts of any eventual payments which may be required in relation tothese claims.
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these statements.
Financial Statements ABC Annual Report
75
Notes to and Forming Part of the Financial Statementsfor the year ended 30 June 1999
1. Statement of significant accounting policiesThe principal accounting policies adopted in preparing the accounts of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (the “Corporation” or“ABC”) and the consolidated accounts of the Corporation and controlled entities are stated to assist in a general understanding of thesefinancial statements. These policies have been applied consistently by all entities in the economic entity.
1.1 Basis of accounting
The financial statements are a general purpose financial report.
They have been prepared in accordance with Schedule 2 to Orders issued by the Finance Minister under the Commonwealth Authorities andCompanies Act 1997.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards, other authoritative pronouncements ofthe Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) and the Consensus Views of the Urgent Issues Group, having regard to Statements ofAccounting Concepts.
The financial statements have been prepared on an accrual basis and are in accordance with historical cost convention, except for certainassets which as noted, are at valuation. Except where stated, no allowance is made for the effect of changing prices on the results or onthe financial position.
1.2 Rounding
Amounts are rounded to the nearest $1 000 except in relation to :
a) remuneration of directors
b) remuneration of officers
c) remuneration of auditors
d) trust funds
1.3 Principles of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements are those of the economic entity, comprising the accounts of the Australian BroadcastingCorporation, its controlled entities and the entities it controlled from time to time during the period.
Control exists where the Australian Broadcasting Corporation has the capacity to dominate the decision making in relation to the financialand operating policies of another entity so the controlled entity operates to achieve the objectives of the Australian BroadcastingCorporation.
The effects of all transactions and balances between the entities are eliminated in full. Details of controlled entities are containedin note 23.
Financial statements of subsidiaries not considered to be a going concern have been prepared on a liquidation basis. No adjustments werenecessary in relation to the recoverability and classification of the recorded assets of those subsidiaries.
1.4 Taxation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation is not subject to income tax pursuant to Section 71 of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983.
Where controlled entities are subject to income tax, the economic entity adopts the liability method of tax–effect accounting wherebyincome tax expense is calculated based on the operating profit before income tax adjusted for any permanent differences.
Timing differences which arise due to the different accounting periods in which items of revenue and expense are included in thedetermination of operating profit before income tax and taxable income are brought to account either as a provision for deferred incometax or an asset described as a future income tax benefit at the rate of tax applicable for the period in which the benefit will be received orthe liability will become payable. Future income tax benefits are not brought to account unless realisation of the asset is assured beyondany reasonable doubt.
No reconciliation is performed between prima facie tax expense and income tax payable. This is because the Corporation is not subject toincome tax and its controlled entities are either exempt from tax or did not incur an income tax expense due to carried forward tax losses.
Certain of the controlled entities are subject to sales and payroll tax.
1.5 Foreign currency transactions
Revenues and expenditures relating to overseas transactions are converted to Australian currency at the exchange rates prevailing at thedate of the transaction, or at the hedged rate.
Exchange gains and losses and hedging costs arising on contracts entered into as hedges of specific revenue or expense transactions aredeferred until the date of such transactions at which time they are included in the determination of such revenues or expenses.
Open hedge contracts relating to all other revenue and expenditure transactions are converted at the applicable exchange rate at balancedate with exchange gains or losses being included in the operating statement.
All foreign currency balances are converted to Australian currency at the exchange rate prevailing at balance date, except for liabilitiesbrought to account at contract rates, which are subject to currency swap contracts for which an Australian dollar currency repaymentschedule has been adopted. Monetary assets and liabilities of overseas branches and amounts payable to or by the Corporation in foreigncurrencies are translated into Australian currency at the applicable exchange rate at balance date. Non–monetary items of overseasbranches are translated at exchange rates current at the transaction date.
ABC Annual Report Financial Statements
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1.6 Derivatives
Derivative financial instruments are used by the Corporation to manage financial risks and are not entered into for trading purposes. Theclasses of derivative financial contracts used are interest rate swaps, forward rate agreements and forward foreign exchange contracts andoptions.
Derivative financial instruments designated as hedges are accounted for on the same basis as the underlying exposure.
A Interest rate swaps and forward rate agreements
Interest rate swaps and forward rate agreements are entered into for the purpose of managing the Corporation’s interest rate position.Gains or losses on interest rate swaps are included in the measurement of interest payments on the transactions to which they relate.Premiums or discounts are amortised through the operating statement each year over the life of the swap.
B Interest rate options
Interest rate options are used to hedge interest rate exposures. The premiums paid on interest rate options are included in other assets andare amortised to interest expense over the term of the agreements.
1.7 Borrowings
Borrowings are recorded at the amount of the net proceeds received and carried at amortised cost until the liabilities are fully settled.Interest on the instruments is recognised as an expense on an effective yield basis. Borrowings are Commonwealth Governmentguaranteed.
All borrowing costs are expensed as incurred except to the extent that they are directly attributable to qualifying assets, in which case theyare capitalised. The amount capitalised in a reporting period does not exceed the amounts of costs incurred in that period.
1.8 Cash
For the purpose of the statement of cash flows, cash includes cash on hand and deposits held at call with banks net of bank overdrafts.
1.9 Receivables
Receivables are carried at nominal amounts due less provision for doubtful debts.
The Corporation modified its method of estimating the provision for doubtful debts during 1999. The provision for doubtful debts has beendetermined by conducting a detailed review of material debtors, making an assessment of the probability of recovery of those debts andtaking into account past bad debts experience. The method has been amended to more accurately reflect the provision on a specific basisand in line with prudent risk management practises.
1.10 Bills of exchange and promissory notes
Premiums or discounts are amortised through the operating statement each year from the date of purchase so that investments attain theirredemption value by maturity date and income is recognised on an effective yield basis
Any profits or losses arising from the disposal prior to maturity are taken to the operating statement in the period in which they are realised.These assets are intended to be held to maturity and are carried at cost or cost adjusted for discounts and premiums.
1.11 Trade creditors
Creditors are recognised at their nominal amounts, being the amounts at which the liabilities will be settled. Liabilities are recognised to theextent that the goods and services have been received and irrespective of having been invoiced.
Settlement is on normal commercial terms.
1.12 Reporting by segments
The Corporation principally provides a national television and radio service within the broadcasting industry. It is therefore considered forsegmental reporting to operate predominantly in one industry and in one geographical area, Australia.
1.13 Resources received free of charge
The Orders require resources received free of charge to be included in the operating statement, as both operating expenses and operatingrevenue when received and their fair value can be reliably measured.
1.14 Allocation by portfolios
Reporting is by output portfolios as follows: National Networks, Program Production, News & Current Affairs, and Local & RegionalServices. Enterprises’ revenue and expenses are split proportionally between National Networks – 80% and Local and Regional Services – 20%.
1.15 Revenue recognition
Revenue from the sale of goods and services is recognised upon the delivery of goods and services to customers.
Credit sales are on normal commercial terms.
Appropriation revenue is recognised at the time the Corporation becomes entitled to receive the revenue.
1.16 Television co–productions
External contributions earned in respect of the production of television programs are recorded in the operating statement once theprogram has been broadcast (refer note 1.25).
1.17 Employee entitlements
Provision is made for the Corporation’s and controlled entities’ liabilities for employee entitlements arising from services rendered byemployees to balance date. The calculation of long service leave liability is based on the probability of employees reaching ten years serviceand the expected cashflows arising from the accrued liability. In determining the present value of the liability, attrition rates and payincreases through promotions and inflation have been taken into account.
The long service leave and annual leave provision is split into current and non–current components based on historical trends, except forthe anticipated redundancy and associated leave payments which have been included as current.
Financial Statements ABC Annual Report
77
The accumulated annual leave liabilities arising from services rendered by employees to balance date are provided for on the basis ofcurrent wage and salary rates
The Corporation has brought to account for the first time in 1999 the on costs relating to leave provisions to comply with AASB1028(Accounting for Employee Entitlements). Had the Corporation adopted this accounting treatment in previous years, the financialstatements would have reflected the following balances:
Consolidated
98–99 97–98
$’000 $’000
Profit and Loss Statement
(Increase)/decrease in leave entitlements 0(298) 0 136
Surplus (deficit) (2 593) 49 155
Surplus (deficit) as restated (2 891) 49 291
Accumulated surplus at beginning of reporting period, as reported 222 960 173 805
Accrual of on costs on leave provisions relating to prior years (5 828) (5 964)
Accumulated surplus at end of reporting period, as restated 214 241 217 132
Balance Sheet
Provisions and payables 145 617 150 789
Increase in accrual of on costs on leave provisions relating to
current and prior years 6 126 5 827
151 743 156 616
No provision has been made for sick leave as all sick leave is non–vesting and the average sick leave taken by employees is less than theannual entitlement for sick leave.
Accrued salaries, wages and other benefits represent amounts the Corporation has a present obligation to pay as at balance date.
Liabilities for employee entitlements which are not expected to be settled within twelve months are discounted using the rates attaching tonational government securities at base date, which most closely match the terms of maturity of the related liabilities.
1.18 Redundancies
Provision is made for the Corporation’s redundancy liability for employee numbers which have been identified and can be reliablymeasured. The provision includes the estimated eligible termination payment. Long service leave or annual leave paid on termination dueto redundancy is included in the respective provision.
1.19 Depreciation and amortisation of non–current assets
Non–current assets are depreciated from the commencement of the monthly accounting period subsequent to the date of receipt.
Depreciable property, plant and equipment assets are written off to their residual values over their estimated useful lives to the Corporationusing, in all cases, the straight line method of depreciation. Leasehold improvements are amortised on a straight line basis over the lesser ofthe expected useful life of the improvement or the unexpired period of the lease
Depreciation/amortisation rates (useful lives) and methods are reviewed at each balance date and necessary adjustments are recognised inthe current and future reporting periods, as appropriate. Residual values are re–estimated for a change in prices only when assets arerevalued.
Depreciation and amortisation rates applying to each class of depreciable asset are as follows:
1999 1998
Buildings on freehold land 50 years 50 years
Leasehold land, buildings and improvements Lease term Lease term
Plant and equipment 6 to 15 years 6 to 15 years
The aggregate amount of depreciation allocated for each class of asset during the reporting period is disclosed in note 4C.
Amortisation rates applying to intangible assets are as follows:1999 1998
Copyright 5 years 5 years
Software 3 to 5 years 3 to 5 years
The aggregate amount of amortisation allocated for intangible assets during the reporting period is disclosed in note 4C.
1.20 Repairs and maintenance
Maintenance, repair expenses and minor renewals which do not constitute an upgrading or enhancement of equipment are expensed asincurred.
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1.21 Superannuation
Contributions made by the Corporation are expensed.
1.22 Commitments
Contracted revenue and expenditure items are shown in accordance with the Orders.
1.23 Property, plant & equipment
For these financial statements, purchases of property, plant and equipment are recognised initially at cost in the statement of assets andliabilities, except for purchases costing less than $2 000, which are expensed in the year of acquisition (other than where they form part ofa group of similar items which are significant in total). The $2 000 threshold was selected because it facilitates efficient asset managementand recording without materially affecting asset values recognised.
The acquisition of property, plant and equipment free of charge or for a nominal amount is recognised initially at fair value.
1.24 Valuation of non–current assets
The Orders require that property, plant and equipment be progressively revalued in accordance with the ‘deprival’ method of valuation (asset out in the Guidelines on Accounting Policy for Valuation of Assets of Government Trading Enterprises) by 1 July 1999 and thereafter berevalued progressively on that basis every three years.
The Corporation has implemented its progressive revaluations as follows:
• Freehold land and buildings were initially being revalued progressively over the financial years 1997–98 and 1998–99 and thereafter oversuccessive three year periods. A geographical approach was adopted.
• Leasehold improvements will be revalued during the 1999–00 financial year commencing 1 July 1999 and progressively every three yearson a geographical basis thereafter.
• Plant and equipment assets were revalued progressively over the financial years 1997–98 and 1998–99 and thereafter over successivethree year periods by type of asset.
Assets in each class acquired after the commencement of the progressive revaluation cycle will be reported at cost for the duration of theprogressive revaluation then in progress.
The financial effect of the move to progressive revaluations is that the carrying amount of assets will reflect current values and thatdepreciation charges will reflect the current cost of the service potential consumed in each period.
The application of the deprival method values land and buildings at current market buying price and other assets at their depreciatedreplacement cost. Any assets which would not be replaced or are surplus to requirements are valued at net realisable value. At 30 June 1999there were no assets in this situation.
Valuations are independent or at directors’ valuations.
The carrying amounts of non–current assets of the Corporation have been reviewed to determine whether they are in excess of theirrecoverable amounts. In assessing recoverable amounts, the relevant cash flows have not been discounted to their present value.
1.25 Inventories
For these financial statements, inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realisable value. Television programs are produced fordomestic transmission and include direct salaries and expenses. Fixed production overheads are expensed in the period in which they areincurred.
The cost of television program inventory is amortised as follows:
• News, current affairs and live programs — 100% on first screening.
• Children’s, education and movies — straight line over the shorter of the license period or three years.
• All other programs not covered above — 90% first screening and 10% second screening.
• Alternative amortisation schedule — Management may determine an alternative amortisation schedule for exceptional programs in any ofthe above categories for which the stated policy is considered inappropriate.
Subsequent sales of residual rights are recognised in the period in which they occur. The costs of programs produced for radio areexpensed as incurred. Such programs are normally broadcast soon after production, stock on hand at any time being minimal.
The provision for obsolete retail stock is based on stock on hand over twelve months old and which may require discounting or disposal.Items in engineering and general stores which have not been issued for three years are provided for as obsolete.
1.26 Changes in accounting policy
Changes in accounting policy have been identified in this note under their appropriate heading.
1.27 Comparative figures
Where applicable, prior year comparative figures have been restated to reflect the current year’s presentation in the financial statements.
Financial Statements ABC Annual Report
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2. Expenses and revenuesConsolidated ABC
1999 1998 1999 1998Notes $’000 $’000 $’000 $’000
Operating expenses (a)Employee related – Remuneration 304 653 282 476 267 359 250 471
– Leave entitlements 24 285 24 357 20 216 21 931
4A 328 938 306 833 287 575 272 402
Artist fees 4B 18 706 16 230 10 960 10 058 Auditor’s remuneration 4B 0 269 0 297 0 180 0 230 Bad and doubtful debts 4B 0 312 0 403 0 257 0 403 Communications 4B 17 548 16 501 16 077 15 423 Computer costs 4B 5 539 9 235 5 331 9 046 Consultants and contract labour (e) 4B 11 766 9 729 11 199 9 418 Depreciation and amortisation 4C 48 039 31 384 47 477 30 906 Freight 4B 2 287 2 085 1 802 1 772 Interest 5 13 413 15 078 13 413 15 078 Legal costs 4B 1 324 1 162 1 283 1 128 Loss on disposal of non–current assets (b) 4D 1 832 0 419 1 825 0 379 Net loss on foreign exchange 4F 0 832 0 00– 0 832 0 00– Materials and minor items 4B 20 640 22 974 20 345 22 685 Merchandising and promotion 4B 59 144 56 812 53 833 51 577 Transmission services (c) 4B 67 605 54 170 67 605 54 170 Operating leases and occupancy (d) 4B 16 384 16 276 15 244 14 748 Purchased program amortisation 4B 31 039 34 367 31 039 34 365 Program rights 4B 27 821 29 556 27 746 29 425 Repairs, maintenance and hire 4B 16 545 14 451 14 885 13 130 Satellite and transmission 4B 11 390 17 544 11 242 17 188 Travel 4B 21 071 17 683 18 369 16 675 Video production services 4B 3 141 4 436 3 379 4 271 Incidental 4B 8 312 14 478 2 799 3 741 Payments to controlled entities (f) 4E 0 00– 0 00– 0 00– 3 000
Total operating expenses 733 897 692 103 664 697 631 218 Operating revenues from independent sources (a)Co–production contributions 6D 9 872 10 818 8 989 10 632 Concert sales and subsidies 6D 18 180 17 301 0 00– 0 00– Net gain on foreign exchange 6C 0 00– 1 236 0 00– 1 236 Gain on disposal of non–current assets (b) 6B 1 256 1 816 1 256 1 815 Interest and bill discounts 6A 6 256 7 854 5 500 7 142 Merchandising 6D 53 392 50 558 53 327 50 557 Program sales 6D 9 529 11 345 9 383 11 199 Rent and hire of facilities 6D 6 685 8 110 6 639 9 364 Royalties 6D 23 826 22 284 23 822 22 259 Sponsorships and donations 6E 4 262 4 221 0 00– 0 00– Technology sales 6D 2 775 1 026 2 774 1 026 Incidental 6E 7 331 13 383 5 864 8 624
Total operating revenues from independent sources 143 364 149 952 117 554 123 854
Total revenues from government 7A, B, C 583 634 555 991 542 383 522 666
Total revenues 726 998 705 943 659 937 646 520
Operating result before abnormal items (6 899) 13 840 (4 760) 15 302
(a) Operating expenses and revenues are allocated across the Corporation’s major activities and shown in the operating statement byactivity.
(b) The Corporation’s proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment included in determining operating results before abnormalitems $8 022 000 (1998 $12 147 462).
(c) Transmission services received free of charge, refer note 7B.
(d) The Corporation’s rent expense total $6 420 059 (1998 $5 849 645) ABC only.
(e) A consultant is defined as providing ‘independent expert advice to the Corporation under an assignment of limited duration’.Consultants expenses $2 193 004 (1998 $2 362 726), contracted labour $ 9 006 278 (1998 $7 054 625) ABC only.
(f) Payment to controlled entities relates to a transfer of appropriation to Australia Television International Pty Limited, which was sold 11February 1998 to Seven Network (Operations) Ltd.
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3. Economic dependencyThe Corporation and its subsidiaries are dependent upon direct and indirect appropriations of monies by Parliament. In excess of 80% ofnormal activities are funded in this manner, and without these appropriations the Corporation and its subsidiaries would be unable to meettheir obligations. (Refer to note 7 for details of revenues from government)
4. Goods and services expensesConsolidated ABC
1999 1998 1999 1998$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000
4A Employee expenses
Basic remuneration for services provided 304 653 282 476 267 359 250 471
Leave entitlements 24 285 24 357 20 216 21 931
328 938 306 833 287 575 272 402
The Corporation and its subsidaries contribute to the Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme (CSS) and the Public Sector Superannuation(PSS) which provide retirement, death disability benefits to employees. Contributions to the schemes are at a rate calculated to coverexisting and emerging obligations. Current contribution rates are 18.6% (1998 18.6%) of salary (CSS) and 11.5% (1998 11.5%) of salary(PSS). An additional 3% is contributed for employer productivity benefits.
4B Suppliers expenses
Supply of goods and services 333 510 331 011 307 155 303 603
Operating lease rentals 7 333 7 378 6 420 5 850
340 843 338 389 313 575 309 453
4C Depreciation and amortisation
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 44 172 31 358 43 610 30 880
Amortisation of intangible assets 3 867 0 026 3 867 0 026
48 039 31 384 47 477 30 906
4D Net losses from disposal of assets
Plant and equipment 1 832 0 419 1 825 0 379
1 832 0 419 1 825 0 379
4E Grants expense (a)
Payments to controlled entities
– Australia Television International Pty Limited 0 00– 0 00– 0 00– 3 000
0 00– 0 00– 0 00– 3 000
4F Net foreign exchange loss — non-speculative 0 832 0 00– 0 832 0 00–
0 832 0 00– 0 832 0 00–
Total goods and services expenses 720 484 677 025 651 284 616 140
(a) This is a transfer of appropriation funding from the ABC to its subsidiary. The revenue has been included in Australia TelevisionInternational Pty Limited.
5. Interest expenseConsolidated ABC
1999 1998 1999 1998$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000
Loans 13 413 15 078 13 413 15 078
Financial Statements ABC Annual Report
81
6. Operating revenue from independent sourcesConsolidated ABC
1999 1998 1999 1998$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000
6A Interest
Deposits 1 271 1 283 0 514 0 571
Bills receivable 4 985 6 571 4 986 6 571
6 256 7 854 5 500 7 142 6B Net gains from disposal of assets
Land and buildings 0 00– 0 993 0 00– 0 993
Plant and equipment 1 256 0 823 1 256 0 822
1 256 1 816 1 256 1 815
6C Net foreign exchange gain – non-speculative 0 00– 1 236 0 00– 1 236
6D Sales of goods and services 124 259 121 442 104 934 105 037
6E Other revenues
Other 7 331 13 383 5 864 8 624
Sponsorships and donations 4 262 4 221 0 00– 0 00–
11 593 17 604 5 864 8 624
Total operating revenue from independent sources 143 364 149 952 117 554 123 854
7. Revenues from governmentConsolidated ABC
1999 1998 1999 1998$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000
7A Parliamentary appropriations
Division 151–1–01 Domestic Service – operating 456 778 450 992 456 778 450 992
Division 811–1–01 Domestic Service – capital 8 618 9 804 8 618 9 804
Division 151–1–02 Radio Australia 6 374 4 700 6 374 4 700
Division 151–1–03 Australia Television International Pty 2 997 3 000 2 997 3 000 Limited
474 767 468 496 474 767 468 496
7B Transmission revenue (a) 67 616 54 170 67 616 54 170
7C Funding from Commonwealth/State Governments for Orchestral Subsidiaries
Department of Communication, InformationTechnology and the Arts 32 480 32 000 0 00– 0 00–
Other 8 771 1 325 0 00– 0 00–
41 251 33 325 0 00– 0 00–
(a) Transmission revenue for the current year includes resources received free of charge of $56 804 795 (1998 $54 170 000).
Up to 30 April 1999, the National Transmission Agency (NTA) provided the services and operated the facilities necessary to transmit theCorporation’s programs to the public under the direction of the Minister for Communications, the Information Technology and theArts. The costs of service provided by the NTA represent an apportionment of the base cash costs which excludes depreciation,administration and overhead charges. It does not represent the cost that the ABC would incur if it were empowered to transmit ABCservices direct to the public.
From 1 May 1999, the Corporation was funded to purchase transmission services from NTL Australia Pty Limited.
ABC Annual Report Financial Statements
82
8. Extraordinary itemsConsolidated ABC
1999 1998 1999 1998$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000
Total extraordinary items – – – –
9. Abnormal itemsConsolidated ABC
1999 1998 1999 1998$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000
Abnormal expenses
Redundancy expenses 0 00– (25 008) 0 00– (25 008)
Loss on sale of property (2 462) 0 00– (2 462) 0 00–
Debt forgiveness write–off 0 00– 0 00– 0(540) 0 00–
Payment to controlled entities 0 00– 0 00– 0(700) 0 00–
Loss on sales of shares on subsidiary disposal (3 759) 0 00– (3 759) 0 00–
Take up oncosts on leave provisions (6 126) 0 00– (6 126) 0 00–
Abnormal revenue
Writeback of superannuation liability 0 00– 7 213 0 00– 7 213
Writeback of orchestral unfunded liability 0 00– 0 00– 0 00– 2 193
Capitalisation of intellectual properties 0 00– 14 500 0 00– 14 500
Capitalisation of sound & film libraries 0 00– 24 151 0 00– 24 151
Capitalisation of software 0 00– 8 126 0 00– 8 126
Writeback of debt forgiven 0 00– 6 333 0 00– 6 333
Debt forgiveness 10 527 0 00– 0 00– 0 00–
Total abnormal items (1 820) 35 315 (13 587) 37 508
10. DebtConsolidated ABC
1999 1998 1999 1998$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000
10A Loans
Loan (a) 0 00– 10 799 0 00– 0 00–
Loans (b) 40 000 40 000 40 000 40 000
Bonds – maturity value $53 000 000 52 479 52 042 52 479 52 042
Inscribed stock 50 000 – 50 000 0 00–
Bills of exchange and promissory notes 0 00– 99 510 0 00– 99 510
142 479 191 552 142 479 191 552
142 479 202 351 142 479 191 552
(a) Loan of $10 527 000 forgiven by venture partner during the financial year.
(b) These loans are repayable in Japanese Yen. Currency swap contracts have been undertaken to effectively remove the currency riskassociated with these loans.
Loans at the reporting date are payable as follows:within one year 0 00– 110 309 0 00– 99 510 within one to two years 52 479 0 00– 52 479 0 00– within two to five years 90 000 52 042 90 000 52 042 more than five years 0 00– 40 000 0 00– 40 000
142 479 202 351 142 479 191 552
During the year, promissory notes were issued to meet cash flow requirement. The total amount issued was $12 000 000. At 30 June 1999there were no promissory notes on issue.
Financial Statements ABC Annual Report
83
11. Provisions and payablesConsolidated ABC
1999 1998 1999 1998$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000
11A Liabilities to employees
Salaries and wages 9 540 8 348 8 705 7 199
Annual leave 40 794 35 429 39 186 32 702
Long service leave 48 483 47 264 42 250 43 051
Superannuation (a) 6 845 6 841 6 841 6 841
Separation and redundancy 2 032 12 600 2 032 12 600
Aggregate employee entitlement liability 107 694 110 482 99 014 102 393
(a) Commonwealth superannuation liability from 1992 to 1996 for ABC employees who had not previously joined the Public SectorSuperannuation scheme.
11B Suppliers
Trade creditors 33 118 29 503 29 421 25 276
Other creditors 10 931 9 994 4 801 4 390
44 049 39 497 34 222 29 666
11C Other
Provision for cessation of business – Arnbridge Group 0 00– 0 810 0 00– 0 00–
12. Equity (consolidated)
Item Accumulated Asset Totalresults revaluation reserve equity
1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000 $’000 $’000
Balance 1 July 222 960 173 805 263 939 115 040 486 899 288 845
Surplus (2 593) 49 155 0 00– 0 00– (2 593) 49 155
Net revaluation adjustment 0 00– 0 00– (1 955)(a) 148 899 (1 955) 148 899
Transfers (from) reserves 0 00– 0 00– 0 00– 0 00– 0 00– 0 00–
Changes in accounting policies (6 126) 0 00– 0 00– 0 00– (6 126) 0 00–
Balance 30 June 214 241 222 960 261 984 263 939 476 225 486 899
(a) As at 30 June 1998 capital works in progress were also revalued in plant and equipment resulting in an overstatement of total plant andequipment of $1 955 370. During the year the asset revaluation reserve was reduced by $1 955 370 on the capitalistion of the relatedcapital works in progress.
ABC Annual Report Financial Statements
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13. Financial assetsConsolidated ABC
1999 1998 1999 1998Notes $’000 $’000 $’000 $’000
13A Cash
Cash at bank and on hand 18 171 19 949 5 254 5 683
18 171 19 949 5 254 5 683
13B Receivables
Goods and services 9 079 6 239 9 634 5 547
Accrued revenue 2 719 6 762 2 268 6 051
Controlled entities 0 00– 0 00– 0 00– 5 600
Bills of exchange, promissory notes
– maturity value $30 634 226 (1998 $39 996 273) 30 503 39 791 30 503 39 791
Other debtors 9 095 17 206 8 844 17 518
51 396 69 998 51 249 74 507
Provision for doubtful debts (goods and services) 0(403) 0(403) 0(403) 0 (403)
Provision for debt forgiveness:
– Arnbridge Pty Limited 0 00– 0 00– 0 00– (4 421)
50 993 69 595 50 846 69 683
Receivables includes receivables overdue by
– less than 30 days 1 063 5 482 1 063 3 991
– 30 to 60 days 0 417 1 069 0 417 0 493
– more than 60 days 2 418 1 528 2 418 0 869
3 898 8 079 3 898 5 353
13C Investments
Shares in subsidiaries at cost 23 0 00– 0 00– 1 200 0 250
Right to receive shares 23 0 00– 0 00– 0 687 1 637
Investments – Australia Television International Pty Limited (a) 0 00– 5 759 0 00– 5 759
0 00– 5 759 1 887 7 646
(a) At 1st July 1998, the Corporation held 5 758 979 redeemable preference shares of $1 each, in Australia Television International PtyLimited. In accordance with the shareholder’s agreement between the Corporation and Seven Network (Operations) Ltd, 333 000shares were purchased by Seven Network (Operations) Ltd. On the 1st February 1999 the remaining shares were sold to Seven Network(Operations) Ltd.
Financial Statements ABC Annual Report
85
14. Non financial assetsConsolidated ABC
1999 1998 1999 1998$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000
14A Land and buildingsFreehold land – Directors’ valuation 1996 0 078 0 078 0 078 0 078 Freehold land – Independent valuation 1998 80 660 87 660 80 660 87 660
80 738 87 738 80 738 87 738 Buildings on freehold land – Directors’ valuation 1996 2 099 2 099 2 099 2 099 Accumulated depreciation 0(129) 0 (87) 0(129) 0 (87)
1 970 2 012 1 970 2 012 Building on freehold land – Independent valuation 1998 316 858 318 304 316 858 318 304 Accumulated depreciation (6 337) 0 00– (6 337) 0 00–
310 521 318 304 310 521 318 304 Buildings on freehold land – at cost 4 023 0 00– 4 023 0 00–Accumulated depreciation 0 (15) 0 00– 0 (15) 0 00–
4 008 0 00– 4 008 0 00– Leasehold land – Directors’ valuation 1996 0 180 0 180 0 180 0 180 Accumulated depreciation 0 (7) 0 (7) 0 (7) 0 (7)
0 173 0 173 0 173 0 173
Leasehold land – Independent valuation 1998 1 000 1 000 1 000 1 000 Leasehold buildings – Directors’ valuation 1996 1 051 1 051 1 051 1 051 Accumulated depreciation 0(360) 0 (71) 0(360) 0 (71)
0 691 0 980 0 691 0 980 Leasehold building – Independent valuation 1998 1 637 1 853 1 637 1 853 Accumulated depreciation 0(377) 0 00– 0(377) 0 00–
1 260 1 853 1 260 1 853
Leasehold improvements – at cost 11 418 9 550 11 165 9 331 Accumulated depreciation (7 339) (6 159) (7 286) (6 123)
4 079 3 391 3 879 3 208
Total land and buildings 404 440 415 451 404 240 415 268
14B Plant and equipmentDirectors’ valuation 1987 1 512 1 512 1 512 1 512 Accumulated depreciation (1 512) (1 512) (1 512) (1 512)
0 00– 0 00– 0 00– 0 00–Independent valuation 1988 0 177 0 177 0 177 0 177 Accumulated depreciation 0(177) 0(177) 0(177) 0(177)
0 00– 0 00– 0 00– 0 00–Independent valuation 1997 20 000 20 000 20 000 20 000 Accumulated depreciation (2 697) (1 359) (2 697) (1 359)
17 303 18 641 17 303 18 641 Directors’ valuation 1998 0 090 0 090 0 00– 0 00–Accumulated depreciation 0 (28) 0 (19) 0 00– 0 00–
0 062 0 071 0 00– 0 00–Independent valuation 1998 385 982 405 120 385 982 405 120 Accumulated depreciation (243 168) (222 103) (243 168) (222 103)
142 814 183 017 142 814 183 017 At cost 30 093 21 079 26 392 17 938 Accumulated depreciation (10 648) (7 889) (9 582) (7 345)
19 445 13 190 16 810 10 593
Plant and equipment (excluding capital works in progress) 179 624 214 919 176 927 212 251
Capital works in progress at cost (a) 18 391 20 854 18 391 20 854
Total plant and equipment (including capital works in progress) 198 015 235 773 195 318 233 105
Total land, buildings, plant and equipment and intangibles 605 033 647 626 602 136 644 775(excluding capital works in progress)
(a) Interest costs on borrowings of $102 212 relating to Human Resource Information System were capitalised.
ABC Annual Report Financial Statements
86
14. Non financial assets (continued)Table A – Movement summary 1998–99 for all assets irrespective of valuation basis (consolidated only)
Item Land Buildings Total Other Intangibles Totalland and infrastructure,buildings plant and
equipment
$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000 $’000 $’000
Gross value as at 1 July, 1998 88 919 332 857 421 776 448 358 17 282 887 416
Additions 0 00– 5 891 5 891 9 028 7 580 22 499
Revaluations 0 00– 0 00– 0 00– 0 00– 0 00– 0 00–
Disposals (7 000) (1 662) (8 662) (19 152) 0 00– (27 814)
Other movements 0 (1) 0 00– 0 (1) 0(380) 0 00– 0(381)
Gross value as at 30 June 1999 81 918 337 086 419 004 437 854 24 862 881 720
Accumulated depreciation / 0 007 6 318 6 325 233 439 00.026 239 790 amortisation as at 1 July, 1998
Depreciation /amortisation 0 00– 8 230 8 230 33 339 3 494 45 063 charge for assets held 1 July 1998
Depreciation /amortisation
charge for additions 0 00– 00 081 00 081 2 522 0 373 2 976
Adjustment for revaluations 0 00– 0 00– 0 00– 0 00– 0 00– 0 00–
Adjustment for disposals 0 00– 0 (88) 0 (88) (10 666) 0 00– (10 754)
Adjustment for other movements 0 00– 00.016 00.016 0(404) 0 00– 0(388)
Accumulated depreciation / 00.007 14 557 14 564 258 230 3 893 276 687 amortisation at 30 June 1999
Net book value at 30 June 1999 81 911 322 529 404 440 179 624 20 969 605 033
Net book value at 1 July 1998 88 912 326 539 415 451 214 919 17 256 647 626
Table B – Summary of balances of assets at valuation as at 30 June 1999 (consolidated only)
Item Land Buildings Total Other Intangibles Totalland and infrastructure,buildings plant and
equipment
$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000 $’000 $’000
As at 30 June 1999
Gross value 81 918 321 645 403 563 407 761 16 965 828 289
Accumulated depreciation/ 0 0 (7) (7 203) (7 210) (247 582) (3 430) (258 222)amortisation
Other movements 0 00– 0 00– 0 00– 0 00– 0 00– 0 00–
Net book value 81 911 314 442 396 353 160 179 13 535 570 067
As at 30 June 1998
Gross value 88 919 323 307 412 226 426 899 16 965 856 090
Accumulated depreciation/amortisation 0 0(7) 0(158) 0(165) (225 170) 0 00– (225 335)
Other movements 0 00– 0 00– 0 00– 0 00– 0 00– 0 00–
Net book value 88 912 323 149 412 061 201 729 16 965 630 755
The revaluation of non financial assets as at 30 June 1998 in accordance with the revaluation policy stated in note 1 was completed by anindependent valuer Australian Valuation Office. A revaluation increment of $nil (1997–98 $148 899 000) was transferred to the assetrevaluation reserve.
Financial Statements ABC Annual Report
87
14. Non financial assets (continued)Consolidated ABC
1999 1998 1999 1998$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000
14C Inventories (a)
Retail
Inventory 7 547 8 157 7 547 8 157
Provision for stock obsolescence 0(327) 0 (83) 0(327) 0 (83)
7 220 8 074 7 220 8 074
TV programs
Purchased 17 302 18 447 17 302 18 447
Produced 22 158 17 136 22 158 17 136
In progress 10 565 13 247 10 565 13 247
50 025 48 830 50 025 48 830
Broadcasting consumables
Inventory 0 323 1 056 0 323 1 056
57 568 57 960 57 568 57 960
14D Intangible assets
Computer software – Directors’ valuation 1998 2 465 2 465 2 465 2 465
Accumulated amortisation 0(530) 0 00– 0(530) 0 00–
1 935 2 465 1 935 2 465
Computer software at cost (b) 7 897 0 317 7 897 0 317
Accumulated amortisation 0(463) 0 (26) 0(463) 0 (26)
7 434 0 291 7 434 0 291
Copyright – Independent valuation 1998 14 500 14 500 14 500 14 500
Accumulated amortisation (2 900) 0 00– (2 900) 0 00–
11 600 14 500 11 600 14 500
20 969 17 256 20 969 17 256
14E Other non–financial assets
Prepaid property rentals 0 00– 0 116 00 0 – 0 116
Other prepayments 14 651 8 263 13 871 7 157
Deferred interest rate hedging expenditure 5 640 9 917 5 640 9 917
20 291 18 296 19 511 17 190
(a) Inventory is valued at lower of cost or net realisable value.
(b) Interest costs on borrowings of $238 494 relating to financial systems implementation were capitalised.
ABC Annual Report Financial Statements
88
15. Reconciliation of cash flows from operating activities to net cost of servicesConsolidated ABC
1999 1998 1999 1998$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000
Net cash flows provided by operating activities 45 501 8 172 46 404 3 326
Depreciation and amortisation (48 039) (31 384) (47 477) (30 906)
(Increase) decrease in provision for doubtful debts 0 00– 0(324) 0 00– 0(324)
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment 1 256 1 816 1 256 1 815
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment (4 294) 0(419) (4 287) 0(379)
Accrued interest 0(917) 0 701 0(917) 0 701
Payments to controlled entities 0 00– 0 00– 0(809) (3 000)
Valuation of intellectual property 0 00– 14 500 0 00– 14 500
Capitalisation of software 0 00– 8 126 0 00– 8 126
Capitalisation of film, reference and sound libraries 0 00– 24 151 0 00– 24 151
Writeback of debt forgiven 10 00– 0 00– 0 00– 6 333
Debt forgiveness (a) 10 527 0 00– 0(540) 0(878)
Conversion of Australia Television International
Pty Limited loan to equity 0 00– 5 759 0 00– 0 00–
Loss on sale of shares on subsidiary disposal (3 759) 0 00– (3 759) 0 00–
Changes in assets and liabilities
Increase (decrease) in receivables (9 643) 11 875 (8 970) 11 495
Increase (decrease) in other current assets 6 272 (9 358) 6 598 (9 640)
Increase (decrease) in other non current assets (4 277) (4 501) (4 277) (4 501)
Increase (decrease) in inventories 0(392) 4 937 0(392) 4 937
(Increase) decrease in creditors (4 552) (1 241) (4 556) 4 403
(Increase) decrease in provisions 3 598 16 345 3 379 22 651
Surplus of net cost of services over revenues from (8 719) 49 155 (18 347) 52 810government
Parliamentary appropriations (474 767) (468 496) (474 767) (468 496)
Resources received free of charge (56 805) (54 170) (56 805) (54 170)
Transmission revenue (10 811) 0 00– (10 811) 0 00–
Funding from Commonwealth and State Governments (41 251) (33 325) 0 00– 0 00–
Net cost of services (592 353) (506 836) (560 730) (469 856)
(a) Refer to note 19 Related party and other disclosures.
16. External financing arrangementsConsolidated ABC
1999 1998 1999 1998$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000
Total facility (a) 1 000 1 000 1 000 1 000
Amount of facility used 0 00– 0 00– 0 00– 0 00–
Facility available 1 000 1 000 1 000 1 000
(a) Overdraft limit is held with Reserve Bank of Australia.
Financial Statements ABC Annual Report
89
17. Financial instruments
A. Interest rate risk
Financial assets
Floating Fixed interest rate Non-interest Total Weighted ave-interest bearing rage effective
rate 1 year or less 1 to 2 years 2 to 5 years > 5 years interest rate
Financial assets Notes 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998(recognised) $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 % %
Financial assetsCash at bank and on hand 13A 18 171 19 949 18 171 19 949 3.65% 3.85%
ReceivablesGoods & services 13B 8 676 5 836 8 676 5 836 N/A N/A Accrued revenue 13B 2 719 6 762 2 719 6 762 N/A N/A Other debtors 13B 9 095 17 206 9 095 17 206 N/A N/A Bills of exchange & 13B 30 503 39 791 30 503 39 791 4.98% 5.29%
promissory notes
InvestmentsRedeemable preference 13C – 5 759 – 5 759 N/A N/A
shares
Total financial assets 48 674 59 740 – – – – – – – – 20 490 35 563 69 164 95 303
Total assets 770 447 840 039
Financial liabilities
Floating Fixed interest rate Non-interest Total Weighted ave-interest bearing rage effective
rate 1 year or less 1 to 2 years 2 to 5 years > 5 years interest rate
Financial liabilities Notes 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998(recognised) $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 % %
DebtLoans – long term 10A 52 479 – 90 000 52 042 – 40 000 142 479 92 042 8.64% 8.45%
borrowingsBills of exchange & 10A – 99 510 – 99 510 N/A 5.31%
promissory notesLoan 10A – 10 799 – 10 799 N/A N/A
Provisions and payablesSuppliers 11B 44 049 39 497 44 049 39 497 N/A N/A
Total financial liabilities – 99 510 – – 52 479 – 90 000 52 042 – 40 000 44 049 50 296 186 528 241 848
Total liabilities 294 222 353 140
Total financial liabilities (unrecognised)
Interest rate swaps 15 000 15 000 – – 25 000 – (40 000) 25 000 – (40 000) – – – – N/A # N/A# (notional principal amounts only)
# The interest rates under these swaps range from the bank bill swap reference rate (BBSW) to 12.96% on payables and BBSW to 12.83% on receivables.BBSW rates are reset at a range between 90 and 180 days depending on the contracts.
ABC Annual Report Financial Statements
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B. Net fair values of financial assets and liabilitiesThe following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the net fair values.
Cash, receivables, payables and short term borrowingsThe carrying amount approximates the net fair value because of the short term maturity.
InvestmentsThe carrying amount for non traded instruments has been assessed by the directors based on the underlying assets, expected cashflowsand any particular special circumstances of the investee as approximating net fair values.
Long term borrowings The net fair values of long term borrowings are estimated using discounted cash flow analysis, based on current borrowing rates for similartypes of borrowing arrangements.
Interest rate swaps, cross currency swap agreements and currency optionThe net fair values of unrecognised financial instruments reflect the estimated amounts the economic entity expects to pay or receive toterminate the contracts (net of transaction costs) or to replace the contracts at their current market rates as at reporting date. This is basedon independent market quotations and using standard valuation techniques.
Forward exchange contractsThe net fair values of forward exchange contracts is taken to be the unrealised gain or loss at balance date calculated by reference tocurrent forward exchange rates for contracts with similar maturity profiles.
Carrying amount Net fair value
1999 1998 1999 1998$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000
Financial assets
Swap agreements 0 00– 0 00– 6 599 6 650
Foreign exchange contracts 0 * – 0 *21 0(230) 0 55
Financial liabilities
Long term borrowings (loans) 142 479 92 042 152 457 102 817
*The gain or loss is included in the carrying amount of receivables or payables at balance date.
C. Credit risk exposuresCredit risk represents the loss that would be recognised if counterparties to financial instruments fail to perform as contracted.
Financial assetsThe economic entity’s maximum exposures to credit risk at reporting date in relation to each class of recognised financial assets is thecarrying amount net of provision for doubtful debts of those assets as indicated in the statement of assets and liabilities.
Items not recognised in the statement of assets and liabilitiesThe credit risk arising from dealings in financial instruments is controlled by a strict policy of credit approvals, limits and monitoringprocedures. The economic entity has no material concentration of credit risk with any single counterparty and, as a matter of policy, onlytransacts with financial institutions that have a high credit rating. Credit exposure of foreign currency and interest rate derivatives isrepresented by the net fair value of the contracts, as disclosed.
Financial Statements ABC Annual Report
91
D. Hedging instruments
Specific hedgesThe net unrecognised gain of $27 000 ($nil in 1998) on specific hedges of anticipated foreign currency purchases will be recognised at thedate of such transactions. The timing of these do not exceed two years from balance date.
General hedgesAt balance date, the Corporation held forward exchange contracts to buy United States Dollars (USD) and Great Britain Pounds (GBP).
The following table sets out the gross value to be received under foreign currency contracts, the weighted average contracted exchangerates and the settlement periods of outstanding contracts for the economic entity.
Sell Austraian dollars Average exchange rate
1999 1998 1999 1998$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000
Buy USD
Less than 1 year 4 062 1 600 0.6266 0.6041
Buy GBP
Less than 1 year 3 668 2 730 0.4090 0.3663
18. Remuneration of directors
ABC
1999 1998
$ $
Remuneration received or due and receivable by directors of the Corporation 573 126 546 511
(including superannuation)
$ Number Number
0 – 9 999 – 1
10 000 – 19 999 – 1
20 000 – 29 999 6 5
30 000 – 39 999 1 1
80 000 – 89 999 1 1
300 000 – 309 999 – 1
320 000 – 329 999 1 –
Remuneration received or due and receivable by directors of the Corporation and controlled entities as detailed in note 23 in 1999 is $1 692 248.
ABC Annual Report Financial Statements
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19. Related party and other disclosures
Directors of the CorporationThe names of chief entity directors who held office during the financial year were:Donald McDonald (Chairman), Brian Johns (Managing Director), Diana Gribble, John Bannon, Russell Bate, Kirsten Garrett, Ian Macphee,Wendy Silver, Michael Kroger.
Controlled entitiesTransactions between related parties are on normal commercial terms and conditions no more favourable than those available to otherparties unless otherwise stated.
Arnbridge Pty Limited
During the financial year ended 30 June 1999, Arnbridge Pty Limited was placed into voluntary liquidation.
Arnbridge was in debt to the Corporation to $5 600 000 of which repayment of $639 575 was received by the Corporation during thefinancial year. The Corporation forgave debt of $4 960 425 to Arnbridge Pty Limited and charged the debt forgiveness against theprovision of $4 421 000 which was provided in the 1997–98 financial year. The loss of $539 916 was treated as an abnormal expense, refer note 9.
Australian Information Media Pty Limited
During the financial year, Australian Information Media Pty Limited was placed into voluntary liquidation.
Fairfax Multimedia Holdings Pty Limited forgave debt of $10 527 000 to Australian Information Media Pty Limited during thefinancial year. The debt forgiven was treated as an abnormal revenue, refer note 9.
AIM West Pty/Equipco Australia Pty Limited/AIM Holdings Pty Limited
During the financial year, AIM West Pty, Equipco Australia Pty Limited, AIM Holdings Australia Pty Limited were placed in voluntaryliquidation.
Sydney Symphony Orchestra Holdings Pty Limited
The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation. Sydney Symphony Orchestra Holdings Pty Limited issued 250 002 $1 sharesto the Corporation.
At year end the ABC owed Sydney Symphony Orchestra Holdings Pty Limited an amount of $186 869 (1998 $186 869) in relation to longservice leave (LSL). During the period the ABC provided goods and services on normal terms and conditions totalling $73 724 (1998 $77329). At year end Sydney Symphony Orchestra Holdings Pty Limited owed the Corporation $73 724 (1998 $nil).
Symphony Australia Holdings Pty Limited
The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation. Symphony Australia Holdings Pty Limited issued 6 $5 shares to theCorporation with a further 687 000 $1 shares to be issued to the Corporation.
During the period the ABC provided goods and services to Symphony Australia Holdings Pty Limited on normal terms and conditionstotalling $516 730 (1998 $523 175). At year end the ABC was owed $516 730 (1998 $78 816) in relation to the supply of these goods andservices. At year end the ABC owed Symphony Australia Holdings Pty Limited an amount of $389 700 (1998 $389 700) in relation to LSLfor staff at incorporation.
The Corporation made an ex gratia payment of $700 000 to Symphony Australia Holdings Pty Limited which is treated as an abnormalexpense, refer note 9. Payment of $109 882 was made by the Corporation for Comcare reimbursement relating to Symphony AustraliaHoldings Pty Limited.
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Pty Limited
The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation. Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Pty Limited issued 438 002 $1 shares tothe Corporation.
During the period the ABC provided goods and services to Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Pty Limited on normal terms and conditionstotalling $136 403 (1998 $65 318). At year end the Corporation is owed $136 403 (1998 $nil) for these goods and services. At year endthe ABC owed Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Pty Limited an amount of $336 058 (1998 $336 058) in relation to LSL for staff atincorporation.
West Australian Symphony Orchestra Holdings Pty Limited
The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation West Australian Symphony Orchestra Holdings Pty Limited issued 299 002$1 shares to the Corporation.
During the period the ABC provided goods and services to West Australian Symphony Orchestra Holdings Pty Limited on normal terms andconditions totalling $145 159 (1998 $113 000). At year end the ABC was owed $145 159 (1998 $nil) in relation to the supply of thesegoods and services. At year end the ABC owed West Australian Symphony Orchestra Holdings Pty Limited an amount of $307 189 (1998$307 189) in relation to LSL for staff at incorporation.
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra Pty Limited
The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation. Adelaide Symphony Orchestra Orchestra Pty Limited issued 213 002 $1shares to the Corporation.
During the year the ABC provided goods and services to Adelaide Symphony Orchestra Pty Limited on normal terms and conditionstotalling $204 703 (1998 $28 722). At year end the ABC was owed $204 703 (1998 $nil) in relation to the supply of these goods andservices. At year end the ABC owed Adelaide Symphony Orchestra Holdings Pty Limited an amount of $192 484 (1998 $192 484) inrelation to LSL for staff at incorporation.
Financial Statements ABC Annual Report
93
20. Remuneration of officersConsolidated ABC
1999 1998 1999 1998$ $ $ $
Income received or due and receivable by officers 1 244 947 1 075 952 1 333 601 1 286 365
Executives during the year whose remuneration was between1999 1998 1999 1998
$ Number Number Number Number
120 000 – 129 999 1 – – –
140 000 – 149 999 – 1 – 1
160 000 – 169 999 – 1 – 1
170 000 – 179 999 2 1 2 1
180 000 – 189 999 1 1 1 1
190 000 – 199 999 2 1 2 1
200 000 – 209 999 1 1 1 1
210 000 – 219 999 – – 1 1
The Managing Director’s remuneration is included in remuneration of directors, note 18. Consolidated remuneration excludes officers ofthe principal entity who are Directors in controlled entities.
Performance pay has been excluded from the calculation of officers’ remuneration. The aggregate amount of performance pay received, ordue and receivable, by officers was $ 137 507 (1998 $119 115) – ABC, $114 526 (1998 $96 134) – consolidated.
21. Remuneration of auditorsConsolidated ABC
1999 1998 1999 1998$ $ $ $
Remuneration to the Auditor-General for 267 500 297 000 190 000 230 000 auditing the financial statements for reporting period.
Total amount payable to the Australian National Audit Office for the audit of the Corporation and controlled entities financial statements.No other services were provided by the auditors.
22. Trust funds1999 1998 1999 1998
$ $ $ $
The Corporation is trustee for foundations Ian Reed Sir Charles Moseswith accumulated funds at 30 June 1999 as follows: Foundation Foundation
Revenues 26 940 28 473 0 003 0 0(6)
Expenses (2 872) (52 170) 0 00– 0 00–
Surplus for year 24 068 (23 697) 0 003 0 0(6)
Fund opening balance 406 610 430 307 3 181 3 187
Fund closing balance 430 678 406 610 3 184 3 181
The Corporation has established the Ian Reed and Sir Charles Moses Foundations Trust Accounts. Monies were received under formal trustarrangements. These trusts are independently managed in accordance with the terms of the trusts and the funds are held in authorisedtrustee investments. These funds are not available for other purposes of the Corporation and are not recognised in the financial statements.
ABC Annual Report Financial Statements
94
23. Controlled entities
During the year the Corporation had twelve 100% owned controlled entities, all incorporated in Australia.
1999 1999 1999 1998Country of Beneficial Book value of Book value of Contribution to Contribution to
incorporation percentage immediate immediate consolidated consolidatedheld by chief entity chief entity operating operating
economic investment investment surplus surplusentity (shares issued) (sharesto be gain/(loss) gain/(loss)
issued)% $ $ $’000 $’000
Chief Entity:
Australian Broadcasting Corporation N/A – 0 00– 0 00– (17 107) 46 845
Controlled entities ofAustralian Broadcasting Corporation:
AIM Holdings Australia Pty Limited (a) Australia 100% 0 002 0 00– 00– 00–
Equipco Australia Pty Limited (a) Australia 100% 0 002 00– 00– 00–
Music Choice Australia Pty Ltd Australia 100% 0 005 00– 00– 00–
Arnbridge Pty Limited (a) Australia 100% 0 002 00– 0 (106) 0 (30)
Australian Information Media Pty Limited (a) Australia 100% 4.558 000 00– 11 119 (342)
The News Channel Pty Limited Australia 100% 4.670 235 00– 00– 00–
AIM West Pty (a) Australia 100% 2.573 272 00– 00– (10)
Sydney Symphony Orchestra Holdings Pty Limited Australia 100% 250 002 00– (808) 1 811
Symphony Australia Holdings Pty Limited Australia 100% 0 030 687 000 0 002 0 344
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Australia 100% 438 002 00– 0 (243) 0 737Pty Limited
West Australian Symphony Orchestra Australia 100% 299 002 00– (1 174) 0 035Holdings Pty Limited
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra Pty Limited Australia 100% 213 002 00– 0 (402) (235)
130001 556 687 000 (8 719) 49 155
(a) These entities were placed into voluntary liquidation during the year.
Program Performance Statement ABC Annual Report
95
ProgramperformancestatementFinancial Resources Summary – Cash
1998-99 1998-99 1997-98CASH CASH CASH
BUDGET ACTUAL ACTUAL$’000 $’000 $’000
BUDGETARY (CASH) BASIS
Components of Appropriation
Division 151-01-01 456 778 456 778 450 392
General Activities - Domestic
Division 151-01-02 6 374 6 374 6 300
General Activities - Radio Australia
Division 811-01-01 8 618 8 618 8 804
Capital Works & Services - Domestic
Division 813-01-01 2 997 2 997 3 000
Australia Television - International
Sub Total ABC Appropriation 474 767 474 767 468 496
Total Other Revenue 123 467 122 288 106 758
Plus cash on hand at beginning of year 2 418 2 418 7 671
less cash on hand at end of year (2 500) (1 812) (2 418)
Total ABC outlays 598 152 597 661 580 507
ABC Annual Report Appendices
96
1. Television Program Analysis 97
2. ABC Radio Networks Content Analysis 98
3. ABC Staff Profile 1998–99 99
4. ABC Organisation 100
5. ABC Code of Practice 100
6. Broadcasting Awards 103
7. Enterprises Awards 106
8. Other Awards 107
9. NAC Membership 107
10. NAC Recommendations 107
11. Independent Complaints Review Panel 110
12. Radio Transmitters 111
13. Television Transmitters 114
14. Radio Australia Transmitters 116
15. Consultants 117
16. Ministerial Powers 117
17. Reports on Particular Matters 117
18. Advertising and Market Research 117
19. Audit Subcommittee 117
20. ABC Offices 118
21. ABC Shops 121
Appendices
Appendix 1
Television Program Analysis(Hours per year)
Australian Productions All Productions
Hours Transmitted Hours TransmittedPrime Time Other Total % Prime Time Other Total % of
Aust Aust Total
Arts 12 67 79 29.0 43 228 271 3.1
Children’s 2 509 511 29.5 3 1727 1730 19.7
Comedy 46 12 58 21.9 189 75 264 3.0
Current Affairs 233 562 795 100.0 233 562 795 9.1
Documentary 75 122 197 35.7 204 348 552 6.3
Drama 98 59 157 25.0 344 285 629 7.2
Education 0 807 807 57.1 0 1414 1414 16.1
Entertainment 0 986 986 95.1 14 1022 1036 11.8
Features 60 93 153 86.9 82 94 176 2.0
Movies 0 1 1 0.3 14 459 473 5.4
News 212 273 485 99.8 212 274 486 5.5
Religious 1 28 29 30.5 3 92 95 1.1
Science & Talks 2 5 7 100.0 2 5 7 0.1
Sport 36 475 510 98.8 36 481 517 5.9
Transmission 1 6 7 67.0 2 9 11 0.1
Promotions* 79 227 306 100.0 79 227 306 3.5
Total less Promotions 780 4003 4783 56.6 1381 7074 8455 96.5
Grand Total 859 4229 5088 58.1 1460 7300 8760 100.0
* Promotions figures are estimates
Figures are rounded to the nearest hour
Prime time is defined as 6.00–10.00 pm
Figures are based on programming from the Sydney transmitter
Appendices ABC Annual
97
ABC Annual Report Appendices
98
Appendix 2
ABC Radio Networks Content AnalysisNational Networks(Hours per week)
Radio National Classic FM Triple J NewsRadioHours % Hours % Hours % Hours %
Topical Issues* 28 16.7 0 0 14 8.3 0 0
News 16 9.3 7 3.9 5 3.1 148 88.1
Classical Music 2 1.1 111 66.5 0 0 0 0
Contemporary Music 0 0 0 0 124 74.0 0 0
Radio Australia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Current Affairs 22 13.2 0 0 0 0 2 1.4
Specialist Music 33 19.4 17 10.0 16 9.5 0 0
Sport 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 3.0
Specialist** 28 16.8 0 0 0 0 3 1.7
Live Music 2 1.1 28 16.8 2 0.9 0 0
Arts 16 9.6 0 0 4 2.4 0 0
Parliament 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 5.8
Rural 3 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Religious 7 4.0 2 1.1 0 0 0 0
Arts Performance 3 2.0 3 1.7 0 0 0 0
Open Learning 5 3.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Comedy 3 1.8 0 0 3 1.8 0 0
Total 168 100.0 168 100.0 168 100.0 168 100.0
* Topical issues includes audience involvement e.g. talkback.
** Specialist includes Science, Humanities, etc.
Figures are rounded to the nearest hour.
Local Radio(Hours per week)
Metropolitan Stations Regional Stations
Station Average State Average
% Hours % Hours
Current Affairs 9.2 16 9.2 16
News 11.7 20 12.2 20
Religion 2.4 4 2.4 4
Rural 0.3 1 3.6 6
Specialist Music 2.7 5 2.8 5
Sport 7.8 13 8.0 14
Topical 65.8 110 61.8 104
Total 100.0 168 100.0 168
These figures are station averages for metropolitan stations and state/territory averages for Regional Stations. Content figures varybetween stations/states according to community needs.
Figures are rounded to the nearest hour.
Appendices ABC Annual
99
Appendix 3
ABC Staff Profileas at 30 June 1999
Corp Ent F&BS Hum Nat News Prog Loc & TS&D Total TotalMan *** Res Net CAff Prod Reg Srv 1999* 1998**
ACT 0 0 1 1 7 23 2 61 0 95 96
NT 0 0 2 2 1 31 3 89 0 128 117
NSW**** 29 167 261 107 328 393 588 202 44 2119 2185
Overseas 0 0 0 0 0 25 0 0 0 25 25
Qld 0 0 10 9 19 115 4 184 0 341 336
SA 0 0 23 8 25 61 18 161 0 296 284
Tas 0 0 8 4 2 42 8 130 0 194 199
Vic 0 0 32 15 127 122 290 97 0 683 684
WA 0 0 8 5 13 65 4 158 0 253 250
Total 1999* 29 167 345 151 522 877 917 1082 44 4134Total 1998** 25 162 380 140 491 888 957 1073 60 4177
Figures are full-time equivalents, rounded to the nearest whole number.
* Total as at 20 June 1999 and include 17 staff who left on redundancy between then and 30 June 1999.
** Total as at 21 June 1998 and include 37 staff who left on redundancy between then and 30 June 1998.
*** F&BS (Finance & Business Services) includes four staff involved in corporate-wide initiatives.
**** NSW figures include all staff coded as ‘Head Office’, some of whom do not work in NSW.
ABC Annual Report Appendices
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Appendix 4
ABC OrganisationThe ABC Board and seniormanagement at date of publication(October 1999)
ABC BoardChairman: Donald McDonaldDeputy Chair: Diana GribbleDirectors: Russell Bate, Kirsten Garrett(staff-elected), Michael Kroger, IanMacphee; Ross McLean, Judith Sloan, Managing Director: Brian Johns
Local & Regional ServicesHead: Sue HowardGM Prog Strat: Helen HughesNat Ed Rural: Leigh Radford (a)Net Mgr Local Radio: Kristen Barry (a)State Branch Managers:ACT: Liz McGrath (Mgr Local Radio)NSW: Kate MillerNT: Tony BowdenQLD: Lucy Broad (a)SA: Michael MasonTAS: Rob BattenVIC: Murray GreenWA: Geoff DuncanEP Radio Sport: Peter Longman
National NetworksHead: Andy Lloyd JamesGM Net TV: Ron SaundersNet Mgr RN: Steven AlwardNet Mgr ABC Classic FM: Peter JamesNet Mgr Triple J: Ed BreslinNet Mgr NewsRadio: Ian WolfeNet Mgr RA: Jean-Gabriel ManguyNet Mgr Multimedia: Colin GriffithArts Editor: Ros CheneyTalks Editor: Lisa Sweeney (a)GM Nat Nets Dev: Russell Stendall (a)GM Bus Affairs: Malcolm Smith Mgr Policy & Planning: Pauline Garde (a)
News & Current AffairsHead: Paul WilliamsHead News: Norman TaylorHead Current Affairs: Lindy MagoffinState Heads NT: David RobertsonQLD: Richard LowerSA: Jillian AttrillTAS: Andrew FisherVIC: John CameronWA: Kim JordanGM Bus Affairs: Carolyn JonesHead Prod Res: John TurnerMgr Ed Dev & Supp: Heather ForbesIntern’l Editor: Peter Munckton
Program ProductionHead: Harry Hall (a)Nat Mgr Pol & Proj: Richard Ives (a)Nat Mgr Bus Affairs: Richard DavisMgr Prod Res. NSW: Gints VietnieksMgr Prod Res. VIC: Dave BarkerNat Mgr Archives & Lib Servs: MaryJane Stannus
Technology, Strategy &DevelopmentHead: Colin KnowlesMgr Tech Strat Planning: vacantMgr Nat Facil Plan & Projects: BrianBaileyMgr Spectrum Strategy: Dilip JadejaMgr Tech Res & Dev: Spencer LiengMgr Tech Capital: Chris MinahanMgr ABC Digital: James BowdenMgr Policy & Res: Margaret Cassidy
ABC EnterprisesGM: Terry MoloneyHead Retail: Doug WalkerPublisher Books: Matthew KellyHead Audio: Bernadette NeubeckerHead Contemporary Music & MusicPublishing: Rex BarryHead Classics: Robert PattersonHead Video: Janine BurdeuHead Cons Pubs: Grahame GrassbyHead Licensing: Merryl MillsHead Publicity: Kate ReidHead Bus Dev: Harry BardwellHead Film & Events: Vanessa WareHead Sales & Distribution: Tony JaspersFinancial Controller: Andrew EagletonMgr ABC International: Wendy Hallam
Human ResourcesHead: Jacquie HutchinsonNat Employee Rels Mgr: Colin PalmerNat Policy & Planning Mgr: Alan BullNat Learning & Dev Mgr: Jenny FerberMgr OH&S Risk: John PresburyMgr PCC/HR Systems: Denise FordMgr Equity & Diversity: Chrissie TuckerMgr Hum Res Projects: Lucille Coward
Finance & Business ServicesHead: Russell BaldingGM Gp Audit: David HodgkinsonFin Contr Broadcasting: Sue CraneFin Contr Prod & Corp Svs: AndrewCavenettGM Fin Ops and Acctng Svs: DavidPendletonGM Fin Plan & Analysis: Laurie TreloarGM Info Tech Svs: Christine RogersGM Property Services: Laurie ArthurGM Legal & Copyright: Judith WalkerProj Dir Syd Accom: Alex Marhinin
Corporate Planning &Communications Head: Janet ClaytonGM Corp Relations: Gary LinnaneGM Corp Strategy & Comms: JulianneSchultzGM Corporate Policy: vacantMgr Intern’l Relations: Roger GrantMgr Corp Pubs: David McClintockMgr Corp & Bus Plan: Wendy HighettMgr Parliament & Community Affairs:Marilyn Stuart-WrightExec Officer to Board: Joan McKain
ABC DevelopmentHead: Ian McGarrityMgr Broadcasting Nets: Dick WinstonMgr Trans Planning: Craig Todd
(a) means acting
Appendix 5
ABC Code ofPractice
1 PreambleThe ABC’s place in the broadcastingsystem is distinctive because of itsCharter, which gives the Corporationunique responsibilities, and because ofother provisions under the AustralianBroadcasting Corporation Act, 1983,which give the Corporation particularresponsibilities, for example, theprovision of an independent newsservice.
The ABC Act guarantees the editorialindependence of the Corporation’sprogram services. The ABC holds itspower to make programming decisionson behalf of the people of Australia. Bylaw and convention neither theGovernment nor Parliament seeks tointervene in those decisions.
2 General Program CodesThe guiding principle in the applicationof the following general program codesis context. What is unacceptable in onecontext may be appropriate andacceptable in another. However, theuse of language and images for noother purpose but to offend is notacceptable.
The code is not intended to ban certaintypes of language or images from bonafide dramatic or literary treatments, noris it intended to exclude suchreferences from legitimate reportage,debate or documentaries. Whereappropriate, audiences will be givenadvance notice of the content of theprogram.
2.1 Violence. The presentation orportrayal of violence must be justifiable,or else the material should not bepresented. Particular attention shouldbe paid to the portrayal of violenceagainst women.
In news and current affairs programs,violent events should never besensationalised or presented for theirown sake.
In drama programs, the aim is not tosee how much violence will betolerated, but how little is necessary toachieve honest ends without unduedramatic compromise.
2.2 Language. Variations of languagefavoured by different groups ofAustralians — young or old, welleducated or less educated, migrants,Indigenous and others — are equallyvalid and have their place in programs.On occasions, the language of onegroup may be distasteful to another.Use of such language is permittedprovided it is not used gratuitously and
Appendices ABC Annual Report
101
provided the language can be justifiedin the context of, for example, fiction,documentary, dramatisation, comedyand song lyrics.
2.3 Sex and Sexuality. Provided it ishandled with integrity, any of thefollowing treatments of sex andsexuality may be appropriate andnecessary to a program:
– it can be discussed and reported inthe context of news, informationor documentary programs;
– it can be referred to in drama,comedy, lyrics or fictionalprograms; and
– it can be depicted, implicitly orexplicitly.
2.4 Discrimination. The presentationor portrayal of people in a way whichis likely to encourage denigration of ordiscrimination against any person orsection of the community on accountof race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, age,disability or illness, social oroccupational status, sexual preferenceor the holding of any religious, culturalor political belief will be avoided. Therequirement is not intended to preventthe broadcast of material which isfactual, or the expression of genuinely-held opinion in a news or currentaffairs program, or in the legitimatecontext of a humorous, satirical ordramatic work.
2.5 Privacy. The rights of individualsto privacy should be respected in allABC programs. However, in order toprovide information which relates to aperson’s performance of public dutiesor about other matters of publicinterest, intrusions upon privacy may,in some circumstances, be justified.
3 Specific Program Codes3.1 Children’s Programs. While thereal world should not be concealedfrom children, special care will betaken to ensure programs children arelikely to watch unsupervised will notcause alarm or distress.
3.2 Religious Programs. Religiousprograms may cover Christianity, othertraditional religions and new religiousmovements, as well as analysis anddiscussion of religious issues from non-religious points of view.
3.3 Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander Programs. Program makersand journalists should respectAboriginal and Torres Strait Islandercultures. Particular care should beexercised in traditional matters such asthe naming or depicting of Aboriginaland Torres Strait Islander people afterdeath.
3.4 Portrayal of Women andAvoidance of Stereotypes. Programswill take care to acknowledge the fullrange of roles now performed by
women. Irrelevant references to awoman’s physical characteristics,marital status or maternity will beavoided.
Programs should not promote orendorse inaccurate, demeaning ordiscriminatory stereotypes of womenor men.
In producing programs using experts,interviewees and other talent, programmakers will ensure that there areopportunities for both women andmen to present viewpoints.
3.5 Closed Captioning for Peoplewho are Hearing Impaired or Deaf.Closed caption programs will be clearlymarked when program information isprovided to the press or whencaptioned programs are promoted.Where possible, open captioned advicewill be provided if technical problemsprevent scheduled closed captioning.
Addresses to the nation and events ofnational significance will betransmitted with closed captioning.The ABC will endeavour to increase theamount of closed-captioningprogramming, as resources permit.
4 News, Current Affairsand Information Programs4.1 News, Current Affairs andInformation Programs. In programsproduced by ABC News and CurrentAffairs Departments and informationprograms:
(a) Every reasonable effort must bemade to ensure that the factualcontent of programs is accurate.Demonstrable errors will becorrected in a timely manner andin a form most suited to thecircumstances.
(b) Editorial staff will not be obliged todisclose confidential sources whichthey are entitled to protect at alltimes.
(c) Re-enactments of events will beclearly identified as such andpresented in a way which will notmislead audiences.
(d) If reported at all, suicides will bereported in moderate terms andwill usually avoid details ofmethod.
(e) Sensitivity will be exercised inbroadcasting images of orinterviews with bereaved relativesand survivors or witnesses oftraumatic incidents.
4.2 News and Current AffairsPrograms. Every reasonable effortmust be made to ensure that thecontent of programs produced by ABCNews and Current Affairs Departmentsis:
(a) impartial: impartiality does notrequire editorial staff to be
unquestioning; nor should all sides ofan issue be devoted the same amountof time.
(b) balanced: balance will be soughtthrough the presentation, as far aspossible, of principal relevantviewpoints on matters of importance.The requirement may not always bereached within a single program ornews bulletin, but will be achievedwithin a reasonable period.
4.3 News Flashes. Care will beexercised in the selection of soundsand images and consideration given tothe likely composition of the audience.
4.4 News Updates and NewsPromotions. News updates and newspromotions will not appear duringobviously inappropriate programs,especially programs directed at youngchildren. Due to their repetitive nature,there will be very little violent materialincluded in them, and none at all inthe late afternoon and early evening.
5 Promotions for ProgramsProgram promotions will be scheduledso as to be consistent with the natureof surrounding programs.
6 WarningsWhere appropriate, the audience willbe given advance notice of programsor program segments which someviewers or listeners could finddistressing or disturbing.
7 Television ProgramClassificationsThis system of television programclassification applies the Guidelines forthe Classification of Films andVideotapes issued by the Office of Filmand Literature Classification.
Programs having a particularclassification under the Office of Filmand Literature Classification Guidelinesmay be modified so that they aresuitable for broadcast or suitable forbroadcast at particular times.
7.1 Classification
G — General (suitable for all ages)G programs, which include programsdesigned for pre-school and school agechildren:
– are suitable for children to watchon their own;
– may be shown at any time.
PG — Parental Guidance (parentalguidance recommended for personsunder 15 years)
PG programs:
– may contain adult themes andconcepts which, when viewed bythose under 15 years, may requirethe guidance of an adult;
ABC Annual Report Appendices
102
– may be shown between 8.30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. onweekdays7.30 p.m. and 6.00 a.m. on anyday of the week.
M — Mature Audience programs andMA — Mature Adult Audienceprograms
– are programs which, because ofthe matter they contain or becauseof the way it is treated, arerecommended for viewing only bypersons aged 15 years or over.
M programs may be shown between:noon and 3.00 p.m. on weekdays thatare school days8.30 p.m. and 5.00 a.m. on any day ofthe week.
MA programs may be shownbetween: 9.30 p.m. and 5.00 a.m. on any day ofthe week.
While most adult themes may be dealtwith, the degree of explicitness andintensity of treatment will determinewhat can be accommodated in the Mand MA classifications — the lessexplicit or less intense material will beincluded in the M classification and themore explicit or more intense material,especially violent material, will beincluded in the MA classification.
X programs and unmodified Rprograms (not suitable fortelevision)
– contain material which cannotappropriately be classified as G,PG, M or MA because the materialitself or the way it is treatedrenders them unsuitable fortelevision;
– must not be shown at all.
7.2 ImplementationGuidelines. The time zones for eachprogram classification are guides to themost likely placement of programswithin that classification. They are nothard and fast rules and there will beoccasions on which programs orsegments of programs appear in othertime-slots, for example, a PG program
or segment of a program designed forteenage viewers could appear before7.30 p.m. if that is the time mostsuitable for the target audience, or aPG segment in an arts program couldappear during a weekend daytimeprogram.
There must be sound reasons for anydeparture from the time zone for aprogram classification.
Programs which are seriouspresentations of moral, social orcultural issues may appear outside theirnormal classification period providedthat a clear indication of the natureand content of the program is given atits commencement.
7.3 Television ClassificationSymbols. The classification symbol ofthe PG, M or MA program (exceptnews, current affairs, generalinformation and sporting programs)being shown will be displayed at thecommencement of the program.
The classification symbol of the PG, Mor MA program (except news, currentaffairs, general information andsporting programs) being promotedwill be displayed during thepromotion.
7.4 Consumer Advice. Audio andvisual consumer advice on the reasonsfor an M or MA classification will begiven prior to the commencement ofan M or MA program.
8 Complaints8.1 This Code of Practice does notapply to complaints concerningprograms which are or become thesubject of legal proceedings.
Complaints that the ABC has actedcontrary to this Code of Practiceshould be directed to the ABC in thefirst instance. Phone complainantsseeking a response from the ABC willbe asked to put their complaint inwriting. All such written complaintswill receive a response from the ABCwithin 60 days from receipt of thewritten complaint.
The ABC will make every reasonableeffort to resolve complaints aboutCode of Practice matters, except wherea complaint is clearly frivolous,vexatious or not made in good faith orthe complainant is vexatious or notacting in good faith.
8.2 Independent ComplaintsReview Panel. The ABC hasestablished an IndependentComplaints Review Panel (ICRP) toreview written complaints which relateto allegations of serious cases of bias,lack of balance or unfair treatmentarising from an ABC broadcast orbroadcasts.
If a complainant making such anallegation does not receive a responsefrom the ABC within six weeks or is notsatisfied with the response, thecomplainant may ask the Convener ofthe ICRP to accept the complaint forreview. Further information can beobtained from the Convener,Independent Complaints Review Panel,GPO Box 688, Sydney, NSW 2001 orby phoning (02) 9333 5639.
If the Convener rejects the complaintor if the complainant is dissatisfiedwith the outcome of the review andthe complaint is covered by the ABCCode of Practice, the complainant maymake a complaint to the AustralianBroadcasting Authority about thematter.
8.3 Australian BroadcastingAuthority. If a complainant:
– does not receive a response fromthe ABC within 60 days; or
– the complainant is dissatisfied withthe ABC response; or
– the complainant is dissatisfied withthe outcome of the ICRP review (asmentioned above); and
– the complaint is covered by theABC Code of Practice;
the complainant may make acomplaint to the AustralianBroadcasting Authority about thematter.
Appendices ABC Annual Report
103
Appendix 6
BroadcastingAwards
International AwardsThe Chicago InternationalTelevision Competition• Documentary — Arts/Humanities:
Gold Plaque to Edge Of The Possible:Produced for ABC TelevisionDocumentaries by Film Art Docos(Producer Sue Maslin, Director DarylDellora)
• Cinematography/videography: GoldPlaque to David Parer for TheDragons Of Galapagos
• Science/Nature: Silver plaque toDavid Parer & Elizabeth Parer Cookfor The Dragons Of Galapagos
1999 Churchill Fellowship• Jane Connors from Radio National’s
Hindsight
European Union Journalist Award• Rebecca Gorman, Life Matters
producer (Radio National)
Festival International Du FilmMaritime et D’exploration, Toulon• Golden Anchor to David Parer &
Elizabeth Parer Cook for TheDragons Of Galapagos
International Association ofWomen In Television And Radio• Sharon Davis for Last Voice Of An
Ancient Tongue (Radio Eyedocumentary for Audio Arts)
International Rostrum ofComposers Award (Paris)• ABC Classic FM for Clarinet Concerto
Ariel’s Music composed by BrettDean (shared win), QSO, conductedby Richard Mills, soloist Paul Dean
International Wildlife FilmFestival, Missoula USA• Short Television Series: 2nd place to
Zoo’s Company produced by JillLomas
• Honest Portrayal of a ControversialIssue: Merit Award for Zoo’sCompany
New York Festivals• Children’s programming —
Children’s Special: Bronze toVirginia Lumsden for Bananas InPyjamas: Bumping & A Jumping: EPDavid Jowsey, writer SimonHopkinson
• TV Documentary & InformationPrograms — Environment &Ecology: Silver to Alison Leigh,Richard Keefe, Ian Cuming & DrTim Flannery for The Future Eaters
• Craft Programing — SoundtrackAudio Mix: Silver to Oliver Junker,Ivan Sen, John Salter, & RobertKabel for Journey
Finalists in their categories were:• Magic Mountain, Box, The Dragons of
Galapagos, The Face, Wildside ep 17,McFeast — My Big Bottom, Voices,Behind the News, Betsy Baker fromTV Graphics
New York Festivals Radio Awards• Bronze Medal: Stephen Watkins For
Encounter: Still Glides The Stream• Radio Promotions finalist: Local and
Regional Services
Okomedia International EcologicalFilm Festival, Germany• Best Animation Film: Nick Hilligoss
for Lower Orders
Philia Awards (World Conferenceon Religion and Peace)• Radio or Television Documentary:
Stephen Watkins for four Encounterprograms: Still Glides The Stream,(Engineer Stuart Hall) At The River,(Engineer Graham Himmelhoch-Mutton) Faith Is The Feet (EngineerStuart Hall) and Footprints (EngineerWayne Baker)
The Prix Italia• Radio fiction: Rita’s Lullaby; written
by Merlinda Bobis, directed andproduced by Christopher Williams
San Francisco International FilmFestival• Science and Nature: Golden Spire to
David Parer and Elizabeth ParerCook for The Dragons Of Galapagos
Wildscreen Panda Awards• World Wildlife Fund Golden Panda
(top award): David Parer &Elizabeth Parer-Cook for TheDragons Of Galapagos (second timewinners)
National AwardsAFI Awards• Best Documentary: The Dragons Of
Galapagos; David Parer & ElizabethParer Cook
• Best Director of a Documentary:David Goldie for Big House
• Best Cinematography: David ParerFor The Dragons Of Galapagos
• Best Episode in a Drama Series:Wildside, Ben GannonTelevision/ABC
• Best miniseries or telefeature:Wildside
• Best Actress: Rachel Blake; Wildside• Best Director: Peter Andrikidis
Wildside• Best Screenplay: Tim Pye, Wildside• Best Children’s Drama:
Blabbermouth And Stickybeak (toscreen on ABC Television)
ARIAS• Comedy: Paul McDermott:
Unplugged — Good News WeekTapes Vol 1
• Classical: Handel Arias — YvonneKenny/Paul Dyer & The AustralianBrandenburg Orchestra
• Children’s: Toot Toot! The Wiggles
Association of Australian SurfingProfessionals Awards• Triple J for the Best Coverage in the
World on the Professional SurfingCircuit. Triple J also became the firstradio station to be inducted into theSurfing Hall of Fame
ATOM Awards (AustralianTeachers Of Media)• Innovative Corporate Development:
Clare Byrnes, Laurindo Garcia &Angela Italiano, Kim Hamilton &Julie Ramsden for Headspace(monthly magazine of The SpaceABC Online arts website)
• Science Environmental TelevisionDocumentary: Ian Cuming & TimFlannery for The Future Eaters
• Children’s Entertainment in themedia: Winner, Bananas in PyjamasCD ROM (Vol 2) produced byDataworks and Garner Maclennan.Finalist, ABC Online children’swebsite The Playground.
Ausmusic Awards• Triple J for Greatest Contribution to
Australian Music by a Radio Station
Austcare National Refugee WeekMedia Awards• All media: Margaret Coffey forBy
The Waters Of... Iraqis In Australia(Encounter)
Australian Cinematographers’Awards (National)• Cinematographer Of The Year:
David Parer ACS for The Dragons OfGalapagos (Natural History Unit)
• Experimental and SpecialisedCinematography: Golden Tripod toDavid Parer for The Dragons OfGalapagos (Natural History Unit)
• News Magazine: Golden Tripod toPeter Sinclair for Rob Peters (NSWTelevision News)
• Magazine: Golden Tripod to DavidMarshall for Tara’s Choice (AustralianStory)
• Current Affairs: Golden Tripod toBrett Ramsay ACS for USSEisenhower (Foreign Correspondent);(Andrew Taylor Distinction forDeath Sentence (Four Corners)
• Wildlife and Nature Films: GoldenTripod to David Parer ACS For TheDragons Of Galapagos (NaturalHistory Unit)
• Documentaries Cinema and TV:Golden Tripod to Peter Curtis forFocus (Arts Documentary Tas)(Julian Mather ACS Distinction forThe Hard Yards — Local TelevisionDocumentary Qld)
• Dramatised Documentaries: RonFoley Distinction for The FifthContinent
ABC Annual Report Appendices
104
Australian College Of GPs MediaAwards• Peter Grieve award for Medical
Journalism (electronic media) HelenGrasswill (Producer) & SophieEmtage (research) for A Cold Wind InAugust (Australian Story)
Australian Council of Deans ofEducation• Award for excellence in education
journalism (Radio): Nick Rushworth(Producer/reporter on RadioNational’s Life Matters)
• Award for Outstanding Service toEducation: Robyn Williams, ScienceShow
Australian InternationalMultimedia Industry Awards(AIMIA)• Best Game or Entertainment Title:
Ingenious! CD-ROM• Gold Award for Best Title of the
Year: Bananas in Pyjamas CD-ROM• Best Use of Animation: Bananas in
Pyjamas CD-ROM• Best Children’s Title: Bananas in
Pyjamas CD-ROM• Composer/Sound Editor of the Year:
Bananas in Pyjamas CD-ROM• Semi-finalists for the Best
Continuing Education award wereMoney, Markets and the Economyand The Good Citizen
Australian Internet Awards• Best Media Website: Triple J, Karen
Cook (Youth Online Co-ordinatorTriple J & Recovery), Clare Byrnes,Michelle French (Graphic Designer)
Australian Rugby Union Awards• Best Radio Coverage: Gerry Collins
(Qld Radio Sports Editor)
Australian Screen ComposersAward• Robert Moss for Future Eaters
Australian Screen Sound GuildAwards• Best Sound in a Telemovie: Karl
Akers (ABC Classic FM) Chris White(Radio National) & Kim Lord(Television) for BarronEntertainment Production, Kings inGrass Castles
AWGIES (Australian Writers’ GuildAwards)• Best Radio Adaptation: Heather
Nimmo for Fly In Fly Out• Best Original Radio Script: Merlinda
Bobis for Rita’s Lullaby• Ian Reed Award (best script by first
time writer): Sarah Rossetti forSurfer’s Tension
Bates Smart Awards ForArchitecture In The Media• Alan Saunders presenter, Kerry
Stewart producer, Mark Wakely EPfor The Comfort Zone: Designing TheAustralian Dream (Radio National)
Better Hearing Australia ClearSpeech Awards• NSW: Richard Morecroft —
Television News Presenter• Northern Territory: Kate Carter, TV
News Presenter• WA: Peter Holland, former
Television News Presenter• Tasmania: Natasha Simpson,
Weekend Television NewsPresenter/journalist, CarolineDavison, Radio Sport (SportsAward), Annie Warburton, 7ZRDrive Presenter (Radio Award)
Rural Press Club Award• Best Feature: Catchment
Management, Samantha Donovan,Michael Condon, Rowan Reid,Rosemary Grant & Lynton Bryant ofRural Radio Victoria
Country Music Awards OfAustralia• Top Selling Album, Album of the
Year, Male Vocalist of the Year,Heritage Song of the Year, VocalCollaboration: Lee Kernaghan
• Female Vocalist of the Year: GinaJeffreys
Eureka Prizes (for scientific andenvironmental research)• Peter Hunt Prize: Michael Troy
(Television News)• Michael Daly Television prize:
Richard Smith for Rumble In TheJungle
• Michael Daly radio prize: IanTownsend For DNA Detectives(Friday Feature Qld)
General Practice Award • Best Radio Health Story (Hunter
Urban Division): 2NC NewcastlePresenter John Clarke and ProgramDirector Linda Bracken.
Grenfell Henry Lawson Festival OfArts Awards• Best Single Television Production:
Simon Target for King’s School (TVDocs)
• Best Australian Series: SeaChange
Human Rights Awards 1998 • TV: Margot O’Neill & Lisa
McGregor for Death Sentence (FourCorners)Highly commended John Millard’sCamilla’s Conversion — AustralianStory
• Radio: Ann Arnold for Deaf BlindnessPts 1 & 2 — Life Matters (RadioNational)Highly commended Anne Devesonfor The Hole in my Head Has Gone —Science Show
• Arts — Non Fiction: Belinda Masonfor Little Brother Little Sister
John Douglas Pringle Award(Given by British HighCommission & National Press ClubCanberra)• Sally Sara
Logie Awards• Most Outstanding Actor (Silver
Logie): Tony Martin (Wildside) andDavid Wenham (Seachange)
• Most Outstanding Actress (SilverLogie): Rachel Blake (Wildside)
• Most Outstanding News Coverage:ABC News: Indonesia Crisis
• Most Outstanding News/PublicAffairs: Maxine McKew (Lateline)
• Most Outstanding Public AffairsProgram: Foreign Correspondent:Balibo Five
• Most Outstanding Documentary:Miracle At Sea: The Rescue Of TonyBullimore produced by DickDennison for ABC Television.
• Most Outstanding Drama Series:SeaChange
Louis Johnson Awards• Radio current affairs feature: Awaye!
producers Kelrick Martin andNancia Guivarra for Black Militants
1998 Australian & New ZealandMental Health ServiceAchievement Award• Sharon Longridge and Tony Collins
from Triple J
MO Awards• Best Female Country Performer:
Gina Jeffreys • Best Jazz Instrumental Performer of
the Year: Kevin Hunt
National Youth Media awards• Best Television News Story: Cathy
Bell, Television News, for CreativeYouth Initiative Centre
• Best Television Current AffairsProgram/Documentary: ThereseCzarnecki & Phillipa McDonald 7:30Report for Wheelchair Athletes
• Best Feature/Interview on Radio:Heywire — The ABC Gives RegionalYouth a Voice
Pascall Prize for Arts Criticism• Andrew Ford (Presenter The Music
Show — Radio National)
Telstra Rural Media Awards (givenfor a portfolio of work over theyear)• First Place: Ian Henschke (Landline)• Second Place: Marius Cuming (Rural
Reporter 5MG, Mt Gambier)
United Nations Association OfAustralia Media Peace Awards• Best All Media Story on Aboriginal
Reconciliation Issues: Camilla’sConversion (Australian Story).Produced, Written and Reported byJohn Millard, Camera AnthonySines, Editor Roger Carter, SoundMike Charman, Research PhilippaQuinn EP Deb Fleming
• Best All Media Story onMulticultural Issues: A Place For Us(Australian Story). Produced, Writtenand Reported by John Millard,Camera Vince Tucci, Editor RogerCarter, Sound Ro Woods, ResearchSophie Emtage, EP Deb Fleming.
Walkley Awards (1998) forExcellence In Journalism• Most Outstanding Contribution to
Journalism: Maurie Ferry: ABC South
Appendices ABC Annual Report
105
East Radio, Bega (NSW)• News Reporting (Radio): Sean
Dorney for PNG Tidal Wave 1-2-3-4• Current Affairs Reporting (Radio):
David Spicer for War On TheWaterfront (PM)(Highly commended Tracey Strongfor Naltrexone Detox (Triple J)
• Feature Documentary or BroadcastSpecial (Radio): John Shovelan forYangtse Voyage
• News Reporting (Television):Michael Brissenden & MaxUechtritz, for Skate Tapes
• Current Affairs Report (less than 15mins): Geoff Thompson for SakshiWho? (7.30 Report)
• Cinematography: LawrenceMcManus ACS, for A Cold Wind InAugust (Australian Story)
• Coverage of Suburban or RegionalAffairs (All Media): Heather Stewart& Peter Quinn (Territory Statelineteam, Darwin) for Katherine FloodSpecial(Maurie Ferry highly commendedfor Lauren and Nichole)
• International Reporting: Mark Davis& Peter McEvoy for The Survivors’Story (Four Corners)
• Coverage of Indigenous Affairs: JohnMillard for Camilla’s Conversion(Australian Story)
• Coverage of Asia Region: MarkDavis, for North Korea Famine(Foreign Correspondent)
• Broadcast Presenting: MaxineMcKew (Lateline)
State and CommunityAwardsAustralian CapitalTerritoryCanberra Region Tourist Awards• ABC Radio 2CN for Comprehensive
Coverage of Events & Activities
Canberra Times Golden GuideAward• ABC Television in the ACT for Best
Canberra Production for Snapshotand the In the ACT forum.
New South WalesAustralian CinematographersSociety Awards (NSW)News Magazine:• Silver to Doug Sleeman for Water
Reform (Close Up — Television News)• Silver to Colin Kerr for Frog Study
(Television News)• Gold to Peter Sinclair for Bob Peters
(Television News)TV Magazine:• Gold to David Marshall for Tara’s
Choice (Australian Story)• Gold to Laurence McManus ACS for
A Cold Wind In August (AustralianStory)
• Highly Commended David Marshall
for Look Who’s Talking (AustralianStory)
Current Affairs:• Silver to David Marshall for Bruce
Mathiske (7.30 Report)• Gold to Andrew Taylor for Death
Sentence (Four Corners)Drama Documentaries: • Gold to David Maguire for VoicesTelefeatures, TV Drama and Mini Series: • Gold to David Maguire for WetTV Station Breaks and Promos: • Highly Commended Doug Sleeman
for Tamworth/Gunnedah FloodsTelevision News closer
MEAA AWARDS (Illawarra andSouth Coast)• Best Radio Journalist: Keva Gocher
(Bega)• Best Radio News Story or series: Lisa
Price (Illawarra)• Tim Mugridge Award for Journalistic
Excellence; Best Radio NewsStories/Feature: ABC Radio Illawarra
Mental Health Matters Award• Radio National for Life Matters, The
Health Report, The Science Show andLate Night Live.
NSW Law Society Media Awards• Radio Documentary, Law Report,
Gambling in Cyberspace, producedby Damien Carrick
1998 NSW Royal AustralianInstitute of Architect Awards• Adrian Ashton Award for
Architectural Journalism: TheComfort Zone (Radio National) AlanSaunders (Presenter) Mark Wakely& Kerry Stewart (Producers)
1999 Royal Agricultural ShowMedia Awards • Rural Radio’s Georgia Bateman for
her report on Sideshow Alley
QueenslandQueensland Electronic MediaAward• ABC Local Television and Radio
Queensland for A Question of Age
South AustraliaArchbishop Of Adelaide MediaCitation • Stan Thomson for story on
Alzheimers Disease (5MG MtGambier)
‘Ardyacka Park In Assoc. WithBarmera Country Music Festival• Special award to Jim Grifsas, 5MV
Riverland
Youth Media Awards (SA)• Best News Story, Interview or
Documentary on Television: IanHenschke for Jobs For YoungAustralians
• Best News Story, Interview orDocumentary on Radio: MariusCuming for Young Farmers (ABC Mt
Gambier)• Best News Story on Radio and Best
feature interview/documentary:Drew Radford, Triple J MorningShow For Youth Depression (Triple J)
• Best Television feature/ interview/documentary Simon Royal for JobSharing (Stateline)Commendation to Tania Nugent forYouth Wages (BTN)
1998 Australian CinematographersSociety SA/WA awards
Rick Harvey of Production ResourcesWA for:• TV Station Breaks and Promos:
Highly Commended for theopening titles for On the Bench
• Television Magazine: HighlyCommended for Government HouseGardens (Gardening Australia)
• Television Magazine: HighlyCommended for Art in Bloom(Gardening Australia).
TasmaniaAustralian CinematographersSociety Awards (Vic & Tas)Experimental and SpecialisedCinematography:• Gold to David Parer ACS for The
Dragons Of Galapagos (NaturalHistory Unit)
• Highly Commended: Nick Hilligossfor Lower Orders (Natural HistoryUnit)
Wildlife and Nature Films:• Gold to Peter Nearhos ACS for The
Night Of The Bogongs (NaturalHistory Unit)
• Gold to David Parer ACS for TheDragons Of Galapagos (NaturalHistory Unit)
• Silver to Peter Neahros ACS forHypsi The Forest Gardener (NaturalHistory Unit)
• Highly Commended: Nick Haywardfor Wolves With Wings
Current Affairs:• Silver to Scott Ross for Wood Turne
(TAS)Documentaries: • Gold to Peter Curtis for Focus (TAS)
MEAA Tasmanian JournalismAwards• Television Journalism: Rachel
Langmaid (News)
Tasmanian Football League MediaAwards• Best Article or Report: Football Forum
— Caroline Davison & Peter Walsh• Best Radio Feature or Report: On
The Coast — Caroline Davison &Peter Walsh
VictoriaAustralian CinematographersSociety Awards (Vic & Tas)
See State & Community Awards:Tasmania
Best & Clearest Awards (Better
ABC Annual Report Appendices
106
Hearing Victoria)• Best and Clearest News Presenter:
Ian Henderson• Best and Clearest Weather
Presenter: Edwin Maher• Best Visual News: ABC 7.00pm
Bulletin• Best Radio Voice: Jon Faine (3LO)
Melbourne Cricket Club Hall ofFame• Radio Sport’s Tim Lane and Peter
Booth
RACV Media Awards (RoyalAutomobile Club of Victoria)• Brigid Donovan and Jacqueline Arias
for In The Line Of Duty (AustralianStory)
Royal Melbourne Show Awards• Best Radio Feature Award: Peter
Jeppeson for Nature’s Way• Special Show Heritage Award: Zoe
Daniel for The Royal Show — TheOld Days (Victorian Regional Eadio)
1998 Fire Awareness WeekCommunity Service Award • Local Radio in Victoria (3LO)
Western Australia1998 Australian CinematographersSociety SA/WA awards
See State and Community Awards,South Australia
AVCARE plaque• WA Rural Radio was presented with
an AVCARE plaque for promotion ofagricultural chemical safety
Commendation from RichardCourt (WA Premier) • Special broadcast on 720 6WF and
Regional Radio in WA to markastronaut John Glenn’s flight overWA: Sarah Knight.
Football Media Awards (WA)• WA Umpires’ Association Award:
Glenn Mitchell (Radio); OverallCoverage (Television)
• Best Radio Commentator: SteveMalaxos
• Best Radio Program: Sportstalk(Local Radio)
Queen’s Trust for YoungAustralians• Nominee: Naomi Morrison, Rural
Radio Reporter in Perth
Royal Agricultural Society of WA(Inc) • Best Electronic Story of the 1998
Perth Royal Show, GrantWoodhams, Rural Radio, Geraldton
Westar Award• Special award to ABC Television in
WA for 30 years football coverage
Western Australian Youth MediaAwards• Overall award (shared) Michelle
White• Best Metropolitan Radio Story:
Triple J Perth Reporter Justine Kelly
Appendix 7
EnterprisesAwards
ABC AudioTDK Australian Audio BookAwards• Best Abridged Audio Book: Picnic at
Hanging Rock, Joan Lindsay,narrated by Jacqueline McKenzie
ABC BooksThe Children’s Book Council ofAustraliaShortlisted:• Emily Rodda & Craig Smith: Bob the
Builder and the Elves
Notable Book List• Bob the Builder and the Elves• Sweetie May• Bim Bam Boom
Australian Publishers Association(APA) Design Awards 1999• Winner: Best Design Picture Book:
Jeanette Rowe Whose Nose? WhoseEars? Whose Feet?
• Commended: Best Design PictureBook: Margaret Wild & WayneHarris Bim Bam Boom
1999 YABBA Awards• Shortlisted: Bob the Builder and the
Elves
ABC ClassicsARIA Awards• Best Classic Recording: Yvonne
Kenny Handel Arias
MO Awards 1999• Female music, theatre performer of
the year: Caroline O’Connor• Classical performer of year (shared):
Michael Keiran Harvey
Sales Achievement Awards• Gold sales achievement: Swoon III• Platinum sales achievement: Swoon
1
Honorary Doctorate from SydneyUniversity• Yvonne Kenny
ABC Contemporary Music1st Annual World Music Awards• Kavisha Mazzella: Best Female Artist
APRA Awards 1999• Most Performed Country Work: Lee
Kernaghan: Hat Town• Most Performed Children’s Work:
The Wiggles: Captain FeatherswoodFell Asleep On His Pirate Ship
ARIA Awards• Best Folk/World Release: Kavisha
Fisherman’s Daughter• Best Children’s Release: The Wiggles
Toot Toot• Best Comedy Release: Paul
McDermott, The Good News WeekTapes, Vol 1 Unplugged
Australia Day Honours• Lee Kernaghan — Australian
Achiever of the year
Country Music Association ofAustralia (CMAA)• Top Selling Album: Lee Kernaghan
Hat Town• Album of the Year: Lee Kernaghan
Hat Town• Male Vocalist of the Year: Lee
Kernaghan Goondiwindi Moon• Heritage Song of the Year: Lee
Kernaghan Changi Banjo• Vocal Collaboration: Lee Kernaghan
& Col Buchanan Tough Job• Female Vocalist of the Year: Gina
Jeffreys Dancin’ with Elvis
24 Hours Listeners Choice Awards• Best Jazz release 1998: Kevin Hunt
Kevin Hunt Plays JS Bach
MO Awards 1999• Best Jazz Instrumental Performer of
the Year: Kevin Hunt • Best Female Country Performer of
the Year: Gina Jeffreys
Phonographic PerformanceCompany of Australia (PPCA)Award• Most Broadcast Australian Country
Recording Artist: Graeme Connors
Sales Achievements AwardsGold sales (35,000 units)• Gina Jeffreys, Somebody’s Daughter• The Hooley Dooleys The Hooley
Dooleys• Play School Play School FavouritesPlatinum sales (70,000 units)• Tania Kernaghan, December Moon• Lee Kernaghan Hat Town• Play School Best Of Play SchoolDouble Platinum sales (140,000 units)• Lee Kernaghan Three Chain Road• The Wiggles Yummy YummyQuadruple Platinum sales (210,000units)• Triple J, Hottest 100 #5
Songwriter’s Association Awards• Comedy Song of the Year: Jim
Haynes, Rita & Mary Schneider, TheVideo Song
• Golden Gumleaf Award: Jim HaynesHow Australian are You?
• Variety Club Entertainer of the Year:Gina Jeffreys
Victorian Country Music Awards• Best New Talent: The Spencer Band
That was then this is now• Duo of the Year: The Crosby Sisters
Burning Desire• Group of the Year: The Flood Tear
Stained Eye• Song of the Year: Kernaghan,
Buchanan, Porter Hat Town
ABC VideoSales Achievement AwardsMulti-platinum ($1.5 million wholesale)
Appendices ABC Annual Report
107
• Bananas in Pyjamas Singing Time• ABC for Kids, Favourites• The Wiggles Toot Toot• The Wiggles Wiggly Christmas• The Wiggles Big Red Car• Bananas in Pyjamas Wish Fairies• The Wiggles Wake up Jeff• The Wiggles Wiggledance• Play School Everybody Sing• Bananas in Pyjamas Birthday SpecialDouble Platinum ($1 million wholesale)• A River Somewhere• Bananas in Pyjamas Hiccup• Bananas in Pyjamas Monster
Bananas• Bananas in Pyjamas Big Parade• Bananas in Pyjamas Surf’s Up• Bananas in Pyjamas It’s Music TimePlatinum ($500,000 wholesale)• Mixy Presents More Favourites• Sesame Street Elmo Saves Christmas• A River Somewhere II• Good New Week Unseen & Obscene• Bananas In Pyjamas A bumping & a-
Jumping• The Wiggles Yummy Yummy• The Wiggles Wiggle Time• The Hooley Dooleys• Bananas in Pyjamas Dress Ups• Best Bits of The Late Show 1,2 & 3• Thomas the Tank Engine Escape• Thomas the Tank Engine Trust
Thomas• Thomas the Tank Engine Trust Percy• Thomas the Tank Engine Special
Letter• Bananas in Pyjamas Show Business• Wolves of the Sea• Natures Landscapes• Pirate of Penzance• Wild Rhapsody• Hooley Dooleys Ready Set Go• ABC for Kids Bumper CollectionGold ($250,000 wholesale)• Two Fat Ladies Ride Again• Bananas in Pyjamas Holiday• Benaud to Border• The Invincibles• Bananas in Pyjamas Bumper Holiday• The Hooley Dooleys Ready Set Go• Sesame Street Get Up & Dance/Sing
Yourself Silly• Sesame Street The Best of
Elmo/Elmocize• Play School At the Zoo• Play School Special Concert• Play School On the Move• Thomas the Tank Engine Percy &
Harold/The Deputation/Thomas &Gordon/Thomas & Percy/Rock &Roll/Time for Trouble/Stephanie &Percy/Story & Sing Collection/Playtime/Spooks & Surprises.
• Kimberley — Land of The Wanjin• Two Fat Ladies• Spot Goes to the Farm• The Big Wet• Bird Suite• ABC for Kids Show Time• A River Somewhere 2• Dorothy The Dinosaur & Friends
Appendix 8
Other AwardsAnnual Report Awards• Silver award for the ABC’s 1997–98
Annual Report
Australia Day Honours • Public Service Medal to Dione
Gilmour: For outstanding publicservice in the research, productionand direction of natural historydocumentaries
• Former ABC newsreader andparliamentary broadcaster, KevinChapman was posthumouslyawarded the Medal of the Order ofAustralia (OAM)
Facts Engineering Paul MarlanAward• Citation: Outstanding contribution
to the planning of television andpreparations for digitalbroadcasting: Colin Knowles, HeadTS&D
Queen’s Birthday Honour List• Public Service Medal to Chris
Masters (Four Corners)
Rolls-Royce Award ForEffectiveness In Training
Presented to a member of theCommonwealth BroadcastingAssociation• ABC’s Television Operator Training
Scheme Bob Sitsky (NationalTraining Manager, Production &Services) Mike Ridley (Manager TVStudios & OBs Vic) and RonMaxfield (Training PublicationsOfficer)
Appendix 9
NAC MembershipMembership for year to 30 June1999
ContinuingAssociate Professor Robin Stuart-Harris(ACT) Convenor, Jillian Crowe (Vic),Matthew Draper (NSW), LesleyBangama Fogarty (WA), AudreyTremain (NSW), Douglas Stott (SA),Katie Biggs (Vic), Charlotte Samiec(Qld) and James Salmon (Qld)
Appointed From 1 January1999Steven Mavrigiannakis (TAS), RyanHonschooten (WA) and Dr EdmundSweeney (NSW)
Terms Expired 31December 1998Aimee Heuzenroeder (Tas/NSW), JoGemmell (SA) and Professor GiovanniCarsaniga (NSW)
Appendix 10
NACRecommendations
Online for ChildrenThe National Advisory Council wouldlike to address the ABC Online plansand directions for children’spresentations and sites on the website,as this has been identified as an avenuefor the provision of information andentertainment for an often overlookeddemographic. Could Council beprovided with information on this?
SportsThe ABC Sports coverage on Radio andTelevision should be morecomprehensive giving listeners andviewers up-to-date information andresults on as wide a range of sports aspossible.
This could be achieved on television bygiving less time to visual coverage ofone or two sports and making use ofthis time for wider sports coverage.
Special recognition should be given toAustralian sportsmen andsportswomen who achieve success atinternational level.
ABC Annual Report Appendices
108
Children’s RadioThe National Advisory Council wouldlike to thank Head National Networksfor the detailed and ongoing responsesto the National Advisory Council’sconcern about the lack of radioprograms for children and Councilmembers do appreciate that there aredifficulties to overcome, however, theNational Advisory Council would liketo keep the possibility of radioprogramming for children on theagenda.
In the most recent response to theNational Advisory Council it was statedthat ‘there is now little evidence of astrong public demand for children’sprograms on radio, especially for pre-school children, and certainly not forchildren’. The National AdvisoryCouncil is interested to know whatspecific research was used as a basis forthis statement? Might it not be fairerto trial a well-advertised program for anumber of weeks and then assessaudience reaction, rather than wait forchildren to demand something thatthey have never had the opportunityto experience?
The National Advisory Council alsoconsidered that primary school, ratherthan pre-school children should beconsidered as the target audience asthey have the capacity, unlike pre-schoolers, to make their own decisionsabout what to listen to.
Back by Popular DemandThe National Advisory Councilrecommends that the ABC investigatethe programming of a ‘Back byPopular Demand’ segment whichcould repeat popular and requestedprograms to be screened once afortnight. For a few examples: TheParkinson Interviews, Dr. Who, singleepisodes of series The Goodies, GeoffreyRobertson’s Hypotheticals, Cities of Gold(cartoon series), Tall Ships Coverage ofAustralia Day, Astro Boy, Rush, and TheDamnation of Harvey McHugh.
Triple J — StandardsThe National Advisory Council wishesto express concern regarding a Triple Jbroadcast by comedians, Merrick andRosso on the afternoon of Sunday July19. While Council has objection, intheory, to prank calls in the context ofquality irreverent humour, the callplaced by Merrick and Rosso to aMcDonald’s restaurant in Hong Kongwas neither defensible nor amusing.The restaurant manager’s minimalgrasp of English was seized upon as asource of derision, and the program’shosts displayed an appalling lack ofcultural sensitivity.
Council recommends that greaterconsideration be given to theallocation of ABC resources to making
international telephone calls which arederisive and have minimal comedicvalue.
PromotionsThis includes Station IDs, ProgramPromotions, Voice-Overs, and ProgramRundowns.
The National Advisory Councildiscussed the general issues ofpromotions at its July meeting inSydney and noted the followingpoints:• Promotions are useful for giving
information, especially for casualABC viewers but regular ABCviewers can find frequentpromotions irritating and thus theycan be counter-productive.
• The ‘It’s Your ABC’ promotions(originally a National AdvisoryCouncil suggestion) have been usedextensively and should beabandoned, despite newcompilations and formats.
• Program rundowns (also a NationalAdvisory Council suggestion) areliked by viewers but currently onlyappear to be shown before the 7pmNews.
• Some Television programs havebeen promoted excessively (e.g.Tracey Ullman and Tender LovingCare)
• Voice-overs at the end of a programcan be distracting and out ofkeeping with the style of theprogram they follow.
Therefore the National AdvisoryCouncil recommends that the ABC:
1. Abandons the ‘Its Your ABC’campaign.
2. Considers a follow-up campaignemphasising the ABC’s role asAustralia’s only truly NationalBroadcaster.
3. Considers using programrundowns later in the evening (e.g.8.30pm) and possibly for programslater in the week.
4. Should ensure that voice-overs,when used, are in keeping with thestyle and type of the program thatthey follow.
News Items — VisionThe National Advisory Councilrecommends that ABC News andCurrent Affairs exercise greatercreativity, at times, when selectingvision to accompany news items.Recent stories on the American drugViagra, for example, have beencharacterised by a concentration ofvision on various (clothed!) menshown only from waist to knee, suchfootage is obvious, to say the least, andirritating in its repetitiveness.
Rundowns, Promotions,and Station IDsThe National Advisory Council hasdiscussed these allied issues previouslyon several occasions, including the lastmeeting in July 1998 (see R6/2/98 andresponse). Having discussed theseissues further during this meeting,both within council with the GeneralManager Marketing, the NationalAdvisory Council recommends:• that the ABC airs a program
rundown during the early eveningsay 8.30pm
• that this rundown promotesremaining programs for thatevening (and possibly the nextevening)
• that the use of this additionalrundown replaces some of theevening ID/promotions
Station IDs The National Advisory Council,welcoming the use of Snapshot as ameans of strengthening viewersidentification with local ABCbroadcasting, recommends that theABC considers producing shortTelevision segments featuring radioand television staff illustrating theCorporation’s resources, installationsand activities in their area. Suchsegments should be networkednationally, to inform all audiences ofwhat the ABC is doing across thecountry and promoting their loyalty ona national basis, to express thephilosophy of One ABC by introducingRadio staff to viewers just as televisionstaff are often heard on radio, and as agradual replacement of the ABC logo-tracing promotion.
Opinion Polls — ElectionCoverageThe National Advisory Councilrecommends that the use of polls onelection outcomes prior to theelections be reviewed. Their credibilityseems to be borderline particularly forrural viewers and listeners who arequestioning the sampling ofcommunity members used in thesepolls.
Back by Popular DemandThe National Advisory Council rejectsthe assertion that a ‘Back By PopularDemand’ segment would not be wellreceived. This is against all thefeedback received by members of theNational Advisory Council.
Whilst it is well understood that thiswill involve some cost, and that allrecommended programs may not beavailable, the National AdvisoryCouncil remains convinced that thistype of program would be wellsupported.
Appendices ABC Annual Report
109
Sports Programming —TelevisionThe National Advisory Council notesthe responses to its recentrecommendation concerning Sportsprogramming. However the NationalAdvisory Council recommends a newapproach to the reporting of Sport.
For example a 20–30 minute programat approximately 6.30pm could covera raft of sporting areas.• Local• Regional• National• International • Personality Profiles• Explanations of Sports (rules,
techniques etc)
This move would have several effects:
1. Free up time on the 7pm News fora greater coverage of news events
2. Allow a comprehensive coverage oflevels of Sport
3. Create a package of sport andnews/current affairs from6.30–8pm (half hour Sport, halfhour News, half hour 7.30 Report)
Funding the idea above could becovered by shifting the ABC’s emphasisfrom Sports coverage (such as OBcoverage) to comprehensive Sportsreporting.
LanguageThe National Advisory Council isconcerned that the word ‘fuck’ wasused on several occasions onconsecutive days on Radio National inmid-afternoon.
The National Advisory Council wouldlike producers of programs on RadioNational to adhere to the programstandards set down in Section 9.3 ofthe ABC’s Editorial Policies.
Close-Up — Sunday NewsThe National Advisory Council wouldlike to examine the use of close-uppresentations in the Sunday news. Thefeatures are often lightweight and thispadding detracts from the fluidity ofthe evening news. The time could beallocated to develop international newscoverage.
Program — DisadvantagedThe National Advisory Councilrecommends a television documentaryseries on welfare-related issues inregional Australia to highlight the lifeexperiences of the poor, migrants, theAboriginal people, homeless anddisabled, the frail elderly and otherdisadvantaged groups.
However, the NAC believes that in anydocumentary series the focus shouldbe on ‘survival’ of people rather than‘victims’ of their life experiences.
Reasons: Regional Australia has adisproportionate number ofdisadvantaged in their community. Aspart of having a social conscience theABC should inform the community ofthese situations.
Children’s Television The National Advisory Councilcommends the ABC for Daria asproviding entertainment for its youngteenage audience, but notes thatCouncil’s concerns regarding the needfor occasional warnings on contenthave still not been addressed. TheNational Advisory Council in recentyears has raised the issue of a need forcontent-warning in some programsthat are aired in the 5.30pm time slot.Such warnings would assist parents inmonitoring the viewing by a youngeraudience who may be streamed intosuch shows given that they fall into ageneral C classification time-slot. Inparticular, the NAC notes the responseto recommendation R5/1/98 in thisregard.
Sports CoverageThe National Advisory Council wouldlike to recommend that ABC Sportcontinue to pay particular note to theequal coverage of men’s and women’ssporting results. Recent reports on theresults of a tennis tournament outlinedmen’s results with video footage,whilst the results of the same stages ofwomen’s competition had no videofootage.
Late NewsThe National Advisory Councilacknowledges the time and financialconstraints placed upon TelevisionNews and Current Affairs. Yet in lightof discussions concerning a late nightnews the National Advisory Councilwelcomes the opportunities madeavailable by this prospect.
The National Advisory Council believesa late news would provide anopportunity for further exploration ofinternational news. This may allow agreater focus on local news at 7.00pmand could amend the absence of astate based current affairs program
Television — EducationalMaterialsIn light of the importance of televisionin most peoples lives and the need toeducate and inform children of therole, history, benefits and mechanics oftelevision, there is a dearth ofeducational materials for primaryschool children about this medium.There was a series made in 1980entitled Primary Media which provideda comprehensive insight into televisionbut this is now seriously dated andvirtually unusable. Perhaps the
Education & Lifelong Learning Unit inAdelaide might like to consider makinga new series dealing with the subject?
Quantum The National Advisory Council wouldlike to recommend that the ABCScience Unit consider the format andcontent of Quantum.
The National Advisory Council feelsthat the program has at times becomelightweight and generalist. Somestories seem not adequately scientificin content.
The National Advisory Council feelsthat the name Quantum should bereserved for hard hitting, sciencetopics, with other more generalisedtopics put to air under a differentheading or time slot.
The National Advisory Council hasrecommended, for other units, theintroduction of a ‘best of’ section or‘back by popular demand’ segment. InQuantum‘s case, popular programs ofthe past could be repeated butintroduced by the current presenter.
Indigenous ProgramsThe National Advisory Councilrecommends that future considerationbe given to regular programs onIndigenous issues on television, similarto the Awaye program on Radio.
The Indigenous issues programs couldfocus on a wide range of subjects suchas the arts, history, politics, debates,interviews, etc.
Origin of ProgramsThe National Advisory Councilrecommends that Radio Networksannounce where the program andevents contained in programs, e.g.Interviews, emanate from. This wouldreflect the national character of theABC and enable listeners to identify thenational network.
2CN BreakfastNational Advisory Council memberswho have lived in Canberra are awareof 2CN services. At the recent meetingof the National Advisory Council,several members expressed the viewthat the 2CN breakfast program is tooserious and political for a program atbreakfast time. Council recommendsthat consideration be given toproviding more light entertainment inthe breakfast timeslot on 2CN.
ABC Annual Report Appendices
110
Appendix 11
IndependentComplaintsReview PanelIn 1998–99 the IndependentComplaints Review Panel (ICRP)completed four reviews: three werecommenced in the previous year andone review commenced during1998–99 was completed during thereporting period. The reviewscompleted were requested by Mr Jerryand Ms Jillian Bennette, AMP Limited,Senator the Hon. Jocelyn Newman andMr Peter Whelan.
Mr Jerry and Ms Jillian Bennettecomplained about a documentaryBattle for Byron, broadcast on the ABCtelevision documentaries program TrueStories on 7 November 1996 and aradio interview with the film maker, MrDavid Bradbury, broadcast on 2NRLismore on 5 June 1996. Thedocumentary, commissioned by theABC, depicts conflicts between pro-and anti-development factions withinthe local community in the lead-up tothe Byron Council election inSeptember 1995, together with someevents concerning the Council after thiselection. The radio interview related toassaults that had taken place at theByron Shire Council the previousevening. The complainants alleged thatthe documentary overall was seriouslybiased and lacking in balance in itsunfavourable treatment of landdevelopers and their supporters, thatthere were specific instances of seriousunfair treatment within thedocumentary and that the radiointerview contained serious bias, lack of
balance and unfair treatment. In thecase of the documentary, the ICRPupheld a specific case of unfairtreatment relating to two Byron Shireresidents. The Panel also found thatwhile it was in order for the ABC tobroadcast the documentary, the ABCshould have indicated that thedocumentary presented the viewpointof a film-maker who supported the anti-development cause. The Panel upheldthe complaint about the interview,considering that it displayed seriousbias and lack of balance and that tobroadcast it in the circumstanceswithout any response by either of MrBradbury’s opponents, or any otherwitness, constituted seriously unfairtreatment of them. The ABC broadcasta summary of findings and an apologyon 2NR on 3 July 1998 and broadcast asummary of findings and an apology tothe two residents at the end of theABC’s documentary program InsideStory (the then equivalent to TrueStories) on 7 July 1998.
AMP Limited (AMP) complained abouta segment on the AMP’s ‘80/20scheme’ of the early 1990s contained inthe Four Corners program broadcast on6 April 1998. The program exploredthe new regulation governing choice ininvestment in superannuation funds,scheduled to be introduced on 1 July1998. AMP complained that theinclusion of material about the 80/20scheme was gratuitous and that theFour Corners program was ‘extremelyunfair and unbalanced’. The Panelupheld part of the complaint, aboutlack of balance and fairness, ‘insomuchas it referred to the non-inclusion of anycounterbalancing comment by theAMP’. It did not uphold the complaintthat the segment was gratuitous. AsEditor-in-Chief, the ABC’s ManagingDirector, Brian Johns, apologised to
AMP in relation to that part of thecomplaint upheld by the Panel’sfindings.
Senator the Hon. Jocelyn Newman,Minister for Social Security, complainedabout an interview in which she hadtaken part, broadcast on the CarolineTucker program on 4QR Brisbane on 30April 1998. The complaint was referredto the panel by the ABC ManagingDirector following Senator Newman’sdissatisfaction with the ABC’s handlingof her complaint that the ABC’sconduct had been ‘deceptive andunprofessional’. The Panel did notuphold the complaint.
Mr Peter Whelan complained aboutan ABC news report, Chinese Reaction,broadcast on the 7pm television newson 15 October 1998. Mr Whelancomplained that the report was notimpartial and balanced, in that itfeatured strong criticism by Chinesecommunity leaders of One Nation, andwas intended as anti-One Nationpropaganda. The report linked a speechby the Governor-General, Sir WilliamDeane, with criticisms of the OneNation Party made by members of theChinese community. The Panel upheldthe complaint in part, finding thatlinking the two matters in one storywas an error, conceded by the ABC,which conveyed an incorrectimplication about the content of theGovernor-General’s speech. The Panelalso found that it was not in a positionto determine whether or not the itemwas intended to be anti-One NationParty propaganda. As Editor-in-Chief,the ABC’s Managing Director, BrianJohns, apologised to Mr Whelan for thelapse in ABC reporting standards.
Appendices ABC Annual Report
111
Appendix 12
RadioTransmittersNote: Frequencies:• 531–1602 are on the AM
band (kHz)• 88–108 are on the FM
band (MHz).
MetropolitanRadioAdelaide 5AN 891Brisbane 4QR 612Canberra 2CN 666Darwin 8DDD 105.7Hobart 7ZR 936Melbourne 3LO 774Newcastle 2NC 1233Orford 7ZR/T 90.5Perth 6WF 720Sydney 2BL 702
Regional RadioNew South WalesArmidale 101.9Ashford 107.9Batemans Bay 103.5Bega 810Bombala 94.1Bonalbo 91.3Bourke/Brewarrina 657Broken Hill 999Cobar 106.1Coffs Harbour 92.3Cooma 1602Crookwell 94.3Dubbo 107.1Eden 106.3Glen Innes 819Gloucester 100.9Goodooga 99.3Goulburn 90.3Grafton 738Griffith/MIA 100.5Hay88.1Illawarra 97.3Ivanhoe 106.1Jindabyne 95.5Kempsey 684Khancoban 89.7*Lightning Ridge 92.1Lismore 94.5Lithgow 1395Menindee 97.3Merriwa 101.9Mudgee 99.5Murrurundi 102.5Murwillumbah 720Muswellbrook 1044Narrabri/Moree 99.1Nyngan 95.1Orange 549Portland 94.1Rylstone/Kandos 96.3Southern NSW 675SW Slopes 89.9
Talbingo 88.9*Tamworth 648Taree 756Taree/Pt Macquarie 95.5Tenterfield 88.9Thredbo 88.9Tottenham 99.3Tumbarumba 92.5*Tumut 97.9Upper Hunter 105.7Wagga Wagga 102.7Walcha 88.5Walgett 105.9Wilcannia 1584Young 96.3
Northern TerritoryAdelaide River 98.9Alice Springs 783Bathurst Island 91.3Borroloola 106.1Daly River 106.1Galiwinku 105.9Groote Eylandt 106.1Haasts Bluff 105.9*Jabiru 747Jim Jim 105.9*Katherine 106.1Kings Canyon 89.1*Maningrida 104.5*Mataranka 106.1Mereenie Gas & Oil 96.3*Nabarlek 107.0*Newcastle Waters 106.1Ngukurr 104.5*Nhulunbuy 990Pine Creek 106.1South Alligator 88.9*Tanami Gold Mine 99.3*Tennant Creek 106.1Ti Tree 107.7*Yulara 99.7*
QueenslandAirlie Beach 89.9Alpha 105.7Atherton 720Babinda 95.7Ballera 105.9*Bedourie 106.1Biloela 94.9Birdsville 106.1Boulia 106.1Burdekin Falls 107.5*Cairns 106.7Cairns 801Cairns North 95.5Camooweal 106.1Charleville 603Chillagoe 106.1*Coen 105.9Collinsville 106.1Cooktown 105.7Croydon 105.9Cunnamulla 106.1Dimbulah 91.7Doomadgee 97.5*Dysart 91.7Eidsvold 855Emerald 1548Georgetown 106.1Gladstone 99.1Gold Coast 91.7
Goondiwindi 92.7Goonyella 89.7*Greenvale 105.9Gunpowder 106.1*Gununa 92.7*Gympie 1566Gympie 95.3Hughenden 1485Injune 105.9Julia Creek 567Karumba 106.1Kowanyama 106.1*Laura 106.1Lakeland 106.1Lockhart River 106.1*Longreach 540Mackay 101.1Middlemount 106.1Miriam Vale 88.3Mission Beach 89.3Mitchell 106.1Moranbah 104.9Mossman 639Mt Garnet 95.7Mt Isa 106.1*Mt Molloy 95.7Osborne Mine 107.1*Sunshine Coast 90.3Normanton 105.7Pentland 106.1Pialba 855Pormpuraaw 106.1*Quilpie 106.1Red Dome Mine 105.7*Rockhampton 837Roma 105.7St George 711Tambo 105.9Taroom 106.1Thargomindah 106.1*Theodore 105.9Thursday Is 1062Toowoomba 747Townsville 630Tully 95.5Wandoan 98.1Warwick 104.9Weipa 105.7*Wide Bay 100.1
South AustraliaAndamooka 105.9Coober Pedy 106.1Cook 107.7*Glendambo 106.1*Leigh Creek 99.3*Leigh Creek Sth 1602Lyndhurst 88.7*Marla 106.1*Marree 105.7Mintabie 88.7*Moomba 106.1*Mt Gambier 1584Naracoorte 1161Oodnadatta 95.3*Port Lincoln 1485Port Pirie 639Renmark/Loxton 1062Roxby Downs 102.7Streaky Bay 693Woomera 1584Yalata 105.9*
TasmaniaBicheno 89.7Burnie 102.5East Devonport 100.5Fingal 1161King Island 88.5Launceston 711Lileah 91.3Queenstown 90.5Rosebery 106.3Savage River 104.1St Helens 1584St Marys 102.7Strahan 107.5Swansea 106.1Waratah 103.3
VictoriaAlbury-Wodonga 106.5Alexandra 102.9Ballarat 107.9Bendigo 91.1Bright 89.7Cann River 106.1Corryong 99.7Eildon 98.1Goulburn Valley 97.7Hamilton/Casterton 94.1Horsham 594Gippsland 100.7Mallacoota 104.9Mansfield 103.7Mildura 104.3Swan Hill 102.1Myrtleford 91.7Omeo 720Orbost 97.1Portland 96.9Sale 828Warrnambool 1602
Western AustraliaAlbany 630Argyle 105.9Augusta 98.3Blackstone 106.1*Bridgetown 1044Broome 675Busselton 684Carnarvon 846Cue 106.1Dalwallinu 531Darlot 105.9*Derby 873Esperance 837Exmouth 1188Fitzroy Crossing 106.1Geraldton 828Golden Grove Mine 106.3*Goldsworthy 107.3*Halls Creek 106.1Hopetoun 106.9Jamieson 106.1*Kalbarri 106.1Kalgoorlie-Boulder 648Karratha 702Kununurra 819Laverton 106.1Leinster 106.1*Leonora 105.7Manjimup 738Marble Bar 105.9Meekatharra 106.3
ABC Annual Report Appendices
112
Menzies 106.1Mt Magnet 105.7Mt Whaleback 105.7*Nannup 98.1Newman 567Norseman 105.7Northam 1215Nullagine 106.3*Palm Springs 106.9*Pannawonica 567Paraburdoo 567Port Hedland 603Ravensthorpe 105.9Red Hill 96.3*Shay Gap 107.9*Southern Cross 106.3Tjirrkarli 106.1*Tom Price 99.3*Tom Price 567Useless Loop 100.3*Wagin 558Warakurna 101.9*Warburton 106.1*Wiluna 106.1*Wyndham 1017Yalgoo 106.1Yandicoogina 106.1*Yiyili 106.1*
Radio NationalAustralian CapitalTerritory and NewSouth WalesArmidale 720Balranald 93.1Batemans B./Moruya 105.1Bathurst 96.7Bega/Cooma 100.9Bonalbo 92.1Bourke/Brewarrina 101.1Broken Hill 102.9Canberra 846Coffs Harbour 99.5Cooma 95.3Crookwell 95.1Deniliquin 99.3Dubbo 107.9Eden 107.9Emmaville 93.1Glen Innes 105.1Gloucester 102.5Goodooga 100.9Goulburn 1098Griffith/MIA 98.9Hay88.9Ivanhoe 107.7Jerilderie 94.1Jindabyne 97.1Khancoban 91.3*Lightning Ridge 93.7Lismore 96.9Lithgow 92.1Menindee 95.7Merriwa 103.5Murrurundi 104.1Narrabri/Moree 100.7Newcastle 1512Nowra 603Orange 104.3Portland 92.5Rylstone/Kandos 100.3
SW Slopes 89.1Sydney 576Talbingo 91.3*Tamworth 93.9Taree/Pt Macquarie 97.1Tenterfield 90.5Thredbo 90.5Tumut 99.5Wagga Wagga 104.3Walcha 90.1Walgett 107.5Wilcannia 1485Wollongong 1431Young 97.1
Northern TerritoryAdelaide River 100.5Alice Springs 99.7Bathurst Island 92.9Borroloola 107.7Daly River 107.7Darwin 657Galiwinku 107.5Groote Eylandt 107.7Jabiru 107.7Kalkaringi 107.7*Katherine 639Mataranka 107.7Newcastle Waters 107.7Ngukurr 107.7*Nhulunbuy 107.7Pine Creek 107.7South Alligator 88.1*Tennant Creek 684Urapunga 107.5*Yulara 98.1
QueenslandAirlie Beach 93.1Alpha 107.3Aramac 107.9Augathella 107.7Babinda 94.1Barcaldine 107.3Bedourie 107.7Birdsville 107.7Blackall 107.9Blackwater 94.3Boulia 107.7Bowen 92.7Brisbane 792Cairns 105.1Cairns North 93.9Camooweal 107.7Capella 107.3Charleville 107.3Charters Towers 97.5Clermont 107.7Cloncurry 107.7Coen 107.5Collinsville 107.7Cooktown 107.3Corfield 107.3Croydon 107.5Cunnamulla 107.7Darling Downs 105.7Dimbulah 93.3Dirranbandi 107.3Dysart 93.3Eidsvold 102.7Emerald 93.9Georgetown 107.7Gladstone 95.9
Gold Coast 90.1Goondiwindi 94.3Greenvale 101.9Gunpowder 107.7*Gympie 96.9Herberton 93.1Hughenden 107.5Injune 107.5Isisford 107.7Jericho 107.7Julia Creek 107.5Karumba 107.7Lakeland 107.7Laura 107.7Longreach 99.1Mackay 102.7Meandarra 104.3Middlemount 107.7Miles 92.1Miriam Vale 89.9Mission Beach 90.9Mitchell 107.7Monto 101.9Moranbah 106.5Morven 107.5Mossman 90.1Mt Garnet 97.3Mt Isa 107.7*Mt Molloy 97.3Muttaburra 107.7Nonda 100.9*Normanton 107.3Pentland 107.7Quilpie 107.7Richmond 107.7Rockhampton 103.1Roma 107.3Warwick/Stanth. 106.5Springsure 100.9St George 107.7Surat 107.5Tambo 107.5Taroom 107.7Theodore 107.5Thursday Is 107.7Townsville 104.7Townsville North 96.7Tully 96.3Wandoan 98.9 Weipa 107.3Wide Bay 100.9Winton 107.9
South AustraliaAdelaide 729Andamooka 107.5Ceduna 107.7Coober Pedy 107.7Hawker 107.5Keith 96.9Leigh Creek 100.9*Leigh Creek Sth 106.1Marree 107.3Quorn 107.9Renmark/Loxton 1305Roxby Downs 101.9Mt Gambier 103.3Spencer Gulf Nth 106.7Streaky Bay 100.9Tumby Bay 101.9Wirrulla 107.3Woomera 105.7Wudinna 107.7
TasmaniaBicheno 91.3Hobart 585Launceston 94.1Lileah 89.7Orford 88.9Queenstown 630Rosebery 107.9St Helens 96.1St Marys 101.1Strahan 105.9Swansea 107.7Waratah 104.9
VictoriaAlbury-Wodonga 990Alexandra 104.5Bairnsdale 106.3Bright 88.9Cann River 107.7Corryong 98.1Eildon 97.3Mallacoota 103.3Mansfield 105.3Melbourne 621Mildura 105.9Nhill 95.7Omeo 99.7Orbost 98.7Portland 98.5Swifts Creek 103.5Wangaratta 756Warrnambool 101.7
Western AustraliaAlbany 96.9Argyle 107.5Augusta 99.1Broome 107.7Carnarvon 107.7Cue 107.7Dalwallinu 612Dampier 107.9Denham 107.5Derby 107.5Eneabba 107.7Esperance 106.3Exmouth 107.7Fitzroy Crossing 107.7Geraldton 99.7Goldsworthy 105.7*Halls Creek 107.7Hopetoun 106.9Jurien Bay 107.9Kalbarri 107.7Kalgoorlie-Boulder 97.1Kambalda 95.9Karratha 100.9Kununurra 107.3Laverton 107.7Leeman 107.3Leinster 107.7*Leonora 107.3Marble Bar 107.5Meekatharra 107.9Menzies 107.7Merredin 107.3Mt Magnet 107.3Mt Whaleback 104.1*Mullewa 107.5Nannup 98.9Narembeen 107.7Newman 93.7
Appendices ABC Annual Report
113
Norseman 107.3Onslow 107.5Pannawonica 107.7Paraburdoo 107.7Perth 810Pt Hedland 95.7Ravensthorpe 107.5Roebourne 107.5Salmon Gums 100.7Shay Gap 106.3*Southern Cross 107.9Tom Price 107.3Wagin 1296Wyndham 107.7Yalgoo 107.7Yandicoogina 107.7*
ABC Classic FMAustralian CapitalTerritory & NewSouth WalesArmidale 103.5Batemans B./Moruya 101.9Bega 99.3Broken Hill 103.7Canberra 102.3Coffs Harbour 97.9Dubbo 105.5Goulburn 89.5Griffith/MIA 97.3Illawarra 95.7Khancoban 88.1*Lismore 95.3Narrabri/Moree 96.7Newcastle 106.1Orange 102.7SW Slopes 88.3Sydney 92.9Talbingo 88.1*Tamworth 103.1Taree/PtMacquarie 98.7Wagga Wagga 105.9
Northern TerritoryAlice Springs 97.9Darwin 107.3Yulara 99.7*
QueenslandAirlie Beach 95.5Brisbane 106.1Cairns 105.9Cairns North 94.7Clermont 104.5Darling Downs 107.3Gold Coast 88.5Gympie 93.7Longreach 102.1*Mackay 97.9Mt Isa 101.7Sunshine Coast 88.7Rockhampton 106.3Townsville 101.5Townsville North 95.9Warwick 101.7Wide Bay 98.5
South AustraliaAdelaide 103.9Adelaide Foothills 97.5Renmark 105.1
Roxby Downs 103.5South–East SA 104.1Spencer Gulf Nth 104.3Woomera 103.3*
TasmaniaHobart 93.9Launceston 93.3
VictoriaAlbury-Wodonga 104.1Ballarat 105.5Bendigo 92.7Bright 88.1Goulburn Valley 96.1Hamilton/Casterton 93.3Gippsland 101.5Melbourne 105.9Mildura 102.7Swan Hill 103.7Warrnambool 92.1
Western AustraliaAlbany 94.5Bunbury 93.3Esperance 104.7Geraldton 94.9Kalgoorlie-Boulder 95.5Koolan Is 104.5Leinster 104.5*Northam/York 98.9Perth 97.7
Triple JAustralian CapitalTerritory & NewSouth WalesArmidale 101.1Bega/Cooma 100.1Broken Hill 102.1Canberra 101.5Coffs Harbour 91.5Dubbo 102.3Goulburn 88.7Griffith/MIA 96.5Illawarra 98.9Lismore 96.1Narrabri 99.9Newcastle 102.1Orange 101.9SW Slopes 90.7Sydney 105.7Tamworth 94.7Taree/Port Macquarie 96.3Wagga Wagga 101.1
Northern TerritoryAlice Springs 94.9Darwin 103.3Yulara 95.7*
QueenslandBrisbane 107.7Cairns 107.5Cairns North 97.1Darling Downs 104.1Gold Coast 97.7Mackay 99.5Mt Isa 104.1Sunshine Coast 89.5Rockhampton 104.7
Townsville 105.5Townsville North 97.5Warwick 103.3Wide Bay 99.3
South AustraliaAdelaide 105.5Adelaide Foothills 95.9Mt Gambier 102.5Renmark/Loxton 101.9Roxby Downs 101.1*Spencer Gulf Nth 103.5Woomera 104.1*
TasmaniaHobart 92.9Launceston 102.1
VictoriaAlbury-Wodonga 103.3Ballarat 107.1Bendigo 90.3Goulburn Valley 94.5Gippsland 96.7Hamilton/Casterton 94.9Melbourne 107.5Mildura 101.1Swan Hill 105.3Warrnambool 89.7
Western AustraliaAlbany 92.9Bunbury 94.1Cadjebut 104.3*Exmouth 98.1*Geraldton 98.9Kalgoorlie-Boulder 98.7Northam/York 98.1Perth 99.3Pillara 104.1*Robe River 104.9*Westonia 99.5*
NewsRadio / PNNAdelaide 972Brisbane 936Canberra 1440Darwin 102.5Hobart 729Melbourne 1026Newcastle 1458Perth 585Sydney 630
CommunityFacilities**Northern TerritoryAli-Curung 106.1Barunga 106.1Beswick 105.7Bulman 106.1Daguragu 106.1Finke 106.1Galiwinku 106.7Hermannsburg 106.1Imanpa 106.1Kintore 106.1Lajamanu 106.1Maningrida 106.1Milikapiti 99.3
Milingimbi 106.1Minjilang 106.1Nguiu 98.9Ngukurr 106.1Nturiya 105.9Numbulwar 106.1Oenpelli 106.1Palumpa 106.1Papunya 106.1Peppimenarti 106.1Pmara Jutunta 106.1Pularumpi 98.5Ramingining 105.7Santa Teresa 106.1Umbakumba 106.3Wadeye 106.1Warruwi 106.1Willowra 106.1Yirrkala 105.3Yuelamu 105.9Yuendumu 106.1
QueenslandAurukun 107.7Badu Is 107.5Bamaga 106.7Boigu Island 106.1Coconut Island 105.7Darnley Island 106.1Dauan Island 105.7Doomadgee 107.7Gununa 107.7Hope Vale 107.7Injinoo 107.1Kowanyama 107.7Kubin Island 105.9Lockhart River 107.7Mabuiag 106.3Murray Island 106.1New Mapoon 107.5Pormpuraaw 107.7Saibai Island 106.1Seisia 106.3St Pauls Island 106.7Stephens Island 105.9Sue Island 105.9Umagico 105.9Woorabinda 106.1Wujal Wujal 107.7Yam Island 106.1Yorke Island 106.1
South AustraliaAmata 106.1Ernabella 106.1Fregon 106.1Indulkana 106.1
Western AustraliaBalgo 106.1Beagle Bay 106.1Djarindjin 106.1Jigalong 106.1Kalumburu 106.1Kiwirrkurra 106.1Lagrange 106.1Looma 106.1Oombulgurri 106.1Tjukurla 106.1Warmun 106.1Wingellina 106.1Yandeyarra 106.1Yungngora 106.1
ABC Annual Report Appendices
114
DomesticShortwaveAlice Springs VL8A 2310
32304835
Katherine VL8K 248533705025
Tennant Ck VL8T 232533154910
The frequencies on whichshortwave stations transmitare varied as required toobtain optimum results.
Notes
*SBRS — The AustralianBroadcasting Authority hasissued a licence torebroadcast the ABC serviceindicated under the Self-help Broadcasting ReceptionScheme. Transmissionfacilities are provided by thelicensee (not the NationalTransmission Agency).
**Community Facilities —Formerly known asBroadcasting for RemoteAboriginal CommunitiesScheme (BRACS).Communities with suchfacilities have a transmitterwhich allows rebroadcastingof Regional Radio, RadioNational, ABC Classic FM,local programming orprogramming from othersources.
HACBSS The Homesteadand CommunityBroadcasting SatelliteService allows Australiansliving outside transmitterrange to receive signals fromABC Radio and Television, aswell as a range ofcommercial and communitybroadcasting services. It isestimated that about 12,000satellite dishes are in servicefor direct-to-home receptionof HACBSS.
Appendix 13
TelevisionTransmitters
Australian CapitalTerritoryCanberra 9Fraser 56Tuggeranong 60Weston Creek/Woden 55
New South WalesAlbury North 56Araluen 56Armidale 5AArmidale 33Ashford 5ABalranald 39Batemans Bay/Moruya 9Bathurst 6Bega/Cooma 8Bonalbo 55Bourke/Brewarrina 7Bowral/Mittagong 33Braidwood 57Broken Bay 67Broken Hill 2Captains Flat* 55Cassilis 42Cen/Western Slopes 11Central Tablelands 1Cobar 2Coffs Harbour 60Collarenebri 29Condobolin 65Coolah 56Cooma 0Cooma 56Cowra 48Crookwell 45Deniliquin 9Dubbo 57Dungog 60Eden 1Emmaville 55Enngonia* 69Glen Innes 50Glen Lyons/Menindee 68Gloucester 42Goodooga 8Gosford 46Goulburn 55Grafton/Kempsey 2Hay11
Illawarra 56Inverell 2Ivanhoe 6Jerilderie 10Jindabyne 60Kandos 60Khancoban 60Kings Cross 46Kotara 58Kyogle 57Laurieton 44Lightning Ridge 10Lithgow 32Lithgow East 55Lord Howe Island* 8Lord Howe Island* 9Manly/Mosman 42Manning River 6Mannus* 55Menindee 9Merewether 35Merimbula* 60Merriwa 8Moonbi/Armidale 60Mudgee 55Mungindi 10Murrumbidgee Irrig’n 7Murrurundi 6Murwillumbah 60Narooma 0Newcastle/Hun.River 5ANewcastle/Hun.River 48Nowra North 32Nymagee* 66Nyngan 3Oberon 57Portland/Wallerawang 57Quirindi 5ARichmond/Tweed 6Stanwell Park 33SW Slopes/E Riverina 0Sydney 2Tamworth 2Tamworth 55Tamworth/Moonbi 68Tenterfield 29Thredbo 34Tottenham 10Tumbarumba* 66Tumut* 57Tweed Heads 32Ulladulla 33Upper Hunter 8Upper Namoi 7Vacy 31Wagga Wagga 56Walcha 6Walgett 69Weilmoringle* 69White Cliffs* 69Wilcannia 8Wollongong 35Wyong 42Young 11
Northern TerritoryAdelaide River 11Alice Springs 7Ampilatwatja* 67Batchelor* 69Bathurst Island 11Beswick* 60Borroloola 6
Bulman* 68Cattle Creek* 68Daguragu* 66Daly River 10Darwin 6Darwin North 55Docker River* 69Galiwinku 8Groote Eylandt 7Haasts Bluff* 69Helen Springs* 68Hermannsburg* 66Hodgson Downs* 69Jabiru 8Jim Jim* 69Kalkaringi* 57Katherine 7Kings Canyon Resort* 69Kulgera* 69Mataranka 8McArthur River Mine* 69McArthur River* 59Mereenie* 67Newcastle Waters 8Nhulunbuy 11Numbulwar* 69Peppimenarti* 69Pine Creek 10Pularumpi* 69Robinson River* 59Santa Teresa* 68South Alligator* 65Tennant Creek 9Ti Tree* 67Urapunga* 68Wadeye* 69Warrego 60Warruwi* 69Wave Hill* 68Werenbun* 65Yirrkala* 9Yulara* 67
QueenslandAdavale* 69Airlie Beach 49Alpha 8Aramac 11Atherton/Mareeba 68Augathella 11Aurukun* 69Ayr 63Ayton* 69Babinda 54Ballard 33Bamaga* 69Barcaldine 10Bedourie 7Bell 56Birdsville 8Blackall 9Blackwater 8Bogantungan* 69Bollon* 69Boonah 57Boulia 8Bowen 5ABoyne Island 57Brisbane 2Burdekin Falls* 69Burketown* 69Cairns 9Cairns East 41
ABC Radio Network AnalysisNetwork Transmitters
AM FM TotalMetropolitan Radio 8 2 10Regional Radio 72 208 280Radio National 22 242 264ABC Classic FM 0 70 70Triple J 0 64 64NewsRadio on PNN 8 1 9Shortwave Radio 3 0 3
Total ABC 113 587 700
Appendices ABC Annual Report
115
Cairns North 4Cairns North 56Camooweal 8Cape Flattery Mine* 69Capella 5ACharleville 9Charters Towers 44Chillagoe* 69Chinchilla* 56Clairview* 69Clermont 10Cloncurry 7Coen 8Collinsville 55Cooktown 8Corfield 10Cracow* 68Croydon 8Cunnamulla 10Currumbin 33Dajarra* 69Darling Downs 32Dimbulah 46Dirranbandi 7Doomadgee* 69Dysart 2Eidsvold 57Emerald 11Esk 55Eulo* 69Forsayth* 56Georgetown 7Gladstone East 32Gladstone West 55Glenden* 29Gold Coast 49Goondiwindi 6Gordonvale 55Greenvale 8Gunpowder* 69Gununa* 69Gympie 45Gympie Town 57Herberton 60Hervey Bay 55Hope Vale* 69Hughenden 9Injune 8Isisford 7Jackson Oil Field* 69Jericho 7Julia Creek 10Jundah* 69Karumba 6Kowanyama* 69Laura 8Lakeland 69Linville* 63Lockhart River* 69Longreach 6Mackay 8Mareeba 54Marpuna* 69Meandarra 59Middlemount 8Miles 9Millmerran* 55Miriam Vale 11Mission Beach 2Mitchell 6Monto 56Moore 33Moranbah 5A
Moranbah Town 55Morven 7Mossman 8Mount Surprise* 55Moura 54Mt Garnet 2Mt Isa* 69Mt Molloy 7Murgon 57Muttaburra 8Nambour 58Nebo 55Nonda* 69Noosa/Tewantin 32Normanton 8Numinbah Prison* 56Palen Creek Prison* 65Pentland 8Pormpuraaw* 69Port Douglas 55Proserpine 56Quilpie 8Ravenshoe 8Richmond 6Rockhampton 9Rockhampton East 55Roma 7Scherger* 50Shute Harbour 2Smithfield Heights 56Southern Downs 1Springsure 8St George 8Stuart 59Sunshine Coast 40Surat 11Tambo 6Tara 57Taroom 11Texas 11Thallon* 69Thargomindah* 69The Monument* 69Theodore 58Thursday Island 8Tieri* 69Toowoomba 56Townsville 3Townsville North 55Trinity Beach 45Tully 8Tully Falls 46Wandoan 5AWangetti 51Warwick 55Weipa* 62Wide Bay 6Windorah* 69Winton 8Wirralie* 69Wujal Wujal* 69Wyandra* 69Yarrabah* 69Yeppoon 56Yowah* 69Yuleba* 68
South AustraliaAdelaide 2Adelaide Foothills 46Andamooka 8Angaston* 58Arkaroola* 69
Barton* 69Bookabie* 68Bordertown 2Burra 56Caralue Bluff 59Carrickalinga* 55Ceduna/Smoky Bay 9Chandler* 68Coffin Bay 45Coober Pedy 8Cook* 69Cowell 6Elizabeth South 63Elliston* 69Glendambo* 69Golden Grove* 56Gumeracha* 56Hawker 48Indulkana* 69Keith 42Kenmore Park* 69Kingston SE/Robe 56Lameroo 57Leigh Creek South 9Lyndhurst* 60Manguri* 69Marla* 69Marree 8Mintabie* 64Moomba* 69Naracoorte 57Nepabunna* 69Normanville* 57Oodnadatta* 60Parachilna* 69Penong* 69Peterhead* 56Pinnaroo 56Pipalyatjara* 69Port Lincoln 60Quorn 47Rawnsley Park Hawker* 69Renmark/Loxton 3Roxby Downs 56South East 1Spencer Gulf North 1Streaky Bay 10Swan Reach* 51Tarcoola* 69Tumby Bay 32Umuwa* 69Victor Harbor 55Waikerie 56Watson* 68Wirrulla 8Woomera 7Wudinna 30Yankalilla* 56Yunta* 69
TasmaniaActon Road* 55Avoca 45Barrington Valley 46Bicheno 10Binalong Bay 33Burnie 58Cygnet 45Derby 57Devonport/Ulverstone 48Dover 56Dover South 44East Devonport 57
Forth* 45Geeveston 57Gladstone 40Goulds Country/Goshen 57Hillwood 46Hobart 2Hobart, N/E Suburbs 57King Island 11Launceston 56Lileah 8Maydena* 58Mole Creek* 57Montumana 59New Norfolk 56Nth/Eastern Tasmania 3Nth/Eastern Tasmania 32Orford 55Penguin 31Pyengana Valley 33Queenstown/Zeehan 56Ringarooma Valley 55Rosebery 33Savage River 4Smithton 32Springfield South 56St Helens 31St Marys 56Strahan 57Strathgordon 43Swansea 57Taroona 46Tullah* 55Ulverstone 59Waratah 57Weldborough 56Wynyard 33
VictoriaAlexandra 5AAlexandra 59Alexandra Environs 44Appollo Bay 55Bairnsdale 57Ballarat 11Bendigo 1Bonnie Doon 58Boolarra 56Bright 32Bruthen 53Cann River 11Casterton 55Churchill 55Cobden 8Colac 5AColeraine 2Corryong 9Dartmouth* 57Dinner Plain* 64Eildon 33Eildon Town 57Ferntree Gully 56Foster 11Freeburgh/Smoko* 56Genoa 31Gisborne* 56Goulburn Valley 40Hopetoun* 29Horsham 45Howqua* 57Jamieson* 58Kiewa 57Lakes Entrance 32
ABC Annual Report Appendices
116
Latrobe Valley 40Lorne 57Mallacoota 57Mansfield 50Marysville 46Melbourne 2Mildura 6Mitta Vale* 56Murray Valley 2Myrtleford 2Nhill 9Nowa Nowa 55Omeo 32Orbost 2Port Campbell* 54Portland 60Safety Beach 61Selby 57Seymour 55South Yarra 61Swifts Creek 59Tawonga South* 32Trawool* 31Upper Murray 1Upwey 39Walwa/Jingellic* 56Warburton 61Warrnambool 2Western Victoria 5AYea 33
Western AustraliaAlbany 7Argyle* 69Augusta 56Badgingarra* 68Bamboo Creek* 64Bayulu 45Beacon* 69Beenup Camp* 64Bellevue Mine* 69Bencubbin* 68Blackstone* 69Boddington* 68Bremer Bay* 69Bridgetown 56Broads Dams* 69Broome 8Bunbury 5Burracoppin* 66Callion* 69Carnarvon 7Central Agricultural 5ACervantes 46Cockatoo Island* 58Condingup/Howick 6Coorow* 67Cue 10Curtin* 69Dalwallinu 46Dampier 29Denham 8Derby* 69
Dolphin Island* 65Eneabba 46Esperance 10Eucla* 69Exmouth 8Fitzroy Crossing 58Forrest* 69Gairdner* 68Geraldton 6Gnowangerup* 69Golden Grove Mine* 68Goodwyn* 68Green Head* 51Halls Creek 8Hopetoun 65Hyden* 29Jameison* 69Jerramungup* 69Jurien 55Kalbarri 9Kalgoorlie 6Kambalda 5Kambalda 55Karalundi* 68Karratha 54Katanning 7Kojonup 69Kondinin* 69Koolyanobbing 11Koorda* 52Kulin* 31Kununurra 9Kununurra East 68Lagrange* 67Lake Grace 33Lake Gregory* 68Lake King* 69Lancelin* 53Laverton 10Learmonth* 66Leeman 5ALeinster 10Leonora 8Looma 68Marandoo* 43Marble Bar 8Meekatharra 8Menzies 10Merredin 8Moora 60Morawa 8Mt Magnet 8Mukinbudin* 31Mullewa 9Munglinup* 69Nanga Bay* 69Nannup 32Narembeen 64Narrogin 57Newman 7Norseman 7North Rankin* 61North Rankin* 67
Northampton 8Nullagine* 50Nungarin* 66Oldfield* 51One Arm Point* 69Ongerup* 67Onslow 8Oriental Well* 67Overlander* 69Pallottine Mission* 69Palm Springs Mine* 60Pannawonica 11Paraburdoo 6Pemberton 33Perth 2Phillip Point* 68Pingrup* 67Pink Hills* 69Port Hedland 7Ravensthorpe 11Rawlinna* 69Roebourne 9Roleystone 57Salmon Gums 8Shay Gap* 2South’n Agricultural 2Southern Cross 9Tjirrkarli* 69Tom Price 10Toodyay 40Trayning* 69Useless Loop Town* 68Vlaming Head* 69Wagin 8Wangkatjungka* 69Warakurna* 69Warburton* 69Wave Rock* 69Weeli Wolli Creek* 69Westonia* 65Wiluna* 69Winning* 69Wittenoom* 66Wongan Hills 6Wyndham 10Yagga Yagga* 66Yalgoo 10Yandicoogina* 68Yiyili* 69Zanthus* 69
Total ABC TV Transmitters650
*SBRS — The AustralianBroadcasting Authority hasissued a licence torebroadcast the ABC serviceindicated under the Self-help Broadcasting ReceptionScheme. Transmissionfacilities are provided by thelicensee.
Appendix 14
RadioAustraliaTransmittersShepparton 6Brandon 2Total 8
Note: Unless otherwisestated transmitters forTelevision, Radio and RadioAustralia are managed byNTL Pty Ltd. The value ofthese services is shown inthe Financial Statements.
Appendices ABC Annual Report
117
Appendix 15
ConsultantsExpenditure on Consultants in1998–99 was $2 193 004, a decreaseof $169 722 on the previous year.
Tech Strategy & Development 23 190
Enterprises 55 454
Human Resources 901 593
News & Current Affairs 77 089
Loc & Regional Services 10 603
Program Production 89 468
National Networks 189 242
Corporate Management 47 985
Fin & Business Services 798 380
Total 2 193 004
Appendix 16
Ministerial PowersUnder section 78 of the ABC Act theMinister responsible for the ABC hasthe power to require the ABC tobroadcast any particular matter if theMinister believes it to be in thenational interest. Such direction mustbe in writing, must be tabled in bothHouses of Parliament within sevensitting days, and must be included inthe ABC’s Annual Report. No suchdirections were received during theyear.
Section 78(6) states ‘Except as providedby this section, or as expresslyprovided by a provision of another Act,the Corporation is not subject todirection by or on behalf of theGovernment of the Commonwealth’.
Appendix 17
Reports onParticular MattersUnder section 80 of the ABC Act, theCorporation is required to report upona number of particular matters.• Directions from the Minister relating
to broadcasts pursuant to section78 or other than under the Act —There were no directions from theMinister.
• Gifts or Donations within themeaning of section 80(f) of the Act— The Corporation received no giftsor donations.
• Advice received by the ABC Boardfrom the NAC is detailed inAppendix 10.
Appendix 18
Advertising andMarket ResearchExpenditure on market research andadvertising for the year was$4 977 577, an increase of $555 477on the previous year.
The Corporation utilises advertisingagencies and market researchorganisations predominately topromote Enterprises and Televisionprogramming.
Advertising 2 626 087
Market Research 2 351 490
Total 4 977 577
Appendix 19
AuditSubcommittee
1998–99 MeetingsThe Subcommittee met five times in1998–99:
Meeting No. 3, 1998 28 August
Meeting No. 4 30 September
Meeting No. 5 2 December
Meeting No. 1, 1999 3 February
Meeting No. 2 24 May
Members of the Subcommittee are:• Wendy Silver, Audit Subcommittee
Chair• Donald McDonald, ABC Chairman• Brian Johns, Managing Director• John Bannon, ABC Director
Also in attendance are:• General Manager, Group Audit• Head, Finance and Business Services• Australian National Audit Office
Representatives
Overall Performance
Group Audit continued to provide costeffective and value added internalaudit services to the Corporation. Ofsignificance in completing the1998–99 Strategic Audit Plan were theseries of post implementation reviewsof SAP/R3 modules that went ‘live’ inOctober 1998. By providing an analysisof the adequacy of controls in place,these reviews identified control andprocess adjustments designed toenhance the overall controlenvironment. In addition toaccommodating management’srequests for special reviews, thecoverage of the 1998–99 Strategic
Audit Plan addressed changes resultingfrom substantial organisationalrestructuring and new processesarising from the SAP/R3implementation.
The 1998–99 Audit Plan showed anincrease in allocated review hours overthe previous two years. By keeping realterm increases in resourcerequirements to a minimum, GroupAudit’s performance on an auditcost/hour basis continued to show afavourably declining trenddemonstrating continuing productivityimprovement. Consistent withcontemporary audit practices, GroupAudit’s use of the risk based auditmethodology and the inclusion ofpreviously unreviewed operationalactivities provided a well roundedcoverage of the Corporation’s keyprocesses and activities.
In addition to completing its 1998–99Strategic Audit Plan to schedule,Group Audit was invited to participatein an advisory capacity in selected keyprojects and activities.
Other highlights included:
• A review of the managementprocesses used in formulating co-production ventures and relatedmonitoring and reporting practiceswas completed. Recommendationsarising will further strengthenoverall systems of internal controland adherence with principles ofcorporate governance.
• In accepting Group Audit’srecommendation, managementhas initiated essential policy workdealing with the treatment ofpromotional items, cash prizes andhospitality. Currently in draft, thepolicy is aimed at providing betterguidance across all areas of theCorporation.
• The secondment of a Group Auditstaff member was requested andaccommodated. As an indication ofthe professional regard for GroupAudit, this outcome is anappropriate platform for futurestaff member exchanges betweenGroup Audit and other Portfolios.
• By utilising the internationalcounterpart of the service provider,Group Audit completed the auditof the London Office in a costeffective manner. The samestrategy may be used for futurereviews of other overseas bureaus.
StaffingThere were three staff movementsduring the year, one resignation andtwo internal recruitments. Group Auditused a combination of in-house,outsourced and contract staff.
ABC Annual Report Appendices
118
Outsourced Audit ServiceProvidersThe contracts with Deloitte ToucheTohmatsu andPricewaterhouseCoopers expired on 30June 1999. Following a competitiveselection process involving first andsecond tier accounting firms,PricewaterhouseCoopers won thetender for a three year contractcovering the provision of both financialcompliance and informationtechnology audits.
Information TechnologyAuditsCoopers and Lybrand (nowPricewaterhouseCoopers) continue toprovide value for money in theprovision of information technologyaudit services.
There were sixteen (16) reviewscompleted during the year.
Final Reports
• Computer Operations
• SAP Change Management
• SAP Security
• SAP Implementation
• Data Conversion
• Application Control-Finance/Procurement
• Application Control- ProjectSystems
• BSR Post Implementation — ITControls
• WINDOWS NT — PALS/TRACE Pre-Implementation Review
• PALS/TRACE IT Controls
• Internet Usage and E-Business
• Adequacy of SystemsDocumentation
• BSR Human Resources — DataConversion
• Year 2000 Follow Up Review
• Desktop Implementation Review
• Application Control — Property
In addition to the above, Group Auditalso provided quality assurance adviceto the SAP management informationsystems project steering committeethroughout the year.
Financial ComplianceAuditsFinal Reports
• Retail Outlets
• ANSETT Australia Contract Review
• Overseas Financial System
• Tendering Process Review
• Orchestras Control Self Assessment
• Trading Partner — Allen andUnwin
• Trading Partner — Polygram
• Co-Production ContractCompliance — Wildside
• Overseas Bureau — London
• Superannuation Management
Compliance audits completed duringthe year confirmed the adequacy ofthe control environment in the areasreviewed. Audit recommendationswere implemented by Management ona timely basis.
Operational ReviewsFinal Reports
• Legal and Copyright BranchReview
• Parliamentary and News NetworkReview
• Fleet Management Review
• Helicopter Operations Review
• Comparison of ABC Travel Policywith the ANAO Better PracticeGuide — Travel
• Radio News
• NSW Local and Regional ServicesReview
• Aboriginal Broadcasting Unit
• Terrestrial and Satellite UtilisationReview
• Program Purchasing
• Production Unit Review —Quantum
• Capital Planning
• Network Review — Triple J
• Security Services
• BSR Project
• Regional Offices Control SelfAssessment
• Orchestras Control Self Assessment
Reports Under DiscussionAll ten reviews reported as underdiscussion in the 1997–98 report havebeen completed. Details that followrelate to the 1998–99 period.
• South Australia Branch Review
• Manager Control Training Program
• Digital Strategy — Better PracticeGuide
• Trading Partner — Gaffney
Fraud ControlFollowing Group Audit’s extensivefraud awareness program throughoutthe ABC, a survey was conducted toassess the effectiveness andpenetration of the campaign with aview to focusing resources in follow-upcampaigns to areas of greatest need.Development work is continuing forimplementation in the next financialyear. Group Audit continued toconduct information sessions as
requested.
An arrangement has been agreed onwith Human Resources and Training toshow the ‘Roy and HG’ video at thefront end of selected courses as ameans of sustaining the awareness ofstaff members on fraud and relatedissues.
Australian National AuditOfficeGroup Audit continued to build on thestrong working relationship resulting inthe ANAO’s continued reliance onGroup Audit’s reviews. The samedegree of co-operation and assistancehas been extended to KPMG, followingthe ANAO’s decision to outsource theprovision of the external auditfunction.
Appendix 20
ABC Offices
ABC Head OfficeAustralian Broadcasting CorporationABC Ultimo Centre, 700 Harris Street,Ultimo 2007;GPO Box 9994, Sydney NSW 2001;Phone: (02) 9333 1500Fax: (02) 9333 5305Managing Director: Brian Johns
Enterprises: John Mellion Building,10a Campbell Street, Artarmon, NSW2065;GPO Box 9994, Sydney NSW 2001;Phone (02) 9950 3999Fax (02) 9950 3867General Manager: Terry Moloney
Finance and Business Services: ABCUltimo Centre, 700 Harris Street,Ultimo 2007;GPO Box 9994, Sydney NSW 2001;Phone (02) 9333 5151Fax (02) 9333 5172Head: Russell Balding
Human Resources: ABC UltimoCentre,700 Harris Street, Ultimo 2007;GPO Box 9994, Sydney NSW 2001;Phone (02) 9333 5120Fax (02) 9333 5108Head: Jacquie Hutchinson
Local and Regional Services: ABCSouthbank Centre, Cnr Southbank Blvdand Sturt St, Southbank 3006;GPO Box 9994, Melbourne Vic 3001;Phone (03) 9626 1949Fax (03) 9626 1633Head: Sue Howard
National Networks: ABC UltimoCentre, 700 Harris Street, Ultimo,2007;GPO Box 9994, Sydney NSW 2001;Phone (02) 9333 2602
Appendices ABC Annual Report
119
Fax (02) 9333 2603Head: Andy Lloyd James
Network Television: 221 PacificHighway, Gore Hill 2065; GPO Box 9994, Sydney NSW 2001;ABC Switch Phone (02)9333 1500Network TV (02) 9950 3051Network TV Fax (02) 9950 3055General Manager: Ron Saunders
News & Current Affairs: 221 PacificHighway, Gore Hill 2065;700 Harris Street, Ultimo NSW 2007;GPO Box 9994, Sydney NSW 2001;Phone, Gore Hill: (02) 9950 3097Fax, Gore Hill: (02) 9950 3055;Phone, Ultimo: (02) 9333 5546Fax, Ultimo: (02) 9333 2505Head: Paul Williams
Program Production: 221 PacificHighway, Gore Hill NSW 2065;GPO Box 9994, Sydney NSW 2001;Phone (02) 9950 3400Fax (02) 9950 3058Acting Head: Harry Hall
Radio Australia: ABC SouthbankCentre,Cnr Southbank Blvd and SturtSt, Southbank 3006;GPO Box 9994, Melbourne Vic 3001;Phone (03) 9626 1800Fax (03) 9626 1899Network Manager: Jean-GabrielManguy
Symphony Australia Holdings PtyLtd: ABC Ultimo Centre, 700 HarrisStreet, Ultimo 2007;GPO Box 9994, Sydney NSW 2001;Phone (02) 9333 1651Fax (02) 9333 1678Managing Director: Derek Watt
Technology Strategy &Development: ABC Ultimo Centre,700 Harris Street, Ultimo 2007;GPO Box 9994, Sydney NSW 2001;Phone: (02) 9333 5149Fax: (02) 9333 5457Head: Colin Knowles
State OfficesAustralian CapitalTerritoryCanberra: Cnr Northbourne andWakefield Avenues, Dickson;GPO Box 9994, Canberra ACT 2601;Phone (02) 6275 4555Fax (02) 6275 4601Manager 2CN & ABC CanberraRepresentative: Liz McGrath
Parliament House Bureau:Phone (02) 6275 4640Fax (02) 6275 4642
New South WalesNSW State Management:ABC Ultimo Centre, Level 2, 700 Harris Street, Ultimo, 2007;GPO Box 9994, Sydney NSW 2001;Phone (02) 9333 2400Fax (02) 9333 2404
State Manager: Kate MillerEmail: [email protected]
Bega: Office 1, 184 Carp Street,PO Box 336, Bega NSW 2550;Phone (02) 6491 6011Fax (02) 6491 6099RPM: Cate Carrigan
Coffs Harbour: (administered byKempsey Office)Cnr Gordon & High Street,Coffs Harbour NSW 2450;Phone (02) 6650 3611Fax (02) 6650 3099RPM: Cameron Marshall
Dubbo: (administered by Orangeoffice) 45 Wingewarra Street;PO Box 985, Dubbo NSW 2830;Phone (02) 6881 1811Fax (02) 6881 1899RPM: Laurie Neville
Lismore: 61 High Street, LismoreHeights; PO Box 908, Lismore NSW 2480;Phone (02) 6627 2011Fax (02) 6627 2099RPM: Martin Corben
Mid North Coast: 18 Kemp Street,West Kempsey; PO Box 76, West Kempsey NSW 2440;Phone (02) 6566 2111Fax (02) 6566 2199RPM: Cameron Marshall
Muswellbrook: (administered byNewcastle office)Market Street, Muswellbrook NSW2333;Phone (02) 6542 2811Fax (02) 6542 2899Manager: Mike McCluskey
Newcastle: Cnr Wood and ParryStreets, Newcastle West NSW 2309;Phone (02) 4922 1200Fax (02) 4922 1222Manager: Mike McCluskey
Nowra: (administered by Wollongongoffice)59A Kinghorne Street;PO Box 1071, Nowra NSW 2541;Phone (02) 4423 2277Fax (02) 4423 2527RPM: Peter Riley
Orange: 46 Bathurst Road; PO Box 863, Orange NSW 2800;Phone (02) 6393 2511Fax (02) 6393 2599RPM: Laurie Neville
Tamworth: Parry Shire Building, 470 Peel Street;PO Box 558, Tamworth NSW 2340;Phone (02) 6760 2411Fax (02) 6760 2499RPM: Jacqueline Bowmer
Wagga Wagga: 100 FitzmauriceStreet,Wagga Wagga NSW 2650;Phone (02) 6923 4811Fax (02) 6923 4899
RPM: Tim Butler
Wollongong: Cnr Kembla & MarketStreets,Wollongong East NSW 2520;Phone (02) 4224 5011Fax (02) 4224 5099RPM: Peter Riley
Northern TerritoryDarwin: 1 Cavenagh Street;GPO Box 9994, Darwin, NT 0801;Phone (08) 8943 3222Fax (08) 8943 3125State Manager: Tony Bowden
Alice Springs: Cnr Gap Road & SpeedStreet;PO Box 1144, Alice Springs, NT 0871;Phone (08) 8950 4711Fax (08) 8950 4799
QueenslandBrisbane: Middenbury, CnrCoronation Drive & Archer Street,Toowong; GPO Box 9994, Brisbane Qld 4001;Phone (07) 3377 5222Fax: (07) 3377 5633Acting State Manager: Lucy Broad
Bundaberg: 58 Woongarra Street;PO Box 1152, Bundaberg Qld 4670;Phone (07) 4155 4911Fax (07) 4155 4999RPM: Laurel Eldridge
Cairns: Cnr Sheridan and UpwardStreet;PO Box 932, Cairns Qld 4870Phone (07) 4044 2011Fax (07) 4044 2099RPM: Sharon Molloy
Gladstone: Dahl’s Building,43 Tank Street, Gladstone Qld 4680;Phone (07) 4972 3812Fax (07) 4972 2650News Journalist: Michelle Browther
Gold Coast: Cnr Gold Coast Highwayand Francis Street; PO Box 217, Mermaid Beach Qld4217;Phone (07) 5595 2917Fax (07) 5595 2999Manager: Phil Cullen
Longreach: Duck Street;PO Box 310, Longreach Qld 4730;Phone (07) 4658 4011Fax (07) 4658 4099RPM: Chrissy Hinde
Mackay: 25 River Street;PO Box 127, Mackay Qld 4740;Phone (07) 4957 1111Fax (07) 4957 1199RPM: Wayne Shearman
Sunshine Coast FM: Shop 3A, DolphinCentre, 122 Aerodrome Road,Maroochydore Qld 4558;Phone (07) 5475 5000Fax (07) 5475 5099Senior Broadcaster: John Stokes
Maryborough: 146 Bazaar Street;PO Box 276, Maryborough Qld 4650;
ABC Annual Report Appendices
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Phone (07) 4121 5207Fax (07) 4122 3750Rural Reporter: Jim Kennedy
Mt Isa: 114 Camooweal Street,Mt Isa Qld 4825;Phone (07) 4744 1311Fax (07) 4744 1399RPM: Danny Del Rossi
Rockhampton: 236 Quay Street;PO Box 911, Rockhampton Qld 4700;Phone (07) 4924 5711Fax (07) 4924 5799RPM: Ross Quinn
Toowoomba: ABC Radio Centre,297 Margaret Street;PO Box 358, Toowoomba Qld 4350;Phone (07) 4631 3811Fax (07) 4631 3899RPM: Stuart Parry
Townsville: 8-10 Wickham Street;PO Box 694, Townsville Qld 4810;Phone (07) 4722 3011Fax (07) 4772 3099RPM: John Nutting
South AustraliaAdelaide: 85 North East Road,Collinswood;GPO Box 9994, Adelaide SA 5001;Phone (08) 8343 4000Fax (08) 8343 4505State Manager: Michael Mason
Broken Hill: (administered by the SABranch)454 Argent Street;PO Box 315, Broken Hill NSW 2880;Phone (08) 8082 4011Fax (08) 8082 4099RPM: Dion Pittendreigh
Mount Gambier: Penola Road;PO Box 1448, Mt Gambier SA 5290;Phone (08) 8724 1011Fax (08) 8724 1099RPM: Alan Richardson
Port Augusta: Church Street;PO Box 2149, Port Augusta SA 5700;Phone (08) 8642 2848Fax (08) 8642 2838
Port Lincoln: 2/8 Eyre Street;PO Box 679, Port Lincoln SA 5606;Phone (08) 8683 2611Fax (08) 8683 2699
Port Pirie: 85 Grey Street;PO Box 289, Port Pirie SA 5540;Phone (08) 8638 4811Fax (08) 8638 4899RPM: Terry Price
Renmark: Ral Ral Avenue;PO Box 20, Renmark SA 5341;Phone (08) 8586 1311Fax (08) 8586 1399RPM: Bruce Mellett
TasmaniaHobart: ABC Centre Liverpool Street;GPO Box 9994, Hobart Tas 7001;Phone (03) 6235 3333Fax (03)6235 3407State Manager: Robert J. Batten
Email: [email protected]
Burnie: 81 Mount Street;PO Box 533, Burnie Tas 7320;Phone (03) 6430 1211Fax (03) 6430 1299
Launceston: 45 Ann Street;PO Box 201, Launceston Tas 7250;Phone (03) 6323 1011Fax (03) 6323 1099
VictoriaABC Southbank Centre:Southbank Bvd, Southbank 3006; GPO Box 9994, Melbourne Vic 3001;Phone: (03) 9626 1600Fax: (03) 9626 1601State Manager: Murray GreenEmail: [email protected]
ABC Elsternwick Centre: 8 GordonStreet,Elsternwick, Vic 3185;GPO Box 9994, Melbourne Vic 3001;Phone: (03) 9524 2222Fax: (03) 9524 2504
Radio Australia: ABC SouthbankCentre, Southbank Bvd, Southbank Vic3006Phone: (03) 9626 1800Fax: (03) 9626 1899Network Manager: Jean-GabrielManguy
Bendigo: 278 Napier Street;PO Box 637, Bendigo Vic 3550;Phone: (03) 5440 1711Fax: (03) 5440 1799RPM: Jonathon Ridnell
Horsham: Shop 506, 148 Baillie Street; PO Box 506, Horsham Vic 3400;Phone: (03) 5381 5311Fax: (03) 5381 5399
Mildura: 73A Pine Ave:PO Box 5051, Mildura Vic 3502;Phone: (03) 5022 4511Fax: (03) 5022 4599RPM: Victoria Adams
Morwell: 20 George St; PO Box 1109, Morwell Vic 3840Phone (03) 5133 8425Fax (03) 5133 8421
Sale: 340 York Street;PO Box 330, Sale Vic 3850;Phone: (03) 5143 5510Fax: (03) 5143 5599RPM: Debbie Bye
Shepparton: 265a Maude Street;PO Box 1922, Shepparton Vic 3630;Phone: (03) 5820 4011Fax: (03) 5820 4099
Traralgon: 1 High Street;PO Box 1063, Traralgon Vic 3844Phone: (03) 5174 0433Fax: (03) 5174 0109
Warrnambool: 166B Koroit Street;PO Box 310, Warrnambool Vic 3280;Phone: (03) 5560 3111Fax: (03) 5560 3199
Wodonga: 1 High Street;PO Box 1063, Wodonga Vic 3690;
Phone: (02) 6024 2000Fax: (02) 6024 2927(admin) Fax: (02) 6024 2404 (GenNews/prog)RPM: Neil Meaney
Western AustraliaPerth: 191 Adelaide Terrace;PO Box 9994, Perth WA 6848;Phone (08) 9842 4011Fax (08) 9842 4099State Manager: Geoff Duncan
West Australia Symphony Orchestra(Symphony Australia)191 Adelaide Terrace;PO Box 9994, Perth WA 6848;Phone (08) 9326 0011Fax (08) 9326 0099Manager Director: Rod Lillis
Albany: 2 St Emilie Way;Albany WA 6330;Phone (08) 9842 5000Fax (08)9842 5557RPM: John Cecil
Broome: 1/6B Napier Terrace;PO Box 217, Broome WA 6725;Phone (08) 9191 3011Fax (08) 9191 3099RPM: George Manning
Bunbury: 72 Wittenoom Street;PO Box 242, Bunbury WA 6231;Phone (08) 9792 2711Fax (08) 9792 2799RPM: Ron Pait
Esperance: Port Authority Building,The Esplanade;PO Box 230, Esperance WA 6450;Phone (08) 9071 5673Fax (08) 9071 5823Reporter Rural: Judith Walker
Geraldton: 245 Marine Terrace;PO Box 211, Geraldton WA 6530;Phone (08) 9923 4111Fax (08) 9923 4199RPM: Paul Thompson
Kalgoorlie: 383 Hannan Street;PO Box 125, Kalgoorlie WA 6430;Phone (08) 9093 7011Fax (08) 9093 7099RPM: Irene Montefiore
Karratha: De Grey Place;PO Box 994, Karratha WA 6714;Phone (08) 9183 5011Fax (08) 9183 5099RPM: Paul Semple
Kununurra: 15 Sandalwood Street;PO Box 984, Kununurra WA 6743;Phone (08) 9168 2773Fax (08) 9169 1102Journalist: Greg Hayes
Overseas OfficesAmman: PO Box 830256Amman, Jordan;Phone: (9626) 461 6130 Fax: (9626) 461 6131
Bangkok: 518/5 Maneeya CentrePenthouse (17th floor), PloenchitRoad, Pathumwan District, Bangkok
Appendices ABC Annual Report
121
10330, Thailand;Phone: (662) 652 0595, 652 0596, 6520597, 652 0598, 652 0599Fax: (662) 254 8336
Beijing: 8-121 Qi Jia Yuan DiplomaticCompound,Chaoyang District,Beijing 100600, China;Phone: (8610) 6532 6819, 6532 6820,6532 6825Fax: (8610) 6532 2514
Brussels: International Press CentrePost Box 1, 1 Boulevard Charlemagne, 1041 Brussels, Belgium;Phone: (322) 282 0520, 282 0522, 2820525 Fax: (322) 282 0529
Jakarta: Level 16, Deutche BankJn Iman Bonjol, 80Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia;Phone: (6221) 390 8123Fax: (6221) 390 8124
Jerusalem: 5th Floor, J.C.S. Building206 Jaffa Road, Jerusalem.91131, Israel;Phone: (9722) 537 2908537 3557, 538 9060, 670 1795Fax: (9722) 537 3306
Johannesburg: 3rd Floor, 1 Park Road,Richmond, Johannesburg 2092, SouthAfrica;Phone: (2711) 726 8636, 726 8676 Fax: (2711) 726 8633
London: 54 Portland Place, London.W1N 4DY, United Kingdom;Phone: (44171) 631 4456Fax: (44171) 323 0059, 323 1125
Moscow: Kutuzovsky ProspektBuilding 13, Apartment 113Moscow 121248, Russia ;Phone: (7095) 974 8182 Fax: (7095) 974 8186
New Delhi: A-11 (Top Floor)West End Colony, New Delhi 110021,India;Phone: (9111) 687 2337Fax: (9111) 687 2153
New York: Suite 2260, 630 FifthAvenue, New York NY 10111, USA;Phone: (1212) 332 2540 Fax: (1212) 332 2546
Port Moresby: Airvos AvenueGPO Box 779, Port Moresby,Papua New Guinea;Phone: (675) 321 2666 Fax: (675) 321 2131
Tokyo: NHK Hoso Centre, 2-2-1 Jinnan,Shibuyaku, Tokyo, 150, Japan;Phone: (813) 3469 8089Fax: (813) 3468 8445
Washington: Suite 510, National PressBuilding, 529 14th Street NWWashington DC 20045, USA;Phone: (1202) 466 8575Fax: (1202) 626 5188
Appendix 21
ABC ShopsAustralian Capital TerritoryCanberra: Shop CF 12, CanberraCentre, Canberra ACT 2600;Phone (02) 6247 2941Fax (02) 6275 4567
New South WalesBrookvale: Shop 110, Level 1, Block 0,Warringah Mall Shopping CentreBrookvale NSW 2100;Phone (02) 9905 3758Fax (02) 9905 7198Campbelltown: Shop U32, MacarthurSquare, Campbelltown NSW 2560;Phone: (02) 4626 8624Fax: (02) 4626 4027Chatswood: Shop 350, Level 3Westfield Shopping TownChatswood NSW 2067;Phone (02) 9950 3148Fax (02) 9950 3149Erina: Shop T46, The BoardwalkErina Fair, Erina NSW 2250;Phone (02) 4367 6892Fax (02) 4365 4986Miranda Shop 1087-88, Level 1,Westfield Shopping Town,Miranda NSW 2228;Phone (02) 9524 4289Fax (02) 9524 8153Newcastle: Shop 205, Upper Level,Charlestown Shopping SquareCharlestown NSW 2290Phone (02) 4943 9763Fax (02) 4943 8460Parramatta: Shop 3038, Level 3,Westfield Shopping TownParramatta NSW 2150;Phone (02) 9635 9922Fax (02) 9891 5668Penrith: Shop 37, Ground Floor,Penrith Plaza, Penrith NSW 2750;Phone (02) 4721 8299Fax (02) 4721 8159QVB/Sydney: Shop 48, The Albert WalkQueen Victoria Building,Sydney NSW 2000;Phone (02) 9333 1635Fax (02) 9261 4347Ultimo: The Foyer, ABC Ultimo Centre,700 Harris Street, Ultimo NSW 2007;Phone (02) 9333 2055Fax (02) 9333 1240
Northern TerritoryDarwin Shop 245,Casuarina Square, Casuarina NT 0810;Phone (089) 27 8788Fax (089) 27 1291
QueenslandBrisbane: Shop 240, Level 2The Myer Centre, Brisbane Qld 4000;Phone (07) 3377 5455Fax (07) 3221 1516Broadbeach: Shop 139A, Boston Way,Pacific Fair Shopping Centre,Broadbeach Qld 4218;
Phone (07) 5575 4231Fax (07) 5572 0084Carindale: Shop 2063Carindale Shopping Centre,Carindale Qld 4153;Phone (07) 3398 1606Fax (07) 3843 1534Indooroopilly: Shop 3017Westfield Shoppingtown, IndooroopillyQld 4068Phone (07) 3878 9923Fax (07) 3878 9931
South AustraliaAdelaide: Shop 310, Level 3, The MyerCentre, Adelaide SA 5000;Phone (08) 8410 0567Fax (08) 8410 0585Marion: Shop 2047, Level 2Westfield Shoppingtown Marion,Oaklands Park SA 5046;Phone (08) 8298 6350Fax (08) 8298 6352Modbury: Shop 200, WestfieldShoppingtown, Tea Tree Plaza,Modbury SA 5092;Phone (08) 8396 0000Fax (08) 8396 0930
TasmaniaHobart: Shop 206 Centrepoint70 Murray Street, Hobart Tas 7000;Phone (03) 6235 3648Fax (03) 6235 3649
VictoriaChadstone: Shop B53, Lower Mall,Chadstone Shopping Centre ChadstoneVic 3148;Phone (03) 9524 2205Fax (03) 9563 3510Maribyrnong: Shop 2072, HighpointShopping CentreMaribyrnong Vic 3032;Phone: (03) 9317 4652Fax: (03) 9317 4653Melbourne: Shop 26, Galleria Level,Galleria Shopping PlazaMelbourne Vic 3000;Phone (03) 9626 1167Fax (03) 9602 5221Preston: Shop K28, Level 1, Northlands Shopping Centre, EastPreston Vic 3072;Phone (03) 9471 4863Fax (03) 9471 4864Ringwood: Shop L60, EastlandShopping Centre, 171-175 MaroondahHighway, Ringwood Vic 3134;Phone (03) 9879 5094Fax (03) 9879 5616
Western AustraliaPerth: Shop 60, Gallery LevelThe Carillon ArcadePerth WA 6000;Phone (09) 9321 6852Fax (09) 9481 7858Morley: Shop 173, Level 1The Galleria Morley, Walter RoadMorley WA 6062;Phone (09) 9276 7673Fax (09) 9276 6286
ABC Annual Report
122
Page
TablesFive Year Funding Analysis 11
ABC Television Most Popular Programs 22
Concerts and Attendances 62
Organisation Chart 9
MapsABC Services 5
ABC Bureaus and Correspondents 7
GraphsRevenue from Government 10
Operating Revenue 10
Revenue from Independent Sources 10
Operating Expenses 10
Australian Content 1995–99 22
First run programs 22
Television Program Analysis 23
Network Television content 23
(6am to midnight)
Network Television content 23
(6pm to midnight
Page
Australian Content (first run vs repeat) 23
Overseas Content (first run vs repeat) 23
ABC Made Programs (First run) 23
ABC Online accesses 30
News Online Accesses 26
Radio Audience Reach (networks) 41
Radio Audience Share 40
Television Audience Share 41
Television Average Weekly Reach 41
Enterprises Cash Contribution to ABC 52
Enterprises Revenue activities 52
ABC Staff 1990–1999 57
Staff by Portfolio 57
Staff by Region 57
Staff by Job Group 57
Staff by Gender 57
Concert Attendances 60
Number of Concerts 60
Performance Activities 60
List of graphs tables & maps
AABC Board see BoardABC Centres, 7-8, 120ABC Classic FM, 2, 4-5, 20-21, 28,
31-32, 34-36, 38, 40, 50, 54, 58,64, 100, 103-104, 113-114
ABC Development, 9, 49, 100ABC Enterprises, 2, 7-9, 19, 21, 28,
32, 47-49, 52-53, 65, 76, 78, 96,99-100, 106, 117-118, 122
ABC for Kids, 2, 46-47, 65, 106-107ABC International, 100ABC News Online, 2-3, 6-7, 24, 26,
30-32, 37, 39, 53, 64-65, 122ABC Offices, 96, 118ABC Online, 2-6, 17, 21, 28, 30-31,
34, 38, 44, 50, 52, 64, 103, 107,122
ABC Radio, 2-4, 6, 20, 32, 37-38, 40,45-46, 54-55, 59, 64, 96, 98, 105,114, 120, 122
ABC Shops, 7-8, 47, 96, 121ABC Television, 2-4, 6-7, 12, 15-22,
24-36, 38-41, 43, 45-56, 58, 63-67, 76, 78-81, 84, 88, 95-97, 101-110, 114, 116-119, 122
Aboriginal and Torres Strait IslanderStaff - see also Indigenous, 56
ABU (Asia-Pacific BroadcastingUnion), 49
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, 13,36, 58-59, 61, 92, 94
Adelaide Terrace, ABC Perth, 120Advertising, 27, 96, 117Archives and Library Services, 52,
100Arnbridge, 73, 83-84, 92, 94Arts, 1-3, 9, 12, 18, 20-22, 30, 36, 39,
45-46, 48, 50, 53, 69, 81, 97-98,100, 102-104, 109
Asia Pacific, 4, 49, 54, 65Assistance to overseas broadcasters,
35, 49Audience (s), 1, 4, 6-7, 12, 16-22, 24,
26-33, 35-47, 50-51, 53, 56, 59-60, 63-67, 98, 100-102, 108-109,122
Audio Streaming, 3, 6, 14, 26, 31, 33,37-38, 103, 109
Audit, 68-69, 93, 96, 100, 117-118Audit Subcommittee, 96, 117AusAID, 49, 65Australia Television, 3, 39, 79-81, 84,
88, 95, 105Australian Broadcasting Authority,
15-16, 43-44, 66, 102, 114, 116Australian composers/composition,
31, 50, 63-64Australian content, 12, 16, 20, 22,
45, 48, 51, 64, 122Australian Information Media, 92,
94, 100Australian music, 2, 4, 20, 61, 64,
103Awards, 2-3, 17, 19, 27, 29-30, 32,
50, 58, 63-64, 96, 103-107
BBias, 43-44, 102, 110Board, 3, 9, 12-13, 17, 39, 42-45, 51,
53, 75, 100, 99-100, 117Business support review, 118
CCentres, ABC - see ABC CentresChairman, 12-13, 17, 49, 70, 92, 100,
117Charter, ABC, 7, 13, 45, 48, 67, 100Children's programs or products - see
also ABC for Kids, 30, 32-33, 35,39, 47, 49, 51, 53, 78, 97, 101,103-104, 106-109
Classic FM, ABC - see ABC Classic FMClosed captioning, 42, 101Co-production, 2, 16, 19, 21-22, 33-
35, 39, 48-51, 117-118Code of Practice, 42, 44, 96, 100, 102Collinswood, ABC Adelaide, 2, 53,
55, 120Collocation, 55-56, 64Comedy, 21, 39, 46, 49, 51, 53, 63-
64, 97-98, 101, 103, 106Commissioning, 3, 15, 51Commonwealth Games, coverage of,
2, 29, 31, 64Complaints, 42-44, 67, 96, 102, 110Concert performance, 59-60, 63, 122Concerts, 2, 20, 35-36, 38, 46, 50, 58-
63, 71, 79, 103, 107, 122Consultants, 14, 27, 55, 79, 96, 117Contact your ABC - see ABC OfficesCopyright, 47, 52, 77, 87, 100, 118Corporate Plan, 48, 64, 66Corporate Planning and
Communications, 9, 42-43, 99-100
Correspondence, 42, 47Cost of services, 10-11, 71, 88Cross-media production, 2, 28-29,
31, 33, 49-51, 55-56, 59, 64-65Current affairs - see also News and
Current Affairs, 2, 4, 6, 9, 13, 15,17-18, 21-22, 24-26, 30, 34, 39,42-43, 49, 51, 53-55, 64, 67, 71,76, 78, 97-98, 100-105, 108-109,117, 119
Cuts, 52Cybercast, 26
DDefamation, 52Department of Communications,
Information Technology and theArts, 20, 50
Digital, the move to, 3, 16, 33, 48,53-56, 66
Digital broadcasting, 2-3, 16, 18, 21,33, 37, 48, 51, 55, 66, 107
Digital technology, 3, 16, 33, 48, 53-56, 66
Directors, see Board
Directors, Statement by, 68-70Documentaries, 4, 15, 20, 27-28, 31,
34-35, 38-39, 49, 53, 56, 63, 65,97, 100-101, 103-105, 107, 109-110
Drama, 2-4, 15-16, 19-20, 22, 33, 39,49-51, 53, 56, 60, 97, 100-101,103-105
EEditorial independence, 100Editorial Policies, 44, 109Education, 3, 16, 19, 30, 33-34, 36,
39, 53, 58-60, 63, 78, 97, 104,109
Election coverage - see also Onlineelection coverage, 2, 25-26, 31,36, 43, 53, 66-67, 108, 110
Email addresses, 42-43, 64, 119-120Employee relations, 79, 100Enterprise Bargaining Agreement, 3,
56, 67Enterprises - see ABC EnterprisesEntertainment programs, 4, 6Equal Employment Opportunity, 56Equity & Diversity, 56, 67, 100Executive, 9, 13-16, 26, 45, 69
FFederal Government, 26, 45, 54, 66Festivals, 19, 21, 28, 31-32, 36, 38,
45-46, 50, 59-60, 103-105Finance and Business Services, 9, 16,
53-54, 99-100, 117-118Financial management, 2, 52, 66Forums and debates, 1, 4, 25-27, 31-
32, 34, 50, 56, 63-65, 100, 105,109
Freedom of Information, 42, 47Funding - see also Triennial Funding
Agreement, 10, 17, 21, 28, 39,49-53, 59, 63, 71, 80-81, 88, 109,122
Future directions, 2, 50
GGifts and donations, 117Going Digital - see DigitalGovernment, 3, 10-11, 26-27, 31, 39,
45, 48-50, 52-54, 61, 63, 66, 68,71, 76-81, 88, 100, 105, 117, 122
GST, coverage of, 31
HHuman Resources, 9, 16, 54, 56, 58,
85, 100, 117-118
IIndependent Complaints Review
Panel, 43-44, 96, 102, 110Indigenous, 6, 20-21, 29-30, 32-34,
39, 50, 56, 64, 100-101, 104-105,109, 114, 118
Indigenous programs, 6, 32-33, 64,109
Indonesia, coverage of, 25, 104
ABC Annual Report
123
Index
ABC Annual Report Appendices
124
Industrial relations, 16Information technology, 9, 20, 50,
56, 67, 69, 81, 118International broadcasting, 39, 48, 53International correspondents and
bureaus - see Overseascorrespondents and bureaus
International coverage, 6, 17, 24, 34,64, 109
International services - see also RadioAustralia and Australia Television,50
Internet, 3-4, 14, 17, 19, 26, 30-32,42, 65-67, 104, 118
Intranet, 54
KKosovo, coverage of, 3, 24, 26, 31, 43
LLegal and Copyright, 52, 100, 118Licensing, 8, 52-53, 100Local and Regional Services, 6, 9, 15,
22, 27, 36-37, 41, 51, 65-66, 71,76, 98-100, 103, 109, 117-118,122
Local Radio, 2-3, 6, 20, 28-29, 32, 34,36-38, 55, 64-65, 98, 100, 106,122
Local Television, 6, 34, 65, 103, 105
MManaging Director, 9, 12-13, 15, 17,
26, 42-43, 47, 49, 59, 70, 92-93,100, 110, 117-119
Market Research, 96, 117Marketing, 28, 34, 52-53, 108Media Entertainment and Arts
Alliance (MEAA), 105Melbourne Symphony, 58-59, 92, 94Metropolitan Radio, 6, 40, 106, 111,
114Millennium Bug - see Y2KMinister for Communications,
Information Technology and theArts, 9, 69
Minister, 9, 20, 22, 25, 32, 45, 59, 69-70, 75, 81, 96, 110, 117
Mission, 1, 37, 59, 111-112, 115-116Multichannelling, 45, 48, 66Multimedia, ABC, 3, 7, 19, 31, 33, 37-
38, 49-50, 65, 67, 92, 100, 104Music publishing, 7-8, 48, 52, 100
NNAC - see National Advisory CouncilNational Advisory Council, 9, 45, 67,
96, 107-109, 117National Networks, 3-4, 9, 15, 50-52, 56,
71, 76, 98, 100, 108-109, 117-118National Transmission Agency - see
NTLNational Transmission Network, 3,
54, 66Natural History Unit , 19, 27, 39, 53,
103, 105, 107News and Current Affairs, 2, 4, 6, 9,
13, 15, 17-18, 21-22, 24-26, 34,42-43, 49, 51, 53-55, 64, 67, 71,76, 78, 99-102, 108-109, 117, 119
NewsRadio, 2, 4-5, 24, 29, 31, 34-36,
40, 50, 54, 64, 98, 100, 113-114NTL, 3, 11, 54, 66, 74, 81, 114, 116
OOccupational Health and Safety, 67,
100Offices - see ABC OfficesOlympics, 12, 29, 31OneABC, 10, 17-18, 108Online election coverage, 25Online News - see ABC News OnlineOnline services - see also Multimedia,
6, 17, 30, 50-53, 55, 64Open Learning, 34, 98Optus, 54, 74Orchestras, 13, 20-21, 36, 50, 58-63,
71, 81-82, 92, 94, 103, 118, 120Organisation structure, 1, 96, 100Overseas correspondents and bureaus,
3, 6, 24, 31, 64, 117-119
PParliament, 4, 9, 25-26, 80, 98, 100,
117, 119Parliamentary News Network - see
NewsRadioPartnerships, 33, 50, 82, 118Payroll, 75, 100Phone your ABC - see ABC OfficesPNN - see NewsRadioProgram Production, 9, 16, 22, 38, 44,
51-52, 54, 71, 76, 78, 100-101,117, 119
Program sales, 8, 53, 79Property , 3, 7, 53, 55, 66, 73, 77-80,
82, 87-88, 100, 118Publishing, 7-8, 15, 48, 52, 100
QQueensland Symphony Orchestra, 59-
60, 103
RRadio Australia, 2-6, 31, 37, 39, 50, 54,
64, 81, 95-96, 98, 116, 119-120Radio National, 2, 4-6, 13, 15, 20-21,
26-29, 31, 33-34, 39-40, 50, 54,64, 98, 103-105, 109, 112, 114
Radio Sport, 3, 6, 64, 100, 104-105Re-broadcasting, 39, 55, 64Recordings, 7, 47, 60, 63Redundancy, 76-77, 82-83, 99Referendum, Republic or Monarchy,
25-26Regional Radio - see Local and
Regional RadioReligious programs, 18, 28-29, 39, 51,
97-98, 101, 103Remuneration, 68, 75, 79-80, 91, 93Review of operations - see also
Business Services Review, 44, 118Risk management, 76Rural programs, 2-3, 6, 15, 18, 26,
30-32, 47, 64, 98, 100, 104-106,108, 120
SSales and distribution, 48, 100SAP, 2, 53-54, 117-118Satellites, 4, 25, 39, 54-55, 64, 74, 79,
114, 118School concerts, 46, 60, 62-63Science, 2-3, 6, 18, 28-30, 34, 36, 39,
45, 49-50, 53, 64, 97-98, 103-105,109
Senior Executives - see alsoExecutives, 16, 100
Service Commitment, 42, 44, 67Shortwave broadcasting, 39, 54, 114Simulcasts, 32, 50, 58Southbank Centre, ABC Melbourne,
46, 55, 59, 119-120Special Broadcasting Service, 15, 48,
50Sport, 3-4, 6, 18, 28-30, 36, 39, 53, 64,
97-98, 100, 104-105, 109Staff profile, 57, 96, 99States and Territories, 4, 8, 12, 29, 38-
39, 55, 65Studios, 6, 53, 66, 107Subtitling - see closed captioningSuperannuation, 78, 80, 82-83, 91,
110, 118Sydney Symphony Orchestra, 58, 60,
92, 94Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race,
coverage of, 25, 31, 66Symphony Australia, 9, 20, 58, 63,
92, 94, 119-120
TTalks, 20, 26, 31, 36, 39, 64, 97, 100Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, 58,
63Technology, Strategy and
Development, 9, 16, 54, 100, 117,119
Telecommunications, 16Training, 3, 19, 32, 34, 48-49, 53, 56,
58, 65, 67, 98, 100, 107, 109, 118Transmitters - see also NTL, National
Transmission Network, 1-2, 43-44,54, 81, 96-97, 101, 111, 114, 116
Triennial Funding Agreement, 10Triple J, 3-5, 8, 19-21, 28, 31-33, 36,
38, 40, 43, 50, 54, 64, 98, 100,103-106, 108, 113-114, 118
UUltimo Centre, ABC Sydney, 55, 118-
119, 121Unearthed, 3, 32, 36, 38, 50Unions, 16, 56
VViolence, 25, 100
WWeb sites, 3, 6, 19, 21, 25, 28-34, 37-
39, 42, 44-46, 49, 54-55, 59, 63,103-104, 107
Webcast - see CybercastWest Australian Symphony
Orchestra, 58, 63, 92, 94
YY2K (Year 2000 Bug), 25, 53, 118Youth audiences, 28Youth programs, 32
The functions and duties which Parliament has given to the ABC are set out inthe Charter of the Corporation (ss6(1) and (2) of the Australian BroadcastingCorporation Act 1983).6(1) The functions of the Corporation are —
(a) to provide within Australia innovative and comprehensive broadcasting services of a highstandard as part of the Australian broadcasting system consisting of national, commercialand community sectors and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to provide—(i) broadcasting programs that contribute to a sense of national identity and inform andentertain, and reflect the cultural diversity of, the Australian community; and(ii) broadcasting programs of an educational nature;
(b) to transmit to countries outside Australia broadcasting programs of news, current affairs,entertainment and cultural enrichment that will—(i) encourage awareness of Australia and an international understanding of Australianattitudes on world affairs; and(ii) enable Australian citizens living or travelling outside Australia to obtain informationabout Australian affairs and Australian attitudes on world affairs; and
(c) to encourage and promote the musical, dramatic and other performing arts in Australia.
6(2) In the provision by the Corporation of its broadcasting services within Australia —
(a) the Corporation shall take account of—(i) the broadcasting services provided by the commercial and community sectors of theAustralian broadcasting system;(ii) the standards from time to time determined by the Australian Broadcasting Authority inrespect of broadcasting services;(iii) the responsibility of the Corporation as the provider of an independent nationalbroadcasting service to provide a balance between broadcasting programs of wide appealand specialised broadcasting programs;(iv) the multicultural character of the Australian community; and(v) in connection with the provision of broadcasting programs of an educational nature —the responsibilities of the States in relation to education; and
(b) the Corporation shall take all such measures, being measures consistent with theobligations of the Corporation under paragraph (a), as, in the opinion of the Board, will beconducive to the full development by the Corporation of suitable broadcasting programs.
6(3)The functions of the Corporation under subsection (1) and the duties imposed on theCorporation under subsection (2) constitute the Charter of the Corporation.
6(4)Nothing in this section shall be taken to impose on the Corporation a duty that isenforceable by proceedings in a court.
Published by the Australian Broadcasting CorporationDesigned and typeset by ABC Strategy and Communications
Printed by NCP Printing
For information on this Annual Report please contact: Manager Corporate Publishing, ABC Corporate Relations GPO Box 9994 in your capital city
National Library of Australia card number and ISSN 0816 827X
Charter
annual report1998–99
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Australian Broadcasting CorporationA
nnual Report 1998–99