ABC: Focus on Australian programming

Friends of the ABC Tasmania has urged ABC Management to use the loss of the BBC deal to Foxtel as a great opportunity to focus on Australian Programming.

“For too many years now the ABC has relied on BBC content to fill our TV screens when ABC professionals in partnership with the independent film makers have demonstrated that they have the skills and creativity to offer audiences a wide variety of quality locally produced programs” said FABC TAS President Margaret Reynolds

Australia does not need British cooking, lifestyle or travel documentaries because we are perfectly capable of producing more entertaining content ourselves!
It is true that BBC drama is of a high standard but the loss of these programs gives the ABC scope to concentrate more resources on Australian drama which is of an equally high standard and has more relevance to local audiences.

In addition the ABC can look to a range of countries to purchase some overseas content.

The ABC Annual Report does not specify a breakdown on expenditure for locally made content nor does it detail the cost of importing BBC programs.

There can now be a major commitment of programming resources on Australian content which is in fact long overdue
Margaret Reynolds