ABC postpones Christmas party for TV division as cuts announcement looms
ABC TV has postponed its Christmas Party slated for next week due to an expected announcement of further funding cuts at around that time.
Staff received a notification about the “postponement” to the party this morning via an email obtained by Mumbrella. Staff had already forked out for tickets to the party which was to be barefoot bowls.
The email from head of ABC TV Richard Finlayson tells staff they will be contacted about refunds and ticket purchase information. The party will now be held in early December.
A spokesman for the public broadcaster confirmed the party has been postponed and rescheduled for December 3.
Earlier this week the ABC announced its 2015 programming line up, forgoing its usual Upfront presentation this year following funding cuts
The further cuts were first hinted at by Fairfax Media, with Finlayson saying at the time that the ABC and SBS had not been informed of the size of proposed federal government cuts which could strip $200m-$300m from the public broadcasters over five years.
Finlayson told Mumbrella on Tuesday: “I have seen the story and this is all just speculation and we have had no official confirmation, as yet, to the scale of the cuts we will be receiving.”
Miranda Ward
The note to staff:
From: Richard Finlayson
Sent: Friday, 14 November 2014 10:25 AM
Subject: Christmas Party Date Change
Dear TV Team,
In light of recent statements by the Minister and the likelihood of an up-coming announcement, the TV Leadership Group feels that will regrettably have to post-pone next week’s Christmas festivities to Wednesday 3rd December. All running details of the evening will remain the same and Jd & the admin team will be in touch next week with respect to arranging new ticket sales and refunds.
Postponed Cheers,
Richard
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I strongly believe ABC2 is going. No shows announced that had not already been shot and no mention of returning shows except for Good Game. I think they are better to cut off an arm than trim everywhere. Perhaps and ABC2/3 merger. 3 during the day 2 after 7pm.
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Jimmy Giggle will hunt you down Billy C!!!!!!
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If they cut one – just one – of their ‘video journalists’, who sit around doing jack all day, posting stories to websites that nobody reads, that would give them around $60,000 for a decent xmas shindig.
It’s not hard.
They’re just grandstanding for sympathy. Disgraceful.
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The ABC’s Managing Director pays himself over $800,000 a year.
Surely he can spring for a Xmas Party. What a Scrooge if he doesn’t.
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Good Game is a jewel in the crown. It would thrive commercially and make binning it look stupid. ABC Kids is sacrosanct surely?
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Robbo – You seem to have some inside info, exactly who is sitting around all day ? As far as I know any video journo ( usually on SBS not ABC ),worth their salt has no time to sit around because they on contract and have to prove their worth.The only disgrace is that the Fed Govt is taking the axe to the ABC and SBS at a time when we need quality journalism. By the same token ABC 2 has courageous programming that suits a demographic not catered for by any other channel. It would be a shame to lose it. It is the Government that is grandstanding not the ABC.
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The ABC and SBS are a necessary part of a healthy democracy. However, the decision to give on-air ABC staff the right to spout their personal political opinions has proved to be a grave error. It has annoyed the government and some listeners/viewers/readers and should be redressed immediately. Opinion pieces on all platforms should be left to non-ABC staff. And nothing would be lost.
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Annoying the public is something the government does much better than anyone at the ABC myriad.
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