Government axes Australia Network tender and lets ABC retain contract
The government has tonight called a halt to its chaotic Australia Network tender and awarded the contract to the ABC on a permanent basis.
The decision was taken after the two previous tender processes, appeared set to deliver the contract – to be Australia’s TV voice in Asia – to Sky News. Both were cancelled after leaks on the likely outcome of the process.
The ABC tonight quotes MD Mark Scott as saying: “”The ABC takes seriously the responsibility to take Australia into the Asia Pacific region, building on the outstanding services we have delivered over 70 years.”
The Australia Network, which was originally known as Australia Television International, and then ABC Asia Pacific, launched in 2002.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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Wow, I simply cannot believe that this issue will be just swept under the carpet by the media and general public.
A tender is issued, various parties spend millions on not one, but two tender processes. Two independent reviews award the tender to Sky News and yet the Government turns around and hands it to the ABC!
And guess where the leaks which ruined the tender came from? The Federal Labor Government.
I seriously cannot fathom the incompetence and what’s worse the apathy of the Australian public to keep accepting these outcomes……
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The result i had hoped for, albeit in chaotic circumstances. I do feel that this never should have been put out to tender, as the ABC aims for complete coverage of issues, and no singular opinion show. The same can not be said for Sky News and subsequently News Corp. People complain of left-wing bias, but surely the more positive things are, the more left-wing they seem. (i.e. no gay mariage, limited immigration, no carbon/mining tax, etc.) – its alot of “no” for the right.
Just to add on the recent study of media bias on the Carbon tax, i viewed several news items in the last hour on the Australia Network decision and was baffled when The Australian deemed it necessary to mention that the Greens wanted the ABC to win the tender in the opening paragraph. No other articles mention anything of this kind, yet The Australian in their well-known negativity of the Greens open with this.
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Why are we trying to operate a channel when we should simply be producing content and having it provided free online and making it available to domestic channels to rebroadcast as they choose.
Seems a very 1960s approach.
Compelling content attracts eyeballs, not channels.
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If it becomes the next BBC or Deutsche Welle then I’ll be happy – those companies reap millions for their nation’s coffers.
Chaotic, and handled very poorly by the govt, the end result is a good one IMO.
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Truly appauling process which should never gone to tender in the first place. Agree with compensation, but frankly I’d like to see an audit conducted on the alleged “miilions” spent.
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Wise decision..
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I have been in Asia watching the Australian Network for nearly 20years
The content is still apalling, the scheduling of promos etc is simply not up to broadcast standard.
While I have no beef about the ABC still having the rights, please appoint some broadcasting staff to at least make it look like a broadcating channel PLEASE!!!!
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