ABC to launch two new channels and new digital streams
The ABC is set to introduce two new channels and four new digital streams this year in an effort to make the user experience easier and more seamless.
The new channels – ABC Family and ABC Entertains – will replace ABC TV Plus and ABC ME, respectively and are set to launch in June.
Described to “showcase the ABC’s catalogue of family and entertainment programs”, the changes have been made to enhance the audience experience and boost program discoverability.
“The multichannel changes are designed to simplify and modernise the ABC channels and form part of the ABC’s overall content strategy to adapt and evolve in line with changing audience trends and behaviours,” said Chris Oliver-Taylor, chief content officer at ABC.
“The ABC is uniquely placed to offer audiences the best range of entertainment and family viewing and having two clearly defined channels plus new digital streams that will make it even easier for Australians of all ages to discover and enjoy their favourite ABC content.”
ABC Family is described as the “destination for big kids and their parents”, with a focus on family friendly and co-viewing content. It will feature new titles and original premiere Australian commissions, including Gold Logie-winning comedian Tom Gleeson’s Hard Quiz Kids.
It will broadcast from 7:30pm every day, after ABC Kids finishes. The connection to the existing ABC Kids channel aims to provide a natural flow of programming from pre-school to school age children, and broader family viewing in the evenings.
Meanwhile, ABC Entertains will build on the ABC’s catalogue of comedy and entertainment. It will feature programs for primary school kids and school-age education programs, such as Behind The News, in the mornings.
Friday night movies will also return to the ABC via ABC Entertains.
“We are excited to be making these changes to the broadcast channels,” said Roberta Allan, ABC’s head of programming, acquisition and streaming.
“We will be adding more family-friendly shows, long running entertainment titles and comedies, plus movies, and much more, further establishing the ABC as a premier destination for family and entertainment viewing.”
In line with the new channels, ABC will introduce four new digital streams to improve the live experience on its streaming platform, ABC iview.
The streams will focus on children’s live action, animation, education and family viewing, making content available as live streams as well as on demand, whenever audiences choose.
“Primary school children are digital natives and want their content on demand and nearly always through a digital platform. The changes announced today means that content for school-age children will be delivered via ABC iview and an altered channel configuration to maximise audience reach,” Oliver-Taylor continued.
“The ABC plays a fundamental role in telling Australian stories for children, reaching more Australians than any network with its children’s focused content and investing more financially than any other network or streamer and that commitment will be maintained into the future.”
It comes as ABC also announced its 2024 screen slate on Thursday, which includes – as well as Hard Quiz Kids – including a new season of music quiz show Spicks and Specks and new Bluey minisodes.
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Lauren McNamara is a journalist at Mumbrella, covering the creative and PR beat. She joined in November 2022 as editorial assistant, after completing a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at UTS.
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ABC
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Bluey
Chris Oliver-Taylor
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Spicks and Specks
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