ABC TV boss Kim Dalton tells staff: There will be redundancies as we focus on prime time
The ABC director of TV has told his staff that a decision to drop much of its arts programming has been driven by falling audiences, “financial pressures” and a bid to focus on prime time shows.
Among the shows axed are The New Inventors, Art Nation. Collectors will be “rested”. Staff will be cut from the ABC’s production pools across most states.
In the email to ABC TV staff circulated late yesterday afternoon, Kim Dalton said:
Dear All
ABC TV today announced a number of changes to its production slate and production resources. These are a result of falling audiences for some programs, increasing financial pressures on ABC TV and a strategic commitment to focus its limited financial resources on prime-time programming.
The Sydney-based production New Inventors will not be renewed after it completes its run on August 17 with its Grand Final.
The Melbourne-based Sunday afternoon production Art Nation will also not be renewed after it completes its run later this year. The final episode of Art Nation will air 27th November, 2011.
It should be noted that the online portal, Arts Gateway, will continue as will the Sunday afternoon block of acquired arts programs from Australia and around the world. ABC TV will maintain its strong commitment to arts programming with a focus on prime time. The Tuesday evening Artscape slot, the First Tuesday Bookclub, At The Movies, ABC2 Live arts performances plus a number of one-off arts documentaries, series and events will continue on ABC TV in 2012.
Late last year ABC TV established two new factual entertainment initiatives one with Screen West and one with the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC). This has resulted in the development of two new factual series of 6 x 30min with ScreenWest and two new factual series of 6 x 30min with SAFC, both series will air on ABC1 in 2012.
As a result of these changes production requirements are less. Therefore ABC TV proposes to reduce the levels of staff in NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Northern Territory Production Pools resulting in proposed staff redundancies.
The ABC is committed to consulting with affected employees and their representatives regarding the change and its likely effect on employees. Briefings and individual meetings have been conducted with directly affected staff today.
In Tasmania, Collectors will be rested and a new show, “Auctions”, has been commissioned for on-air 2012 produced by the team that has been making Collectors. The current run of Collectors will finish on September 23.
ABC TV management recognises that this can be a very difficult time for some staff and will ensure all the appropriate support is offered.
However in the face of an increasingly competitive broadcasting environment and increasing financial pressures, ABC TV must ensure it uses its Government funding as efficiently and effectively as possible to deliver maximum value to its audiences and the Australian taxpayer.
Regards,
Kim Dalton
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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Those shows should have been axed years ago.
The ABC needs to come up with some new and exciting program ideas.
Auctions? Sounds like Antiques Roadshow rehashed.
Surely taxpayers dollars are better spent on original ideas!
Put your thinking cap on Aunty!
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The New Inventors – I loved that show.
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Not great news for production staff. Desk jockeys will be fine to keep checking Facebook and looking out the window. Carry on.
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Making television in the contemporary media environment is a collaboration. Could all production staff please bend over.
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Can we expect even more externally produced ratings disappointments in 2012?
A la Angry Boys & Crownies.
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