The recently revealed Federal Budget may have neglected to show support to community radio, neglecting to address the $1.4 million shortfall in enabling up to 37 community radio stations to make the migration to digital, but on the flipside, the Federal Government showed immense support to public owned media bodies ABC and SBS.
ABC saw nearly $100 million in funding, with $59.4m going towards news and current affairs, $30m for improving and expanding online services, and the rest of the figure expected to be used towards radio and television programs.
SBS benefited from an extra $20m over three years for upkeep of its TV, radio, and online services, as well as an additional $10m over five years towards producing more local content.
In a controversial move however, members of the opposition have proposed a new motion to privatise both public broadcasters, taking away public ownership and operation of the ABC and SBS and putting it into the hands of the highest bidder.
As The Age reports, the push has come from select State Liberals, who launched a push in the lead-up to the September 14th election to privatise the ABC and SBS should Tony Abbott emerge victorious. The Opposition Leader is facing pressures from Victorian Liberals who claim that both bodies are struggling to comply with their public charters, arguing that the funds raised in the sale of the ABC and SBS should be used to pay off government debt.
The controversial motion will be voted on at the Victorian Liberal Party’s state conference, which pushes the federal Coalition to make a full-scale “operational review” of the ABC and SBS to “look at the feasibility of partial or full privatisation of both.” The State Liberals motion argues that the reasoning for keeping the public broadcasters in the hands of the public are “no longer valid in 2013.”
The consequences for music on radio and television are obviously dire should the ABC be sold to the highest corporate bidder.
Triple J, which is more popular among listeners now more than ever according to March’s national radio ratings, thrives on the freedom it has as a public broadcaster, marking its distinction from privately owned media not only for its lack of ads and commercial bias but in developing a strong sense of community with its key 18-24 year-old demographic; through events such as the forthcoming ‘Hottest 20′, the public music poll celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Triple J Hottest 100.
Legendary music television program RAGE would obviously also be affected should the ABC be privatised. Imagine a late-night guest programmer’s choice music video cuts being interrupted by commercial breaks and adverts? Or simply uprooting the entire clip format for a Video Hits style host peddling cars, clothes, and mobile ringtones.
The State Liberals motion argues that the reasoning for keeping the public broadcasters in the hands of the public are “no longer valid in 2013,” emphasising both bodies “aggressively compete” with privately owned media outlets and corporations in a “high-velocity public information environment.”
“Public ownership of like corporations is not compatible with Coalition policies,” the motion says. “In a complex communication market where media outlets are required to set the agenda, ABC/SBS are finding it increasingly difficult to comply with their respective charters, thereby alienating constituents.”
A spokesman for Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said the motion provided healthy debate, though it was “not Coalition policy” to examine the privatisation of the ABC and SBS. However many Liberal members are determined for the Federal review, citing claims of left-wing bias.
John Roskam, Executive Director of the Institute of Public Affairs, told The Age that it was becoming “more apparent by the day” that issues surrounding public ownership needed to be addressed if the Coalition won the September 14 election. “This issue holding back the Coalition from properly assessing the future of the ABC is a perception of strong support for the ABC in rural and regional areas,” Mr Roskam said. ‘
“his is something the Coalition is going to have to address. Talk to Coalition MPs as the election comes closer and there is an even stronger view … that the ABC is barracking for one side.”
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, not a favourable figure amongst community radio following the Budget’s lack of financial support for community digital broadcasting, called the Liberals motion to privatise the ABC and SBS as a “clear warning” of the policies to expect should the Opposition come into power at the upcoming election.
Senator Conroy called upon Federal Opposition Communications Spokesman Malcolm Turnbull to “immediately rule out this extreme position and recommit the Coalition to keeping the national broadcasters in public hands.”
