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ABC strikes out!
09-March-2011
ABC television has again failed NSW viewers who live near the border region with Victoria.
Member for Farrer, Sussan Ley, says “despite assurances we would receive the 7pm
Sydney-based bulletin from this week leading up to the NSW election, most viewers were faced with more of the same”.
According to Ms Ley, this is a third strike against the ABC in this region.
“First we were promised the NSW news at least one month before the election.
We were then assured the ABC iView internet service would feature a NSW bulletin.”
Two strikes!
Now, the ABC hides behind new technology telling us it was simply too difficult to switch
the DIGITAL service over, ‘but that’s ok, ABC1 ANALOGUE viewers are in the majority’.
“This not only smacks of complete indifference it is manifestly wrong, with take-up rates
of digital television on the border hitting close to 80%”, Ms Ley says.
Three strikes!
All prime time free-to-air television news services continue to come from Melbourne.
The local Federal MP has written to ABC senior management, highlighting requirements
under their Charter, which obliges the pubic broadcaster to provide alternate programming from the commercial broadcasters.
Ms Ley says “in this regard, the ABC is failing miserably. But of even greater concern is denying a future generation of viewers independent knowledge, understanding and ongoing information about the state in which they reside”.