Massive changes at ABC revealed
The ABC is about to undergo a major overhaul that will result in just two divisions – news and content – in a move the national broadcaster says is necessary “to adapt for the digital world”.
There will be job losses in both management and staff.
ABC managing director David Anderson said audiences were moving from broadcast radio to streamed or on-demand audio and the organisation needed a “digital first” structure.
“(This restructure will) enable us to ensure the ABC continues to be as important to Australians in the future, just as it has for the past 90 years,” he told in staff on Thursday.
Under the changes, the current separate regional and radio divisions will be abolished.
Regional journalists will be transferred to the news division, while radio networks will join television in the content division.
“This in no ways diminishes the importance of what we do, as many of Australia’s favourite podcasts and radio programs today are presented by the ABC,” Mr Anderson told employees on Thursday.
The changes begin on July 1.
The announcement comes just two days after the federal government announced the latest five-year funding of $1.1bn a year for the ABC.
“The funding provides a solid foundation as the ABC continues to evolve its services to meet the needs of Australian audiences,” Mr Anderson said in a statement.
“The next five years will be crucial to the ABC as we navigate significant changes in media consumption, industry-wide cost pressures and increasing requirements to modernise and adapt to new technology.”
