Perceptions of ABC TV

The ABC can often be seen as “elitist”, as it favours high-cultural and highbrow values, despite offering a distinct alternative to mainstream television programming. (O’Shaughnessy and Stadler, 2006, p. 37)

ABC TV has been known to target older, more educated individuals, seen through abundance of news and current affairs programs, as well as the high content of British programs. (Jacka, 2006, p. 351) In 2002 and more recently, ABC TV moved towards some programs that held mass appeal, evident through genres such as reality television and lifestyle programs. This is interesting territory for the ABC, as government funding may be deemed unnecessary if it can show it’s able to support itself commercially.

The ABCs ties with government obviously affect its structures and practices. Over the years, the ABC has encountered complaints in relation to bias regarding to political parties. During the financial year of 2002/03, ABC news and current affairs received almost 39 000 audiences contacts, 27% of which were complaints. (‘ABC News and Current Affairs- Accuracy and Impartibility’, 2005, p.1) Of all audience contacts, only 1.1% was concerning complaints of bias regarding the Coalition and Labor parties. (2005, p.2)

Since the 1970s, funding for the ABC has dropped, which has lead to internal disruptions, restructuring and downsizing. (Jacka, 2006, p. 348) Cuts to the corporation’s funding are often seen as irritation towards the ABCs investigative reporting, which has been known to embarrass the current government, which then leads to accusations of political bias. (Dempster 2000, p. xvi cited in Jacka, 2006, p. 348)

Communications Minister Senator Richard Alston, who was responsible for funding the ABC during the Howard government, regularly accused the ABC of left-wing bias. There was much conflict between the Howard government and the ABC during the Iraq war, with the government accusing the corporation’s reporting as anti-American and emotional. Some can see such interjections as interference; others can see it as a reminder to the ABC of its responsibilities to represent varying Australian opinions. (Jacka, 2006, p. 349)