ABC Chairman Slams Commercial Networks In Scathing Op-Ed
The chairman of the ABC Justin Milne has penned a loaded op-ed on the apparent ‘take-down’ of the ABC by commercial media and ‘fringe politics’.
In the piece published Wednesday, Milne slams critics of the ABC, suggesting those who vilify the public broadcaster only do so as they take “delight” in seeing the ABC tumble.
“Some people delight in undermining trust in public broadcasting because they’d rather darkness where we shine light, or because their commercial interests are served when Australians have less media diversity and choice,” Milne said.
“Fringe political interests, populists and commercial media all have a shared interest in weakening the ABC and confining it to market-failure activities.
“Each would benefit in their own way from a poorer, less capable, less nosey and less relevant ABC,” he adds.
Recently, heated criticism has been levelled at the ABC with many accusing the broadcaster of using taxpayer’s money to preach biased ideology.
However, according to Milne, “The ABC costs each Australian half what it cost 30 years ago”.
Milne goes on to address the broadcaster’s “declining” ratings.
“The declining audiences reported by commercial media are not and never have been the fault of the ABC.”
Milne pins the issue down the digital duopoly, or as he calls it, “FAANGs”.
“What has changed for all media is the arrival of the FAANGs — or Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google — with their mega-billion-dollar production budgets and global scale-economies that have upended business models the world over.”
Looking to the future, Milne predicts, “television and radio as we currently know it will cease to exist as Australians complete their migration from broadcast to digital services and stream content on demand to the device of their choice.
“The coming decades will be no different. As media companies consolidate and businesses use their global scale to dominate, the existence of an independent ABC will protect diversity and Australian culture — as it always has.
“The ABC will help define Australian culture in a fragmenting world,” he adds.
Check out the piece in full here.
Latest News
Outdo The Government’s Vaccine Ads And Have A Jab At B&T’s Good AZ Gold Adland Challenge
Admittedly, B&T's no ad creative, but surely the Bertie Beetle showbag is the secret to getting the nation vaccinated?
The 6am Agency Founder Gillian Fish Takes On Two New Roles
6AM Agency’s CEO Appointed to the Vitafoods Content Advisory Board and the Marketing & Ethics Sub-committee of Consumer Healthcare Products Australia
WeMoney Launches Community Aiming To Help Lift Aussie Financial Wellness
WeMoney is now not only the place to learn how to budget but a place to improve your financial literacy, with a raft of well-known fin-influencers now making content on the WeMoney platform to teach, share tips, tricks as well as find bargains.
“We’re In Big-Bang Readiness”: Flight Centre To Ramp Up Media Buying Activity
Flight Centre Travel Group is anticipating some of its biggest years of growth as Australia’s vaccination rollout gains momentum, travel restrictions ease and international borders start re-opening. With travel industry leaders forecasting unprecedented demand for both domestic and international travel as the world moves into a phase of post-COVID management, Flight Centre Australia general manager […]
Sportsbet Promotes Responsible Gambling With “Take A Sec Before You Bet”
A Sportsbet ad promoting safe gambling was certainly a rough outsider paying around $67.
Alan Jones May Have Gone Too Far: Daily Telegraph Severs Relationship
Gotta hand it to Alan, he's been banned or sacked from every media outlet in the country & is still impeccably tailored.
B&T’s Tokyo Olympics Wrap: Fashion, TikToks & Racism
There's medals for real sporting success, while B&T's Olympic wrap awards the blunders, the foot in mouths & the idiots.
REVEALED: Independent Vaccine Ads Outperform Government Work
Arguably, you need look no further than those utter morons last Saturday to realise Australia's tepid ad vax response.
Acast Announces New Podcast ‘The Elements’
From the audio producer of The Teacher’s Pet comes The Elements, a new Acast Creator Network podcast hosted by Thredbo survivor Stuart Diver. The Elements is a podcast that journeys into the heart of surviving a natural disaster and will be hosted and distributed by the creator-first podcast company Acast as part of the Acast Creator […]
“Disturbing, Irresponsible & Harmful!” Calls For Rebel Wilson’s Afterpay Ad To Be Banned
Calls for Rebel's Afterpay ad to be banned. And throw in the diabolical 'Cats' & 'Pitch Perfect 3' while you're at it.
UnLtd Challenges The Industry To “Step Up Your Mood” In Stepathon Challenge
UnLtd unveils industry stepathon challenge. Admittedly, industry piggyback & leapfrog challenge a no-go at the moment.
Basketballer Labels His Own Nike Signature Shoes As “Trash”
NBA star Kyrie Irving has clearly been reading from the Shane Warne School of how to totally embarrass a major sponsor.
Wednesday TV Wrap: Seven’s News The Gold Medal Performer, As The Olympic Network Leaves Rivals In Its Wake
If you could somehow combine the Olympics, an amateur cookery contest & Lego assembly, would you have the ideal TV show?
Banks Can Fast-Track Digitisation Using Data After Earning Customer’s Trust: Salesforce And Bain & Company Study
Need to be the cleverest person at the next inter-company Zoom meeting? Astound colleagues by stealing freely from here.
Refinery29 Australia Launches With Getty Images Partnership
Refinery29 Australia unveils Getty Images partnership. Sadly, no ceremonial sword, horses or any ribbon cutting either.
Facebook Outlines Its Plans To Create A “Metaverse”
Facebook outlines plans to create a "Metaverse". Apparently, Mark's currently on Tatooine looking for Obi-Wan.
Wai Kwok Promoted To CEO Of Enero’s Orchard, As Andrew Antoniou Departs
Wai Kwok named CEO Of Enero's Orchard and, by all reports, everyone is way cool with the idea.
Herd MSL Announces Foxtel Account Win
Comms agency Herd MSL announces Foxtel win. Forgoes office party poppers on account of the new $1300 Dyson cordless vac.
DoubleVerify Launches Enhancements To Brand Safety And Suitability Solution
DoubleVerify has today announced enhancements to its brand safety and suitability solution that include the introduction of DV’s Brand Safety Floor as a turnkey option, extending Brand Suitability Tiers on YouTube, and more. Available to both advertisers and publishers since January 2021, Brand Suitability Tiers allow brands to align suitability settings with their own unique standards, […]
Foxtel Takes The #1 Spot In The Zavy Social Scoreboard
There's only three scoreboards you need: Zavy's, the Olympic medal tally & the periodic table if you're a bit nerdish.
SCA Appoints Maryanne O’Sullivan To Head Of Agency Sales
Maryanne O'Sullivan not only head of SCA sales, but also shares the same name as B&T's favourite Gillgan's islander.
Aimee Buchanan Lands GroupM CEO Job
Aimee Buchanan quits OMD to take up GroupM CEO role. Leaving gift ideas include mounted moose head & ALDI traffic cones.
Dairy Australia Launches Latest “Buy. Support. Enjoy Aussie Dairy” Via Elmwood
You only see the Brandy Alexanders & Grasshoppers at B&T's cocktail hour to know of our support for the dairy industry.
Retired Marketing Man Andrew Piccoli Speaks About His Children’s Book ‘Dexter The Dahu’
Andrew Piccoli spent his career overseeing some of Australia’s most memorable ad campaigns. Now, he has turned his attention to a particular area of passion: children’s literature. Now retired, Piccoli spent the COVID-19 lockdown writing the story of Dexter the Dahu for children aged between five and nine. He has donated a copy of the charming […]
A Clearer Lens: Restoring Trust In Out-Of-Home Measurement
Lost trust in politicians, religious leaders, almond milk claims & outdoor measurement? Renew the faith in outdoor here.
Volkswagen Launches “The Power Of Vrrr Pha” Via Ogilvy
Absolutely nothing says "I couldn't quite afford an Audi" quite like a 20-something male in a Volkswagen Golf GTI.
Mars Appoints IRI As Data And Analytics Partners In Australia
Mars heaps you work, rest and play. As do a couple of Quaaludes followed by half a bottle of Bombay Sapphire.
Brent Liebenberg Joins Khemistry As Executive Creative Director
Brent Liebenberg has joined Khemistry. And, in the process, given B&T's spell checker heart failure.
Pinterest Introduces New Ways For Creators To Earn
Got a little side hustle going on? This Pinterest initiative could help. Unless it involves stripping at hen's nights.
Visual Domain Brings ‘Support Local’ To Life In Campaign Featuring 22 Aussie Businesses
Australia’s largest video production company, Visual Domain, was engaged by online luxury handbag business, She Lion, to bring to life an ambitious project to support local, showcasing the resilience of small business owners during trying times.
