The Mercury 11 September 2011
TASMANIAN television viewers face further service cuts as ABC staff raise concerns that local sports coverage could be scrapped. Union representatives say the ABC's coverage of local AFL and hockey games, as well as events like Anzac Day ceremonies, are at risk from cuts to production staff.
Community and Public Sector Union regional director Paul Blake said staff at ABC Tasmania feared up to 20 production crew could lose their jobs, plus an additional eight "resources" positions, as the ABC considers changes to its production strategy.
"The ramifications are actually huge for Tasmania," Mr Blake said.
"The danger in the ABC's present approach is that Tasmania will be left without any locally generated ABC production apart from news programs.
"This cannot be good for the Tasmanian community or the fledgling Tasmanian independent production sector."
He questioned whether changes at the ABC were "turning into a WIN-TV scenario".
WIN-TV announced at the end of June it had axed its state news director as part of moves to reduce local reporting staff.
An ABC spokeswoman last week would not rule out cuts to local sports coverage.
"Discussion about all football codes has been delayed while ABC works on a new TV production strategy for the next few years," she said.
The spokeswoman said many concerns raised by the CPSU were likely to be addressed at a Senate inquiry into ABC programming cuts and outsourcing of production.
Popular Collectors presenter Adrian Franklin said Tasmania deserved a strong local ABC.
"Hobart is not just a parochial regional city any more, [it] has the potential to be a major arts centre," he said.
Mr Franklin said local production crews and television programs were necessary to represent the state's unique natural attributes, colonial history and events such as Taste.
The ABC spokeswoman said production of Collectors was being "rested". However, the same team will make the newly announced series Auctions.
