Petitions you must sign
There are two (2) petitions now that require your support to save local sports on the ABC.
If you weren't able to make a submission for the Senate Inquiry, you now have the chance to have your voice heard. Click on the below links to sign the petitions:
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Adelaide Now 18 September 2011SPORTING heroes and politicians have had their turn, and now all South Australians have their chance to turn the blowtorch on ABC TV.
Today the campaign to keep SANFL football on the national broadcaster heats up as the premier state-based football competition in the land begins its finals series at AAMI Stadium.
But there is more at stake than the Thomas Seymour Hill Cup for the premiership side - the state's sports fans have a golden chance to make a stand against ABC plans to dump SANFL telecasts from the station.
SANFL fans across the state can add their signatures to a petition by former federal sport minister Kate Ellis and Labor backbencher Steve Georganas, circulating at finals games over the next month.
The push for people power comes as four-time Magarey Medal winner and state football champion Russell Ebert today calls for a commitment from the ABC to retain its SANFL coverage, in an exclusive Sunday Mail column.
The threat against SANFL telecasts follows similar fears for the future of other sports including bowls, which face the axe under forecast ABC cutbacks.
Ebert, along with state bowling legend Errol Bungey, have joined the groundswell against national ABC plans to slash production costs by reducing its state-level sport content.
Magarey and Brownlow medal winner Malcolm Blight has also backed the fight, while politicians from both sides at state and federal level have mounted pressure on the ABC to abort its pro- gramming changes.
"You'd like to think it keeps going. I think it's very important for the game," Blight said.
Online, several Facebook pages supporting SANFL coverage on the ABC have surfaced since revelations the national broadcaster was rethinking its sports content. The most popular, "Save the SANFL on the ABC", had 2899 followers by last night.
On Thursday the fight reached the Senate in Canberra, where members voted unanimously to reject the ABC's suspected plan.
Opponents to the ABC's plans believe the national broadcaster is bound under its charter to continue its coverage of grassroots sport.
Both SANFL and bowls leaders have been told financial concerns are behind the move. That is despite the SANFL paying $70,000 a year and Bowls Australia $250,000 annually to the ABC to help fund its broadcast costs.
General manager of SANFL football operations Darren Chandler said the league remained hopeful its broadcast partner understood the cultural significance of the football league to South Australians.
"The ABC haven't told us they are going to cut the SANFL coverage - but they haven't told us they're not going to cut the SANFL coverage, either," Mr Chandler said.
"We argue that Australian football in SA is at the essence of the culture of the people in this state.
"There is nothing more cultural to the people of SA than SANFL football.
"So we'd like to think that holds pretty strong and fits in well with the ABC charter."
Bowls SA general manager Ben Scales said although ratings were not traditionally a concern for the taxpayer-funded ABC, bowls had been a strong performer for the station.
"We want the ABC to reconsider," Mr Scales said. "An average of 300,000 watched the program each week, and up to 500,000 for the major internationals - we thought that was a significant viewership."
Ms Ellis was uncertain of a target number for signatures on the petition, but said the bigger the response, the stronger the statement to the ABC. "I will be out collecting signatures today and throughout the final series, so that the SA community can make their voices heard," Ms Ellis said.
"I have been thrilled at the response so far, with so many people in our community taking the time to stop and formally record their support for our local league.
"The SANFL has been central to the sporting experiences, entertainment and community engagement of countless South Australians over decades, and indeed, generations.
"We must preserve its coverage so it can be accessed by those who are elderly and have supported their team for years but can no longer make it to the ground, to the sick and those living in the regions.
"Ultimately this is a decision for the ABC board but I'm determined to do everything in my power to fight to preserve our SANFL, while we've got the chance."
