Nine MSN - 23 November 2011
Federal parliament has received a petition signed by 40,000 lawn bowls followers, after the ABC announced it would discontinue coverage of the sport.
After 30 years of coverage, ABC managing director Mark Scott announced in September lawn bowls would no longer be televised, because audience numbers were "quite small" and it cost $1.3 million a year to cover the sport.
Few things are as calm and ordered as the flat, mown surface of a bowling green, but Mr Scott's announcement drew outrage from politicians from all sides.
Opposition seniors spokeswoman Bronwyn Bishop accused the ABC of abandoning between 200,000 and 500,000 viewers who watch lawn bowls each week.
She and fellow Liberal MP Kelly O'Dwyer launched the nationwide petition to keep bowls, which is played by more than 800,000 Australians, on TV.
Sports Minister Mark Arbib said he welcomed the petition, which was submitted to federal parliament on Wednesday.
He had already raised the issue directly with Mr Scott, to gauge what alternatives there were to cancelling the coverage.
He added the ABC provided a fantastic service for many Australians who devoted Saturday afternoons to supporting Australia's best bowlers "and the 40,000 signatures on the petition highlights this", he said.
Bowls Australia CEO Neil Dalrymple said he was hopeful bowls would continue to be broadcast on free-to-air television.
"It is extremely important to maintain the profile of our sport and being featured on free-to-air television greatly assists this objective," he said.
Bowls Australia president Joe Aarons, Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Barrie Lester and under 25 World Champion Sam Shannahan joined Mrs Bishop and Ms O'Dwyer at the launch of the petition in September.
DIDNT SIGN THE PETITION?
WANT TO HAVE YOUR SAY?
Then send your support to keep Lawn Bowls on ABC by sending an email to your MP: MP Contact List
WANT TO SUPPORT ABC STAFF?
DON’T AGREE WITH CUTS TO ABC ARTS?
The send your support to keep ABC jobs and internally produced programs like Spicks and Specks in the ABC by sending an email to your MP: MP Contact List (the arts)
