Downunder domination as CBC cuts CBC Overnight
Dan Say
Australia calling: ABC to go global
Date: November 05 2009 Sydney Morning Herald
http://www.smh.com.au/national/australia-calling-abc-to-go-global-200911
04-hy02.html?skin=text-only
Ari Sharp COMMUNICATIONS CORRESPONDENT
In a lecture he will give at Macquarie University, Mr Scott will say
plans for global domination, arguing for a huge expansion in the
broadcaster's overseas services in an effort to rival the BBC, CNN and
the emerging Chinese media offensive.
In a lecture he will give at Macquarie University, Mr Scott will say
that Australia's new-found influence as a member of the G20 nations
means it needs to expand its ''soft diplomacy'' campaign to win
support not just in the Asia-Pacific region but around the world.
''We have an important role to play and we have to use all the tools
at our disposal to continue to do so - one of these tools is soft
diplomacy - using the media to put our nation's culture, values and
policies on show,'' Mr Scott will say. Under his plan, the ABC would:
* Merge the international television service Australia Network and
radio service Radio Australia into a single brand.
* Expand its broadcasts to reach 53 countries in Africa, 22 in the
Middle East and up to 21 in Latin America.
* Create an additional five news bureaus in the Asia-Pacific region,
bringing the total to 14, more than the BBC or CNN.
But Mr Scott will need to persuade senior government decision-makers
in both foreign affairs and communications, who will need to chip in
several hundred million dollars a year to make the plan a reality.
Mr Scott pointed out that Britain spends $868 million on the BBC's
overseas services, France more than $600 million and Germany $532
million on their overseas broadcasters. China is in the midst of an
$8billion international media expansion which involves its bilingual
Chinese- English television service going global by the end of next
year.
[ Canada about 15 million ]
He contrasts this with the $34 million funding for the ABC's overseas
broadcasts.
The expansion would dramatically increase the audience of the
Department of Foreign Affairs-funded Australia Network, which
broadcasts to 44 countries across the Asia-Pacific, and Radio
Australia, which has a network of 11 around-the-clock stations
covering almost every Pacific capital city.
Michael McKinley, a senior lecturer in international relations at the
ANU, said he was sceptical of the benefits of broadcasting in- to
closed societies with a hope of achieving change.
''You might actually confirm their prejudices,'' he said.