Hours of various types of programming and proportion of Australian content broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

2004/05–2006/07 | 2000/01–2004/05| 1996/97–1990/00

2004/05–2006/07

ABC Television’s main channel was renamed ABC1 in February 2008. ABC2 – a digital-only, free-to-air channel – started broadcasting for the first time in 2005. In 2006/07, ABC1 programmed a total of 8,760 hours in 2006/07, compared to 6,824 hours on ABC2. In total, both channels programmed 15,584 hours with a combined Australian share of 60.6 per cent.

On ABC1 children’s programs recorded the highest number of hours at 1,941, followed by entertainment at 1,320 hours and current affairs at 1,095 hours. Of these, Australia’s share was 26.2 per cent of children’s, 88.6 per cent of entertainment and 99.9 per cent of current affairs.

Children’s programs and current affairs achieved the largest share of hours programmed on ABC2, at 1,721 and 1,373 broadcast hours respectively. Sport followed with 1,008 hours. The Australian share of these genres was 10.7 per cent of children’s, 100 per cent of current affairs and 99.2 per cent of sport.

Broadly, arts and culture has experienced the largest rise in Australian share on ABC’s main channel since 2001/02, lifting from 46 per cent to 66.1 per cent in 2006/07. In contrast, drama has fallen from 47.4 per cent to 6.6 per cent over the same period.

Overall, Australian content on the ABC hovered around 58 per cent of total hours broadcast during the 1990s, then dropped to an average 52 per cent between 2000/01 and 2004/05. With the introduction of ABC2, the combined programming of Australian content has risen to over 60 per cent in the last two years.

See Public broadcasters (ABC): Hours broadcast for the actual hours of local and imported programming broadcast in each category.

Source: Compiled by the Australian Film Commission (AFC) from Australian Broadcasting Corporation annual reports.

Notes:
The first full year of results available for 2005/06.
Figures reflect hours broadcast from the Sydney transmitter, comprising national and local New South Wales transmissions. Figures may differ slightly in other states and territories as a result of varying levels of local content. Hours have been rounded to the nearest whole number.
1. Over the years some of the program categories identified by the ABC have been changed, added or dropped. Blank cells in the table indicate where a category has been dropped or has not yet begun.
2. ‘Other’ comprises program announcements, promotions, ABC announcements and community service announcements.

2000/01–2004/05

Source: Compiled by the Australian Film Commission (AFC) from Australian Broadcasting Corporation annual reports.

Notes:
Figures are for total programming from the Sydney transmitter. Exact minutes are calculated throughout the year; totals here are rounded to the nearest hour and, as a result, the sum of hours in each category may not equal total hours.
1. Over the years some of the program categories identified by the ABC have been changed, added or dropped. Blank cells in the table indicate where a category has been dropped or has not yet begun.
2. ‘Other’ comprises program announcements, promotions, ABC announcements and community service announcements.

1996/97–1990/00

Source: Compiled by the Australian Film Commission (AFC) from Australian Broadcasting Corporation annual reports.

Notes:
Figures are for total programming from the Sydney transmitter. Exact minutes are calculated throughout the year; totals here are rounded to the nearest hour and, as a result, the sum of hours in each category may not equal total hours.
1. Over the years some of the program categories identified by the ABC have been changed, added or dropped. Blank cells in the table indicate where a category has been dropped or has not yet begun.
2. ‘Other’ comprises program announcements, promotions, ABC announcements and community service announcements.