ABC News will broadcast the first NSW 7pm News bulletin from its new Parramatta studios on this Sunday, heralded as a key moment in the ABC Parramatta project.
The move of ABC’s headquarters to Parramatta is part of a broader strategy aimed at meeting audience expectations and adapting to the growing demographic and business landscape of Western Sydney.
Critics argue that the $67.2 million cost, which also includes the refurbishment of the ABC’s Ultimo headquarters, is an unnecessary expenditure of taxpayer funds at a time when some question the move’s necessity.
From ABC:
ABC NEWS will broadcast the first NSW 7PM News bulletin from the new ABC Parramatta studios next Sunday 8 December.
The historic first broadcast from the state-of-the-art Studio 91 is a key milestone for the ABC Parramatta project.
ABC Director, News Justin Stevens said the bulletin was a great moment for the ABC and audiences.
“ABC Parramatta locates our NSW newsroom within one of Australia’s largest, fastest growing and most diverse communities,” he said. “It means we’re even more closely representing and connecting with our community.”
“Putting to air the first 7PM bulletin is the result of a massive amount of work from teams across the ABC and represents an important technological step forward for the organisation.”
“ABC Parramatta will serve as a model for the ABC in the future – a sophisticated technology facility that promotes new production practices with agile content sharing and distribution.”
The bulletin will be the ABC’s first full IP-only broadcast, utilising the new cloud-based video production and editing systems (GV AMPP).
The 7PM set features a Parramatta Square skyline and once its Augmented Reality elements are implemented will incorporate full perspective tracking – another first for the ABC.
Presenting across the first week of broadcast will be Jeremy Fernandez and Nakari Thorpe and the NSW team will roll out a series of stories focused on Western Sydney.
The NSW 7PM team has joined colleagues from the NSW newsroom, ABC Radio Sydney and Product & Technology at the ABC Parramatta office. The start of the 7PM bulletin follows the recent launch of ABC Radio Sydney’s Mornings, Afternoons, Drive and Weekends programs from the Parramatta radio studios.
