The ABC has hit back at a fresh round of criticism from The Australian, with Chair Kim Williams describing journalist Stephen Drill’s latest claims as “inaccurate, unbalanced and agenda-driven.”
The headline splashed across News Corp mastheads and websites today read: “ABC costs Aussies more than a Netflix subscription as lavish $1.1 billion dollar budget revealed” and “Forget 8c a day, ABC costs you more than Netflix”.
The online articles also featured polls with questions like “Should the ABC disclose the pay of its on-air staff like the BBC does?” and “Do you still watch the ABC?”, alongside some colourful graphs and images of executives with piles of cash and their salaries listed for good measure.
Williams wasn’t having it, dismissing the Netflix comparison as “meaningless” and pointing out that the streaming giant isn’t exactly providing emergency broadcasts, running international news bureaus, or keeping kids entertained with Bluey on ABC Kids.
In the statement released this afternoon, the public broadcaster pushed back on the figures presented, stating the ABC reaches approximately 80% of Australians each month and that fewer than 3% avoid its content altogether in a year. He also noted that applying Drill’s own cost breakdown, an ad-free Netflix plan actually costs households more than twice what the ABC does per month.
The ABC Chair also rejected claims the broadcaster was blowing taxpayer dollars on offices and travel, explaining that investments in digital platforms, regional newsrooms, and international coverage were part of keeping the ABC relevant and accessible. He added that the Parramatta office and Ultimo refurbishments were funded through property sales and leasing deals, not from government handouts.
Williams provided further context on the ABC’s finances, revealing its government funding has declined by 13.7% in real terms over the past decade, equating to an annual reduction of $150 million. He also highlighted that Australia’s public broadcasting spend is 40% lower per capita compared to similar OECD democracies.
As for News Corp’s claim that the ABC confirmed Bruce McAvaney was in Paris for the Olympics, their story has now been updated with a correction, clarifying that Bruce was actually calling the games from Sydney – no Parisian adventure involved.
While it’s not unusual for the ABC to issue a firm statement when media reports take aim, it’s equally common for News Corp to line up the public broadcaster in its sights.
This latest round? Business as usual.
