Australia's ABC roars into digital age

Australia's ABC TV network has leapt further into the digital media age, announcing a 24/7 "continuous news centre" and more than 60 new websites pushing local news to regional communities in the country.

It will also launch a new internet TV service enabling viewers to watch full-screen video content - including recently aired shows on ABC1 and ABC2 - on their computers or a TV set connected to the internet via a media centre PC.

The internet TV channel, dubbed ABC Playback, will also include a selection of natural history programs and content available for purchase as a digital download from the ABC Shop, which will go live on Tuesday.

But ABC managing director Mark Scott told smh.com.au all of the content on the 60 new websites would be created "from within our existing resources", as no extra funding had been obtained.

"What we're doing is we are training our journalists and our staff in regional areas to multi-skill - they have been very keen in taking advantage of this," he said.

Yet, even though no additional journalists will produce content, the ambitious move by the public broadcaster to integrate radio, television and text will threaten established online commercial media operators including Ninemsn, News Digital Media, Fairfax Digital and Yahoo!7.

The purpose-built continuous news centre - to be located in Ultimo - will contain teams of journalists working around the clock to provide hundreds of hours of news video each day to all ABC outlets, the broadcaster said.

Outlets include the ABC1 and ABC2 digital TV channels, ABC Online, radio, internet TV and portable devices such as mobile phones.

"It's the ABC taking advantage of the investment we've already made in news generation and having it in a position to deliver that at a time the audience wants in a format the audience wants," Scott said.

But Christopher Warren, Australian secretary of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, said he was concerned that, while ABC management may be enthusiastic about the charge into digital media, staff may be lumbered with a significantly increased workload.

He said staff were "very conscious of the extra pressure that this work puts on people, particularly in regional areas where there has been quite a dramatic increase in workload over the past decade".

Of the five main television broadcasters, the ABC has to date been the most innovative in terms of taking advantage of new technologies.

Many of its shows have long been available for download or streaming from the web within hours of their airing. Conversely, Seven, Nine and Ten have taken only baby steps in this area, providing little more than highlight clips.

The 60 ABC local websites, launched today, draw heavily on user-generated content by incorporating blogs, information submitted by the audience and an event diary allowing users to promote local community events.

The sites also aggregate local news relevant to each region from various ABC outlets, including links directly to the local ABC radio stations.

ABC plans to launch its Playback internet TV service following a public trial, which begins on March 26.

The broadcaster is inviting 5000 Australians with fast ADSL2 internet connections to take part in the trial, which will continue for about three months. Expressions of interest can be registered at abc.net.au/playback.

- © Fairfax NZ News