ABC News (Australian TV channel)

{{Redirect2|ABC News (TV channel)|ABC 24|the Australian news department which provides contents to this channel|ABC News (Australia)|the American news organization|ABC News (United States)|American Broadcasting Company television affiliates|ABC 24 (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox television channel

| name = ABC News

| logo = ABC News (Australia) logo.svg

| logo_caption =

| logo_alt =

| image =

| launch_date = {{start date and age|22 July 2010}}

| closed_date =

| picture_format = 576i SDTV

| network = ABC Television

| owner = Australian Broadcasting Corporation

| type = News and current affairs

| country = Australia

| language = English

| area = Nationally and Worldwide

| headquarters = Ultimo, New South Wales

| former_names = ABC News 24 (2010–2017)

| replaced = ABC HD (HD channel space; 2008–10, relaunched on 6 Dec 2016)

| sister_channels = ABC TV
ABC TV HD
ABC Kids
ABC Family
ABC Entertains

| website = {{URL|http://www.abc.net.au/news/newschannel/|abc.net.au}}

| terr_serv_1 = ABN Sydney (DVB-T)

| terr_chan_1 = 544 @ 12 (226.5 MHz){{Cite web |url=http://www.freetv.com.au/media/Engineering/Australian_Digital_Terrestrial_Television_Broadcasting_Service_Information_Register_-_Issue_4_-_January_2011.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=8 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101114737/http://www.freetv.com.au/media/Engineering/Australian_Digital_Terrestrial_Television_Broadcasting_Service_Information_Register_-_Issue_4_-_January_2011.pdf |archive-date=1 January 2017 |url-status=dead }}

| terr_serv_2 = ABV Melbourne (DVB-T)

| terr_chan_2 = 560 @ 12 (226.5 MHz)

| terr_serv_3 = ABQ Brisbane (DVB-T)

| terr_chan_3 = 576 @ 12 (226.5 MHz)

| terr_serv_4 = ABS Adelaide (DVB-T)

| terr_chan_4 = 592 @ 12 (226.5 MHz)

| terr_serv_5 = ABW Perth/Mandurah (DVB-T)

| terr_chan_5 = 736 @ 12 (226.5 MHz)

| terr_serv_6 = ABT Hobart (DVB-T)

| terr_chan_6 = 624 @ 8 (191.5 MHz)

| terr_serv_7 = ABD Darwin (DVB-T)

| terr_chan_7 = 640 @ 30 (543.5 MHz)

| terr_serv_8 = Freeview

| terr_chan_8 = Channel 24

| online_serv_1 = ABC iview

| online_chan_1 = [http://iview.abc.net.au/collection/live-streams ABC iview Live Stream]

| online_serv_2 = abc.net.au

| online_chan_2 = [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newschannel/ ABC News Live Stream] (Australia only)

| online_serv_3 = YouTube

| online_chan_3 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOTiJkg1voo Live Stream]

}}

The ABC News channel is an Australian 24-hour news channel launched and owned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.{{cite news |date=21 January 2010 |title=ABC to launch 24-hour news channel |work=ABC News Online |url=http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/21/2797640.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=10 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100627054501/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/21/2797640.htm |archive-date=27 June 2010}}{{cite web |author=Draper |first=Dan |date=5 April 2010 |title=New ABC news channel to be called 'ABC News 24' |url=https://whatsonthetube.net/new-abc-news-channel-to-be-called-%E2%80%9Cabc-news-24%E2%80%9D/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309224153/https://whatsonthetube.net/new-abc-news-channel-to-be-called-“abc-news-24”/ |archive-date=9 March 2011 |access-date=10 July 2010 |work=The Tube}}{{cite web| url = http://tvtonight.com.au/2010/01/abc-announces-247-news-channel.html |first =David | last= Knox|work = TV Tonight|date = 21 January 2010|access-date =10 July 2010|title = ABC announces 24/7 News channel}} The channel replaced and used the then-former ABC HD channel space (which simulcast ABC TV in high definition) and commenced broadcasting as ABC News 24 at 7:30pm (AEST) on Thursday, 22 July 2010.{{cite news |date=13 July 2010 |title=ABC to launch 24hr news channel next week |newspaper=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/13/2952551.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=13 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715053603/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/13/2952551.htm |archive-date=15 July 2010}}{{Cite news|title=ABC News 24 will launch on Thursday 22 July |work=The Spy Report |publisher=Media Spy |date=13 July 2010 |url=http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/07/13/abc-news-24-will-launch-on-thursday-22-july/ |access-date=13 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427091239/http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/07/13/abc-news-24-will-launch-on-thursday-22-july/ |archive-date=27 April 2011}}

The network is a division of the ABC's News and Current Affairs department. The majority of the channel's content is produced from the studios of the ABC's Sydney station, ABN, in Ultimo, Sydney which the public can view being presented from an atrium looking into the news presentation studio. The ABC's breakfast television programme, News Breakfast, Afternoon Briefing and the evening programme The World is produced at ABV Southbank, Melbourne (weekdays).

Due to the relaunch of ABC HD on 6 December 2016, the picture format of the ABC News channel was reduced to standard definition.{{cite web |title=ABC is changing to HD |url=http://about.abc.net.au/press-releases/abc-is-changing-to-hd/ |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=9 November 2016 |access-date=9 November 2016}}

History

The ABC announced in January 2010 that it planned to launch a 24-hour news channel. The logo of ABC News 24 was revealed by Freeview in their new promotion on Tuesday 22 June.{{Cite news |date=29 June 2010 |title=ABC News 24 logo revealed |work=The Spy Report |publisher=Media Spy |url=http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/06/29/abc-news-24-logo-revealed/ |url-status=dead |access-date=13 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702180629/http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/06/29/abc-news-24-logo-revealed/ |archive-date=2 July 2010}} The official promotional reel for the channel was launched on digital channel 24 between 6 and 8 July.{{cite web|url = http://mumbrella.com.au/abc-news-24-hype-reel-unveiled-29499|title = ABC News 24 hype reel unveiled |date = 8 July 2010|access-date = 8 July 2010|work = mUmbrella| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100710132633/http://mumbrella.com.au/abc-news-24-hype-reel-unveiled-29499| archive-date= 10 July 2010 | url-status= live}}

Speculation about a launch date for the channel took place in the weeks prior to the official announcement. The Daily Telegraph claimed in early July that the channel would be delayed due to technical issues at the ABC's new playout facility, MediaHub, in south west Sydney while other outlets reported that the channel was on track to begin in mid-July.{{Cite news |date=4 July 2010 |title=Exclusive: ABC News 24 will launch this month |work=The Spy Report |publisher=Media Spy |url=http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/07/04/exclusive-abc-news-24-will-launch-this-month/ |url-status=dead |access-date=13 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711050654/http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/07/04/exclusive-abc-news-24-will-launch-this-month/ |archive-date=11 July 2010}}

The ABC announced on 13 July 2010 that the channel would have its first live broadcast on 22 July.

In November 2016, the ABC announced that ABC News 24 and ABC NewsRadio would be rebranded under a unified ABC News brand.{{cite news |last=Lallo |first=Michael |date=2 November 2016 |title=ABC in 2017: Diversity a focus, but which popular shows aren't returning? |url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/abc-in-2017-diversity-a-focus-but-which-popular-shows-arent-returning-20161026-gsb8py.html |newspaper=Brisbane Times |location=Brisbane |access-date=2 November 2016}} The relaunch occurred on 10 April 2017.{{cite web |date=31 March 2017 |title=New Look - ABC News |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/new-look/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331210953/http://www.abc.net.au/news/new-look/ |archive-date=31 March 2017 |access-date=31 March 2017 |work=ABC News}}{{cite web|url=http://tvtonight.com.au/2017/04/new-look-abc-news-ditches-news-24.html|title=New-look ABC News ditches News 24|date=8 April 2017|work=TV Tonight}}

In July 2024, the ABC announced that the entire ABC News division would receive a new look, including for the channel.{{Cite press release |title=ABC NEWS is Australia's No 1 digital news brand; announces new look, features and functionality |date=22 July 2024 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://www.abc.net.au/about/media-centre/press-releases/abc-news-is-australia-s-no-1-digital-news-brand/104125436 |language=en-AU |access-date=10 August 2024}} The relaunch has already occurred on 19 August 2024.{{Cite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=15 August 2024 |title=ABC News refreshes graphics, website, returns iconic TV news theme. |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2024/08/abc-news-refreshes-graphics-website-returns-iconic-tv-news-theme.html |access-date=18 August 2024 |website=TV Tonight |publisher=TV Tonight |language=en-AU}}

Reception

Since the commencement of regular broadcasting, the reaction to the new news channel has been mixed. A particular concern has been the pressure placed upon the budget and operations of both the news division of the ABC, as well as the broadcaster as a whole, particularly the shifting of funds from other departments like drama, Indigenous, documentary and children's {{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/may/01/kim-dalton-accuses-abc-shifting-funds-unfashionable-areas|title = Kim Dalton accuses ABC TV of shifting funds from Australian content| website=TheGuardian.com |date = 30 April 2017}} owing to the decision to launch the channel without additional Government funding, as was the case with the recent launch of the children's channel ABC3 (now named ABC Entertains).

In Senate Estimates hearings in February 2012, the broadcaster confirmed a $2.5 million shortfall in the budget for its news and current affairs division and imposed a 1.5% cut in newsroom budgets, though denies the link to the channel, instead pointing to recent major news events in the past year such as the Christchurch earthquakes and flooding in Queensland and Victoria.{{cite news |last=Meade |first=Amanda |date=13 February 2012 |title=Aunty admits its news unit is $2.5m in the red |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/monday-section/aunty-admits-its-news-unit-is-25m-in-the-red/story-fna1k39o-1226269096911 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214075634/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/monday-section/aunty-admits-its-news-unit-is-25m-in-the-red/story-fna1k39o-1226269096911 |archive-date=14 February 2012 |access-date=10 March 2012 |work=The Australian}} However, Independent Senator Nick Xenophon has blamed the reported $20 million annual cost of the network for cutbacks in ABC TV sports coverage of the SANFL.{{cite news |last1=Homfray |first1=Reece |last2=Kemp |first2=Miles |date=23 February 2012 |title=ABC-24 costly for the SANFL |work=The Advertiser |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/abc-24-costly-for-the-sanfl/story-e6frea6u-1226278780925 |access-date=10 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223053411/http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/abc-24-costly-for-the-sanfl/story-e6frea6u-1226278780925 |archive-date=23 February 2012}}

However, the network has seen success with high viewership compared to competitor Sky News Australia, with reach exceeding 2 million viewers weekly, tripling that of Sky News.{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/business/news-24-not-hurting-main-bulletin-abc-20120308-1un58.html|title=News 24 not hurting main bulletin: ABC|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=8 March 2012|access-date=10 March 2012}}

The channel's highest primetime viewership share was 9.5% during the 2016 Federal election coverage on 2 July 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2016/07/abc-ten-lift-in-buoyant-ratings-week.html|title=ABC, TEN lift in buoyant ratings week|date=4 July 2016|access-date=4 July 2016|first=David|last=Knox|work=TV Tonight}}

Programming

File:News24Phillips.png

ABC News programming consists of a mix of live news bulletins, time-shifted repeats of existing ABC News and Current Affairs output, live broadcasts from events (such as Parliament Question Time and selected press conferences), documentaries and factual and arts programming.{{Cite news |last=Blundell |first=Graeme |date=3 July 2010 |title=24-hour party people |page=27 |work=The Australian |publisher=News Limited |url=http://theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/hour-party-people/story-e6frg8n6-1225885771317 |url-status=dead |access-date=3 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812002817/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/hour-party-people/story-e6frg8n6-1225885771317 |archive-date=12 August 2010}} These draw upon the ABC's own resources and those of its partner broadcasters, the BBC, SABC, TVNZ, PBS, NHK, and Al Jazeera English.

On weekdays, throughout most of the day, straight news programming is presented from one of the studios in Ultimo. General rolling news continues from 8pm AEST/AEDT (only interrupted from 9:45pm to 11pm by a specialist Asian-focused business bulletin and The World) before ABC News switches to the overnight format at 12:30am AEST/AEDT which features a mix of repeats of the day's programs and (usually live) news content from the partner broadcasters. Live ABC-produced news bulletins air once per hour until 4am AEST/AEDT.

On weekends, except the Weekend Breakfast news block, the channel airs a live news bulletin at the top of almost all hours, which lasts 15 or 30 minutes. Occasionally it is a one-minute headline recap. A live news hour is featured on Sundays at 7pm. ABC News switches to the overnight format at 12:15am AEST/AEDT, without any live newscast until the next morning.

Live newscasters are Gemma Veness, Melissa McKay and Dan Bourchier (ABC News Mornings), Ros Childs (ABC News at Noon and ABC News Day), Patricia Karvelas (Afternoon Briefing), Joe O'Brien (ABC News Tonight), Michael Tetlow (weekday editions of ABC Late News/News Overnight), Dan Bourchier and Ruby Cornish (weekends), Mariam Saab and Meridth Sheenan (ABC News Weekend and weekend editions of ABC Late News/News Overnight). Specialist and feature programming includes a daily business programme covering the Asia-Pacific region and an international bulletin with Girish Sawlani entitled The World presented from ABC Melbourne Studio.{{Cite web|url=https://tv.press.abc.net.au/the-drum-launches-in-prime-time-new-roles-for-patricia-karvelas-and-josh-szeps-abc-news-channel-unveils-2019-line-up|title=The Drum launches in prime-time; new roles for Patricia Karvelas and Josh Szeps; ABC NEWS channel unveils 2019 line-up|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-30}}

=News Breakfast and ABC News at Noon=

Existing shows News Breakfast and ABC News at Noon are broadcast live on the ABC News channel at the same time as on ABC TV in AEST/AEDT time zones; viewers in the AWST and ACST time zones can choose to watch these programs either live (on the ABC News channel) or on delay in their local time (on ABC TV). In addition, The Business is shown in an earlier timeslot than currently scheduled on ABC TV.

=Capital Hill=

On 30 September 2010, the ABC announced the first new programme to be shown on the channel titled Capital Hill. The political programme, originally hosted by Chris Uhlmann airs Fridays at 5:30pm AEST/AEDT and takes a look at the week's political events and news, as well as feature interviews with the key players of politics. It is now broadcast every weekday at 1:00pm AEST/AEDT and is hosted by Greg Jennett (Monday – Thursday) and Matthew Doran (Friday).

=World news=

File:ABC News The World.png

Overnight, the ABC News channel uses "satellite" programming, mainly from BBC World News which mostly uses the main BBC News bulletins, as well as Deutsche Welle news and current affairs bulletins and sometimes using shows such as Impact with Yalda Hakim, Outside Source with Ros Atkins and Global with Matthew Amroliwala. The BBC World News broadcasts come live into the ABC News channel before being broadcast around Australia. About two Al Jazeera English Newshours are also broadcast. However, since 2018, the overnight programming has slowly refocused on rebroadcasts of the channel's daytime live shows like The Drum and The World (on weekdays), and ABC's own live news updates have increasingly carried.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

= Repeated from ABC TV =

Criticism

Along with other rolling news channels, the ABC News channel has been criticised for launching into rolling news coverage for "breaking news" where little new information supports such coverage, and just repeating limited information and footage about an event.{{cite web|last1=SIMONS|first1=MARGARET SIMONS|title=How ABC News 24 lost pace with news from Japan|url=http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/03/14/simons-abc-news-24-couldnt-keep-pace-with-news-from-japan/|website=crikey.com.au|date=14 March 2011|access-date=18 January 2015|quote=All news channels, including the ABC, played the same pictures, and the same interviews, over and over again.}} Conversely, the ABC News channel has also been criticised for not turning to rolling coverage.{{cite web |last1=Canning |first1=Simon |date=16 December 2010 |title=ABC news missed the boat via reruns |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/abc-news-missed-the-boat-via-reruns/story-e6frg6nf-1225971762995 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208024615/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/abc-news-missed-the-boat-via-reruns/story-e6frg6nf-1225971762995 |archive-date=8 February 2011 |access-date=18 January 2015 |work=The Australian |quote=THE ABC's news channel, ABC24, has been slammed by critics for failing to recognise the scale of the Christmas Island asylum-seeker tragedy.}}{{cite web|last1=SIMONS|first1=MARGARET|title=ABC News 24 runs on the smell of an oily rag|url=http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/08/15/cost-of-abc-news-24/|website=crikey.com.au|publisher=Crikey|access-date=18 January 2015|date=15 August 2011|quote=And other critics (including me) have complained that the channel is too slow to switch to breaking news.}}

ABC News online

The ABC News channel can be streamed online at the ABC's website and on YouTube.{{Cite news| work = ABC NEWS | title = abc news 24| access-date = 22 July 2010 | url = http://www.abc.net.au/news24/| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100817173418/http://www.abc.net.au/news24/| archive-date = 17 August 2010 | url-status = live}} However, the YouTube stream is made available internationally except for the stream in iView where it is only available in Australia only,{{Cite news| title =abc news 24 FAQ| access-date = 22 July 2010 | url = http://www.abc.net.au/tv/help/default.htm| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100724054631/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/help/default.htm| archive-date= 24 July 2010 | url-status= live}} and unlike other programming on iView, it is not currently offered as unmetered content by any internet service providers. The ABC News channel stream is available in medium and high bandwidth varieties on the iView site.

News presenters

= News =

News Breakfast with James Glenday and Bridget Brennan
ABC News Mornings with Gemma Veness (Monday – Wednesday) and Dan Bourchier (Thursday – Friday)
ABC News at Noon with Ros Childs (Monday – Thursday) and TBA (Friday)
ABC News Day with Ros Childs
Afternoon Briefing with Patricia Karvelas
The Business with Kirsten Aiken (Monday – Wednesday) and Alicia Barry (Thursday)
ABC News with Joe O'Brien
7.30 with Sarah Ferguson
The World with Girish Sawlani
ABC Late News with Micheal Tetlow
Weekend Breakfast with Johanna Nicholson and Fauziah Ibrahim
Insiders with David Speers

= Other =

Dr. Norman Swan – Tonic
Barrie Cassidy – One Plus One
Yalda Hakim – BBC World News
Ros Atkins – BBC World News
Adnan Nawaz – BBC World News
Peter Dobbie – Al-Jazeera English (formerly BBC News)

= Former presenters =

Ali Moore – Afternoon Live, 2010
Chris Uhlmann – Political editor and host of Capital Hill, 2010
Juanita Phillips – ABC Evening News, 2010–2014
Lyndal Curtis – Political editor and host of Capital Hill, 2011–2014
Scott Bevan – Afternoon Live, 2010–2015
Ticky Fullerton – The Business, 2010–2016
Stan Grant – Matter of Fact, 2018
Jane Hutcheon – One Plus One, 2010–2019
Karina Carvalho – ABC Evening News & ABC News Mornings, 2018–2023
Beverley O'Connor – The World, 2018–2024

International bureaus

= Current =

{{as of|October 2020}} there were bureaus in the following cities:{{cite web | title=Sarah Ferguson takes up special reporting role in Washington DC; ABC opens Seoul post to expand North Asia coverage | website=About the ABC | date=21 October 2020 | url=https://about.abc.net.au/press-releases/sarah-ferguson-takes-up-special-reporting-role-in-washington-dc-abc-opens-seoul-post-to-expand-north-asia-coverage/ | access-date=1 May 2021}}

= Former =

Amman
Auckland
Brussels
Hong Kong
Honiara (sometime in the 1940s)
Johannesburg
Hanoi (One of the minor Asian bureaus in the 1990s. Closed due to Bangkok being enhanced as an Asian hub, but was temporarily re-established in 2019 to cover the second United States–North Korea summit.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}})
Kabul
Kuala Lumpur (Operated during the 1960s.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}})
Moscow (One of the oldest bureaus in the history of the ABC, operating for 23 years. Closed due to budget cuts.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}})
Nairobi
New York
Singapore
Toronto