Australian Broadcasting Corporation

{{Main|History of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}

After public radio stations were established independently in the state capitals from 1924, a licensing scheme administered by the Postmaster-General's Department was established, allowing certain stations (with "Class A" licences") government funding, albeit with restrictions placed on their advertising content.{{Cite web|title=The History of Radio in Australia |publisher=Australian Centre for the Moving Image |url=http://www.acmi.net.au/AIC/RADIO_HIST_AUS.html |access-date=3 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070903081543/http://www.acmi.net.au/AIC/RADIO_HIST_AUS.html |archive-date=3 September 2007 }} In 1928, the government established the National Broadcasting Service to take over the 12 A-Class licences as they came up for renewal, and contracted the Australian Broadcasting Company,{{Cite web | title =This is the International Section of The Broadcast Archive: Australian Broadcast History | first = Barry |last=Mishkid | url = https://www.oldradio.com/archives/international/austral.html|quote=Revisions April 2017 by Peter Smerdon & Ron Langhans [original date 26 November 2000]| date= 2017 | access-date = 3 October 2007}} a private company established in 1924,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204085872 |title=Radio Broadcasting |newspaper=The Age |issue=21,458 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=10 January 1924 |access-date=2 June 2021 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article179330017 |title=National Service |newspaper=The Telegraph (Brisbane) |issue=17,631 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=7 June 1929 |access-date=2 June 2021 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}} to supply programs to the new national broadcaster.{{cite book|chapter-url=http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/ahc/publications/commission/books/linking-a-nation/chapter-9.html |title=Linking a Nation: Australia's Transport and Communications 1788 – 1970 |chapter= Chapter 9: Radio and Television, 1905–1970|first= Robert|last=Lee|publisher= Australian Heritage Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812163651/http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/ahc/publications/linking-a-nation/contents#introduction |url-status=dead | archive-date=12 August 2017|quote=Australia: Our national stories, by Dr Robert Lee of the University of Western Sydney, Australian Heritage Commission, 2003. 'Linking a Nation' forms part of a research project on the theme of Transport and Communications, and was commissioned by the Australian Heritage Commission. | via=Department of the Environment and Energy, Australia|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/ahc/publications/linking-a-nation/contents#introduction}}

After it became politically unpopular to continue to allow the Postmaster-General to run the National Broadcasting Service, the government established the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) on 1 July 1932, under the Australian Broadcasting Commission Act 1932.{{Cite Legislation AU | Cth | num_act | abca193214o1932393 | Australian Broadcasting Commission Act 1932 (No 14 of 1932)}} to take over the Australian Broadcasting Company and run the National Broadcasting Service.{{cite news|title=ABC celebrates 80 years of broadcasting|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=1 July 2012|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-01/abc-turns-80/4103108|access-date=13 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524192257/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-01/abc-turns-80/4103108|archive-date=24 May 2018|url-status=live}}

The ABC became informally referred to as "Aunty",{{cite web |title=New Teeth for Aunty: Reinvigorating the National Broadcaster |url=http://www.themonthly.com.au/reinvigorating-national-broadcaster-new-teeth-aunty-robert-manne-749 |url-access=registration |date=1 December 2007 |work=Monthly |author=Robert Manne |access-date=7 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111130151/http://www.themonthly.com.au/reinvigorating-national-broadcaster-new-teeth-aunty-robert-manne-749 |archive-date=11 November 2012 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-07-16/aunty-celebrates-75th-birthday-in-townsville/2503718|title=Aunty celebrates 75th birthday in Townsville|date=16 July 2007|work=ABC News|access-date=1 August 2018|language=en-AU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018013704/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-07-16/aunty-celebrates-75th-birthday-in-townsville/2503718|archive-date=18 October 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/06/28/3534787.htm|title=Why I love Aunty at 80|date=28 June 2012|website=ABC|access-date=7 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904045204/http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/06/28/3534787.htm|archive-date=4 September 2012|url-status=live}} originally in imitation of the British Broadcasting Corporation's nickname.{{cite web|url=http://www.fabc.org.au/fabc/fabc_archive_data/background_briefing/bb104/bb4_9.html |title=Aunty, a personality of steady and solid conservatism |work=Background briefing 4 – Ken Inglis |publisher=Friends of the ABC |access-date=29 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127091453/http://www.fabc.org.au/fabc/fabc_archive_data/background_briefing/bb104/bb4_9.html |archive-date=27 January 2012 }} The structure and programming was broadly modelled on the British Broadcasting Corporation, and programs not created in Australia were mostly bought in from the BBC.

In 1940 one of the ABC Board's most prominent members, Dick Boyer, was appointed to the ABC, becoming chairman on 1 April 1945. Today known for the continuing series of Boyer Lectures initiated by him in 1959, he had a good but not too close working relationship with Sir Charles Moses (general manager 1935–1965{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2401051 |title=Broadcasting |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=9 |issue=2542 |location=Australian Capital Territory |date=5 November 1935 |access-date=13 June 2021 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite journal | last=Petersen | first=Neville | journal=Global Media Journal – Australian Edition |title=A Biography of Sir Charles Moses |volume=3 |issue= 1 |date=2009 | publisher= Western Sydney University|issn= 1835-2340 | url=https://www.hca.westernsydney.edu.au/gmjau/archive/v3_2009_1/3vi1_neville_petersen.html | access-date=13 June 2021}}), and remained chair until his retirement in 1961. He was determined to maintain the autonomy of the ABC.{{cite book | last=Bolton | first=G. C. | title=Sir Richard James Fildes Boyer | chapter=Boyer, Sir Richard James Fildes (1891–1961) | date=1993 | publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University | chapter-url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/boyer-sir-richard-james-fildes-9562 | access-date=13 June 2021| quote=This article was first published in hardcopy in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 13, (MUP), 1993.}}

{{See also|ABC Television (Australian TV network)}}

File:The start of TV ABC.ogv, 5 November 1956|left]]

File:Jamesdibble.jpg, reading the first ABC News television bulletin in NSW, 1956]]

The ABC commenced television broadcasting in 1956. ABN-2 in Sydney was inaugurated by prime minister Robert Menzies on 5 November 1956, with the first broadcast presented by Michael Charlton, and James Dibble reading the first television news bulletin.Australian Broadcasting Corporation, [http://www.abc.net.au/corp/history/galpost9.htm "About the ABC: History of the ABC: James Dibble"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113143939/http://www.abc.net.au/corp/history/galpost9.htm |date=13 January 2009 }}. Retrieved 3 September 2008. Television relay facilities were not in place until the early 1960s, so news bulletins had to be sent to each capital city by teleprinter, to be prepared and presented separately in each city.{{cite web | title=About the ABC – The 50s – The Postwar Years | publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | url=http://abc.net.au/corp/history/hist4.htm | archive-url=https://archive.today/20121211062257/http://abc.net.au/corp/history/hist4.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=11 December 2012| access-date=1 October 2007}} In 1975, colour television was permanently introduced into Australia, and within a decade, the ABC had moved into satellite broadcasting, greatly enhancing its ability to distribute content nationally.

Also, in 1975 the ABC introduced a 24-hour-a-day AM rock station in Sydney, 2JJ (Double Jay), which was eventually expanded into the national Triple J FM network. A year later, a national classical music network was established on the FM band, broadcasting from Adelaide. It was initially known as ABC-FM (later ABC Classic FM) – referring both to its "fine music programming and radio frequency".{{cite web |title=About the ABC – The 60s and 70s |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |url=http://abc.net.au/corp/history/hist5.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121206032912/http://abc.net.au/corp/history/hist5.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 December 2012}}

ABC budget cuts began in 1976{{cite book | last=Molomby | first=T. | title=Is There a Moderate on the Roof?: ABC Years | publisher=W. Heinemann Australia | series=William Heinemann Australia politics | year=1991 | isbn=978-0-85561-410-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G8BIAAAAYAAJ | access-date=2 June 2021 | page=110,114,160}} and continued until 1998,ABC Annual Report 2020-21 p 134 ABC Operational Revenue from Government the largest cuts (calculated by the ABC as 25% in real terms) coming between 1985 and 1996.{{Cite web|url=https://theconversation.com/crude-tone-of-attacks-is-new-but-softening-up-the-abc-for-cuts-isnt-25993|title = Crude tone of attacks is new, but softening up the ABC for cuts isn't| date=30 April 2014 }}

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 changed the organisation's name to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, effective 1 July 1983. Although funded and owned by the government, the ABC remains editorially independent as ensured by the 1983 Act.{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|abca1983361|Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983|6}} At the same time, the newly formed corporation underwent significant restructuring, including a split into separate television and radio divisions, and ABC Radio was restructured significantly again in 1985. Geoffrey Whitehead was the managing director of the ABC at this time.{{cite web|url=http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-000538367/Tending-the-Flame-of-Democracy.aspx |title=Tending the Flame of Democracy: A personal view by international communications expert, by Geoffrey Whitehead [blurb] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221215025/http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-000538367/Tending-the-Flame-of-Democracy.aspx |date=2014|archive-date=21 February 2014 |access-date= 26 June 2013|website=iUniverse}} Following his resignation in 1986, David Hill (at the time chair of the ABC Board) took over his position and local production trebled from 1986 to 1991.{{cite web | title=About the ABC – The 80s | publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | url=http://abc.net.au/corp/history/hist6.htm | archive-url=https://archive.today/20121208165604/http://abc.net.au/corp/history/hist6.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=8 December 2012| access-date=1 October 2007}}

File:Ultimo ABC - cropped.jpg

Live television broadcasts of selected parliamentary sessions started in 1990, and by the early 1990s, all major ABC broadcasting outlets operated 24 hours a day.

In 1991 the ABC helped launch Australian children's music band The Wiggles, under the ABC music label.

In 1991 the corporation's Sydney radio and orchestral operations moved to a new building, the ABC Ultimo Centre,{{cite web | title=ABC Ultimo Centre, Sydney | website=About the ABC | publisher= Australian Broadcasting Corporation| url=https://about.abc.net.au/tours/ultimo/ | access-date=5 August 2021}} in the inner-city suburb of Ultimo. In Melbourne, the ABC Southbank Centre was completed in 1994.{{cite web | title=About the ABC – The 90s | publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | url=http://abc.net.au/corp/history/hist7.htm | archive-url=https://archive.today/20121206003650/http://abc.net.au/corp/history/hist7.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=6 December 2012| access-date=1 October 2007}}

In 1992 Australian children's television series Bananas in Pyjamas first aired.

International television service ABC Australia was established in 1993, while at the same time Radio Australia increased its international reach. Reduced funding in 1997 for Radio Australia resulted in staff and programming cuts.

The ABC Multimedia Unit was established in July 1995 to manage the new ABC website, which was launched in August.

The ABC was registered on the Australian Business Register as a Commonwealth Government Entity on 1 November 1999.

In 2001 digital television commenced (see Online, below). At the same time the ABC's multimedia division was renamed "ABC New Media", becoming an output division of the ABC alongside television and radio.{{cite web | title=About the ABC – 2000s – A New Century | publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | url=http://abc.net.au/corp/history/hist8.htm | archive-url=https://archive.today/20121209065740/http://abc.net.au/corp/history/hist8.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=9 December 2012| access-date=1 October 2007}}

In 2002 the ABC launched ABC Asia Pacific, the replacement for the defunct Australia Television International operated previously by the Seven Network. A digital radio service, ABC DiG, was also launched in November that year.

On 8 February 2008 ABC TV was rebranded as ABC1, and a new channel for children, ABC3, was funded and announced by the Rudd government in June.{{cite news | title = ABC promises more content choice | work = The Australian | date = 6 February 2008 | url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23171159-12377,00.html | access-date = 6 February 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080207070937/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23171159-12377,00.html | archive-date = 7 February 2008 | url-status = dead}}{{cite news | last = Welch | first = Dylan | title = ABC squiggle to stay | work = Brisbane Times | date = 30 January 2008 | url = http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/articles/2008/01/30/1201369172600.html | access-date = 30 January 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080624220803/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/articles/2008/01/30/1201369172600.html | archive-date = 24 June 2008 | url-status = live }} A new online video-on-demand service launched in July of the same year, titled ABC iview.{{cite press release | title=The Television Revolution Has Begun! | publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=24 July 2008| url=http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/media/s2313534.htm | archive-url=https://archive.today/20080915193252/http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/media/s2313534.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=15 September 2008| access-date=21 September 2008}}

ABC News 24, now known as ABC News, a channel dedicated to news, launched on 22 July 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/13/2952551.htm/ |title=ABC to launch 24h news channel |publisher=ABC |location=Australia |access-date=16 May 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 |url-status=dead }} On 20 July 2014, ABC1 reverted to its original name of ABC TV.[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/jul/10/abc-rebrands-its-main-television-channel-using-social-media-hashtag ABC rebrands its main television channel using social media hashtag] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117004409/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/jul/10/abc-rebrands-its-main-television-channel-using-social-media-hashtag |date=17 November 2017 }}, The Guardian, 10 July 2014

In November 2014 a cut of $254 million (4.6%{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/abc-cuts-malcolm-turnbull-announces-budget-reduction-of-250-million-20141119-11pquv.html|title = ABC cuts: Malcolm Turnbull announces budget reduction of $250 million|date = 19 November 2014}}) to funding over the following five years together with the additional unfunded cost of the news channel{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-01-21/abc-to-launch-24-hour-news-channel/1217150|title=ABC to launch 24-hour news channel|newspaper=ABC News|date=20 January 2010}} meant that the ABC would have to shed about 10% of its staff, around 400 people. There were several programming changes, with regional and local programming losing out to national programs, and the Adelaide TV production studio had to close.{{cite web | last=Anderson | first=Stephanie | title=400-plus job losses announced amid ABC and SBS cuts | website=SBS News | date=24 November 2014 | url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/400-plus-job-losses-announced-amid-abc-and-sbs-cuts | access-date=6 June 2021}}

In November 2016 the ABC announced that ABC News 24, ABC NewsRadio, as well as its online and digital news brands, 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}} which was launched on 10 April 2017.{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/new-look/ |title=ABC News has a new look |date=10 April 2017 |work=ABC News |access-date=31 March 2017| first=Stuart|last= Watt}}{{cite web|url=https://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| first= David |last= Knox}}

Michelle Guthrie took over from managing director Mark Scott, whose second five-year contract finished in April 2016.{{cite news|title=Michelle Guthrie to replace Mark Scott as ABC managing director|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-21/google-executive-michelle-guthrie-to-replace-abc-boss-mark-scott/7044940|access-date=21 December 2015|work=ABC News|date=21 December 2015|language=en-AU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021142200/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-21/google-executive-michelle-guthrie-to-replace-abc-boss-mark-scott/7044940|archive-date=21 October 2018|url-status=live}} Between July 2017 and June 2018, the whole of the ABC underwent an organisational restructure, after which the Radio and Television Divisions were no longer separate entities each under a director, instead being split across several functional divisions,{{Cite report|title=Annual Report 2017 |volume=II |url=https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/8fa2eca3d61b8a8cb22681f5cd7db416 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113010318/https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/8fa2eca3d61b8a8cb22681f5cd7db416 |archive-date=13 November 2024 |url-status=live|access-date=12 June 2021|work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation| chapter=Appendices, Appendix 4|page=144}} with different teams producing different genres of content for television, radio and digital platforms. The Entertainment & Specialist (E&S) team focussed on comedy, kids' programs, drama, Indigenous-related programs, music, other entertainment and factual content; the new ABC Specialist team created content across the arts, science, religion & ethics, education and society & culture; while the Regional & Local team focussed on regional and local content.{{Cite report|title=Annual Report 2018 |volume=2 |url=https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/82917a63a4f83d2e1092f3f9b7790ce3|access-date=12 June 2021|work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113005601/https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/82917a63a4f83d2e1092f3f9b7790ce3|archive-date=13 November 2024|url-status=live|pages=8–14,209}}

Around 23 September 2018 Guthrie was fired.{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-24/michelle-guthrie-leaves-as-md-of-the-abc/10297608|title=Michelle Guthrie sacked from ABC managing director role halfway through term|date=26 September 2018|work=ABC News|access-date=8 February 2019|language=en-AU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227133620/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-24/michelle-guthrie-leaves-as-md-of-the-abc/10297608|archive-date=27 February 2019|url-status=live}} A leadership crisis ensued after allegations arose that Chair, Justin Milne, had, according to the MEAA, engaged in "overt political interference in the running of the ABC that is in clear breach of the ABC charter and the role of the chairperson" by interfering in editorial and staffing matters. After pressure for an independent inquiry or statement from Milne, or his resignation, following meetings by ABC staff in various locations, on 27 September Milne resigned.{{cite web | title=Public broadcasting. The ABC has been beset by allegations … | website=MEAA | date=3 May 2019 | url=https://pressfreedom.org.au/public-broadcasting-c0eb525c0ac9 | access-date=4 June 2021}}

In February 2019, after the roles of ABC chair and managing director had been vacant for more than four months,{{cite web|url=http://www.bandt.com.au/media/scomo-decide-three-candidates-abc-chairman |title=ScoMo To Decide Between Three Candidates For ABC Chairman |access-date=8 February 2019|date=6 February 2019|work=B&T}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bandt.com.au/media/abc-begins-search-new-md-guthrie-dismissal-case-continues |title=ABC Begins Search For New MD While Guthrie Dismissal Case Continues |access-date=19 February 2019|date=18 February 2019|work=B&T}} Ita Buttrose was named chair. Buttrose named David Anderson as managing director in May 2019.{{cite web | title=ABC chair Ita Buttrose on governing the national broadcaster | website=Australian Institute of Company Directors | date=1 December 2019 | url=https://aicd.companydirectors.com.au/membership/company-director-magazine/2019-back-editions/december/abc-chair-ita-buttrose-on-governing-the-national-broadcaster |first=Narelle |last=Hooper | access-date=2 June 2021}}

On 5 June 2019 Australian Federal Police (AFP) raided the headquarters of the ABC looking for articles written in 2017 about alleged misconduct by Australian special forces in Afghanistan, later dubbed the Afghan Files.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/police-raid-australian-public-broadcaster-over-afghan-leak|title=Police raid Australian public broadcaster over Afghan leak|website=Fox News|date=5 June 2019|agency=Associated Press|language=en-US|access-date=5 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605070851/https://www.foxnews.com/world/police-raid-australian-public-broadcaster-over-afghan-leak|archive-date=5 June 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-48522729|title=Police raid Australia's public broadcaster ABC|date=5 June 2019|access-date=5 June 2019|language=en-GB}} The raid was countered by lawyers for the ABC in litigation against the AFP, challenging the examination of over 9,200 documents, including internal emails.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-48522729|title= ABC raid: Outcry as Australian police search public broadcaster |date=5 June 2019|access-date=5 June 2019|language=en-GB}}{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/05/media/australia-abc-police-raid/index.html|title=Australian journalists fear for press freedom after two police raids|date=5 June 2019|access-date=5 June 2019|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605144040/https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/05/media/australia-abc-police-raid/index.html|archive-date=5 June 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/abc-sues-australian-police-force-after-newsroom-raid/a-49327256|title=ABC sues Australian police force after newsroom raid|date=2019-06-24|work=Deutsche Welle|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-02-24}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-02/abc-police-raids-warrant-federal-court-hearing/11377016|title=ABC challenge to 'legally unreasonable' AFP raids hits court|last=McKinnell|first=Jamie|date=2019-08-02|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|access-date=2020-02-27}} In February 2020 the case was dismissed by the federal court.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/a-blow-to-democracy-federal-court-dismisses-abc-case-against-afp-raids|title='A blow to democracy': Federal Court dismisses ABC case against AFP raids|website=SBS News|language=en|access-date=2020-02-24}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/very-unhelpful-and-unco-operative-abc-and-afp-face-off-in-court-20200224-p543ns.html|title='Very unhelpful and uncooperative': ABC and AFP face off in court|last=Whitbourn|first=Michaela|date=2020-02-24|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=2020-02-24}}{{cite web | last=McKinnell | first=Jamie | title=AFP warrants used to raid ABC valid, Federal Court rules | website=ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) | date=16 February 2020 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-17/afp-warrants-used-to-raid-abc-valid-court-rules/11971018 | access-date=3 June 2021}} In June 2020, the AFP sent a brief of evidence to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP), the federal public prosecutor, recommending charges be laid against journalist Dan Oakes for breaking the Afghan Files story,{{cite web | last=Hayne | first=Jordan | title=Investigation into Afghan Files that sparked ABC raids enters next phase with brief of evidence sent to prosecutors | website=ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) | date=2 July 2020 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-02/federal-police-seek-charges-abc-investigation-afghan-files-dpp/12415930 | access-date=2 June 2021}} but in October 2020, the CDPP dropped the case.{{Cite web|last=Galloway|first=Anthony|date=2020-10-15|title=Police won't charge ABC journalist over 'Afghan Files' stories|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/police-won-t-charge-abc-journalist-over-afghan-files-stories-20201015-p565gc.html|access-date=2020-11-19|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}

In June 2020 the ABC announced it needed to cut 229 jobs,{{Cite news|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/abc-cuts-229-jobs-in-response-to-government-funding-freeze-20201021-p567a1.html|archive-date=6 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506084911/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/abc-cuts-229-jobs-in-response-to-government-funding-freeze-20201021-p567a1.html |url-status=live|url-access=registration|first=Lisa |last=Visentin|title = ABC cuts 229 jobs in response to government funding freeze|date = 21 October 2020}} a number of programs, and reduce its travel and production budgets after the Turnbull government's announcement of a freeze to indexation of its budget in 2018{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-08/budget-2018-abc-funding-frozen-in-$84-million-hit-bottom-line/9740690|title=Budget 2018: ABC funding frozen in $84 million hit to bottom line|work=ABC News|archive-date=6 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506085209/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-08/budget-2018-abc-funding-frozen-in-$84-million-hit-bottom-line/9740690|url-status=live|date=8 May 2018}} this was estimated at the time to cost the ABC {{AUD|84 million}} over three years, however the actual appropriation did not decrease{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-16/fact-check-are-there-no-cuts-to-abc-funding/12417226|title = Paul Fletcher says ABC funding is rising each year. Is he correct?|newspaper = ABC News|date = 15 July 2020|author=RMIT ABC Fact Check |archive-date=6 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506085538/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-16/fact-check-are-there-no-cuts-to-abc-funding/12417226 |url-status=live}} and the ABC chair was quoted as saying it would actually increase "but by a reduced amount".{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/jun/26/ita-buttrose-rebukes-scott-morrisons-claims-the-abcs-budget-has-not-been-cut|title = Ita Buttrose rejects Scott Morrison's claims the ABC's budget has not been cut|website = theguardian.com|date = 27 June 2020|first=Elias|last=Visontay|archive-date=6 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506090023/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/jun/26/ita-buttrose-rebukes-scott-morrisons-claims-the-abcs-budget-has-not-been-cut|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-24/abc-announces-cuts-to-programming-and-jobs-funding/12384972|title=Up to 250 ABC jobs to go, ABC Life brand scrapped, flagship radio news bulletin dumped to tackle $84 million budget cut|date=24 June 2020|work=ABC News|access-date=7 July 2020|language=en-AU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702143124/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-24/abc-announces-cuts-to-programming-and-jobs-funding/12384972|archive-date=2 July 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite news | last=Hurst | first=Daniel | title=ABC to cut 250 jobs, dump 7.45am radio news bulletin and axe ABC Life brand | website=The Guardian | date=24 June 2020 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/jun/24/abc-to-cut-250-jobs-dump-745am-radio-news-bulletin-and-axe-abc-life-brand | access-date=16 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506090348/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/jun/24/abc-to-cut-250-jobs-dump-745am-radio-news-bulletin-and-axe-abc-life-brand|archive-date=6 May 2024 |url-status=live}}

In all, over a five-year period, there were 737 redundancies, a further 866 resignations, and 203 retirements; but the total number of staff only fell by 313 due to the ABC hiring 650 staff over that period.{{Cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/hunger-games-bungled-budget-cuts-staff-exodus-take-toll-on-abc-20210126-p56wur.html|title = 'Hunger games': Bungled budget cuts, staff exodus take toll on ABC|date = 7 February 2021|archive-date=6 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506084042/https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/hunger-games-bungled-budget-cuts-staff-exodus-take-toll-on-abc-20210126-p56wur.html |url-status=live |url-access=registration|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|first=Zoe |last=Samios}}

In June 2021 the ABC announced its plan to move around 300 staff to offices in Parramatta, in a plan which would see 75% of journalists and producers moving out of the Ultimo building by 2025 to reduce costs. Rental from some of the vacant space in the city centre would earn additional income to offset the ongoing effects of the significant funding cuts since 2014 and the recent indexation freeze.{{cite news | last=Meade | first=Amanda | title=ABC to move 300 Sydney staff from Ultimo headquarters west to Parramatta | website= The Guardian | date=16 June 2021 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/jun/16/abc-to-move-300-sydney-staff-from-ultimo-headquarters-west-to-parramatta |archive-date=6 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506084408/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/jun/16/abc-to-move-300-sydney-staff-from-ultimo-headquarters-west-to-parramatta |url-status=live | access-date=16 July 2021}}

In December 2021 the ABC announced that, in addition to the 83 additional positions already established, it was to create an additional "50-plus" new jobs in regional Australia as a result of commercial agreements with digital platforms flowing from the Morrison government's News Media Bargaining Code.{{Cite press release|url=https://about.abc.net.au/press-releases/abc-to-add-more-than-50-journalists-in-regional-australia/|title = ABC to add more than 50 journalists in Regional Australia|archive-date=6 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506083751/https://about.abc.net.au/press-releases/abc-to-add-more-than-50-journalists-in-regional-australia/ |website=about.abc.net.au |url-status=live|date=3 December 2021|first=John |last=Woodward}}

In May 2024 the ABC started moving from its Ultimo office to a new Parramatta office. The first program to be broadcast from the new studio in Parramatta was ABC Radio Sydney Mornings.{{cite news |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2024/05/abc-parramatta-opens-for-broadcasting.html |title=ABC Parramatta opens for broadcasting |first=David |last=Knox |work=TV Tonight|archive-date=6 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506083046/https://tvtonight.com.au/2024/05/abc-parramatta-opens-for-broadcasting.html |url-status=live |access-date=6 May 2024 |date=6 May 2024}}{{cite press release |url=https://www.abc.net.au/about/media-centre/press-releases/abc-parramatta-officially-opens/103901598 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113011608/https://www.abc.net.au/about/media-centre/press-releases/abc-parramatta-officially-opens/103901598 |archive-date=13 November 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=6 May 2024 |date=6 May 2024 |title=ABC Parramatta Officially Opens |website=about.abc.net.au|first=Nick|last=Leys}}

{{Multiple image

| align =

| direction =

| width =

| image1 = Australian Broadcasting Corporation logo (1974-).svg

| width1 = 180

| caption1 = The Lissajous curve logo, as it appeared on some properties since October 1974–2002, and was reintroduced from 2014 onwards

| image2 = Lissajous-Figur 1 zu 3 (Oszilloskop).jpg

| width2 = 180

| caption2 = Lissajous figure on an oscilloscope, on which Bill Kennard designed the current logo

| image3 = ABC_Australia.png

| width3 = 180

| caption3 = The silver 2002 logo, which was used by the corporation from 2002 to 2018

}}

The ABC logo is one of the most recognisable logos in Australia.{{cite web |last1=Ingram |first1=Karin |title=10 Of The Best Australian Logos |url=https://www.kwikkopy.com.au/blog/10-of-the-best-australian-logos |website=Kwik Kopy |date=23 April 2019 |access-date=25 September 2020}}{{cite web |title=Top10 Australian logos of all time |url=https://www.marketingmag.com.au/news-c/top10-australian-logos-of-all-time/ |website=Marketing Mag |date=20 September 2012 |access-date=25 September 2020}}{{cite web |title=The Top 13 Australian Logos of All Time |url=https://www.tailorbrands.com/blog/australia-logo |website=Tailor Brands |date=30 April 2020 |access-date=25 September 2020}} In the early years of television, the ABC had been using Lissajous curves as fillers between programmes.{{cite web |title=The ABC's of Lissajous figures |url=http://www.abc.net.au/science/holo/liss.htm |website=ABC.net |publisher=ABC |access-date=13 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122174128/http://www.abc.net.au/science/holo/liss.htm |archive-date=22 January 2020 |url-status=live }}

In 1961, prior to the adoption of an official corporate logo, the ABC commissioned Tasmanian artist George Davis to create a large mosaic mural for its new Hobart studios at 5–7 Sandy Bay Road. The abstract design, composed of more than 150,000 glass tiles and spanning {{cvt|19|m}}, was prominently displayed on the building’s façade. Observers and later commentators have noted similarities between the mural’s sinuous linework and the ABC's eventual logo, with some suggesting it may have served as a visual influence.{{cite web |title=Conservatorium Institute Letter |url=https://www.architecture.com.au/wp-content/uploads/20200826-Conservatorium-Institute-Letter.pdf |website=Australian Institute of Architects |publisher=Architecture Australia |access-date=15 April 2025}}{{cite news |title=Tasmanian artist George Davis dies, aged 94. His work inspired the ABC logo |url=https://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/tasmanian-artist-george-davis-dies-aged-94-his-work-inspired-the-abc-logo/news-story/daf323cb0e664e687b3041150b62f5c7 |work=The Mercury |date=23 October 2024 |access-date=15 April 2025}}

In July 1963, the ABC conducted a staff competition to create a new logo for use on television, stationery, publications, microphone badges and ABC vehicles.{{cite web |title=AusTVHistory: Australian Broadcasting Corporation 1950s–1960s |url=http://www.austvhistory.com/abc/index.htm |publisher=Aus TV History |author=Brooklyn Ross-Hulands |access-date=4 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007030333/http://www.austvhistory.com/abc/index.htm |archive-date = 7 October 2008|url-status=dead}}{{cite web | title = Memoirs of a Space Engineer – about Doug Rickard | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date = 19 October 2000 | url = http://www.abc.net.au/science/slab/memoirs/about.htm | access-date = 30 January 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080508190613/http://www.abc.net.au/science/slab/memoirs/about.htm | archive-date = 8 May 2008 | url-status = live }} In 1965, ABC graphics designer Bill Kennard submitted a design representing a Lissajous display, as generated when a sine wave signal is applied to the "X" input of an oscilloscope and another at three times the frequency at the "Y" input. The letters "ABC" were added to the design and it was adopted as the ABC's official logo. Kennard was presented with £25 (about AU$850 in 2024) for his design.

On 19 October 1974 the Lissajous curve design experienced its first facelift with the line thickened to allow for colour to be used. It would also be treated to the 'over and under' effect, showing the crossover of the line in the design. To celebrate its 70th anniversary on 1 July 2002, the ABC adopted a new logo, which was created by (Annette) Harcus Design in 2001. This logo used a silver 3D texture but the crossover design was left intact and was then used across the ABC's media outlets. After the on-air revival of the 1974 logo since 2014, the ABC gradually reinstated the classic symbol.{{cite news |last1=Herbison |first1=Michelle |title=ABC rebrand takes main TV channel back to its roots |url=https://www.marketingmag.com.au/news-c/abc-rebrand-takes-main-tv-channel-back-to-its-roots/ |access-date=22 March 2021 |work=Marketing Magazine}} The most recent change happened in February 2018, with a new logotype and brand positioning under its tagline, Yours.{{cite news |last1=Samios |first1=Zoe |title=ABC Yours rebrand aims to build on Aunty's reputation of 'trust' at every stage of Australian life |url=https://mumbrella.com.au/abc-aims-to-build-on-its-reputation-of-trust-with-new-brand-positioning-498585 |access-date=22 March 2021 |work=Mumbrella |date=12 February 2018}} The 2002 silver logo is no longer in use by the corporation.

{{Main|ABC Board}}

The operations of the ABC are governed by a board of directors,{{cite web|url=http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/html/histact/10/5029/0/HA000110.htm |title = Establishment of Australian Broadcasting Corporation Board |publisher=ScalePlus | access-date=26 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060530102717/http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/html/histact/10/5029/0/HA000110.htm |archive-date = 30 May 2006}} consisting of a managing director,{{cite web | url = http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/html/histact/10/5029/0/HA000170.htm |title = Membership of Board |publisher=ScalePlus|access-date=5 October 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927220135/http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/html/histact/10/5029/0/HA000170.htm |archive-date = 27 September 2007}} five to seven directors, and until 2006, a staff-elected director.{{cite press release|title=Restructure of ABC Board |publisher=Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts |url=http://www.minister.dcita.gov.au/coonan/media/media_releases/restructure_of_abc_board |access-date=27 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090613183239/http://www.minister.dcita.gov.au/coonan/media/media_releases/restructure_of_abc_board |archive-date=13 June 2009 }} The managing director is appointed by the board for a period of up to five years, but is eligible for renewal.{{cite web | url = http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/html/histact/10/5029/0/HA000180.htm |title = Tenure of Managing Director |publisher=ScalePlus | access-date=5 October 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927220029/http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/html/histact/10/5029/0/HA000180.htm |archive-date = 27 September 2007}} The authority and guidelines for the appointment of directors is provided for in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983.{{cite web | url=http://www.abc.net.au/corp/board/about_board.htm | archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231044042/http://www.abc.net.au/corp/board/about_board.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=31 December 2012 |title= About the board | publisher=ABC Online |access-date=26 November 2006}}{{cite web | title = Membership of Board |url=http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/html/histact/10/5029/0/HA000170.htm |publisher=Scaleplus |access-date=26 November 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060530102806/http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/html/histact/10/5029/0/HA000170.htm |archive-date = 30 May 2006}}

Appointments to the ABC Board made by successive governments have often resulted in criticism of the appointees' political affiliation, background, and relative merit.{{cite web|title=Methods of appointment to the ABC Board: Chapter 2 – The selection criteria – who should be on the board? |work=Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Committee, ABC Board inquiry report |publisher=Parliament of Australia |date=September 2001 |url=http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/ecita_ctte/completed_inquiries/1999-02/abcboard/report/c02.htm |access-date=4 November 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060912075859/http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/ecita_ctte/completed_inquiries/1999-02/abcboard/report/c02.htm |archive-date=12 September 2006 }}{{cite news |title=Whose ABC? |url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2006/s1726253.htm |date=26 August 2006 |publisher=ABC Radio |access-date=13 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113152107/http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2006/s1726253.htm |archive-date=13 January 2009 |url-status=live }} Past appointments have associated directly with political parties – five of fourteen appointed chairmen have been accused of political affiliation or friendship, include Richard Downing and Ken Myer (both of whom publicly endorsed the Australian Labor Party at the 1972 election), as well as Sir Henry Bland, David Hill was close to Neville Wran, while Donald McDonald was considered to be a close friend of John Howard.

From 2003 the Howard government made several controversial appointments to the ABC Board, including prominent ABC critic Janet Albrechtsen,{{cite web| last = Caldwell| first = Alison| title = ABC critic appointed to board of directors| publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation| date = 24 February 2005| url = http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2005/s1310461.htm| access-date = 28 November 2006| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071210145740/http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2005/s1310461.htm| archive-date = 10 December 2007| url-status = live}} Ron Brunton,{{cite news| last = Marriner| first = Cosima| title = Anthropologist on ABC Board| publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation| date = 3 May 2003| url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/05/02/1051382095367.html| access-date =28 November 2006 }} and Keith Windschuttle.{{cite web| last = Colvin| first = Mark| title = Govt appoints ABC board members| publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation| date = 15 June 2006| url = http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2006/s1664194.htm| access-date =28 November 2006 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061019202429/http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2006/s1664194.htm| archive-date= 19 October 2006 | url-status= live}}

During their 2007 federal election campaign Labor announced plans to introduce a new system, similar to that of the BBC, for appointing members to the board.{{cite press release|title=Australian Labor Party: ABC Board |url=http://www.alp.org.au/media/0607/mscoitloo050.php |date=5 June 2007 |publisher=Australian Labor Party |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412045133/http://www.alp.org.au/media/0607/mscoitloo050.php |archive-date=12 April 2009 }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,24897,22876717-7582,00.html|title=Conroy sets ABC collision course|last=Sainsbury|first=Michael|date=6 December 2007|website=The Australian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071207155859/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,24897,22876717-7582,00.html|archive-date=7 December 2007|access-date=1 August 2018}} Under the new system, candidates for the ABC Board would be considered by an independent panel established "at arm's length" from the Communications Minister.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23232789-7582,00.html|title=Panel selecting ABC board to be named|date=18 February 2008|website=The Australian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219131144/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23232789-7582,00.html|archive-date=19 February 2008|access-date=1 August 2018}} If the minister chose someone not on the panel's shortlist, they would be required to justify this to parliament. The ABC chairman would be nominated by the prime minister and endorsed by the leader of the opposition.{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/broadcast/john-howard-loyalists-join-abc-panel/story-fna045gd-1226975669412|title=John Howard loyalists join ABC panel|work=The Australian|author=Markson, Sharri|date=3 July 2014|access-date=22 December 2014}}{{cite news|title=Free podcasts don't suit ABC's results|url=http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/markday/index.php/theaustralian/comments/free_podcasts_dont_suit_abcs_results/|date=18 September 2008|publisher=news.com.au|author=Day, Mark|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924061048/http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/markday/index.php/theaustralian/comments/free_podcasts_dont_suit_abcs_results|archive-date=24 September 2008}}

A new merit-based appointment system was announced on 16 October 2008, in advance of the new triennial funding period starting in 2009.{{cite press release|url=http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases/2008/076|title=Measures to ensure strong and independent national broadcasters|date=16 October 2008|access-date=16 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081020011330/http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases/2008/076|archive-date=20 October 2008|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dbcde.gov.au/media_broadcasting/abc_and_sbs/abc_and_sbs_board_appointments/the_merit-based_appointment_process |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121127115121/http://www.dbcde.gov.au/media_broadcasting/abc_and_sbs/abc_and_sbs_board_appointments/the_merit-based_appointment_process |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 November 2012 |title=The merit-based appointment process |access-date=16 October 2008 }}

In 2013 the Coalition government introduced a merit-based system for appointing the board based on the recommendations of a nominations panel. However, the panel was ultimately only advisory, with almost all of the board members in 2018 directly appointed by the Communications minister, despite some being rejected by the panel or not being considered at all.{{Cite news |last=Davies |first=Anne |date=2018-09-27 |title=ABC board members appointed by Fifield despite being rejected by merit-based panel |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/sep/27/abc-board-members-appointed-by-fifield-despite-being-rejected-by-merit-based-panel |access-date=2023-12-30 |issn=0261-3077}}

{{as of|January 2025}} board members include:{{cite web | title=Who we are – The ABC Board | website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | url=http://about.abc.net.au/who-we-are/the-abc-board/ | access-date=2 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504135014/http://about.abc.net.au/who-we-are/the-abc-board/| archive-date=4 May 2021 |url-status=live}}

The ABC is primarily funded by the Australian government, in addition to some revenue received from commercial offerings and its retail outlets. The ABC's funding system is set and reviewed every three years.{{Cite web|last=Wils|first=Tyson|date=May 2018|title=Funding for the national broadcasters|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/BudgetReview201819/Fundingfornationalbroadcasters|access-date=2 July 2020|website=Parliament of Australia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703155615/https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/BudgetReview201819/Fundingfornationalbroadcasters|archive-date=3 July 2020|url-status=live}}

In the early 1920s there existed two forms of radio licences A and B. Those with 'A' licences were funded by listener fees and those with 'B' by commercial advertising. It was tied to 'sealed set' system in which listeners would purchase a radio receiver and then pay a subscription to continue to listen to it; its implementation was a cross between the BBC's licence fee and more commercially supported radio, such as those found in the US.{{Cite web |last=Tully |first=Helen |title=When local radio and TV required a licence |url=https://www.nfsa.gov.au/latest/radio-and-tv-licences |access-date=18 January 2025 |website=National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA)}} This continued until the Report of the Royal Commission on Wireless together with appendices was published on the 5th of October, 1927, which recommended in its summary that it should issue no further A radio licences alongside pooling resources to improve programmes and secure an efficient service to the public.{{Cite report |url=https://apo.org.au/node/190706 |title=Report of the Royal Commission on Wireless, together with appendices |last=Wireless |first=Royal Commission on |date=1927-10-05 |publisher=Government of Australia |language=en}}

The Australian government – also known as the Commonwealth government – decided in July 1928 against the recommendations in the Royal Commission and nationalised stations with A licences.{{Cite web |last=Griffen-Foley |first=Bridget |title=New Waves: The birth of radio in Australia |url=https://www.nfsa.gov.au/latest/radio-100-chapter-1-new-waves-birth-radio-australia-1923 |access-date=19 January 2025 |website=National Film and Sound Archive of Australia}} By 1929 the government had nationalised the provision of transmission and contracted the delivery of programming to the conglomerate Australian Broadcasting Company. By 1932, 12 stations had been nationalised{{Cite web |title=The History of Australian Radio |url=https://media.adelaide.edu.au/radio/intro/history_OZ-radio.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240316015626/https://media.adelaide.edu.au/radio/intro/history_OZ-radio.pdf |archive-date=16 March 2024 |access-date=19 January 2025 |website=Radio Adelaide}} and in May of that year the Commonwealth government passed the Australian Broadcasting Commission Act 1932. Under the act a new public broadcaster was created, it was funded directly by listener fees until 1948 and run by a five-member commission with the Postmaster-General’s Department responsible for the technical aspects.{{Cite web |last=Jacka |first=Liz |title=Screen Australia Digital Learning – The ABC Act (1932) |url=https://dl.nfsa.gov.au/module/638/ |access-date=19 January 2025 |website=National Film and Sound Archive of Australia |language=en-au}} Amendments were also made to the Australian Broadcasting Act 1983 which meant the ABC would receive its funding directly from the federal government.{{Cite web |last=Bagshaw |first=Eryk |date=2019-09-29 |title=Time for an ABC 'TV tax'? |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/time-for-an-abc-tv-tax-20190929-p52vz5.html |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=28 March 2018 |title=Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A02723/2018-03-14/text |access-date=21 January 2025 |website=Federal Register of Legislation}}

From 1956 to 1974 a combined licence for TV and radio was required.{{Cite web |title=Combined Receiving Licence |url=https://www.heritage.noosa.qld.gov.au/nodes/view/15687 |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Heritage Noosa}}

File:Frank Crean 1974.jpg

Licence fees remained until 18 September 1974, when they were abolished by the Whitlam Labor government, on the basis that the licence fee represented a poll tax and in turn cost more for the less affluent. Its abolishment was introduced by Frank Crean in his 1974 budget speech.{{Cite web |title=Budget 1974‑75 |url=https://archive.budget.gov.au/1974-75/index.htm |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=archive.budget.gov.au}}{{Cite web |title=BROADCASTING AND TELEVISION ACT 1974 No. 55 of 1974 - SECT 10 Refund of certain licence fees. |url=https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/num_act/bata1974258/s10.html |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=classic.austlii.edu.au}}{{Citation |last= |first= |title=Broadcasting and Television Act 1974 |date=1974-09-18 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A00113/latest/text |access-date=19 January 2025 |publisher=Federal Register of Legislation}}{{Cite web |last=Tully |first=Helen |title=Licence to... watch TV? |url=https://www.nfsa.gov.au/latest/radio-and-tv-licences |access-date=19 January 2025 |website=The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia}}

It was also considered too costly to monitor compliance.

Journalist Jenny Hill of CTC 7 News interviewed a woman about the abolition of the licence fees for TV and radio, during the interview she exclaimed about the unfairness of the decision referencing those who had already paid annually.{{Cite web |date=20 September 1974 |title=CTC7 News 1974.09.20: abolition of radio and TV licence fees |url=https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/asset/97224-ctc7-news-19740920-abolition-radio-and-tv-licence-fees |access-date=21 January 2025 |website=The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia}}

In a letter to The Canberra Times on 16 January 1976, reader R. O. MEE Flynn wrote:

"Now it is rumoured that that the TV licence fee might be introduced again, just as I was in the act of writing to the PMG (Postmaster General) to ask if it was possible for us to get paid for watching the box. I have no intention of wasting money on a colour TV until the programs improve or more overseas content is allowed. We have been brainwashed with the advertisement that Australia waited and chose the best colour system; it's a pity they did not choose the programs to go with it."{{Cite web |title=Television licences - The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) - 16 Jan 1976 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110797302?searchTerm=television%20licence# |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Trove |language=en}}

The Sydney Morning Herald reported on 10 February 1976, the federal cabinet was considering reintroducing the TV licence but not for radios.{{Cite web |last=Hollinsworth |first=Harry |date=2023-02-09 |title=In the Herald: February 10, 1976 |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/in-the-herald-february-10-1976-20230202-p5chiz.html |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}

The debate and its discussion continued, with one reader on 23 July 1978 to the Canberra Times stating "Sir, - The rumour is that reintroduction of TV licences is to occur shortly (no smoke without fire). Once again the ordinary hard-working people are expected to be able to pay - if as rumoured - S120 for a colour television set and S80 for a black-and-white set each year." they went onto to say "...People such as pensioners, the unemployed etc, who are not in any position to pay licences and need some form of entertainment or stimulation will be the hardest hit. As usual they bear the brunt of this Government's crushing tactics on them."{{Cite news |date=1978-07-23 |title=Television licences |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110898677?searchTerm=television%20licence |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=Canberra Times}}

In 2014 the ABC absorbed $254 million in federal budget deficits.{{Cite news|last=Hunter|first=Fergus|date=2 April 2019|title=Federal budget 2019: ABC wins local news-gathering funds|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/federal-budget-2019-abc-wins-local-newsgathering-funds-20190402-1o25za.html|url-access=registration|access-date=2 July 2020|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703235123/https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/federal-budget-2019-abc-wins-local-newsgathering-funds-20190402-1o25za.html|archive-date=3 July 2020|url-status=live|quote=The ABC has absorbed $254 million worth of cuts unveiled in 2014, and the enhanced news-gathering fund – first supported by the former Labor government in 2013 – had been shrunk from 2016 onwards. ... Under a further measure announced in last year's budget, the broadcaster's base funding will be frozen at 2018–19 levels for three years from July, saving $84 million. ... Unchanged in this year's budget, this gives the ABC $3.16 billion in base funding from 2019–20 to 2021–22.}}

In the 2018–19 budget handed down by then-Treasurer Scott Morrison, the ABC was subject to a pause of indexation of operation funding, saving the federal government a total of $83.7 million over 3 years.{{Cite web|last1=Morrison|first1=Scott|last2=Cormann|first2=Mathias|date=8 May 2018|title=Budget Measures, Budget Paper No. 2 2018–19|url=https://archive.budget.gov.au/2018-19/bp2/bp2.pdf |page=79 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://archive.budget.gov.au/2018-19/bp2/bp2.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|access-date=2 July 2020|work=The Commonwealth of Australia |issn=1326-4133}} In fiscal year 2016–17, the ABC received $861 million in federal funding, which increased to $865 million per year from 2017 to 2018 to 2018–19, representing a cut in funding of $43 million over three years when accounting for inflation. In the 2019–20 federal budget funding was around $3.2 billion over three years ($1.06 billion per year) for the ABC. The Enhanced Newsgathering Fund, a specialised fund for regional and outer-suburban news gathering set up in 2013 by the Gillard government,{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-07/abc-news-gets-2410m-funding-boost/4506798|title = ABC News gets $10m funding boost|work = ABC News|date = 7 February 2013}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/specials/budget-2013/2013-05-14/abc-welcomes-multi-million-dollar-funding-pledge/4689724|title = ABC welcomes multi-million-dollar funding pledge|newspaper = ABC News|date = 14 May 2013}} was $44 million over three years as of the 2019–20 budget, a reduction of $28 million per year since the 2016 Australian federal election. This came after speculation that the fund would be removed, to which Acting managing director David Anderson wrote to Communications Minister Mitch Fifield expressing concerns.

Despite the cuts made by Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the freeze introduced by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Communications Minister Mitch Fifield, the ABC itself has published financial data that shows an increase in the taxpayer appropriation to the ABC of 10% in real terms (i.e. above inflation) between 1998 and 2021.{{cite report |date=9 September 2021 |url=https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/fb64381f4245ba0fdc8da8bf289b615c |page=134 |title=ABC Annual Report 2020–2021 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=29 December 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113003735/https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/fb64381f4245ba0fdc8da8bf289b615c |archive-date=13 November 2024 }}

In 2023, fulfilling one of Labor's election pledges, the ABC moved into a five instead of three-year funding term.{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501130056/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-19/promise-check-abc-sbs-five-year-funding-periods/101792234 |archive-date=1 May 2024 |url-status=live |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-19/promise-check-abc-sbs-five-year-funding-periods/101792234 |access-date=1 May 2024 |title=Promise check: Provide the ABC and SBS with five-year funding periods |date=19 May 2023 |work=RMIT ABC Fact Check |via=ABC News}}

The term "where your 8 cents a day goes", coined in the late 1980s during funding negotiations,{{cite news |title=Your ABC |url=http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/stories/s203582.htm |date=24 October 2000 |publisher=Lateline |access-date=3 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113151239/http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/stories/s203582.htm |archive-date=13 January 2009 |url-status=dead }} is often used in reference to the services provided by the ABC.{{cite speech

|title=Launch of ABC Disability Awareness resources: An ABC for all Australians |author=Sev Ozdowski OAM

|date=9 August 2001|location=Sydney, Australia |url=http://svc013.wic009tp.server-web.com/disability_rights/speeches/2001/ABC2001.htm |access-date=5 October 2007|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815203907/http://svc013.wic009tp.server-web.com/disability_rights/speeches/2001/ABC2001.htm |archive-date=15 August 2008}} It was estimated that the cost of the ABC per head of population per day was 7.1 cents a day, based on the corporation's 2007–08 "base funding" of {{AUD|543 million}}.{{cite web|title=Crikey – Comments, clarifications, and c*ckups |url=http://www.crikey.com.au/Comments/20070813-Comments-corrections-clarifications-and-cckups.html |year=2008 |access-date=3 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223130405/http://www.crikey.com.au/Comments/20070813-Comments-corrections-clarifications-and-cckups.html |archive-date=23 February 2009 }}

File:ABC Building South Bank.jpg]]

{{See also|History of ABC Radio (Australia)}}

The ABC operates 54 local radio stations, in addition to four national networks and international service Radio Australia. In addition, DiG Radio (rebranded to Double J in 2014){{cite web|work=radioinfo|title=Double J announces full program line up and presenters|url= https://www.radioinfo.com.au/news/double-j-announces-full-program-line-and-presenters| access-date=3 June 2021| date=30 April 2014}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/triple-js-40th-birthday-high-times-with-the-department-of-youth-20150108-12k5m4.html|title=Triple J's 40th birthday: High times with the department of youth|last=Webb|first=Marius|date=2015-01-09|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=3 June 2021}}) launched on digital platforms in 2002,{{cite web|title=Three digital stars are born|url=http://www.abc.net.au/corp/communications/s2628902.htm|work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=17 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616193755/http://www.abc.net.au/corp/communications/s2628902.htm|archive-date=16 June 2012|url-status=dead}} and later spinning off ABC Country and ABC Jazz.

ABC Local Radio is the corporation's flagship radio station in each broadcast area. There are 54 individual stations,{{when|date=June 2021}} each with a similar format consisting of locally presented light entertainment, news, talk back, music, sport and interviews, in addition to some national programming such as AM, PM, The World Today, sporting events and Nightlife.

{{As of |June 2021}} the ABC operates 15 radio networks, variously available on AM and FM as well as on digital platforms and the internet.{{cite web | title=ABC Radio stations | website=ABC | url=https://www.abc.net.au/radio/stations/ | access-date=3 June 2021}}

• Radio National – A generalist station, also known as RN, broadcasting more than 60 special interest programmes per week covering a range of topics including music, comedy, book readings, radio dramas, poetry, science, health, the arts, religion, social history and current affairs.
• ABC NewsRadio – A news based service, also known as ABC News on Radio, broadcasting federal parliamentary sittings and news on a 24/7 format with updates on the quarter-hour. Broadcast's news content produced by the ABC itself, as well as programmes relayed from ABC Radio Australia, the BBC World Service, NPR, Deutsche Welle, Radio Netherlands and CNN Radio.
• ABC Classic – A classical music based station, formerly known as ABC Classic FM. It also plays some jazz and world music. ABC Classic was the ABC's first FM radio service. It was originally known simply as "ABC FM", and for a short time "ABC Fine Music".
• Triple J – A youth-oriented radio network, with a strong focus on alternative and independent music (especially Australian artists); it is targeted at people aged 18–35.

The ABC also operates several stations only available online and on digital platforms:{{update inline|date=June 2021}}

• ABC Classic 2 – a sister station to ABC Classic, focussing on performances by Australian artists. Only available on streaming platforms.
• Double J – a Triple J sister station, focussed on an older audience to Triple J.
• Triple J Unearthed – a Triple J sister station, playing unsigned and independent Australian talent.
• Triple j Hottest – a Triple J sister station, playing tracks from the past 30 years of Triple J Hottest 100 countdowns.
• ABC Jazz – A station exclusively dedicated to Jazz from Australia and the world.
• ABC Country – An exclusively country music station, mainly focussing on Australian country music.
• ABC Grandstand – Since November 2020 merged to ABC Sport.{{cite web | title=Grandstand Summer of Cricket now on ABC SPORT | website=radioinfo | date=4 November 2020 | url=https://radioinfo.com.au/news/grandstand-summer-cricket-now-abc-sport | access-date=3 June 2021}}
• ABC Extra – A temporary special events station.
• ABC Kids – Children's based programming, and a sister station to the ABC Kids television channel.

There is also ABC Radio Australia, the international radio station of the ABC (see below).

=== ABC Listen app ===

The ABC Radio app was launched in 2012. This was replaced by the ABC Listen app in September 2017, which included 45 ABC radio stations and audio networks.{{cite web | title=ABC launches new ABC Listen audio app | website=RadioInfo Australia | date=11 September 2017 | url=https://radioinfo.com.au/news/abc-launches-new-abc-listen-audio-app/ | access-date=19 August 2023}}{{cite web | title=ABC listen to replace existing ABC Radio app | website=Radio Today | date=13 September 2017 | url=https://radiotoday.com.au/abc-listen-replace-existing-abc-radio-app/ | access-date=19 August 2023}}{{cite web | last=Abbey | first=Jocelin | title=ABC launches new ABC listen audio app | website=ABC Radio | date=11 September 2017 | url=https://radio.press.abc.net.au/abc-launches-new-abc-listen-audio-app | access-date=19 August 2023}}

{{Main|ABC Television (Australian TV network)}}

The ABC operates five national television channels:

• ABC TV (formerly ABC1 from 2008 to 2014), the corporation's original television service, receives the bulk of funding for television and shows first-run comedy, drama, documentaries, and news and current affairs. In each state and territory a local news bulletin is shown at 7{{nbsp}}pm nightly.
• ABC Family (formerly ABC2 and ABC Comedy and ABC TV Plus), launched in 2005, shows comedic content in addition to some repeats from ABC TV of which the amount has decreased gradually since ABC TV Plus's inception. It is not a 24-hour channel, but is broadcast daily from 7:30{{nbsp}}pm to around 3{{nbsp}}am the following night. The channel shares airspace with the ABC Kids programming block from 5{{nbsp}}am to 7:30{{nbsp}}pm.
• ABC Entertains (originally ABC3 and ABC Me) became a fully fledged channel on 4 December 2009, but has been part of the electronic guide line-up since 2008, broadcasting an ABC1 simulcast until 4 December 2009, then an ABC Radio simulcast and teaser graphic until its official launch. It is broadcast from 6{{nbsp}}am to around 10{{nbsp}}pm on weekdays and 6{{nbsp}}am to 2{{nbsp}}am the next day on weekends, and consists of a broad range programmes aimed at a young audience aged 6–15, with a core demographic of 8–12.
• ABC Kids (formerly ABC For Kids on 2 and ABC 4 Kids) is a preschool children's block featuring children's programming aimed at the 0 to 5 age groups. ABC Kids broadcasts during ABC Family downtime, from 4{{nbsp}}am to 7:30{{nbsp}}pm daily.
• ABC News (originally ABC News 24), a 24-hour news channel, featuring the programming from ABC News and Current Affairs, selected programs from the BBC World News channel, coverage of the Federal Parliament's Question Time, documentaries and factual, arts programming and state or national election coverage.

Although the ABC's headquarters in Sydney serve as a base for program distribution nationally, ABC Television network is composed of eight state and territory based stations, each based in their respective state capital and augmented by repeaters:

{{Div col|colwidth=25em}}

• ABN (Sydney)
• ABV (Melbourne)
• ABQ (Brisbane)
• ABS (Adelaide)
• ABW (Perth)
• ABT (Hobart)
• ABC (Canberra)
• ABD (Darwin)

{{Div col end}}

The eight ABC stations carry opt outs for local programming. In addition to the nightly 7{{nbsp}}pm news, the stations also broadcast weekly state editions of 7.30 on Friday evenings (until 5 December 2014), state election coverage and in most areas, live sport on Saturday afternoons.

There is also ABC Australia, the international TV service of the ABC (see below).

File:ABC office in Southbank.jpg, Melbourne]]

ABC Online is the name given to the online services of the ABC, which have evolved to cover a large network of websites including those for ABC News, its various television channels, ABC radio; podcasts; SMS, mobile apps and other mobile phone services; vodcasts and video-on-demand through ABC iView.{{cite report | title=The ABC: an overview (updated) | publisher=Parliament of Australia, Parliamentary Library | date=11 July 2014| series=Research Paper Series, 2014–15 |issn= 2203-5249| first= Rhonda|last=Jolley| url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1415/ABCoverview | access-date=16 June 2021}} [https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/library/prspub/3346567/upload_binary/3346567.pdf;fileType=application/pdf PDF]

The official launch of ABC Online, then part of the ABC's Multimedia Unit, was on 14 August 1995, charged with developing policy for the ABC's work in web publishing. At first it relied upon funding allocation to the corporation's TV and radio operations, but later began to receive its own. The ABC provided live, online election coverage for the first time in 1996, and limited news content began to be provided in 1997. This unit continued until 2000, when the New Media division was formed, bringing together the ABC's online output as a division similar to television or radio. In 2001 the New Media division became New Media and Digital Services, reflecting the broader remit to develop content for digital platforms such as digital television, becoming an "output division" similar to Television or Radio. In addition to ABC Online, the division also had responsibility over the ABC's two digital television services, Fly TV and the ABC Kids channel, until their closure in 2003.{{cite web| url = http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/media/s863660.htm| archive-url = https://archive.today/20121231153922/http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/media/s863660.htm| url-status = dead| archive-date = 31 December 2012| title = ABC Closes Digital Multichannels| access-date =25 September 2007| date = 26 May 2003| publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation

}}

ABC TV Plus, a digital-only free-to-air television channel, launched on 7 March 2005, as ABC2. Unlike its predecessors the new service was not dependent on government funding, instead running on a budget of {{AUD|3 million}} per year.{{cite book |last=Inglis |first=Kenneth Stanley|author-link = Ken Inglis |title=Whose ABC? The Australian Broadcasting Corporation 1983–2006 |year=2006 |publisher=Black Inc. |location=Melbourne, Victoria |isbn=978-1-86395-189-0 }} Minister for Communications Helen Coonan inaugurated the channel at Parliament House three days later.{{cite web|url=http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=74&newsID=641&display=news |title=ABC2 launched at Parliament House |access-date=31 March 2007 |date=11 March 2005 |work=ABC New Media & Digital Services |publisher=DBA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723182639/http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=74&newsID=641&display=news |archive-date=23 July 2013 }} Genre restrictions limiting the types of programming the channel could carry were lifted in October 2006 – ABC TV Plus (then ABC2) was henceforth able to carry programming classified as comedy, drama, national news, sport, and entertainment.{{cite news| url = https://www.theguardian.com/australia/story/0,,1925263,00.html| title = Australia opens up media investment| access-date =31 March 2007| date = 18 October 2006| work=The Guardian | first=Julia | last=Day}}

In conjunction with the ABC's radio division, New Media and Digital Services implemented the ABC's first podcasts in December 2004. By mid-2006 the ABC had become an international leader in podcasting with over fifty podcast programmes delivering hundreds of thousands of downloads per week,{{cite web |title=Podcasting: ABC Radio National Tops 100,000 mp3s in One Week |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |url=http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/media/s1409756.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231052535/http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/media/s1409756.htm

|url-status=dead |archive-date=31 December 2012|access-date=1 October 2007}} including trial video podcasts of The Chaser's War on Everything and jtv.{{cite web| title = ABC Launches Vodcasting| publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation| url = http://abc.net.au/corp/pubs/media/s1698372.htm| archive-url = https://archive.today/20071013102015/http://abc.net.au/corp/pubs/media/s1698372.htm| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 13 October 2007| access-date =1 October 2007}}

In February 2007 the New Media & Digital Services division was dissolved and divided up among other areas of the ABC. It was replaced by a new Innovation division, to manage ABC Online and investigate new technologies for the ABC.{{cite web| title = The ABC of Digital Media Evolution| publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation| url = http://abc.net.au/corp/pubs/media/s1842869.htm| archive-url = https://archive.today/20070923100453/http://abc.net.au/corp/pubs/media/s1842869.htm| url-status = dead| archive-date = 23 September 2007| access-date =1 October 2007| date = 7 February 2007}}

In 2008 Crikey reported that certain ABC Online mobile sites in development were planned to carry commercial advertising.{{Citation|author=Andrew Dodd |title=New ABC Mobile service to include advertising |url=http://www.crikey.com.au/Media-Arts-and-Sports/20080908-ABC-advertising.html |publisher=Crikey.com.au |date=2008-09-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911121619/http://www.crikey.com.au/Media-Arts-and-Sports/20080908-ABC-advertising.html |archive-date=2008-09-11 }} Screenshots, developed in-house, of an ABC Radio Grandstand sport page include advertising for two private companies. Media Watch later revealed that the websites were to be operated by ABC Commercial and distinguished from the main, advertising-free, mobile website by a distinct logo.{{Citation |title=ABC Designs for the future |url=http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s2365258.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919050733/http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s2365258.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 September 2008 |date=2008-09-15 |author=Media Watch|publisher=ABC Online}}

In 2015 the Innovation Division was replaced with the Digital Network Division.{{cite web|url=http://www.adnews.com.au/news/abc-innovation-boss-angela-clark-to-head-up-new-digital-network|title=ABC innovation boss Angela Clark to head up new Digital Network|publisher=AdNews|date=25 November 2014|author=Rosie Baker|access-date=10 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231201155/http://www.adnews.com.au/news/abc-innovation-boss-angela-clark-to-head-up-new-digital-network|archive-date=31 December 2015|url-status=live}} Angela Clark was head from 2012 until at least the end of financial year 2015/6,{{cite report|chapter-url=https://www.abc.net.au/corp/annual-report/2016/about-org-chart.html| title=From the Everyday to the Extraordinary: Annual Report 2016| author=Australian Broadcasting Corporation| date=2016|url= https://www.abc.net.au/corp/annual-report/2016/|chapter= Organisational Structure}} but by 2017 she was gone, and the Digital Network fell into the Technology division under the Chief Technology Officer.

In May 2017 Helen Clifton was appointed to the new role of Chief Digital and Information Officer.{{cite news | last=Saarinen | first=Juha | title=ABC anoints first chief digital and information officer | website=iTnews |archive-date=1 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501091254/https://www.itnews.com.au/news/abc-anoints-first-chief-digital-and-information-officer-461472 |url-status=live | date=12 May 2017 | url=https://www.itnews.com.au/news/abc-anoints-first-chief-digital-and-information-officer-461472 | access-date=8 June 2021}} She retired from this role in 2022{{cite press release |quote=ABC Chief Digital & Information Officer Helen Clifton has announced she will leave the national broadcaster to take up the role of Executive Director of Product Delivery for NHS Digital (part of the National Health Service), based in London, UK. | title=ABC Chief Digital & Information Officer Helen Clifton | website=about.abc.net.au |first=Nick |last=Leys | date=17 January 2022 | url=https://about.abc.net.au/press-releases/abc-chief-digital-information-officer-helen-clifton/ |archive-date=1 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501090715/https://about.abc.net.au/press-releases/abc-chief-digital-information-officer-helen-clifton/ |url-status=live | access-date=1 May 2024}}

In December 2019 a refreshed ABC homepage was launched.{{Cite web|url=http://help.abc.net.au/hc/en-us/articles/360001175195-Why-has-the-ABC-Homepage-changed- |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125163400/http://help.abc.net.au/hc/en-us/articles/360001175195-Why-has-the-ABC-Homepage-changed- |archive-date=25 November 2020 |url-status=dead| title= Why has the ABC Homepage changed?|website=help.abc.net.au|access-date=2019-12-03}} ABC News is one of Australia's largest and most-visited web sites; from its position as 11th most popular in the country in 2008,{{Cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/documents/mark_scott_npc_address_10.09.08.pdf |title=Address to National Press Club 10 September 2008 |website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=26 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012164616/http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/documents/mark_scott_npc_address_10.09.08.pdf |archive-date=12 October 2009 |url-status=dead }} in recent years up to 2021 it has maintained its top position in the rankings.{{cite web | title=ABC News Websites Ranks No. 1 | website=Nielsen | url=https://www.nielsen.com/au/en/press-releases/2020/abc-news-websites-ranks-no-1 | access-date=8 June 2021}}{{cite web|url= https://mumbrella.com.au/news-com-au-tumbles-to-sixth-in-ranking-of-australias-most-popular-websites-as-abc-maintains-lead-630211| website=Mumbrella| title=News.com.au tumbles to sixth in ranking of Australia's most popular websites, as ABC maintains lead| date= 4 June 2020| first= Vivienne |last= Kelly| access-date=8 June 2021}}{{cite web | title=ABC News websites continue to top digital news rankings | website=Mediaweek | date=12 January 2021 | url=https://www.mediaweek.com.au/abc-news-websites-continue-to-top-digital-news-rankings-as-nine-overtakes-news-com-au/ | access-date=8 June 2021}}

In June 2023 the broadcaster released its five-year plan, outlining that it would move its resources away from radio and television, and instead dedicate these resources to improving and promoting its digital platforms.{{Cite news |last=Meade |first=Amanda |date=2023-06-09 |title=ABC to move resources away from AM radio and TV to podcasts and on-demand by 2028 |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/jun/09/abc-to-cut-number-of-am-radio-stations-and-tv-channels-by-2028-under-digital-plan |access-date=2023-08-23 |issn=0261-3077}}

{{further|ABC Australia (Asia-Pacific TV channel)|Radio Australia}}

ABC International is responsible for its international operations, which include the internationally broadcast Radio Australia, the Asia-Pacific TV channel ABC Australia, and its ABC International Development (ABCID) branch.{{cite web | title=Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Premium Company Report Australia| website=IBISWorld | url=https://www.ibisworld.com/default.aspx | access-date=8 June 2021}}

In June 2012 Lynley Marshall, former head of ABC Commercial, was appointed CEO of ABC International, filling a role left empty by the retirement of Murray Green.{{cite web | title=Lynley Marshall appointed to lead ABC International | website=Public Media Alliance | date=19 June 2012 | url= https://www.publicmediaalliance.org/lynley-marshall-appointed-to-lead-abc-international/ | access-date=8 June 2021 | author1=Pma_Admin }}. At the time, it was intended that Radio Australia, ABC Australia and ABC News would work together more closely{{cite web | title=Lynley Marshall appointed to head ABC International | website=radioinfo | date=13 June 2012 | url=https://www.radioinfo.com.au/news/lynley-marshall-appointed-head-abc-international | access-date=8 June 2021}} ABC International was at this time a division of the ABC, but it has not been represented as a separate division in the organisational structure of the ABC since 2016,{{cite report|chapter-url=https://www.abc.net.au/corp/annual-report/2016/about-org-chart.html| title=Annual Report 2013| author=Australian Broadcasting Corporation| date=2013|url=https://about.abc.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ABC-Annual-Report-2013-Part-7.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://about.abc.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ABC-Annual-Report-2013-Part-7.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|chapter= Part 7: Appendices| page=219}} after Marshall's departure in February 2017.{{cite web | title=ABC farewells CEO ABC International | website=About the ABC | date=2 December 2016| url=http://about.abc.net.au/press-releases/abc-farewells-ceo-abc-international/ | access-date=8 June 2021}}

There were fears of job losses in the division after the huge budget cuts in 2014, as well as an earlier termination of a {{AUD|220 million}} contract with the Department of Foreign Affairs, one year into the 10-year contract.{{cite web | last=Ireland | first=Judith | title=Fear for jobs growing at ABC's international arm | website=The Canberra Times | date=30 June 2014 | url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6142399/fear-for-jobs-growing-at-abcs-international-arm/ | access-date=8 June 2021}}

On 24 May 2021 Claire Gorman was appointed to an expanded role to manage both the International Strategy and the International Development teams.{{cite news | title=ABC appoints new Head International Services | website=Mirage News | date=17 May 2021 | url=https://www.miragenews.com/abc-appoints-new-head-international-services-561088/ | access-date=8 June 2021}}

ABC Australia is an international satellite television service operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, funded by advertising and grants from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Aimed at the Asia-Pacific region, the service broadcasts a mixture of English language programming, including general entertainment, sport, and current affairs.

Radio Australia is an international satellite and internet radio service with transmissions aimed at South-East Asia and the Pacific Islands, although its signals are also audible in many other parts of the world. It features programmes in various languages spoken in these regions, including Mandarin, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Khmer and Tok Pisin. Before 31 January 2017 Radio Australia broadcast short-wave radio signals. Radio Australia bulletins are also carried on WRN Broadcast, available via satellite in Europe and North America.

ABC International Development, or ABCID, is a media development unit that promotes public interest journalism and connects with local media in the region. ABCID employs local people in Papua New Guinea and many Pacific countries.{{cite web | title=About Us | website=ABC International Development | url=https://www.abc.net.au/abc-international-development/about-us/ | access-date=8 June 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.devex.com/organizations/abc-international-development-55997|website=Devex| title=ABC International Development}} The team "provides expertise, training, technical and program support to partner organisations", by working with a variety of organisations, including international development donors, for example through the Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS).{{cite web|url=https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/pacific/people-connections/media-partnerships-in-the-pacific |title=Media partnerships in the Pacific| website=DFAT| access-date=8 June 2021}}

Under the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983, the ABC Board is bound to "maintain the independence and integrity of the Corporation" and to ensure that "the gathering and presentation by the Corporation of news and information is accurate and impartial according to the recognised standards of objective journalism".{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|abca1983361|Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983|8}}

The ABC's editorial policy on impartiality requires it to take "no editorial stance other than its commitment to fundamental democratic principles including the rule of law, freedom of speech and religion, parliamentary democracy and non-discrimination".{{Cite web |date=2023-12-13 |title=4 Impartiality and diversity of perspectives |url=https://www.abc.net.au/edpols/4-impartiality-and-diversity-of-perspectives/13635402 |access-date= |website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |language=en-AU}} The ABC follows the following "hallmarks of impartiality": "a balance that follows the weight of evidence, fair treatment, open-mindedness and opportunities over time for principal relevant perspectives on matters of contention to be expressed".

The editorial policy on diversity also requires the broadcaster "to present, over time, content that addresses a broad range of subjects from a diversity of perspectives reflecting a diversity of experiences, presented in a diversity of ways from a diversity of sources". However, it also notes that this "does not require that every perspective receives equal time, nor that every facet of every argument is presented".

{{Main|ABC Commercial}}

The commercial arm of the ABC was established in 1974 under the name Enterprises as a self-funding unit, marketing products relating to the ABC's activities. It was renamed in 2007 to ABC Commercial,{{cite web |title=About ABC Shops |website= ABC Shops |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |url= http://help.shop.abc.net.au/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002124551/http://shop.abc.net.au/help/about.shtm |archive-date=2 October 2007 |url-status=dead }} The aim of ABC Commercial was "to create, market and retail high quality consumer products which reflect and extend the scope of the ABC's activities". At this time it comprised the ABC Shop, ABC Consumer Publishing and Content Sales, ABC Resource Hire, and ABC Content Services (Archives).{{cite web |title= About ABC Commercial|website=ABC Commercial|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |url=http://abcenterprises.com.au/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007215717/http://abcenterprises.com.au/|archive-date=7 October 2009|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |title= Welcome|website=ABC Commercial |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |url=http://www.abccommercial.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517012259/http://www.abccommercial.com//|archive-date=17 May 2014|url-status=dead}}

ABC Commercial was registered as a business name under Australian Broadcasting Corporation in April 2007 and continues to exist {{as of|lc=yes|June 2021}}.{{cite web | title=Historical details for ABN 52 429 278 345 | website=ABN Lookup | date=November 2014 | url=https://abr.business.gov.au/AbnHistory/View/52429278345# | access-date=9 June 2021}} It includes ABC Music, a leading independent record label; ABC Events, which stages concerts and other events; and publishing and licensing activities by ABC Books, ABC Audio, ABC Magazines and ABC Licensing.

ABC Shop Online was wound up at the end of 2018, along with the in-store ABC Centres.{{cite web | title=ABC Commercial announcement on retail activity | website=About the ABC | date=2 August 2018 | url=http://about.abc.net.au/statements/abc-commercial-announcement-on-retail-activity/ | access-date=8 June 2021}} In early 2019, ABC Commercial split from the Finance division and became an independent business unit of the ABC.

In the financial year 2018–2019, ABC Commercial turned a profit of {{AUD|4.4 million}}, which was invested in content production.{{cite report| title=Australian Broadcasting Corporation Annual Report 2019| website=about.abc.net.au| date=11 September 2019|url= https://about.abc.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ABC-Annual-Report-201819v2.pdf |archive-date=1 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501120525/https://about.abc.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ABC-Annual-Report-201819v2.pdf |url-status=live}}

The ABC Studios and Media Production hires out some of the ABC studios and sound stages, operating as part of ABC Commercial. The studios for hire are in Sydney (Studios 21, 22, 16), Melbourne (31), Adelaide (51B) and Perth (61).{{cite web | title=Studios | website=ABC Studios & Media Production | url=https://www.abc.net.au/studiosmediaproduction/studio/|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609025924/https://www.abc.net.au/studiosmediaproduction/studio/ | archive-date=9 June 2021|url-status=live | access-date=9 June 2021}}

{{listen|type=music

| filename = Charles Williams, 'Majestic Fanfare'.ogg

| title = "Majestic Fanfare"

| description = The original ABC News and Current Affairs theme music. In the mid-1980s ABC Television changed to its own news theme, while the "Majestic Fanfare" is still used for radio news bulletins.

}}

{{further|History of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation#1990s}}

Up until the installation of disc recording equipment in 1935, all content broadcast on the ABC was produced live, including music.{{cite web| title = About the ABC – The Birth of the ABC| publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation| url = http://abc.net.au/corp/history/hist2.htm| archive-url = https://archive.today/20121231062823/http://abc.net.au/corp/history/hist2.htm| url-status = dead| archive-date = 31 December 2012| access-date =1 October 2007}} For this purpose the ABC established broadcasting orchestras in each state, and in some centres also employed choruses and dance bands. This became known as the ABC Concert Music Division, which was controlled by the Federal Director of Music – the first of whom was W. G. James.{{cite book|last1=Sametz|first1=Phillip|title=Play on!: 60 years of music-making with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra|date=1992|publisher=ABC Enterprises|location=Sydney|page = 35|isbn=0733301029}}

In 1997 the ABC divested all ABC orchestras from the Concerts Department of the ABC into separate subsidiary companies, allied to a service company known as Symphony Australia,{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/ypa/past/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619065240/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/ypa/past/|archive-date=19 June 2009|title=Past Winners|website=ABC Classic FM}} and on 1 January 2007 the orchestras were divested into independent companies.{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/corp/history/75years/timeline/orchestras.pdf|title=History of ABC Orchestras and Bands|website=ABC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120906095537/http://www.abc.net.au/corp/history/75years/timeline/orchestras.pdf|archive-date=6 September 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=1 August 2018}} The six state orchestras are:

• Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
• Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
• Queensland Symphony Orchestra
• Sydney Symphony Orchestra
• Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
• West Australian Symphony Orchestra

ABC Friends, formerly Friends of the ABC (FABC), consists of independent organisations in each state and territory, under an umbrella organisation established in December 2016, ABC Friends National Inc. In 1976 three independent groups were formed: Aunty's Nieces and Nephews in Melbourne, Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc.{{cite web|url =https://www.abcfriends.org.au/about_us|title=About us|website= ABC Friends| access-date=13 June 2021}} (now ABC Friends NSW & ACT{{cite web|url =https://www.abcfriends.org.au/nsw_act|title= ABC Friends NSW & ACT|website= ABC Friends| access-date=13 June 2021}}) and Friends of the ABC (SA) (since 2007/2008, ABC Friends SA/NT).{{cite web|url =https://www.abcfriends.org.au/sa_nt|title=South Australia & Northern Territory|website= ABC Friends| access-date=13 June 2021}} The groups were formed by citizens who were concerned about government threats to make deep cuts to the ABC's budget. Historian Ken Inglis wrote that "The Friends were in the line of those people who had affirmed over the years that the ABC was essential to the nation". Over the years, independent state organisations were established, run by committees, and in January 2014 the name of each was changed to ABC Friends.

The objectives of ABC Friends National are stated as follows:{{blockquote|To represent community interest in defending and promoting the vital role of Australia's independent national public broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) to ensure:

• that the ABC be properly funded to maintain and advance its role as the national public broadcaster in all media, promoting and reflecting Australian culture and diversity
• that it remain editorially independent of government and commercial interests.}}

{{See also|ABC Board|History of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}

In 2023 the ABC lost a defamation case against Heston Russell, where the corporation withdrew a truth defence and opted for the case to be heard under a public interest defence.{{Cite news |first=Myriam |last=Robin |date=2023-10-17 |title=Judge lashes ABC's PR strategies |url=https://www.afr.com/rear-window/abc-s-war-crimes-defo-loss-reveals-the-battle-within-20231017-p5ecyu |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en |url-access=subscription |archive-date=1 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501121053/https://www.afr.com/rear-window/abc-s-war-crimes-defo-loss-reveals-the-battle-within-20231017-p5ecyu |url-status=live}}

In the landmark ruling Justice Lee awarded Russell $390,000 in addition to interest and damages. Estimates of legal expenses ranged between $1.2 million and $3 million. The broadcaster did not take up an earlier settlement offer of $99,000 and removal of the published articles. The ABC managing director, David Anderson, who took home a six-figure pay rise shortly after the defamation case loss, outlined in senate estimates that he would not apologise to Russell for the false reporting.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-24 |title=ABC to pay defamed commando more than $400k but won't apologise |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/heston-russell-abc-to-pay-defamed-commando-but-won-t-apologise/7071115d-2432-474d-9256-96844ffb974f |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=www.9news.com.au}}

Recordings of Mark Willacy's interviews that formed part of the defamation case were garnished as part of the legal discovery process. They were made available to Ben Fordham's 2GB radio program.

In December 2023 Antoinette Lattouf was hired for five days to fill in for Sarah Macdonald on ABC Radio Sydney and then sacked three days later due to her outspoken activism on the Israel-Gaza conflict by reposting a Human Rights Watch story covering alleged actions taken by Israeli soldiers in Gaza. Two days later Lattouf initiated law action with the Fair Work Commission against the ABC for alleged racial discrimination. ABC members of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance voted no confidence in Anderson partly due to WhatsApp messages that had come to light from a pro-Israel lobby group known as "Lawyers for Israel". The next day the ABC Board voted unanimous confidence in Anderson.{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219093717/https://www.smh.com.au/national/how-the-sacking-of-a-casual-presenter-tipped-the-abc-into-turmoil-20240125-p5ezzm.html |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/how-the-sacking-of-a-casual-presenter-tipped-the-abc-into-turmoil-20240125-p5ezzm.html |title=How the sacking of a casual presenter tipped the ABC into turmoil |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |url-access=subscription |date=27 January 2024 |access-date=19 February 2024 |archive-date=19 February 2024 |url-status=live |first1=Michael |last1=Bachelard |last2=Jaspan |first2=Calum}}{{cite news |work=ABC News |title=ABC board passes unanimous vote of confidence in managing director David Anderson |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-23/abc-board-vote-of-confidence-david-anderson/103381302|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219101941/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-23/abc-board-vote-of-confidence-david-anderson/103381302 |archive-date=19 February 2024 |url-status=live |date=23 January 2024 |access-date=19 February 2024}}{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/secret-whatsapp-messages-show-co-ordinated-campaign-to-oust-antoinette-lattouf-from-abc-20240115-p5exdx.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219100749/https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/secret-whatsapp-messages-show-co-ordinated-campaign-to-oust-antoinette-lattouf-from-abc-20240115-p5exdx.html |archive-date=19 February 2024 |url-status=live |date=16 January 2024 |first1=Michael |last1=Bachelard |first2=Calum |last2=Jaspan |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=19 February 2024 |title=Secret WhatsApp messages show co-ordinated campaign to oust Antoinette Lattouf from ABC |url-access=subscription}}

In March 2024 the ABC aired a documentary titled "Ukraine's War: The Other Side," by Sean Langan which has been criticised by Ukrainian ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko as the "journalistic equivalent of a bowl of vomit" and seemed to repeat Russian justification for the War in Ukraine and structured in a way that seems to favor the Russian side.{{Cite news |last=Sabbagh |first=Dan |last2= |first2= |last3= |first3= |date=19 February 2024 |title=UK documentary listens to both sides on Ukraine's frontline with Russia |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/19/uk-documentary-listens-to-both-sides-on-ukraines-frontline-with-russia |access-date=7 September 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} The ABC has defended its position with a spokesperson stating "we believe Australian audiences also have the right to watch it and make up their own minds."{{Cite news |last=Meade |first=Amanda |date=2024-03-19 |title=ABC defends broadcasting Russia-Ukraine war documentary after ambassador calls it 'bowl of vomit' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/mar/19/abc-four-courners-russia-ukraine-war-documentary-bowl-of-vomit |access-date=2024-09-07 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

External critics have complained in particular of left-wing political bias at the broadcaster, citing a prominence of Labor Party-connected journalists hosting masthead political programs or a tendency to favour "progressive" over "conservative" political views on issues such as immigration, asylum seekers, the republic, multiculturalism, Indigenous reconciliation, feminism, environmentalism, and same-sex marriage.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1415/ABCoverview#_Toc395086092|title=The ABC: an overview- Pt 5 The ABC and Bias|date=11 August 2014|publisher=Parliament of Australia|first=Rhonda|last=Jolly|issn=2203-5249|work=Research Paper Series 2014–15|language=en-AU|access-date=1 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704022008/https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1415/ABCoverview#_Toc395086092|archive-date=4 July 2018|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s1771608.htm|title=The ABC of How To Complain|newspaper=Media Watch|date=23 October 2006|publisher=ABC|access-date=8 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418072247/http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s1771608.htm|archive-date=18 April 2008|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/kerry-obrien-opens-up-about-his-critics-his-family-and-a-new-life-in-byron-20101130-18el9.html|title=Kerry O'Brien opens up about his critics, his family and a new life in Byron|last=Dick|first=Tim|date=30 November 2010|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201235805/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/kerry-obrien-opens-up-about-his-critics-his-family-and-a-new-life-in-byron-20101130-18el9.html|archive-date=1 December 2010|access-date=1 August 2018}} Gerard Henderson has argued that the ABC is supportive of diversity in areas such as identity, race, gender and ethnicity, but not so strong on diversity of views.{{cite news |url-status=live |first=Gerard |last=Henderson |author-link=Gerard Henderson |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/auntys-fine-with-diversity-just-not-diversity-of-views/news-story/6f9d25dbfa52a41ea8a452268802b5df?amp&nk=75a1525d627b3bd8cdb56e2aa16f1a1e-1714184348 |access-date=11 January 2025 |archive-date=27 April 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240427021856/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/auntys-fine-with-diversity-just-not-diversity-of-views/news-story/6f9d25dbfa52a41ea8a452268802b5df?amp&nk=75a1525d627b3bd8cdb56e2aa16f1a1e-1714184348 |title=Aunty's fine with diversity, just not diversity of views |url-access=subscription |work=The Australian |page=13 |date=27 April 2024}}

In December 2013 former judge and ABC chair James Spigelman announced that four independent audits would be conducted each year in response to the allegations of bias in the reporting of news and current affairs. ABC Friends have observed that: "Most of the complaints about bias in the ABC have come from the government of the day – Labor or Liberal. Significantly both parties have been far less hostile to the ABC when in opposition".

Reviews of the ABC are regularly commissioned and sometimes not released.{{cite news|last1=R Martin|first1=Fiona|title=What would be the point of yet another ABC inquiry?| url=http://theconversation.com/what-would-be-the-point-of-yet-another-abc-inquiry-21213|archive-date=12 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250112024451/https://theconversation.com/what-would-be-the-point-of-yet-another-abc-inquiry-21213|url-status=live|work=The Conversation|access-date=30 November 2014|date=12 December 2013}}{{cite news|last1=Gordon|first1=Michael|title=Canberra refuses to release report on ABC funding|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/canberra-refuses-to-release-report-on-abc-funding-20140305-347l7.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250112024730/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/canberra-refuses-to-release-report-on-abc-funding-20140305-347l7.html|archive-date=12 January 2025|url-access=registration|access-date=30 November 2014|date=6 March 2014}}

Both internal and external research has been conducted on the question of bias at the ABC. These include the following:

• A 2004 Roy Morgan media credibility survey found that journalists regarded ABC Radio as the most accurate news source in the country and the ABC as the second "most politically biased media organisation in Australia".{{cite web|url=http://www.roymorgan.com/resources/pdf/papers/20040903.pdf |title=Why Australians Don't Respect The Media|access-date=26 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914061917/http://www.roymorgan.com/resources/pdf/papers/20040903.pdf |website=roymorgan.com |at=Media Credibility Survey |archive-date=14 September 2009 |url-status=dead }}
• A 2013 University of the Sunshine Coast study of the voting intentions of journalists found that 73.6% of ABC journalists supported Labor or the Greens – with 41% supporting the Greens (whereas only around 10% of people in the general population voted for the Greens).{{cite news|last1=Hanusch|first1=Folker|title=Journalists in times of change: evidence from a new survey of Australia's journalistic workforce|url=http://research.usc.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/usc:10859?queryType=vitalDismax&sort=ss_dateNormalized%5C&query=Folker+Hanusch+2013&f0=sm_creator%3A%22Hanusch%2C+F%22|access-date=2 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903210303/http://research.usc.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/usc:10859?queryType=vitalDismax&sort=ss_dateNormalized%5C&query=Folker+Hanusch+2013&f0=sm_creator%3A%22Hanusch%2C+F%22|archive-date=3 September 2015|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Oriel|first=Jennifer|date=24 July 2017|title=Why the ABC is at odds with us|archive-date=24 June 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170624025920/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/jennifer-oriel/diversity-of-thought-practically-whitewashed-by-pc-ideology/news-story/9d16179ec45fe24f6b05072f64540ec7|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fopinion%2Fcolumnists%2Fjennifer-oriel%2Fdiversity-of-thought-practically-whitewashed-by-pc-ideology%2Fnews-story%2F9d16179ec45fe24f6b05072f64540ec7&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=565bdb630766f7233bbf806733473c3e-1612870245|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|access-date=9 February 2021|website=The Australian}}
• At the 2016 federal election, a study commissioned by the ABC's Election Coverage Review Committee and conducted by Isentia compiled share-of-voice data and found that the ABC devoted 42.6% of election coverage to the Coalition government (this compares to the 42.04% primary (first-preference) vote received by the Coalition in the House of Representatives (HOR)), 35.9% to the Labor opposition (34.73% HOR), 8% to the Greens (10.23% HOR), 3.1% to independents (1.85% HOR), 2.2% to the Nick Xenophon Team (1.85% HOR) and 8.1% to others. However, the ABC itself notes the "significant limitations around the value of share of voice data" as "duration says nothing about tone or context".{{cite report |orig-date=14 July 2016 |first=Alan |last=Sunderland |title=Australian Broadcasting Corporation 2016 Federal Election Report of the Chairman, Election Coverage Review Committee |url=https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/b27093c9a863e66213dec2e98371ed83 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://about.abc.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2016FederalElectionECRCRPT.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |date=4 August 2016 |access-date=20 June 2018}}
• In December 2020, the Board commissioned its 19th editorial review by an independent reviewer, which found that the ABC's news coverage of lead-up to the 2019 Australian election was "overwhelmingly positive and unbiased", although it also found that specific episodes of The Drum and Insiders reflected too narrow a range of viewpoints. The government forced the publication of the report after Coalition senator James McGrath raised a motion in the Senate, which led to ABC Chair Ita Buttrose and managing director David Anderson writing to the president of the Senate, Scott Ryan, to express their concerns about the use of the such powers, which went against the public interest.{{cite web | last=Meade | first=Amanda | title=ABC criticises Senate for releasing internal report which found some panel programs 'favoured' Labor | website=The Guardian | date=10 December 2020 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/dec/10/abc-criticises-senate-for-releasing-internal-report-which-found-some-panel-programs-favoured-labor |archive-date=12 January 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250112023044/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/dec/10/abc-criticises-senate-for-releasing-internal-report-which-found-some-panel-programs-favoured-labor | access-date=4 June 2021}}

The ABC has an Election Coverage Review Committee that supervises the allocation of available broadcasting time to political parties and checks broadcast content against their editorial policies. The ABC also has a Referendum Coverage Review Committee which performs similar functions to the Election Coverage Review Committee. These committees are convened when an electoral event is announced.{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/about/election-coverage-review-committee/103700626 |access-date=12 January 2025 |archive-date=12 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250112031142/https://www.abc.net.au/about/election-coverage-review-committee/103700626 |url-status=live |title=Election and Referendum Coverage Review Committee |date=26 May 2024 |publisher=About the ABC}}

Labor prime minister Bob Hawke considered the ABC's coverage of the 1991 Gulf War to be biased.[http://www.theage.com.au/comment/abbotts-bias-crusade-as-simple-as-abc-20140130-31phn.html#ixzz48nAslZrK Abbott's Bias Crusade: as simple as ABC]; The Age; 31 January 2014 In 1996, conservative opposition leader John Howard refused to have Kerry O'Brien of the ABC moderate the television debates with Labor prime minister Paul Keating because Howard saw O'Brien as biased against the Coalition.John Howard; Lazarus Rising: A Personal and Political Autobiography; Harper Collins; 2010; pp. 194 & 223

Liberal Prime Minister Tony Abbott perceived the ABC to be left wing and hostile to his government, while Malcolm Turnbull enjoyed better relations with the national broadcaster.{{cite news|last=Pearlman|first=Jonathan|title=Tony Abbott says ABC unpatriotic|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/10604115/Tony-Abbott-says-ABC-unpatriotic.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/10604115/Tony-Abbott-says-ABC-unpatriotic.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=1 February 2014|date=29 January 2014}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|title=Australia's Tony Abbott calls broadcaster ABC unpatriotic|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25925312|publisher=BBC|access-date=1 February 2014|date=29 January 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-29/tony-abbott-steps-up-criticism-of-abc/5224676|title=Prime Minister Tony Abbott says ABC not on Australia's side in interview with 2GB|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=29 January 2014|access-date=3 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202205704/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-29/tony-abbott-steps-up-criticism-of-abc/5224676|archive-date=2 February 2014|url-status=live}} Turnbull's successor, Scott Morrison, once again presided over "strained" relations between the government and the ABC.{{Cite news |last=Karp |first=Paul |date=2021-11-15 |title=Scott Morrison backs Senate ABC inquiry, saying national broadcaster 'not above scrutiny' |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/nov/15/scott-morrison-backs-senate-abc-inquiry-saying-national-broadcaster-not-above-scrutiny |access-date=2023-04-20 |issn=0261-3077}} Under Morrison's leadership, an investigation was launched into the ABC and its complaints-handling process—a decision which was criticised by Ita Buttrose as "political interference". The inquiry was abandoned the following June.{{Cite news|last=Australian Associated Press|first= |date=2022-06-02 |title=Liberal-led Senate inquiry into ABC and SBS abandoned|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/jun/02/liberal-led-senate-inquiry-into-abc-and-sbs-abandoned |access-date=2023-04-21}}

{{further|George Pell#Reactions after acquittal}}

The ABC's coverage of the issue of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church received praise and criticism. The Melbourne Press Club presented the 2016 Quill for Coverage of an Issue or Event for the report George Pell and Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church, and the 2016 Golden Quill award to Louise Milligan and Andy Burns for their extensive coverage of Cardinal George Pell's evidence given at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.{{Cite web|title=2016 Quills: Gold Quill|url=https://www.melbournepressclub.com/article/2016-quills--gold-quill|access-date=25 June 2020|website=Melbourne Press Club|date=17 March 2017 |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627101327/https://www.melbournepressclub.com/article/2016-quills--gold-quill|archive-date=27 June 2020|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=2016 Quills: Coverage of an Issue or Event|url=https://www.melbournepressclub.com/article/2016-quills--coverage-of-an-issue-or-event|access-date=25 June 2020|website=Melbourne Press Club|date=16 March 2017 |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627183217/https://www.melbournepressclub.com/article/2016-quills--coverage-of-an-issue-or-event|archive-date=27 June 2020|url-status=live}}

The ABC Media Watch program of 20 April 2020 noted that the ABC had been accused of leading a "witch hunt" against Cardinal Pell. Media Watch reported that, following his acquittal, Pell said the ABC gave an "overwhelming presentation of one view and only one view". Media Watch also canvassed other criticisms including from The Australian newspaper's editor-at-large Paul Kelly, who charged the ABC with having run a "sustained campaign against Pell". Media Watch also offered criticism of its own, noting Louise Milligan and the Four Corners program had failed to canvass any of Pell's defence from the trial and "lined up witnesses condemning Pell", while social media commentary by Barrie Cassidy and Quentin Dempster had undermined the presumption of innocence.{{cite video|url=https://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/episodes/pell/12166274|title=Pell – The Final Verdict|date=20 April 2020|website=ABC Media Watch}} Margaret Simons similarly noted in The Guardian that "there has been some social media activity by ABC journalists that looks very much like lobbying against Pell..."{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/apr/15/andrew-bolt-and-the-abc-did-the-reporting-on-george-pell-step-over-a-line|title=Andrew Bolt and the ABC: did the reporting on George Pell step over a line?|date=15 April 2020|newspaper=The Guardian|location=UK|first=Margaret|last=Simons}}

Planet Slayer was an ABC website run by scientist Bernie Hobbs to teach children about the environment in around 2008/09.{{cite web|url= https://scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/profile/bernie-hobbs/| title=Bernie Hobbs| website= Science & Technology Australia|access-date=3 June 2021}} It included a "Greenhouse Calculator" which aimed to help children to work out their carbon footprint by providing an estimate of the age a person needs to die if they are not to use more than their fair share of the Earth's resources.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/technology/abc-website-tells-kids-when-they-should-die/news-story/7ca875df4d93111901d7412aa58b6a49?sv=997f4d964ea1d478aff0698da97acfce |title=ABC website tells kids when they should die| first=Karlis| last=Salna|work=news |date =23 October 2009|access-date=3 June 2021}} Victorian Liberal senator Mitch Fifield criticised a cartoon series on the site for portraying those who eat meat, loggers, and workers in the nuclear industry as "evil".{{cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/abc-on-defensive-over-claims-of-bias/2008/05/26/1211653938544.html |title=ABC on defensive over claims of bias |date=27 May 2008 |access-date=10 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529022504/http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/abc-on-defensive-over-claims-of-bias/2008/05/26/1211653938544.html |archive-date=29 May 2008 |url-status=live }} ABC managing director Mark Scott said the site was not designed to offend anyone, but instead have children think about environmental issues.{{cite web |url=http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Wireless_And_Networking/Broadband/D8T7R8F3 |title=The ABCs of Exploding Pigs And Topless Women |access-date=10 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080601030649/http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Wireless_And_Networking/Broadband/D8T7R8F3 |archive-date=1 June 2008 |url-status=dead }}

{{Portal|Television|Australia}}

• History of broadcasting in Australia
• Timeline of Australian radio

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• Cater, Nick The Lucky Culture and the Rise of an Australian Ruling Class (2013) pp 199–228
• Curgenven, Geoffrey. Dick Boyer, an Australian humanist (Bolton, 1967) (Dick Boyer was chair of the ABC Board from 1940 until his death in 1961.)
• Inglis, K. S. This is the ABC – the Australian Broadcasting Commission 1932 – 1983 (2006)
• Inglis, K. S. Whose ABC? The Australian Broadcasting Corporation 1983–2006 (2006)
• Mitcham, Chad J. Bland, 'Sir Henry Armand (Harry) (1909–1997), Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bland-sir-henry-armand-harry-1549/text41469, published online 2024
• Moran, Albert, and Chris Keating. The A to Z of Australian Radio and Television (Scarecrow Press, 2009)
• Semmler, Clement. The ABC: Aunt Sally and Sacred Cow (1981)

{{Commons category|Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}

• {{official website|http://www.abc.net.au/}} {{in lang|en|id|tpi|zh}}
• [https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2022C00075 Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983]

{{Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}

{{ABC Television programming}}

{{Australian free-to-air television networks}}

{{European Broadcasting Union Members}}

{{Authority control}}

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