Summer ABC no Tokyo Olympics radio rights

[Bomberboyokay]

Morrison Government funding cuts strike again.

ABC drops Tokyo Olympics live radio coverage, blaming budget cuts

‘Changing broadcast environment’ among other reasons ABC cites for ending 67-year run in 2020

www.theguardian.com

 

[Redline]

I think we will see this decision reversed. I would of thought Tokyo would be fairly easy to cover. They probably only need maybe four commentators in Tokyo plus production. One doing swimming, one doing Athletics and two doing whatever the main Australian events are for the day.

 

[Footy1982]

Think there's a fair bit more fat that could be cut or efficiencies implemented, maybe less tv channels or radio channels. Abc priorities are all wrong. So much money so much s##t shows and content.Too left leaning. No impartiality. Too much women's sport. Doesnt even cover Sheffield shield anymore but covers womens bbl. Should cover every test overseas and every afl game. Could easily afford Olympics with more than a billion in funding per year. Just another political stunt from abc management.
[/QUOTE]

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Too left leaning. No impartiality. ... Just another political stunt from abc management.

Hi Scott.

 

[tandino]

If the AOC think it's so fundamental, they can fund it, or give them a break on the licensing fee.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

If the AOC think it's so fundamental, they can fund it, or give them a break on the licensing fee.

It's the IOC that charge the rights fees not the AOC.

Its disappointing that the ABC wont go, I will miss it, but their last couple of Games you have noticed the cut backs.

Also they no longer have the great radio broadcasters working for them - either retired, passed away or gone to commercial broadcasters, Tim Lane and Peter Hadfield at the Athletics, Wally Foreman hockey and other sports, Norman May, Gerry Collins and Rob Woodhouse at the Swimming, George Grljisch and Benny Pike at the boxing and George at athletics and equestrian, Caroline Davidson at gymnastics and diving, Neville Oliver at the rowing - although Tim Gavel has done a very good job taking over the rowing and kayaks, Gerard Whateley, Glen Mitchell at the cycling, Peter Walsh the basketball, Roger Wills calling several team sports, Clinton Grybus general stuff at 2000 Olympics, Alan Marks covering the shooting and other minor sports etc.

The current crop of guys and girls calling sports at ABC aren't as good, mainly because apart from AFL, NRL and cricket, ABC have cut back a lot of their sports coverage in general and they don't develop as many very good commentators as a result.

1992-96 was great with the build up to Sydney but they did share commentators and facilities with commercial radio and Ray Hadley and a few others supplemented the ABC callers. 2000 was a huge separate input from both the ABC and commercial partners at 4BC/2GB/3AW/5AA/6PR. I think the 2004 Olympics the joint coverage with commercial radio station continued. 2008 in Beijing was pretty decent coverage, probably because it was in our time zone.

But 2012 and 2016 coverage you could tell that there were big cut backs and a smaller commentary team and as a result for the minor sports they were in the broadcast centre calling sport from a TV rather than from the venue.

I can see Hutchy and SEN leaping at the opportunity to fill the void left by the ABC.

 

[theyellowsash]

Think there's a fair bit more fat that could be cut or efficiencies implemented, maybe less tv channels or radio channels. Abc priorities are all wrong. So much money so much s##t shows and content.Too left leaning. No impartiality. Too much women's sport. Doesnt even cover Sheffield shield anymore but covers womens bbl. Should cover every test overseas and every afl game. Could easily afford Olympics with more than a billion in funding per year. Just another political stunt from abc management.

Classic right wing response. Your lot cuts funding and tells the ABC to stop making shows that don't make money, so they cut the Olympic coverage because it doesn't make money, and you all cry foul.

What you are all either too stupid or too idealogically blind to realise is that a public broadcaster like the ABC is entirely intended to broadcast information, sports, arts etc that don't make money, because although it may be hard to understand, there are sometimes more important causes than making an almighty dollar.

And don't try your bullshit about it being too left leaning. We all know that what you really mean is that it isn't right leaning and falling in line with every other right wing news outlet. The flagship hated program by the right (Q and A) gives 50-50 representation to each side of politics, and brings on experts or participants in the topic being discussed, sometimes with both extremely right or left leaning views. Just because everyone doesn't agree with Andrew bolt doesn't make it unfairly biased.