PHILOSOPHY CRUSADE #1 - ABC 2 (ALL SANFL FANS PLEASE ACT NOW

[cd]

PLEASE KEEP THE HEAT ON - Personal Post only

As you can see the ABC is basically saying you can go and get ......We dont care what you think or even have answers to your points - we have made the decision so that is that.

I'm even more angry!
The response I received today follows

Dear Mr Davidson

Thank you for your email regarding the ABC2 football coverage, which has been forwarded to me for response.

I'm sorry to hear you are unhappy that ABC2 will not screen the 2008
state- and territory-based football competitions, and are additionally dissatisfied with the ABC's response to your previous emails. The main specific question that you have asked is why the football replays have been dropped given that ABC2 is currently closing at approximately 11.00pm. You are correct in observing that currently ABC2 closes most nights at around the time that the football replays were broadcast. I do appreciate that this must add to your frustration. The closing time and the decision to terminate the football replays are actually two separate issues. At the present time the ABC's broadcast division does not have the resources to manage two 24hr (or near 24hr) channels. ABC2 does intend to extend its broadcast hours over the course of the year. With regards to the state- and territory-based football competitions, ABC2 has advised that even when resources are available to broadcast for longer hours, this material will not be shown. This is based on the decision, as stated in the recent response on the webpage, to only broadcast material that has a nationwide audience.

I note that you have also asked why people who like sport are being ignored. I can assure you that the reaction from the audience has been carefully monitored and reported right up to the highest levels within the ABC. However it is the intention of ABC2 programmers to, increasingly, broadcast unique material rather than just ABC1 replays.
There are ongoing discussions as to how, in the future, more coverage can be provided to fans of the state- and territory-based football competitions.

I can empathise with the disappointment that you and others are feeling, and I appreciate that you may remain unsatisfied with this response.
However that is the decision that has been made by ABC2. Please be assured that your comments have been brought to the attention of the relevant ABC staff.


Yours sincerely

Dave Graves
ABC Audience and Consumer Affairs


Col D
Personal Post Only

[cd]

Personal Post Only

My reply follows - will keep you informed of what i hear back
Col D

Mr D Graves
Dear Sir

You are correct I am most unhappy and annoyed.
Please define nationwide - is Australia 8 separate states and territories without any movement of the population?
Why wouldn’t the SANFL be of interest to people in Queensland - The ABC now controls people movement and NO South Australians are in Queensland?
ABC2 have made the decision - and they have it wrong - check out your web site Please explain why there are numerous threads and comments on this decision from ALL STATES OF AUSTRALIA - It is a NATIONWIDE ISSUE & CONCERN

Why won't the ABC admit we've made a mistake and correct it? Just how precious are the egos of the management of the ABC?

Please note I have cc'd this email to the MPs I have contacted - I have had the response that the Minister for Digital Communication will be investigating my concerns.

I look forward to you specific answers to the questions raised above
Thanking You

Colin Davidson

[Big Phil]

Great work CD,

You tell 'em mate...

What a piss poor excuse, once again, the ABC come up with as the reason for canning the football replays.

Will be interesting to see any further responses you get from ABC management from her on in...

Keep up the good work mate...

Big Phil...

[rod_rooster]

Well done CD. You hit the nail on the head with this line:

Why won't the ABC admit we've made a mistake and correct it? Just how precious are the egos of the management of the ABC?

[MagicKiwi]

There are ongoing discussions as to how, in the future, more coverage can be provided to fans of the state- and territory-based football competitions.

I'm wondering whether we should pursue this line as well. When will these discussions be held? Not really the time but when all else fails.

CD well done with this.

[bayman]

got the standard reply a couple of weeks ago & replied with ''well what is wrong with replaying all the replays on one night, eg start & 11pm & finish at 6.30am or thereabouts'' ? no reply to that

still no reply to my 2nd question

[bayman]

philH, can i suggest you (lifefm) & daryl from 5rph & get zac on 5aa's sunday show (would kg do it during the week ? if they get him asking questions on a show that rates highly which is more fuel to the fire) to all make time to interview someone of authority in the abc 'in sydney' & if 3 radio stations are now asking questions that will be a lot more powerful than us mere mortals sending emails after emails



ps, have the questions ready for them don't go 'off the cuff' & throw in some 'loaded questions' as well


what do you guys think ?

[Thiele]

Saw Queensland rugby on fox today from the Abc why don't we something like that

[spell_check]

Saw Queensland rugby on fox today from the Abc why don't we something like that

Fox Footy Extra replayed matches in 2003 the following Friday night in SA (WAFL in WA etc), then when that was canned, Fox Footy Channel did the same from 2004, until that was canned.

[cd]

The door has opened a little reading the response received today from the ABC.

Up to everyone to keep the heat on - keep the issue alive on their website and directly to them -They admit to having lots of complaints and comments now they are hoping we will all go away.

Col D
Personal Post Only



Dear Mr Davidson

Thank you for your follow-up email regarding the ABC2 football coverage, attached below.

I understand the point you are making regarding the use of the term "nationwide". It is true, as you say, that those people outside of SA, let's say, who wish to watch the SANFL, are spread throughout the rest of the country. I believe the point that was being made was that many people who wish to watch the state- and territory-based competitions do reside in the same state as the competition. The other fans who wish to follow the competitions are indeed widespread, as you say, but do not necessarily amount to a large total when compared to the whole viewing population of the country.

Having said that, it is also true, as you say, that there has been a strong response from these fans, both on message boards and in direct correspondence to the ABC. I can assure you that the feedback of yourself and other correspondents has been passed on to relevant ABC staff, right up to the highest levels of ABC management. There have been discussions as to how, in the future, we might continue to provide coverage of these competitions. However, as yet no plans have been made.


Thanks again for contacting the ABC with your concerns.


Yours sincerely

Dave Graves
ABC Audience and Consumer Affairs

[am Bays]

At least you get a response CD I sent this on May 2 and have yet to receive a response:

Dear Sir

Approximately four weeks ago I received a generic inadequate response to the ceasation of state league football replays on ABC2. The generic nature of the response leads to me to believe that you are overwhelmed with the quanity and quality of the disatisfaction amongst your viewership that for the purposes of efficiency a one size fits all response will suffice.

I am not satisfied with that response and I wish to re-rgister my disappointment that a cultural practise of deep and national significance state leage sport - that represents the broad cultural significant sports across Australia is no longer being broadcast on ABC 2. Throughout this great nation (with its transient population) sport is followed across its depth and breadth and creates feelings of belonging. As a former resident of the Northern territry and Country Victoria I took great delight in sitting up late and watching the various state league football replays on ABC2. As a passionate Glenelg Football Club supporter (which participates in the SA State Football League) I was delighted that I could watch my team periodically despite the tyranny of distance and the fact I was outside the ABC 1 Adelaide broadcast signal range.

As a member of the Glenelg football Club supporters group (Snouts Louts)I know we have members in Nhulunbuy (NT) Geraldton (WA) and Country Victoria (our national reach is probably more but those are the ones I am aware of). We have players families in all mainland states that are being denied the opportunity to see their team play (given which teams are being televised) becasue the replays of State Football has been replaced by the test pattern on ABC2. So to say State League football is regional activity when it attracts a nationwide audience smacks of ignorance from the ABC. I ask you how much of nationwide interest is replaying black and white British and American movies on ABC 1 at the same time as when the state league replays used to be on ABC2?

Another issue I have with not replaying the stae league Football on ABC 2 is that with the significant number of indiginous Australians from the Northern Territory playing in those competitions (rugby League QLD) Australian football (SA, WA and VIC). The failure to replay those games denies their families the ability to be able to see their kin playing sport at a high level. I'm sure the ABC is deeply aware of the value of kinship in Aboriginal culture. By replaying it on ABC 2 you will also give aboriginal people in the respective states the ability to see their kin play as when the game is being broadcast on ABC1 on a Saturday afternoon many are out playing sport themselves. So I ask why do you prevent aboriginal families the ability to see their kin play sport by not replaying state league football on ABC 2?

As you will notice from this email I have CC'd the Minster for Communications, the Misiter for Sport, the local member that represents my club (Hindmarsh SA), my local member (Kingston SA) and the member for Solomon (NT) who I know ha many consituants that have families playing state League Football across this Nation. Given teh inadequate response from the ABC I believe our nations representatives shopuld be informed of how this decision is affecting many people.

I ask you to please reconsider this decision as the benefits to the ABC viewership (nationwide) and the ability for the ABC to uphold its charter: broadcasting programs that contribute to a sense of national identity and inform and entertain, and reflect the cultural diversity of, the Australian community. Once again I ask how do black and white American and British movies on ABC1 relect the cultural diversity of Australians compard to non broadcasting of state league Football on ABC 2?

Thanking you once again

[Squawk]

Good work CD

Keep the pressure up on the pollies as well.

The more pressure from correspondence, the more likely they will have to allocate someone full time to just answer all the letters!

[spell_check]

I don't think I ever got a response, just something saying that your comment has been passed on.

[cd]

Tassie send it again to Mr Graves but with the added still waiting for a reply and let them know you arent happy about being ignored.
ABC Corporate_Affairs11 [Corporate_Affairs11.ABC@abc.net.au]

And any one else who cares to contact him directly
Col D

Personal Post Only

[am Bays]

Tassie send it again to Mr Graves but with the added still waiting for a reply and let them know you arent happy about being ignored.
ABC Corporate_Affairs11 [Corporate_Affairs11.ABC@abc.net.au]

And any one else who cares to contact him directly
Col D

Personal Post Only

Done, gave me the opportunity to fix up a few typos...

[Thiele]

received this email from the ABC today

Dear Jason

Thank you for your email and I apologise for the delay in replying.

Unfortunately the ABC only has the rights for one screening of the SANFL
matches which is shown live. I have noted your interest in seeing these
matches again and passed this on to ABC Sport and Television programming
for their information.

I am sorry I do not have better news for you on this occasion but thank
you for writing and for your interest in the ABC.

Kind regards,

Anna Lee
ABC Audience and Consumer Affairs

[JAS]

Just wondering if the SANFL itself has voiced any sort of complaint to the ABC...don't remember seeing any mention of it if they have. If they haven't would it be worth approaching them as well as politicians etc...I'd imagine the more 'officially' recognised groups and individuals that are onside the more chance of success...or does the ABC have them by the 'sort and curlies'.

Regards
JAS

[spell_check]

Just wondering if the SANFL itself has voiced any sort of complaint to the ABC...don't remember seeing any mention of it if they have. If they haven't would it be worth approaching them as well as politicians etc...I'd imagine the more 'officially' recognised groups and individuals that are onside the more chance of success...or does the ABC have them by the 'sort and curlies'.

Regards
JAS

I reakon the feeling is that if the SANFL start to complain too much to the ABC, that the ABC will pull the pin altogether at the drop of a hat.

[cd]

Personal Post Only

I see the backlash is having an effect as they are now changing their story - only having one telecast right.

So what is the answer re other leagues and other sports?

I do not believe the contract changed over summer and thus believe the ABC is treating us with utter contempt.

I will email Ms Lee to ask for further details.

Col D

[Squawk]

CD - how about asking a slightly unique question in each piece of correspondence?

That will require them to go away, do a bit of research and find the answer, and then get back to you.

eg "could you please advise what the abc2 ratings figures were for rivalry round last year"

next letter

"will the ABC have two sets of uniforms now - one for ABC1 presenters and one for ABC2 presenters, to enable your programming distinctions to be clearer to your audience?"

next letter

"What ratings figures have been achieved this year in the timeslot previously allocated to SANFL replays?"