Australia Network

Infobox TV channel
name = Australia Network
logofile = ABCAN.svg
logosize = 130px
slogan = "A Different View"
picture format = 480i (SDTV),
576i (SDTV)
replaced names = Australia Television International
logoalt = Australia Network
launch = 31 December 2001
owner = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
network = ABC Television
web = [http://australianetwork.com/ australianetwork.com]
sat serv 1 = bbTV
sat chan 1 = Channel 505
sat serv 2 = Dreamsat
sat chan 2 = Channel 22
sat serv 3 = Indovision
sat chan 3 = Channel 47
sat serv 4 = Intelsat 2
sat chan 4 = Transponder 8L
sat serv 5 = Intelsat 8
sat chan 5 = Transponder 6
sat serv 6 = Hot Bird
sat chan 6 = 11623 v SR 27500
cable serv 1 = Cable TV
cable chan 1 = Channel 153
cable serv 2 = Global Destiny
cable chan 2 = Channel 78
cable serv 3 = Kabelvision
cable chan 3 = Channel 47, 57
cable serv 4 = Macau Cable
cable chan 4 = Channel 92
cable serv 5 = SkyCable Platinum
cable chan 5 = Channel 130
cable serv 6 = StarHub
cable chan 6 = Channel 170
adsl serv 1 = now TV
adsl chan 1 = Channel 541
adsl serv 2 = TrueIPTV
adsl chan 2 = Channel 10
|The Australia Network, originally "Australia Television" and later "ABC Asia Pacific", is a free-to-air international satellite television service operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.cite press release
title = Australia's Television Service to the Asia-Pacific Region
publisher = Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
date = 2006-07-10
url = http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2006/fa076_06.html
accessdate = 2007-09-25 ] Aimed at the Asia-Pacific region and India, the service broadcasts a mix of programming, with a focus on English learning programs, aimed at providing "A Different View".

The international television service's current incarnation launched on 31 December 2001.cite speech
title = Australia, the Asia-Pacific, and Television: Broadcasting to the Region
author = Downer, Alexander
first = Alexander
last = Downer
date = 2002-02-13
location = Canberra
url = http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/speeches/2002/020213_fa_austv_launch.html
accessdate = 2007-09-25] It is funded partially by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as well as some advertising (unlike the ABC's domestic television services). The channel is targeted at local audiences in 40 countries across parts of Asia, the Pacific and India. The Australia network, along with international radio network Radio Australia, is a part of the ABC's International, Corporate Strategy and Governance division.cite press release
title = ABC Bolsters Its Commitment To International Broadcasting
publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
date = 2007-02-07
url = http://abc.net.au/corp/pubs/media/s1842867.htm
accessdate = 2007-09-25 ]

History

Origins

Australia Television International, the forerunner to the Australia Network, launched in 1993. Radio Australia had been operating as part of the ABC since 1939, while the passing of the "Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act" in 1983 allowed the Corporation to operate an additional international television service. The channel was originally proposed by directors Mark Armstrong and David Hill, who felt that a television channel would further heighten Australia's presence in the Asia-Pacific region and demonstrate the ABC's technical abilities.cite book |last=Inglis |first=Kenneth Stanley |title=Whose ABC? The Australian Broadcasting Corporation 1983-2006 |year=2006 |publisher=Black Inc. |location=Melbourne, Victoria |isbn=1-86395-189-X ]

The new channel was to be funded by a combination of government subsidies and commercial sponsorship. The presence of commercials, not previously seen or heard on the ABC, resulted in the creation of an updated edition of the "ABC Editorial and Programme Practices" stipulating that the 'Australia Television service will retain editorial control and independence in all programming'. Paul Keating launched Australia Television International on 7 February 1993 - televised live to 15 countries in the southeast Asian region, from the ABC's television studios in Gore Hill.

Funding cuts made in the 1997-1998 federal budget, and recommendations made in the Mansfield Report, meant that control of Australia Television was handed over to the Seven Network in 1998.cite web
url = http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2001/265031.htm
title = 2UE; Australian Television International.
accessdate = 2007-09-25
year = 2001
month = 03
work = Australian Broadcasting Corporation] Under Seven's direction the channel continued to receive federal funding, and carry some ABC news and current affairs programming.

2000s

Despite efforts made by Seven to expand into Asia using the service, it continued to lose money. In 2001, the government announced a five-year, $50 million tender for the service - at the time watched primarily by Australian expats for its news programmes, football coverage, and children's programming.cite web
url = http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2001/265031.htm
title = PM - Channel Seven axes Australia TV
accessdate = 2007-09-25
year = 2001
month = 03
work = Australian Broadcasting Corporation] Seven chose not to bid, while Imparja Television's application was unsuccessful. The ABC won the contract and launched "ABC Asia Pacific" on 31 December 2001, with content from the Seven Network, Nine Network, Network Ten, and the ABC's own original content, as well as news bulletins produced by Sky News Australia.cite web
url = http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/media/s512844.htm
title = ABC Signs ASIA Pacific TV agreement
accessdate = 2007-09-25
year = 2001
month = 08
work = Australian Broadcasting Corporation]

The tender was renewed in 2005, however the ABC was re-awarded control of the service, over other applicants including Sky News Australia.cite web
url = http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s1378484.htm
title = Sky's push for Asian subsidy
accessdate = 2007-09-25
year = 2005
month = 06
work = Australian Broadcasting Corporation] cite press release
title = Australian Television Service to the Asia Pacific Region
publisher = Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
date = 2005-12-13
url = http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2005/fa153_05.html
accessdate = 2007-09-25 ] Soon after, the network stopped showing content from Sky News Australia, replaced with bulletins produced by the ABC's own news and current affairs division from its Southbank studios in Melbourne.

ABC Asia Pacific changed its name to the Australia Network on 7 August 2006,cite web
url = http://abc.net.au/corp/pubs/media/s1682937.htm
title = New Australia Network Offers Different View
accessdate = 2007-09-25
year = 2006
month = 10
work = Australian Broadcasting Corporation] at the same time introducing a number of new programs, as well as the expansion of its existing news programs and English-language learning programs. Following a restructure of the ABC in early 2007, the Australia Network became a part of the Corporation's International, Corporate Strategy and Governance division.

The channel is not available in Australia or New Zealand, owing to rights restrictions, although "Australia Network News" bulletins have been carried on ABC2 in Australia since 12 December 2006, and on Stratos TV in New Zealand since 21 January 2008.

Australia Network will become available on Astro in Malaysia on Channel 514 in early 2009. cite web
url = http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=345322
title = Rudd Optimistic Australian TV Network Will Appeal To Local Viewers
accessdate = 2008-07-11
year = 2008
month = 7
work = Bernama]

Programming

The Australia network shows a range of programming targeted at audiences within the region,cite web
url = http://australianetwork.com/about/
title = About - Our Services
accessdate = 2007-09-25
work = Australian Broadcasting Corporation] including evening news bulletins at two-hour intervals targeted at different parts of the region, and a number of English-language educational programs produced by the ABC including "Study English", "Like It Is", and "Business English".cite web
url = http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k6/july/july124.htm
title = ABC Asia Pacific to launch as Australia Network on 7 August
accessdate = 2007-09-25
work = Indiantelevision.com] Popular soap "Home and Away" is also shown on the channel, with a recap program on Sundays. Other drama series include hospital drama "All Saints", police series "Blue Heelers", and "Love My Way". The Nine Network's travel program "Getaway" is also shown.

News & Current Affairs

Three news bulletins are shown at two hour intervals throughout the evening, in order to provide a fairly constant timeslot for the range of timezones within the channel's coverage area. "ABC Asia Pacific News" is presented from the ABC's Southbank studios in Melbourne by Beverley O'Connor, with stories from ABC reporters based in and around the region. Following the channel's relaunch in 2006, four new correspondents based in New Delhi, Beijing, the South Pacific and Jakarta were added to report exclusively for the bulletins.

Current affairs program "Asia Pacific Focus", hosted by Edmond Roy and Helen Vatsikopoulos is also shown after the network's 9.00pm HKT bulletin.

port

The Australia Network broadcasts a number of Australian sporting events, such as the Melbourne Cup and V8 Supercars, as well as some National Rugby League and Australian Football League matches. Some Rugby Union Tests featuring Australia will also be shown.

Current schedule

Note: "News & Current Affairs" are in Grey;"Drama" is in Blue;"Sitcoms", "Animation" and "Comedy" are in Purple;"Lifestyle programs" are in Green;"Factual programs" and "Documentaries" are Yellow;"Reality", "Game shows" and "Talk shows" are in Red; "Sport" is in Orange; "Movies" are in Pink.The above represents the Australia Network's usual primetime schedule. It does not reflect one-off events, and program starting times may vary from those shown. For up-to-date information, see the Australia Network's online television guide. ( [http://australianetwork.com/guide/ link] )

All times shown are UTC+8 (Hong Kong Time).

Logos

The ABC Asia Pacific logo featured the same logo and typeface as that used by ABC in Australia, while Australia Network uses a stylised letter 'a'.

ee also

* Australian Broadcasting Corporation
* Radio Australia

References

External links

* [http://australianetwork.com/ Official Site]