The context for Buttrose’s remarks was a softball interview on her own network that referenced a column in this masthead that argued the ABC’s new chat show,Frankly,starring veteran RN broadcaster Fran Kelly,was a missed opportunity to take a risk on fresh talent,something the ABC used to have a reputation for,and to re-engage with younger audiences.
The column echoed the sentiments of many inside the ABC – some of whom had been developing and pitching their own light entertainment shows,albeit with an explicit focus on attracting new,younger and culturally diverse audiences,and were caught off guard when told that resources would instead be allocated to Kelly’s dream program.
Unfortunately,Buttrose and Kelly’sBreakfast replacement Patricia Karvelas dismissed this critique as an example of “ageism”,as though the ABC should be immune to good-faith and well-intentioned pleas to think more about younger audiences,who are far less likely to engage with its content than older Australians. Buttrose patronisingly discarded the criticism as the “ignorance of youth”.
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Perhaps the ABC’s kneejerk defensiveness of any criticism is in part the result of unfair attacks from sections of the media – particularly News Corp outlets. As a former ABC employee,I experienced many of them first-hand. But as one of the biggest media companies in the country,in receipt of over $1 billion in taxpayer funds a year,it shouldn’t be immune from interrogation,especially on behalf of younger people who also pay tax and deserve a broadcaster that engages with them.
Buttrose went on to say that “a lot of our comedy shows are hosted by wonderfully young people”,but didn’t name a single one. That’s because there aren’t any. There is not a single ABC TV comedy or panel show hosted by anyone under the age of 35. Of course,it’s not the ABC chair’s job to know the entire programming slate off by heart,but claiming “a lot of shows” are hosted by young people,when that isn’t true,is a problem.
Buttrose also claimed that to host a show likeFrankly, “You’ve gotta have the experience Fran has”. That’s certainly not what the ABC used to believe. Wil Anderson started hostingThe Glass Housewhen he was just 27.The Chasercrew were in their mid-20s when they hosted their first TV specials.