ABC goes for Reality TV Content
The latest figures show that arts programming on ABC TV is only attracting between 1 and 5% of the audience. So the head honchos of the arts department are floating some pretty desperate ideas to boost ratings. These include a reality program where budding opera singers compete in an Australian Idol-style contest, or a series where community groups compete to have their favourite historic house saved. ABC Director of television Sandra Levy put some of her ideas to a meeting of 100 artists and program makers last week to gauge the reaction. She said many viewers were not attracted to existing programs and saw them as old fashioned and elitist. Professor Liz Jacka from Sydney’s University of Technology published a study on ABC arts earlier this year, and thinks there should be less of a focus on the chase for ratings.