Ex-Foxtel boss Peter Tonagh set to head ABC review

Ex-Foxtel boss Peter Tonagh and former Australian Communications and Media Authority acting chairman Richard Bean are understood to be heading up the government's efficiency review of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the SBS.

Mr Tonagh stepped down from his role as chief executive of pay-TV platform in January after two years in the role, later being replaced by Fox Sports boss Patrick Delany. The newly merged Fox Sports and Foxtel is 65 per cent owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp and 35 per cent owned by telecommunications company Telstra.

Former Foxtel boss Peter Tonagh is set to head the efficiency review into the ABC.Credit: Louie Douvis

Mr Bean, a former legal counsel and network business manager for Network Ten, spent seven years as general counsel for telco Unwired.

An efficiency review of the public broadcasters was announced by Communications Minister Mitch Fifield in May as part of the 2018 Budget, which froze the ABC’s funding until 2022, saving the government $83.7 million.

Minister Fifield told Fairfax Media in a statement that the review was to assist the public broadcasters as they approach their next funding triennium, with $3.9 billion to be provided from July 2019.

“In the fast-evolving world of media organisations, it is important to support our public broadcasters to be the best possible stewards of taxpayer dollars in undertaking their important work for the community,” Mr Fifield said.

He would not confirm or deny the identity of the panel’s members, with announcements expected “shortly”.

The review is not going to consider changing the charters or editorial policies of either public broadcaster, nor will it look into advertising on the ABC, or any privatisation proposals or mergers of the ABC or SBS. Charging for digital services was also off the cards.

ABC boss Michelle Guthrie told staff in May the broadcaster had already been through numerous efficiency reviews, querying whether the broadcaster would be able to meet a forecast budget freeze with back-office savings.

The ABC has made $324 million worth of savings since 2014, of which $254 million was returned to the government and $70 million was re-invested in new content creation.

In March, the government began an inquiry into the ABC and SBS to ensure they do not have an advantage over competitors because of their public ownership and tax-funding.