ABC asks viewers whether the coverage of the Queen’s death and funeral was appropriate

The public broadcaster’s coverage of the Queen’s death drew intense criticism and it has prompted the ABC to ask viewers if they thought the extensive reporting was appropriate.

King Charles III watches as the Lord Chamberlain breaks his wand of office at the committal service for Queen Elizabeth II held at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. Picture: AFP

The ABC is reviewing its reporting on events surrounding Queen Elizabeth II’s death, following criticism that it spent too much time – and allocated too many resources – to its coverage.

On Friday, members of ABC Yourspace, an online community where viewers are occasionally asked to share their thoughts, were given a series of questions about the public broadcaster’s 10-day coverage of the monarch’s death and the lead-up to her funeral.

Viewers were asked whether the ABC spent “too much time”, “just enough time” or “didn’t spend enough time” on the “passing of Queen Elizabeth II”.

The survey demands a rating out of 10 for the programs that pertained to the Queen’s death and/or state funeral, with viewers asked whether they watched news live or tuned in later on; whether they watched any coverage on the ABC’s streaming service iview; and whether they saw any content on the ABC’s Facebook page or its YouTube channel.

Finally, viewers were asked for their overall impressions of the coverage.

The ABC was among many Australian media outlets to send dozens of journalists to London to cover the Queen’s death, the 10-day mourning period and her state funeral, which was held in Britain last Monday.

The ABC confirmed they had two teams of reporters covering the funeral, and the events leading up to it.

Among the presenters and reporters sent to London were ABC breakfast TV hosts Michael Rowland and Lisa Millar, Melbourne radio hosts Virginia Trioli and Rafael Epstein and Sydney radio host Richard Glover, and reporters Isabella Higgins and Nick Dole.

Like many media outlets, when the news of the Queen’s death broke on the morning of September 9, the national broadcaster interrupted its normal coverage to provide rolling news about the monarch. Following her death the ABC issued a statement explaining to viewers and listeners they would provide special programming to reflect the life of Queen Elizabeth, who died at 96.

“Over the coming days and weeks, the ABC will have dedicated teams covering events from the UK, including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and the activities around the accession of King Charles III,” the statement said.

Former Lord Mayor of Sydney, Lucy Turnbull, the wife of former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, was among the critics of the ABC’s coverage. In the days after the Queen’s death, Ms Turnbull posted on Twitter: “The saturation media coverage is (paradoxically) diminishing the significance of these historic events,” she said.

“Enough first drafts of history already.”

However, Ellen Fanning, host of ABC chat show The Drum, defended the taxpayer-funded broadcaster’s coverage of the Queen’s death.

“She was our head of state. The fact that she lives in London necessitates travelling there.

“If you find it bizarre that our head of state lives in London, that is something Australians will have to sort out in the months and years ahead.”

Last year the ABC came under intense criticism for interrupting an episode of a British crime drama repeat with the news of Prince Philip’s death.

The ABC received hundreds of complaints for airing the news of the Duke of Edinburgh’s death, aged 99, instead of letting an episode of Vera run in its ­entirety.

The BBC’s coverage of Prince Philip’s death also became the most complained-about moment in British TV history, receiving more than 100,000 objections after the broadcaster aired rolling coverage about the Duke’s life.

The BBC interrupted planned programming on radio and TV to do so.

The ABC was contacted for comment but did not respond.