ABC embroiled in row over compulsory iview logins

The public broadcaster is being asked to review its decision to make it compulsory to have a login to access content including on its streaming service iview.

The ABC will not force Australians to hand over their personal information to access its radio app, despite making it compulsory for “ iview” users who want to use its TV streaming services.

The public broadcaster has ­finally revealed that users of its ABC Listen app will not need to set up a login to listen to their radio services from July.

The decision comes as the ABC is being asked to review its decision to make logins compulsory for iview services.

Managing director David Anderson told Senate estimates he had not decided how widespread the login requirements would stretch across ABC services.

From July, iview users will be required to set up a login and provide information including an email, first name (or pseudonym), year of birth, suburb or postcode and gender.

Under gender, users will have a “prefer not to say” option.

Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie welcomed the decision preventing ABC Listen app users from having to enter their details, describing it as “a win for every Australian taxpayer who already funds the ABC news and current affairs services”.

But she is writing to the ABC this week demanding the public broadcaster rethink its decision that makes it compulsory to have an iview login.

“There are many Australians who don’t even have email ­accounts or choose not to be as integrated into technology,” Senator McKenzie said.

“It’s another case of the ABC playing to its base rather than being a broadcaster to all.”

She said the compulsory iview logins would make its content “exclusive” and “elitist”.

“I’ll be asking the ABC to formally review their arrangement because as it stands it is in­equitable and disenfranchising,” Senator McKenzie said.

“There are alternate models such as an ‘opt-in’ sign-in model which is much more inclusive.”

Mr Anderson said the ABC was introducing the compulsory iview logins because “we want people to keep coming back”.

“We want to be able to provide these features that are positive to you as a user so you see the value of actually signing in,” he told Senate estimates last week.

He also said that if an iview user did not provide details such as an email address, the public broadcaster would be unable to provide recommendations of other content to view.

Between May 10 and May 27 almost 200,000 people created iview accounts. During the same period, the ABC received some 70 complaints about the com­pulsory logins.