ABC news budget cut to $41.4m

The ABC will have its Enhanced Newsgathering budget cut to $41.4m over three years, down from $69.4 million over four years.

The ABC will have its Enhanced Newsgathering budget cut to $41.4 million over three years, down from $69.4 million over four years, but retain its current level of base funding.

Base funding for the ABC and SBS over the next three years will be worth $3.1 billion and $814.2 million respectively as part of their triennial funding arrangements for 2016-2019 as Scott Morrison hands down his first budget.

The public broadcaster will receive an additional $41.4 million over three years towards local news and current affairs services under the Enhanced Newsgathering budget.

Having previously warned any cut to the Enhanced Newsgathering budget will threaten services and jobs, the ABC said “there will necessarily be some changes to staffing and programming in line with the reduced allocation of funds”.

The ABC said in a statement: “The Enhanced Newsgathering Program was established in the 2013-16 triennium to bolster local and regional news gathering services, including the establishment of outer-suburban bureaux, a National Reporting Team, state-based digital news, the ABC Fact Check Unit and improving live-linking capacity in the regions.

“These newsgathering initiatives complement the comprehensive, independent and trusted news coverage provided by ABC News across its platforms and channels.

“ABC News will seek to maintain as many of the initiatives as possible, with a focus on delivering for Australians in regional and outer-suburban areas.”

SBS will receive an additional $8.3 million over three years to provide multilingual, multicultural and Indigenous media services.

It will also receive $6.9 million over three years to replace revenue the corporation has been unable to raise after legislation that would have provided advertising flexibility failed to pass the Senate last year.

The Abbott government was defeated on legislation that would allow SBS to double the amount of advertising it can show in prime time.