ABC gags talking books
The ABC announced this week (May 18) that it will no longer be producing audio books because they're unprofitable. The ABC charter doesn’t say a great deal about the need for the public broadcaster to be profitable, but it does say an awful lot about the Corporation’s duty to provide all kinds of material for those who fund it: we the people.
According to Lynley Marshall, director of ABC Commercial and quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald, audio books have been under review and found to be unprofitable now - and likely to be so in future.
Three matters arise. First: audio books serve a significant section of the community: those who are vision impaired, those who spend a lot of time on the road and those who simply like being read to. Perhaps not millions, but one of Australia’s minorities that also has rights and needs.
Second: talking books need to be read, preferably by skilled actors who can bring the text to life. The death knell for audio books is yet another dried up income stream for actors.
Third: it is just possible that more people would switch on to the particular delights of the audio book if the ABC didn’t go to such lengths to bring them out in secret. ABC Enterprises flogs all manner of goods between programs. Why don’t audio books ever get a look in?
If a niche market such as audio books can be canned without so much as a by-your-leave to the public, you can bet your life other minority elements of the Corporation are also “under review”. Such as almost any of Radio National’s programs.
In these instances, ratings and bottom line profitability are not the point. ABC Enterprises can well afford to subsidise audio books - and then market them better. If you disagree with the ABC's profitability quest, go to www.abc.net.au/contact/ and tell someone. Or write to managing director Mark Scott at: Australian Broadcasting Corporation; PO Box 9994, Sydney NSW 2001. Or fax him on (02) 8333 5344; the hard of hearing can give him a call on 1800 627 854.
