Some of the faces of ABC Local (clockwise from top left):Virginia Trioli,James Valentine,Sarah MacDonald,Sammy J,Loretta Ryan and Craig Zonca.Credit:The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age
Dr Romaro,who is working with an internal advisory group on the review,said the process was not a cost-cutting exercise.
“It is a challenge given the choice and crowded audio offerings audiences can access at their fingertips,” Dr Romaro said. “My involvement is to give an external perspective and provide added value to be able to assess the entire audio offering nationally and define where ABC Radio can grow their audiences and re-connect with listeners who have left us.”
Australia’s national broadcaster has established an internal advisory group and recruited external consultants as it prepares to update its five-year plan and to try and halt the decline of its radio audiences in capital cities across the country.
ABC sources previously said the group is being led by the broadcaster’s head of corporate strategy,Jeremy Millar,who is speaking with radio managers,presenters,and employees across the country until April.
‘This is not a cost-cutting exercise. In fact,far from it. It is addressing what needs to be done to evolve ABC radio for the future.’
ABC consultant Cherie Romaro
The review will be incorporated into the ABC’s updated five-year plan,though it is unclear when this will be completed and made public.
In the first GfK radio ratings survey of the year,all of ABC’s metropolitan stations,and respective breakfast and drive time programs,reported a drop in audience share compared to the same time the previous year. The cumulative audience,which quantifies how many people listened to a station at least once during the week,has fallen in every single market.