Pacific culture captured in new ABC’s Canvas of Oceans

16 September 2024

Pacific culture captured in new ABC’s Canvas of Oceans

From the team behind The Pacific, join presenters Alice Lolohea and Johnson Raela in Hawai’i as they explore the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) with Canvas of Oceans – a story of preservation and celebration of Pacific identity.

Watch a preview of Canvas of Oceans.

HOW TO WATCH:

Canvas of Oceans will premiere on ABC Australia, Sunday 15 September at 3:00pm Papua New Guinea (PNG) time, 4:00pm in Solomon Islands (SBT), 5:00pm in Fiji (FJT), 6:00pm in Tonga (T0T), 6:00pm in Samoa (WST) and 3:00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).

Held every four years, the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) is the largest celebration of indigenous Pacific cultures. In June 2024, Hawai’i hosted the 13th FestPAC with over 2,500 delegates from 25 Pacific nations and territories coming together to share and celebrate their cultural connections.

Canvas of Oceans follows hosts of ABC Australia’s The Pacific, Alice Lolohea and Johnson Raela, as they travel to Hawai’i to document the vibrant and diverse cultural exchanges of FestPAC. From musical and dance performances to traditional and contemporary arts interspersed with moving conversations, the documentary captures the essence of FestPAC. By speaking with artists and cultural practitioners, Canvas of Oceans tells a story of celebration, preservation and the challenges faced by many Pacific communities grappling with the after-effects of colonisation as they strive to protect their cultural identity.

Canvas of Oceans also shares the deeply personal journeys experienced by presenters Lolohea and Raela as they uncover profound connections between their own cultural heritage and lives and celebrate the rich tapestry of Pacific cultures.

Presenter Alice Lolohea said: “Immersing ourselves in the culture and history of the wider Pacific brought me to tears. Witnessing the beautiful exchange of knowledge, traditional practices and aloha between Indigenous people of the Moana is an experience a textbook will never do justice.”

Johnson Raela added: “We already know Pacific arts is vibrant and entertaining, but we also know there’s a lot of deep hurt and loss of culture due to colonisation that artists and creatives from across the region are reclaiming – it’s these voices that we’ve tried to capture in this film.”

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “Canvas of Oceans is a beautifully crafted documentary, shot and produced by the talented team behind The Pacific. ABC Australia audiences can anticipate a moving and informative program, celebrating Pacific culture and storytelling from FestPAC.”

ABC welcomes the launch of the Australian Government’s Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy

16 July 2024

ABC welcomes the launch of the Australian Government’s Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Managing Director David Anderson has welcomed the launch of the Australian Government’s Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy (IPBS) which calls out ABC International as a leading implementation partner.

Pre-empting the release of the strategy, the Federal Government provided an additional $32 million over four years in the October 2022 budget for ABC International to expand content production, transmission, and media assistance across the Indo-Pacific region. In the May 2023 budget, the Government announced a further $8.5 million over four years for regional transmission and distribution.

The ABC has invested this new funding to support the key pillars of the IPBS by boosting the availability of Australian content, deepening media connections and strengthening the resilience of media outlets in the region. The ABC’s work in this area continues to support mutual understanding of Australia and our region.

ABC Managing Director David Anderson welcomed the Government’s release of the much-anticipated strategy and said the ABC is “well-placed to deliver on its key pillars.”

“No other Australian media organisation has the regional knowledge, relationships, distribution networks and platforms, and the development expertise necessary to fully deliver the IPBS’ aims that are in the national interest,” Mr Anderson said.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “The additional funding provided by the Federal Government under the IPBS is already being invested across the Indo-Pacific region by ABC International in a range of key areas including enhanced distribution networks, premium bespoke content for international audiences and high-impact media development programs.”

To date, the ABC has made significant progress on many deliverables outlined in the IPBS. Examples include:

ENHANCED DISTRIBUTION

Over the past year, ABC International has launched new ABC Radio Australia 24-hour FM services in six strategic locations including Palau, Nauru, Tuvalu, Pohnpei (Federated States of Micronesia), Kokopo (Papua New Guinea) and Gizo (Solomon Islands) and will deliver new services in a further six locations in the second half of 2024.

In October 2023, ABC International divided the previously single ABC Australia broadcast service into two separate schedules: one for the Pacific region and one for Asia, allowing the ABC to better serve audiences with content and time slots tailored to the respective regions.

BESPOKE CONTENT

In June 2023, ABC Radio Australia launched a new schedule, tripling its Pacific-focused content with bespoke programs including morning show Nesia Daily, sport show Nesian Footy, music shows In the Fale and On the Record, a special series of the popular podcast Days Like These and Stories from The Pacific, drawing audiences into the lives of Pacific Islanders who have seen and done amazing things.

In the past 12 months, ABC International has delivered extensive multi-platform coverage across ABC Australia, ABC Radio Australia, ABC Pacific and ABC Asia of major elections in India, Indonesia, and the Solomon Islands, and coverage of regional events such as the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara and the 2024 Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture in Hawai’i.

Additionally, ABC Australia has broadcast two special election series this year – Indonesia Decides and India Votes 2024 – which were produced by ABC News’ Asia Pacific Newsroom for international audiences, delving into voter concerns and key political figures and providing insights beyond the headlines.

Also, this year, ABC Australia launched Kids Club, a brand-new lineup of kids’ programming specially curated for Pacific audiences, on its Pacific service.

In April 2023, ABC Australia launched a flagship pan-Pacific current affairs program, The Pacific, which covers the major news events in the region through the year and looks at the rich culture and history of the region. The program is supported by a network of experienced local journalists across the Pacific region.

Over the past 12 months, ABC Australia has delivered programming targeting Indo-Pacific audiences, including special editions of ABC favourites Gardening Australia, Foreign Correspondent, Compass, Backroads and Landline as well as documentaries The Cloud Under the Sea on undersea telecommunications cables, Price of Progress: Indonesia’s Nickel Rush, Running Dry on water scarcity in Asia, and the two-part series Project Wild.

MEDIA DEVELOPMENT

Over the past 12 months, ABC International Development (ABCID), has launched the Indonesia Media Development Program focusing on digital storytelling, safety and resilience.

ABCID has also launched the Timor-Leste Media Development Program to strengthen Timor-Leste’s media landscape. This program provides support to the media sector through technical and craft skills training. This support includes collaborating with the Timor-Leste Press Council and supporting the public broadcaster, Rádio e Televisão de Timor-Leste (RTTL), with the launch of a weekly English language news program.

ABCID has developed the Media Education for Development and Information Access (MEDIA) platform, an invite-only online learning resource which offers modules on journalism, capacity-building courses and resources to individuals and partners across the Indo-Pacific, to complement in-person training and mentoring.

The Government strategy document is available at: https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/indo-pacific-broadcasting-strategy.pdf

ABC and SBS take DAB to Australia’s Gold Coast

31 May 2024

ABC and SBS take DAB to Australia’s Gold Coast

Australia’s public broadcasters ABC and SBS have announced that audiences on the Gold Coast now have access to a range of new radio stations with the launch of digital radio (DAB+) services.

Listeners are able to enjoy the full range of ABC Radio services including ABC Gold Coast, Double J, ABC Jazz, ABC Country, ABC Sport, triple j Unearthed and ABC KIDS listen.

They can also to tune in to SBS Audio services including language programmes on SBS Radio 1, SBS Radio 2, SBS Radio 3, SBS Arabic24 and SBS South Asian, as well as music stations SBS Chill and SBS PopAsia.

ABC Head of Audio Ben Latimer said: “The addition of DAB+ will improve access to the ABC’s wealth of audio services for audiences on the Gold Coast. These audiences will experience high-quality audio across our range of popular digital audio brands like Double J, ABC Sport and the ABC Kids listen.”

SBS Acting Director of Audio and Language Content Pamela Cook said: “With the latest Census data showing nearly a third of Gold Coast residents were born overseas, the launch of DAB+ radio means more Australians can now enjoy SBS Audio’s full suite of over 60 language services. This provides news, community stories, entertainment, plus a new SBS South Asian destination channel.”

Audiences can find more information about DAB+ on the ABC Digital Radio Help Page and SBS Audio How Do I Listen Page.

ABC signs MOU with Indonesian National Public Television Network

28 May 2024

ABC signs MOU with Indonesian National Public Television Network

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Public National Broadcaster of the Television of the Republic of Indonesia (TVRI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

The shared agreement was signed in Jakarta by ABC Head International Services Claire M. Gorman and President Director of TVRI Iman Brotoseno, alongside senior leadership from ABC International Development (ABCID) and TVRI.

The MOU jointly recognises the role of the ABC and TVRI as national broadcasters in their respective countries and serves as an expression of the ABC’s commitment to collaboration and cooperation with TVRI.

Through the principles of the established agreement, the ABC and TVRI will collaborate across content exchange in news and current affairs, sports, music, culture, lifestyle and general interest stories. The MOU also supports the sharing of key learnings from each broadcaster’s audience research and feedback, in addition to technical information assistance and capacity building under international development activities.

ABC Head International Services Claire M. Gorman said: “The signing of this MOU formally recognises our ongoing relationship with TVRI. We are delighted that as national broadcasters we can work together on opportunities for content and information sharing as we look to best serve our respective audiences.”

President Director of TVRI Iman Brotoseno said: “I welcome and am grateful that the broadcasting collaboration between TVRI and ABC is being realized. We are sure that the cooperation in exchanging programs, news, and training development contained in this MOU will provide benefits for both parties. Especially for TVRI, we welcome the realization of varied and educational TV broadcast programs for viewers in Indonesia. We hope that this collaboration will bring closer relations between the two countries through showing cultural, social, and other human-interest documentaries.”

Image: TVRI complex in Jakarta [photo by Syahrir/Adobe Stock]

ABC launches ABC Radio Australia service and signs MOU in Nauru

24 May 2024

ABC launches ABC Radio Australia service and signs MOU in Nauru

The Central Pacific state of Nauru is the latest location in the expansion of ABC Radio Australia’s FM transmission service, now available for residents on 90.0FM.

In partnership with the Nauru Media Bureau (NMB), ABC Radio Australia has launched its full FM radio service, featuring a growing schedule of programs including the latest in Pacific news, music and sports, as well as conversations about culture, health, faith and science.

The ABC has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the NMB, building on a long history of engagement between the organisations, including the sharing of ABC NEWS on Nauru Radio and the transmission of ABC Australia television content on Nauru TV.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “After many years of partnership with Nauru and the NMB, we’re proud to announce an MOU with NMB and the launch of a 24-hour dedicated ABC Radio Australia FM service, showcasing the comprehensive range of Pacific news and content that ABC Radio Australia has to offer.”

ABC International Services Manager Nesryn Bouziane, who co-hosted a launch and MOU signing ceremony in Nauru with the NMB, said: “We’re excited for new audiences across Nauru to hear and engage with ABC Radio Australia. The launch of the new FM service and the ABC’s MOU with NMB will lead to greater cross-cultural exchange of ideas and information, deepening connections and friendships between the people of Australia and Nauru.”

Nauru Minister for Media the Hon. Shadlog Bernicke, who co-hosted the launch and signing of the MOU, said: “I am extremely proud to announce the new MOU between Nauru Media Bureau & ABC Radio, further strengthening the longstanding relationship we share with the ABC family. We are committed to always bringing the best services and content to the people of Nauru and the launch of this new FM service is a testimony to our commitment. We are excited to share the fantastic array of content that the ABC has to offer with our beloved audience.”

The new Nauru service follows recent ABC Radio Australia launches in Palau and Pohnpei in Micronesia in the northern Pacific. Further Pacific locations will be added to ABC Radio Australia’s FM footprint in coming months including Tuvalu, Kiribati, the Cook Islands and the Marshall Islands.