The ABC is investigating why its TV channels were so severely disrupted on Monday night as technical problems wreaked havoc with the transmission of ABC News, Four Corners and Media Watch.
The problem was so bad it prompted ABC managing director Mark Scott to intervene with some gentle humour on Twitter.
“Four Corners was good, but we don’t need to see it twice. Apologies. Real transmission difficulties tonight.”
Four Corners was good, but we don't need to see it twice. Apologies. Real transmission difficulties tonight.
— Mark Scott (@mscott) May 25, 2015
“About to press ‘control alt delete’ to get things sorted out. Either that or I am grabbing a screwdriver and heading up the tower.”
About to press 'control alt delete' to get things sorted out. Either that or I am grabbing a screwdriver and heading up the tower.
— Mark Scott (@mscott) May 25, 2015
Monday is the ABC’s most popular viewing night with the lineup of Australian Story at 8pm through to Q&A at 9.35pm giving the broadcaster some of its best ratings figures.
But several key programs were interrupted by the loss of a clear picture and in some cases the screening of a different program.
Fingers crossed the transmission holds out for #mediawatch
— Media Watch (@ABCmediawatch) May 25, 2015
During Media Watch in Sydney the ABC began broadcasting Four Corners again, while some viewers saw Antiques Roadshow.
“ABC TV started experiencing technical problems affecting the broadcast of ABC News, Four Corners and Media Watch last night,” a spokesman said on Tuesday morning.
“The situation became worse affecting both ABC and ABC2 channels. After midnight network systems were taken offline for a reboot in order to fix the problem.
“We are currently investigating the cause. ABC TV apologises for any inconvenience.”
ICYMI, here's a dramatic (cat) re-enactment of the whole @ABCmediawatch / @4corners confusion from earlier tonight pic.twitter.com/r1ve4qtw8f
— Huw Parkinson (@rabbitandcoffee) May 25, 2015
In another tweet Scott apologised and encouraged viewers to watch the shows on the catchup TV platform iView.
In 2010 the ABC moved to cut costs by outsourcing its transmission to a broadcast playout centre, MediaHub Australia. MediaHub is a joint venture between ABC and Win Television and was built in Ingleburn in the south-west of Sydney.
The ABC is funded to the tune of $190m a year for transmission services, separate from its general funding allocation of $1bn.
In the government’s 2014 ABC and SBS efficiency study, it was noted that the ABC had made savings by moving to MediaHub and SBS was encouraged to do the same.
“The SBS has committed to informing the department of the results of its tender process and any associated savings likely to be forthcoming,” the report said. “The study notes that the ABC achieved a savings of 16.5% by moving its playout operations to MediaHub.”
