Opening statement made by Hugh Marks:
Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications on October 8, 2025
He stated In terms of audience performance, the ABC continues to attract large audiences :
- The ABC has been the No 1 Australian digital news brand every month since December 2024 with an audience of 13 million
- ABC NEWS Channel has cemented itself as the number one multi-channel in the country
- ABC 7pm news and 7.30 program have grown their audiences by 7% and 13% this year respectively
- ABC iview is the nation’s highest-reaching BVOD (broadcast video on demand) provider with 3.4 million people watching on average per week.
- The ABC also recorded the highest number of titles in the August podcast ranker, with 47 podcasts in the top 300, including 4 in the top 10 with a total of 3.2 million listeners (+13% YoY).
- In audio (radio) the ABC lifted 1.2 share points or 7% in the recent survey as they continue to focus on strengthening the quality of our audio offerings.
- ABC had its most successful Logies ever with a record-breaking 11 awards in 23 categories.
We are focused on strengthening, not lessening, coverage in and of regional and rural Australia…. at a time when we are witnessing a large withdrawal of media services across Australia
ABC will share its crisis and emergency-related digital news content with local news outlets in regional, rural and remote Australia.
Local news outlets will have access to ABC NEWS digital news content on significant events from major road accidents and community safety incidents to natural disasters and public health emergencies.