Changes

==Ratings and programs==

==Ratings and programs==

As it is not a commercial network it does not necessarily go for high rating programs but concentrates much of its air time on news and current affair programs such as “The 7.30 Report”, “Four Corners”, “Lateline” and the “ABC News” as well as many local programs such as children’s programs from 6am to 10am every weekday. <ref>http://www.abc.net.au/news/programs</ref>.  It consistently polls around 15 – 20% of the overall population share every day. <ref>http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/12/week-52-3.html</ref> <ref> http://www.throng.com.au/ratings/free-air-tv-ratings-monday-december-7-2009</ref>  

As it is not a commercial network it does not necessarily go for high rating programs but concentrates much of its air time on news and current affair programs such as “The 7.30 Report”, “Four Corners”, “Lateline” and the “ABC News” as well as many local programs such as children’s programs from 6am to 10am every weekday. <ref>http://www.abc.net.au/news/programs</ref>.  It consistently polls around 15 – 20% of the overall population share every day. <ref>http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/12/week-52-3.html</ref> <ref> http://www.throng.com.au/ratings/free-air-tv-ratings-monday-december-7-2009</ref>  

==Politics and allegations of bias==  

==Politics and allegations of bias==  

The ABC been accused by Australian conservatives over allegations of left wing bias in its journalism especially when it over represents leftist issues in Australia such as immigration, republicanism, multiculturalism, reconciliation and its support for the centre-left Australian Labor Party. <ref>http://candobetter.org/node/17</ref> <ref>http://www.themonthly.com.au/monthly-essays-robert-manne-new-teeth-aunty-reinvigorating-national-broadcaster-749</ref> Conservative commentators in Australia such as Andrew Bolt as well as Coalition members have stated that they believe the ABC to contain bias from the left. <ref>http://newmatilda.com/2009/08/24/small-l-liberal-not-left</ref> John Howard who was the Liberal Party Prime Minister of Australia from 1996 – 2007 had cut the funding to the ABC by close to 10% for what he believed to be left wing bias. In a 2004 poll of journalists the ABC came in second to the question of “the most politically biased media organisation in Australia”.  <ref>http://www.roymorgan.com/resources/pdf/papers/20040903.pdf</ref>

The ABC been accused by Australian conservatives over allegations of left wing bias in its journalism especially when it over represents leftist issues in Australia such as immigration, republicanism, multiculturalism, reconciliation and its support for the centre-left Australian Labor Party. <ref>http://candobetter.org/node/17</ref> <ref>http://www.themonthly.com.au/monthly-essays-robert-manne-new-teeth-aunty-reinvigorating-national-broadcaster-749</ref> Conservative commentators in Australia such as Andrew Bolt as well as Coalition members have stated that they believe the ABC to contain bias from the left. <ref>http://newmatilda.com/2009/08/24/small-l-liberal-not-left</ref> John Howard who was the Liberal Party Prime Minister of Australia from 1996 – 2007 had cut the funding to the ABC by close to 10% for what he believed to be left wing bias. In a 2004 poll of journalists the ABC came in second to the question of “the most politically biased media organisation in Australia”.  <ref>http://www.roymorgan.com/resources/pdf/papers/20040903.pdf</ref>