ABC ASIA PACIFIC BECOMES AUSTRALIA NETWORK
ABC Asia Pacific, Australia's television service to the Asia-Pacific Region, will broadcast under a new name from this August as the Australia Network.
Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer recently announced that the service, currently broadcast as ABC Asia Pacific (ABCAP), would continue to be managed by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation for the five year period 2006-2011.
The Australia Network footprint, which stretches from French Polynesia in the Pacific, northwards to Japan and west to Pakistan, delivers high quality and contemporary programming about Australia and its engagement with the region to more than 40 countries, including the Philippines.
The network offers 24/7 programming – featuring extensive news and current affairs programs, Australian-produced education, drama, entertainment and lifestyle programs. Screening programs specifically produced for regional audiences, Australia Network will draw on the vast inventory of programming available from both the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Australian commercial television networks and independent production houses from around the world.
Mr Downer said that a key requirement of the service was to provide a credible and independent voice through programs that present a 'window' to Australia and Australian perspectives of the world. He added that the Australian Government was ‘committed to seeing Australia Network's service to the region expand and entertain and inform regional audiences by projecting accurate images and information about Australia and its way of life.”
Offering an Australian perspective with a more regionally focussed view, Australia Network will continue broadcasting the same high standard of content viewers across Asia and the Pacific know and love, but will include exciting new additions and programming schedules.
By providing a three channel service to meet differing audience and viewing time requirements in the Pacific, east and north Asia, and in south Asia, programs can now be seen at hours better suited for everyone.
This August, Philippine viewers can look forward to new programs like Focus, a brand new current affairs program airing Tuesdays and Thursdays after the news at 21:00 (Philippines time). Featuring live coverage from around the region, it will be produced exclusively for Australia Network by the highly respected ABC TV news and current affairs division. With a focus on matters relevant to the region it will also present an in depth analysis of the day’s events.
Viewers can catch evening news bulletins three times a night – 17:00, 19:00 and 21:00 (Philippines time) with exclusive reports from four new correspondents in the region reporting exclusively for Australia Network from Delhi, Beijing, South Pacific and Jakarta, in addition to ABC correspondents from around the world.
News is key to Australia Network’s schedule and a key focus in the ‘Breakfast Zone’. Mornings from 06:00 to 09:00 (Philippines time) will be filled with news and views from around the region and the world, business reports and interviews. News headlines will be featured on the hour.
The extremely popular program, Study English, designed to help students prepare for study overseas or improve their career prospects, is the acknowledged leader in programming in its category, hosted by the stylish Margot Politis. Business English focuses on helping people improve their career prospects by learning the world’s global language of business.
Australia Network’s dramas are uniquely Australian, created, written and produced in Australia. Returning will be Home & Away, the daily ‘soap’ that has viewers hooked all over the world, airing daily Monday to Friday at 17:30 (Hong Kong time). There will be a special one hour recap of all Home and Away activity Sunday, August 13 at 18:00 (Hong Kong time). More Aussie programs include hospital drama All Saints; the award winning police series Blue Heelers; Love My Way with Claudia Karvan; travel favourite Getaway; and many more – all bringing a distinctly Australian flavour to TV viewing.
And as everyone knows, Australians love sport. Viewers in the Philippines get front seat action with the network’s exclusive coverage of every conceivable sport – from horse racing (The Melbourne Cup), to V8 Supercars to surfing and, of course, rugby – International Rugby Union featuring the International Test Matches between Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, England, France and Ireland as well as the Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cups, National Rugby League (NRL) and Australian Rules Football (AFL).
Australia Network is available on SkyCable Platinum, Destiny and Dream Satellite in the Philippines.