ABC Kids claims to be “home to trusted and loved preschool programs,” where kids can “learn, play and explore”. But following years of funding cuts, the ABC is struggling to deliver on this promise.
Image: ABC
The drop in ABC Kids programming highlights a bigger issue for Australian content production.
“In March 2024 ABC Alumni released a disturbing report that confirmed what we already suspected: there’s been a shocking decline in the production of original non-news and current affairs screen content by the ABC since 2013,” says Cassandra Parkinson, ABC Friends National President.
The Morrison Government binned quotas for children’s free-to-air television in 2021. This had a terrible impact on original content creation across Australia - including ABC Kids.
And the numbers are staggering.
In 2015/16, the ABC delivered 259 hours of Australian children’s television. In 2022/23, this fell to 147 hours.
In short, Australian children’s television content dropped more than 84% by 2022.
ABC Kids has long been a trusted resource for Australian families. Not just for entertainment purposes, but for supporting Australian education initiatives.
The ABC Kids Early Education program is a popular online destination for parents and child care educators alike but the lack of funding threatens this vital service.
An Australian Children’s Television Cultures report found that 95% of Australian households still use television sets to watch children’s shows. Not all families can afford the skyrocketing costs of streaming services.
ABC Kids programs matter, because they provide free and accessible content with educational value, something that's especially important when families are struggling with rising costs-of-living.
A properly funded ABC Kids program is also important for social cohesion.
A Scanlon Institute report found that “social cohesion in Australia is under pressure, but not yet cracked”. In a time of accelerating political and social polarisation, it’s important that kids understand the value of Australia’s diversity to reduce the possibility of cultural alienation in the future.
This includes supporting their understanding of First Nations cultures, which should be reflected through strong ABC Kids programming.
In our digital age, Australian kids are more influenced than ever by readily-available online content. With this technological dependence, the demand for online programs has rapidly outpaced previous generations.
Australian kids need ABC Kids to support them in their critical development stages.
With 83 per cent of parents thinking it's important for kids' content to be Australian, the decline in ABC Kids programming fails to represent what Australians want to see.
Support our federal election campaign to help restore funding for original Australian content for ABC Kids.
Sarah Morley
ABC Friends Editor (e-news)