ABC strike: national broadcaster switches to BBC programming as staff walk off the job for 24 hours

Managing director Hugh Marks says broadcaster will not back down on workers’ demands despite severe disruption to television, radio and digital Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast More than 2,000 ABC staff around Australia have walked off the job for a 24-hour strike, forcing ABC services across TV, radio and digital to use BBC World Service and repeat programming. The ABC managing director, Hugh Marks, was defiant and said the ABC would not back down on staff demands, despite the severe disruption. At 11am, the ABC News channel switched to broadcasting the BBC News channel as staff walked out in protest. The ABC News channel filled the schedule with repeats of Planet America and the National Press Club, but broadcast Question Time as normal. Broadcasting great Fran Kelly told striking staff outside the broadcaster’s Ultimo headquarters in Sydney that some of her producers live in Wollongong or Newcastle because they can’t afford to live in Sydney, and have been in the same pay bracket for almost a decade. “I’ve stayed because I love it, I’m committed to public broadcasting, which is why you’re all here,” the Radio National Hour presenter said. “I’ve seen to