Close to 10 per cent of the ABC's permanent work force could lose their jobs as the broadcaster grapples with a $254 million funding cut.
In an address to ABC staff on Monday morning, ABC managing director Mark Scott said that more than 400 people were expected to face redundancies in coming months.
Mr Scott said that he wanted to "strip back our management layers," noting that management positions would make up more than 10 per cent of proposed redundancies.
Following a government announcement last week that the ABC would lose a further $254 million over five years, on top of a budget cut announced in May, ABC staff have learned of a raft of changes to fund the losses.
This includes dramatic changes to flagship ABC news programs. The prestigious Lateline will move to "more time-friendly" spot on ABC24, but will be repeated on ABC1. The Friday state editions of 7.30 will be chopped, to be replaced by a national 7.30 program.
The managing director also told staff there will be an overhaul of the way the ABC covers live sporting events. The broadcaster will cut back on its outside broadcast vans, scaling back local sport broadcasts in favour of national sporting events.
The ABC's Adelaide television production studio will be closed, despite a push last week from South Australian cabinet member Christopher Pyne to keep it open.
Five small regional radio posts will also be shut in Wagin, Morwell, Gladstone, Port Augusta and Nowra.
"These sites need continual maintenance," Mr Scott told staff. "The number of staff impacted is minimal and there are no content implications."
Foreign bureaus have been particularly nervous about what the cuts will mean for them.
Mr Scott said that the shape of the bureaus would be "readjusted". This will include a new post in Beirut to extend coverage of the Middle East.
ABC Radio will also be hit by the changes.
Classic FM will cut back on the number of concerts it records and there will be programming changes and job losses as Radio National and Local Radio.
On Monday, regional radio program Bush Telegraph tweeted that it would not continue next year. ABC Newcastle afternoon presenter Carol Duncan also tweeted that her program would be decommissioned.
In a move that was widely foreshadowed, there will be a review of the broadcaster's property holdings.
The Lanceley Place site in Sydney – worth an estimated $20 million – will be sold.
Mr Scott's announcement follows a government-commissioned efficiency review of the ABC, completed in April.
While the review has not been released in its entirety, the ABC head said his organisation would implement more than 40 proposals to streamline its processes. This includes reviewing procurement, HR systems and mail rooms.
The changes come as the ABC makes a renewed push into the digital space.
A new digital network will upgrade the catch-up service iview and explore the potential for a new video streaming and paid content.
A new regional division is also planned, to start from mid-2015. "The new division would bring together regional radio and news staff to look afresh at how we best deploy our knowledge, skills and technology," Mr Scott told staff.
Mr Scott said that the ABC would not consult with staff about unions about the changes.
He himself will visit state and territory branches over the next two weeks.
"Some initiatives are still in the planning stage," he said.
"This means it is difficult, at this stage, to provide absolute precision on the size and impact of the cuts. Nor can we provide a definite number on the redundancies."
ABC chairman James Spigelman said that the board supported the changes.
"The initiatives outlined by Mr Scott comprise a carefully considered response to the twin challenges of technological change and reduced funding," he said in a statement.
MORE TO COME
