The provinces are revolting, or rather Tasmania was this morning for the ABC
and its new head of General Factual programming, Denise Eriksen.

She was greeted on arrival at the ABC’s Hobart studios this morning about 100
employees wearing black arm bands and holding placards attacking the decision to
move production of Gardening Australia from Hobart to Melbourne.

And leading the demonstrators was Peter Cundall, host of Gardening
Australia, who was quoted a week ago by the ABC as being ‘delighted’ with
the decision.

Today he told Eriksen that the protestors were there to tell her what a
terrible decision it was to move the program’s production to Melbourne.

Photographers from the Hobart Mercury were also there, making for a
very public example of opposition to the decision, which was made last week by
Eriksen and the head of ABC TV, Sandra Levy.

Cundall’s very public leadership of the protest made a mockery of the ‘nice’
quotes included in the ABC statement of last Thursday confirming the changes
(and incidentally, also the release that tried, erroneously to compare ratings
for George Negus Tonight to those of British comedies shown by the ABC
in 2001 in the 6.30pm time slot. It was an attempt to undermine Negus’
credibility).

In that statement last week the ABC said Peter Cundall was said to be
“delighted at the plans to revamp and relaunch his show in a new weekend time
slot of 6pm on Saturday back on air from 12 February.”

“I can’t imagine a better time slot because so many people will be watching.
I’m really looking forward to coming back to a show that’s going to have even
closer involvement with its audience.”

Denise Eriksen, Head of General Factual said, “The revamp will build on the
existing strengths of the program, including popular segments such as ‘Pete’s
Mailbag’. Peter ‘s involvement is an integral part of the show and he is
actively involved in its revamping.”

But it was a less than delighted Peter Cundall at the ABC headquarters in
Hobart today .

The main corridor there is lined with pictures and other illustrations
from Garden Australia and all the awards it and Cundall have won.

Gardening Australia is the most prestigious program made in Hobart,
where the ABC has been marginalised in some respects in recent years.

As a sop to this feeling and as part of the new ‘regions’ approach of Eriksen
and Levy, two new shows were to have come from Hobart as part of the
replacements for George the three George Negus Tonight episodes due to
be scrapped (if Negus does not return then four new programs will have to be
found, and five, if Garden Australia is shifted).

Hobart ABC was to produce the new antiques and collectables program and the
new alternate medicine lifestyle show.

Meanwhile the battle over the axed history project, Rewind
continues. EP, Peter George has been given a one week extension on his contract
to come up with new ideas, but he has been told that he will not be
involved.

Now Denise Eriksen and Sandra Levy seem to be again holding out the hope that
there WILL be a history show on ABC TV next year, if it can be developed.

Catalyst series producer, Ian Cumming will develop any history idea.
He worked was at Catalyst when Stefan Moore was there. He was the first
EP of Rewind’s predecessor, History Detectives, that was
morphed into Rewind when it was in danger of not getting to air because
of editing and production problems within the management of the program. It was
renamed, Stefan Moore was eased to one side a new host was found after Jennifer
Byrne quit because the program had changed.

Peter George was brought in and succeeded in getting it to air.

Last Sunday evening it had its highest audience so far of more than 498,000
people.

She, along with the head of ABC TV, Sandra Levy, last week made the decision
to can the George Negus Tonight program and shift production of
Gardening Australia.