You are right that the ABC couldn’t have known or expected the Bluey success. But I think the frustrations of the public that this has tapped into is more about our governments being completely unable to make ANY commercial deals in ANY capacity.
Got gas? Sure. Approve that and take no upside stake since you’ve been bamboozled by accounting trickery.
Make a hit TV show from time to time? Sure, give it away to minimise costs rather than maximise the incomes across the IP portfolio.
Want yo upzone an area? Give away valuable rights then use taxes on others so pay for infrastructure to add even more value to those lucky winners rather than entering commercial deals thar capture upside.
Build transit infrastructure? Just pay for it with uneconomical designs and don’t do any land deals to earn back revenue from the value created.
I personally think the “we failed on Bluey with a dud deal” is more about the dud deals all around.
Governments do need some commercial competence. But people have been unable to articulate that the lack of it is what they are frustrated by.
Goebels didn't get Hitler a radio show for the profits. The ABC has a more important role it is focused on as you suggest. It is funded. Very cool piece; informative and persuasive.
Bluey’s a surprising show. Most of the stuff directed at kids is pure high-stim slop, but there is a core vision in Bluey and it’s actually quite insightful. I’d love to read a piece from you on its social dimensions and politics, which are subtle but tend toward our side I think.
Agree with the broad thrust of all of this. Just odd the ABC doesn’t retain at least some residual value. Surely selling some share - even 95% - of global commercial rights would be possible? All very odd
There was reason to believe Bluey would be a hit relative to other ABC kids original programming (though you’re right nobody could’ve predicted it would become the biggest show in the world). I’m sure even from a pilot episode that any remotely competent TV producer would realise that Bluey has far more potential than “Space Nova” & “Kangaroo Beach”
The residual question is whether there is any place for government funded broadcasters. I am myself divided on the question. Were they always doomed to become antisemitic sheltered workshops? Is there a place for cultural and news avatars for an idealized Australia of the recent past?
Deals and contracts get ripped up and updated all the time. You'd be singing a different tune if it was an Israeli show that got profited by some non-israeli network.
This is the same argument the gas/media/housing industry uses. "We can't change our precious contracts!! We're profiting too much!! We gotta keep things how we thought about them originally!!"
You are right that the ABC couldn’t have known or expected the Bluey success. But I think the frustrations of the public that this has tapped into is more about our governments being completely unable to make ANY commercial deals in ANY capacity.
Got gas? Sure. Approve that and take no upside stake since you’ve been bamboozled by accounting trickery.
Make a hit TV show from time to time? Sure, give it away to minimise costs rather than maximise the incomes across the IP portfolio.
Want yo upzone an area? Give away valuable rights then use taxes on others so pay for infrastructure to add even more value to those lucky winners rather than entering commercial deals thar capture upside.
Build transit infrastructure? Just pay for it with uneconomical designs and don’t do any land deals to earn back revenue from the value created.
I personally think the “we failed on Bluey with a dud deal” is more about the dud deals all around.
Governments do need some commercial competence. But people have been unable to articulate that the lack of it is what they are frustrated by.
Agree with this! Say so in the last para
That's why the title of the piece is "the deal was fine, actually"
Great contrarian take - and a very entertaining read as always
🙏
Goebels didn't get Hitler a radio show for the profits. The ABC has a more important role it is focused on as you suggest. It is funded. Very cool piece; informative and persuasive.
Bluey’s a surprising show. Most of the stuff directed at kids is pure high-stim slop, but there is a core vision in Bluey and it’s actually quite insightful. I’d love to read a piece from you on its social dimensions and politics, which are subtle but tend toward our side I think.
I have such a half written draft!
Agree with the broad thrust of all of this. Just odd the ABC doesn’t retain at least some residual value. Surely selling some share - even 95% - of global commercial rights would be possible? All very odd
There was reason to believe Bluey would be a hit relative to other ABC kids original programming (though you’re right nobody could’ve predicted it would become the biggest show in the world). I’m sure even from a pilot episode that any remotely competent TV producer would realise that Bluey has far more potential than “Space Nova” & “Kangaroo Beach”
The residual question is whether there is any place for government funded broadcasters. I am myself divided on the question. Were they always doomed to become antisemitic sheltered workshops? Is there a place for cultural and news avatars for an idealized Australia of the recent past?
Obviously not in todays media environment
Total legacy of 50 years ago
International experience strongly suggests that they were so doomed.
Call it a conspiracy of incentives.
Deals and contracts get ripped up and updated all the time. You'd be singing a different tune if it was an Israeli show that got profited by some non-israeli network.
This is the same argument the gas/media/housing industry uses. "We can't change our precious contracts!! We're profiting too much!! We gotta keep things how we thought about them originally!!"
I didn’t realise they made retards like you for substack
Completely sane response, great writing!