The Editor
The Australian
11 January 2002

ONCE again, Neil Brown seeks to perpetuate the myth that only a minority
use the ABC.

Nearly all Australians pay for the ABC through taxes, and nearly all
of them use it regularly.

In 1990, an Australian National Opinon Poll found that 86 per cent
of all Australians used an ABC service each week.

In the July-September quarter of 2001, OzTAM figures showed that in
the five major capital cities, 94 per cent of viewers tuned inONCE again, Neil Brown seeks to perpetuate the myth that only a minority
use the ABC.

Nearly all Australians pay for the ABC through taxes, and nearly all
of them use it regularly.

In 1990, an Australian National Opinon Poll found that 86 per cent
of all Australians used an ABC service each week.

In the July-September quarter of 2001, OzTAM figures showed that in
the five major capital cities, 94 per cent of viewers tuned in to the ABC.

The ABC Charter requires it to make programs of broad popular appeal,
as well as educational programs and those for specialist audiences.

Despite occasional lapses (some of them under the Shier regime), the
ABC has generally provided a good balance between popular and
specialist programs.

DARCE CASSIDY
National Spokesperson
Friends of the ABC