Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 4 April 2012:

With reference to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, can a breakdown be provided detailing the annual cost of: (a) promotional items; and (b) free give-aways, including DVDs, books and other merchandise.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

The ABC advises that, excluding Audience Research and advertising, a total of $2.6 million has been spent on promotions as at the end of March for the 2011-12 financial year.

The ABC does not track the cost of giveaways. ABC Commercial is given an allocation of free-of-charge promotional items under various distribution contracts. These items are distributed to the other areas of the ABC for airplay, review and to be given-away. ABC Commercial also distributes these promotional items to other media organisations.

The ABC may also receive community event/movie/theatre/concert/festival tickets from third parties in support of cultural partnerships, and these are given away to audiences as part of the ABC's support of these events.

The ABC receives limited number of tickets from the Australian Football League, National Rugby League and Cricket Australia for competition giveaways to support the ABC's Grandstand broadcasts.