The ABC has announced 10 new TV programs for its 2024 slate. The details came during a mid-year programming event held in Melbourne.
During the presentation, the broadcaster noted audiences continue to turn to the ABC for quality and distinctive content.
ABC iview has claimed continued platform growth and is currently ranked the #2 free-to-air BVOD network in Australia. Year-on-year weekly active user growth is up on ABC iview, with 24% year-on-year growth on minutes viewed (*non kids) and 10% year-on-year growth on minutes viewed (*kids).
Key programming like Muster Dogs, Nemesis, Total Control, Darby and Joan, Vera has secured over 1 million total average audiences. The ABC also noted Bluey has been the biggest show on Australian television so far in 2024.
Chief content officer Chris Oliver-Taylor said: “The ABC is the most important creative institution in Australia and we are continuing to ensure our content is available where our audiences want to engage. 2024 has marked a major change in the way that the ABC is thinking about its content and it is all about on demand.
“ABC iview is our on-demand destination for everything that Australian audiences love. More people are coming to ABC iview for our content when they want to watch on demand and in 2024 they are staying with us for longer.”
Chris Oliver-Taylor
New ABC content announcements
The Assembly
Leigh Sales is at the helm of the new factual series, The Assembly (6 x 1hr), focusing on a group of autistic student journalists as they prepare for and eventually interview Australia’s best-known personalities, including the Prime Minister.
Production Credit A Helium Pictures production for the ABC with production funding from Screen NSW, from a format created by Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache, originally produced by Kiosco.TV & Quad+Ten, and distributed by Can’t Stop Media. ABC Commissioning Editor Julie Hanna, ABC Head of Factual Susie Jones.
Headliners
Elly-May Barnes leads an ambitious quest to create two bands made up entirely of musicians living with disability. With support and inspiration from Australian music royalty including her rock legend dad, Jimmy Barnes, they’ll transform a group of strangers to must see acts on the main stage at a sell-out live music event in just seven weeks.
Production Credit Headliners is an original series from Endemol Shine Australia. Developed and produced in association with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Screen NSW.
Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now
Presented by Lisa Millar, Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now? will revisit the human and canine stars of Series 1 & Series 2 to check in on the dogs’ progress since the final milestone challenge.
Production Credit Produced by Ambience Entertainment; Series Director Monica O’Brien, Director Justin Schneider, Producers Sally Browning, Michael Boughen and Monica O’Brien, Co producer John Unwin, Executive Producer Matthew Street. ABC Commissioning Editor Jo Chichester, ABC Executive Producer Rachel Robinson, ABC Head of Factual Susie Jones. Supported by Screen Territory.
Secret Science
Premieres Tuesday 21 May at 9pm on ABC TV and ABC iview
An entertaining series exploring a range of topics. Learn how men can improve their sperm count, how we can all improve our capacity to learn as well as ways we can exploit our emotions. Hosts for the series include Myf Warhust, Matt Okine and Sammy J.
Production credit: An ABC Production. Associate Producer: Dominique Pile, Series Producer: Elle Gibbons, Executive Producer: Penny Palmer, Head of Factual: Susie Jones
Megafauna: What Killed Australia’s Giants?
Australia was once home to a group of extraordinary animals known as Megafauna. These giants lived here for millions of years, but in a blink of time, they disappeared. What became of them has been debated for over a century, but now a team of experts are re-opening this paleolithic cold case. This two-part series is narrated by Hugh Jackman.
Production Credit An ABC Production. Produced, Directed and Filmed by Jeff Siberry, Producers Oliver Graham, Kirsty Walsh, Series Producer: Elle Gibbons, ABC Executive Producer Penny Palmer, ABC Head of Factual Susie Jones.
Monday Experts: Catherine Murphy and Tony Armstrong
Monday’s Experts
Hosted by Tony Armstrong with Catherine Murphy, Monday’s Experts is a new sports entertainment show covering all that happens both on and off the field each week. With a panel of sports journalists and comedians, they will cover the biggest stories and the funniest and most awe-inspiring moments of the week.
Production Credit A CJZ and ABC co-production. Executive Producer: Damian Davis. Head of Entertainment Rachel Millar.
Guy Montgomery
Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee
In a new comedy panel show, host Guy Montgomery and his loyal assistant Aaron Chen challenge four comedians, comprising of both established names and up-and-coming comics, as they attempt to spell a myriad of words as best they can, all to be crowned that week’s best speller.
Production credit A Kevin & Co and ABC co-production. Producers: Bronwynn Bakker, Cam Bakker. Executive Producer: Cam Bakker, Bronwynn Bakker, Greg Sitch, Guy Montgomery. ABC Executive Producer Mark Sutton. ABC Head of Entertainment Rachel Millar.
Tom Gleeson
Hard Quiz Kids
Premieres Saturday 8 June at 7.30pm on ABC Family and ABC iview Gold-Logie-winning comedian Tom Gleeson hosts an all-new series of his hit show Hard Quiz to the kids! With his trademark grumpiness and humour, Gleeson will interrogate ordinary, but brainy contestants – the only difference is, they’re all aged between 10 and 13.
Production Credit A Thinkative TV production. Producers: Kevin Whyte, Charlie Pickering, Tom Gleeson. Co-Executive Producer: John Tabbagh. Executive Producer: Chris Walker. ABC Executive Producers: Mark Sutton (Entertainment) and Mary-Ellen Mullane (Children’s).
Plum
Plum follows Peter ‘The Plum’ Lum (Brendan Cowell), a 49-year-old national football treasure who lives with his son Gavin (Vincent Miller) and girlfriend Charmayne (María Dupláa) in Cronulla. It looks like Plum is living the dream until he discovers he has a brain disorder as result of the hundreds of head knocks and concussions he suffered on the field. The new diagnosis doesn’t receive its intended effect, as Plum would sooner hide, run and head to the pub for drinks with the boys and pretend everything is peaches. But hiding from the truth isn’t easy when your ex-wife (Asher Keddie) cares too much and your son comes to realise the father he worships is falling off his mantle and the game they love might be to blame.
Production Credit Roadshow Rough Diamond and Modern Convict Films production. Major production investment from Screen Australia and the ABC. Financed with support from Screen NSW. Worldwide Distribution by Entertainment One. Executive Producer Brendan Cowell. Producers: John Edwards, Dan Edwards, and Jonathan Duncan. ABC Executive Producer Louise Smith. ABC Head of Scripted: Rachel Okine.
Premiere dates revealed
Spicks and Specks, premieres Sunday 9 June at 7.30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview
Adam Hills, Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough return for a new series of the music quiz show, Spicks and Specks.
Austin, premieres Sunday 9 June at 8pm on ABC TV and ABC iview
When much-loved children’s author Julian Hartswood (Ben Miller) inadvertently causes a social media storm, his career and that of his illustrator wife Ingrid (Sally Phillips) appears to be over. That is until Austin (Michael Theo), the neurodivergent son that Julian never knew existed, turns up out of the blue. Could embracing this modern nuclear family be Julian’s route back from cancellation?
Bluey Minisodes premieres Sunday 16th June at 8am on ABC Kids and ABC iview
The Bluey Minisodes are a collection of 1 – 3 minute funny and sweet moments featuring Bluey & Bingo. Introducing some new characters alongside fan favourites including Unicorse, Nana ann Bob Heeler, Dad getting a tattoo and behind the scenes at Bluey and Bingo’s dreamhouse.
Classic 100 in Concert, premieres Saturday June 29th at 7:30pm, on ABCTV, live streamed on ABC iview and simulcast on ABC Classic
Hosted by ABC’s Megan Burslem and Jeremy Fernandez, the Classic 100 in Concert will give music lovers nationwide the chance to celebrate the ultimate feel-good playlist, performed by some of the country’s best-known classical stars.
Marta Dusseldorp in Bay of Fires Season 1
Bay Of Fires in production for Season 2
Archipelago Productions and Fremantle are making season two of the hit drama Bay Of Fires and is currently filming in Tasmania. Reprising their roles are Marta Dusseldorp (Janet King), Toby Leonard Moore (The Unusual Suspects), Pamela Rabe (Wentworth).
Top image: Bay of Fires S2 [L-R] Elle Mandelis, Roz Hammond, Ava Caryofyllis (seated), Marta Dusseldorp, Ilai Swindells, Imi Mbedla (seated), Pamela Rabe
See also: Bay of Fires – Marta Dusseldorp says drama mirrors city chick’s real life move to Tasmania