ABC announces new Anzac documentary

Anzac Day programming reaches a peak on Foxtel and ABC + a new doco announced

Another day and another Anzac Day programming announcement.

On the same day that Seven sent out a presser about an Anzac Day plotline for Home and Away, the ABC announced a Pony Films production for the public broadcaster. Hosted by Kate Aubusson, Lest We Forget What? (pictured) is a documentary exploring the Anzac legend in Istanbul, Gallipoli and on the Western Front.

Neither Nine’s Gallipoli nor Seven’s Sunday Night special The Power of Ten rated as well as programmers had hoped, with the former falling from a premiere audience of 1.104m to under 600,000. The two-part special The Power of Ten only managed to pick up 785,000 viewers on its first outing.

The ABC and Foxtel lead the field with Anzac specials. The ABC has 16 this month on ABC, ABC2 and ABC 3 while Foxtel, across a number of channels, has 30 different programs linked to the First World War.

News Corp meanwhile has a 14-piece commemorative coin series available with its metro and regional mastheads. The publishing giant also plans to bring the Anzacs to life via social media. Anzac Live provides Facebook posts from the front line, and a live blog written as if it were from Gallipoli on the day of the anniversary.

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