The surprising cost of ABC's 'Media Watch' each week

Freedom of Information documents have revealed the total cost of producing one of the ABC’s iconic shows, Media Watch, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

The website of the weekly, 15 minute show, says it's "Australia's leading forum for media analysis and comment. Walkley award-winning investigative reporter and former foreign correspondent Linton Besser brings you a fearless critique of the week's journalism."

And apparently, it's value for money.

Each episode costs $4,440.52, which doesn't include salaries. The SMH reports that this week's episode averaged 544,000 viewers.

 

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Managing Director of the ABC, Hugh Marks reportedly said on ABC Melbourne on Thursday morning that Deloitte was once paid $200,000 to produce a report showing the economic impact their productions have on the local economy.

That figure was $772 million in the three years from July 2022 to June 2025.

As the ABC reviews their budget, Marks said the report didn’t help him decide the show's future.

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