The ABC will cut most local news bulletins over the Easter long weekend as the news division desperately attempts to cut costs.
ABC’s head of regional, rural and metro news Donna Field sent an email to editors informing them most Easter schedules were being scrapped.
Local news coverage across the country will be replaced by national bulletins on Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday filmed from the ABC’s plush Ultimo studio.
The broadcaster’s radio arm will also see national bulletins take over on the Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Both TV and radio bulletins in Perth will be unchanged.
Ms Field said an “intense” summer news cycle was behind the “sustainability measure” but the decision was actually a cost-cutting measure, according to TV Blackbox.
The decision comes as ABC News is millions of dollars over budget and looks to cut costs where possible.
ABC News boss Justin Stevens is “very worried” about growing costs and has been encouraging newsrooms to cut spending, the outlet reported.
The cut to regional bulletins risks rural and remote communities missing out on important local news over a major public holiday weekend.
Local reporters may still be on the ground, but it is unlikely they will cut through to the national bulletin broadcast from Sydney.
“This decision to forego localism over Easter is a desperate bid to save money by the ABC, instead of servicing local communities,” TV Blackbox reporter Robert McKnight wrote.
The decision risks these communities being left completely in the dark during a major breaking news story.
Cutting local bulletins for up to four days flies in the face of ABC’s commitment to local broadcasting.
ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks put regional broadcasting as high on his priorities during his National Press Club address in November.
“Maintaining our bond with rural and regional Australia is core to our mission,” Mr Marks said.
“So, we are giving local news outlets free access to ABC News digital content at times of significant events affecting local communities.
“That way we help sustain local news outlets that are an important part of regional and rural life.”
Cutting regional bulletins to make savings in Mr Stevens’ budget bottom line comes despite the ABC’s massive operating budget.
The public broadcaster received $1.2 billion from the federal government in the 2025-26 budget.
Despite the cost-saving measure, editors are being told to deliver a message to staffers stressing that the decision is due to the intensity of news over the past four months.
“The Easter schedule has been revised to include more national programming for radio and television,” Ms Field told managers to tell their staff.
“This is a sustainability measure that addresses the significant load all teams have been under over the past few months with Bondi, an intense summer of natural disasters and of course the ongoing and demanding coverage of the war.”
Major commercial stations Seven and Nine will have local coverage for their 6pm bulletins over Easter.
An ABC spokesperson told SkyNews.com.au: “Planning for the ABC’s Easter weekend coverage is taking place at the moment.”
“We expect to do two national 7PM News bulletins over the Easter long weekend and national radio news bulletins, in line with what we’ve done previously over Easter and Christmas periods.
“Local newsrooms remain fully operational.”