The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has come a step closer to privatisation tightening up the log-in requirements for its ABC iview service.
The corporation said the introduction of its ‘Login to Watch’ option means iview could do what other streaming services and commercial and public broadcasters were already doing and provide ‘the personalised services viewers expect’.
“In our most recent audience survey, 95 per cent of respondents flagged a strong interest for ABC iview to add personalisation features that would require a login,” the ABC said.
“Failing to keep pace with user expectations could lead to a danger that our Australian stories get lost in the mix, or don’t get told at all,” it said.
“There are currently almost six million ABC accounts delivering the benefits of personalised ABC iview services.”
The ABC said that since 10 May last year it had received 514 complaints or queries about the introduction of Login to Watch.
“Nothing about creating a login for ABC iview changes our editorial independence, integrity or responsibility,” it said.
“The ABC is bound by the Privacy Act and the Australian Privacy Principles.
“We place a high priority on the protection of personal information, in line with the trust that Australians place in their public broadcaster.”
The ABC said that, over the past year, it had worked with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner to ensure greater privacy protections than any other streaming service in the country.
“We have also consulted broadcasters internationally to develop a best practice approach to the management of personal information,” it said.
