2003 - 04 Annual Report - Sbs

79GOAL 3TO INCREASE OUR CAPACITY TO PERFORM AS AN AGILE AND CREATIVE ORGANISATIONHow will we know we have succeeded?We will achieve local and international industry benchmarks for organisational practice and audience and peerrecognition of SBS’s creative success.3.1OBJECTIVE:Implement industry best practice for staffing practices appropriate to a flexible, creative, risk taking organisationMEASUREMENTS:Performance against industry benchmarks identified annually to the Board; external recognition of SBScreativity and innovation2003-04 saw the first full year of operation of the TV Marketing department (consisting of Publicity, Public Relations,Graphics/Design, Promos, and Audience Research), as well as the linkage of SBS Independent and SBS Local Productionunder a single creative structure, and the full merger of the Network Programming and Program Purchasing departments.The Indigenous unit formerly responsible for ICAM and Living Black was transferred from Local Production to Newsand Current Affairs, from where it will produce a weekly current affairs program. Analogue and digital presentationfunctions were merged via a single control room.TV Operations was reviewed by an external consultant with reference to industry best practice and evolving televisiontechnologies. Changes flowing from the review will be implemented in the latter part of 2004. Overcapacity in subtitlingresources resulted in a reduction in the number of on-going employees in the Subtitling and Captioning department.Programs commissioned by SBSi won 50 national and international awards during the year, including an Academy Awardfor Harvie Krumpet.SBS was appointed by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) to produce a daily highlights program of the 2004Athens Olympic Games which will be distributed to 32 member broadcasters. Head of Sport, Les Murray, who serves asChairman of the ABU Sports Study Group, was appointed a member of the FIFA Committee for Ethics and Fair Play.SBS Radio managers and staff held a record 108 outside broadcasts during the year, in addition to their regular programcommitments, with minimal additional expense or use of resources. A review of rosters to align them more closely withprogramming efficiency led to a 26% reduction in out-of-hours program costs in Sydney alone, with broadcasters, trainingstaff and managers working together to maximise self-operation of studios and production facilities. All broadcast andoperations staff in Sydney and Melbourne undertook digital production and presentation training.SBS Radio Training worked on updating its accredited courses under the national Film, Television, Radio and MultimediaTraining Package, the industry benchmarks in Australia. The comprehensive courses covered editorial, legal and technicaltraining. SBS Television also provided detailed initiation and refresher course training for newsroom staff and cadets aswell as Operations staff. Technology and Distribution division provided an internship for final year tertiary students coveringelectrical engineering, computing science and communications.