Source : Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The future of television at the national broadcaster is dependent on the digital environment, according to the ABC's head of TV.

Addressing the Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA) conference on the Gold Coast, director of ABC Television Kim Dalton said while the digital environment threatened traditional revenue models for TV producers, it also presented opportunities for increasing levels of foreign content to become available to Australian audiences.

Mr Dalton said fewer people were watching prime time TV in the way they used to. Instead, he said people tune in and out, skip across channels and record shows to watch as they please, not just from TV but from the Internet as well.

"Generations X and Y and tweens are steeped in technology and are the true convergers as they move seemlessly between phone, TV and computer, games console and MP3 player," he said.

"But even boomers and older people are engaging with online connections and hand-held devices, as proven by the many people who are over 60 and 70 years old, who regularly interact with the ABCTV web page and on demand offerings.

"Socially, the multiplicity of entertainment choices has encouraged the development of a culture of individuality that can pick and choose time, place and mode of accessing entertainment and information. The 'on demand' generation."

But Mr Dalton said there has also been a greater focus on Australian identity and television content needed to include Australian voices and stories.

He said the volume and availability of Australian content was more important in the digital age than ever before.

© Australian Broadcasting Corporation