Chris Oliver-Taylor to depart the ABC – ABC Chief Content Officer Chris Oliver-Taylor has announced his departure from the organisation after leading the ABC’s content teams through a period of transformation and growth.
One of Australia’s most successful content leaders and producers, Chris was appointed by the ABC as the inaugural Chief Content Officer in March 2023 to lead all content platforms – screen, audio and digital.
The role required Chris to develop and launch the new Content division created from the merger of the former Entertainment & Specialist and Regional & Local divisions.
During Chris’ leadership of ABC Content:
- The ABC TV Network (all channels) achieved the number one ranked television broadcaster in 2023–24, with a reach of 36.4% or 6.6 million people across the five-city metro population.
- Commissioned many successful programs in partnership with the independent production sector including The Assembly, The Family Next Door, Return to Paradise, Austin, Guy Mont’s Spelling Bee, Bluey’s Big Play and I Was Actually There.
- Delivered over 20% growth in weekly users on ABC iview.
- Ensured that ABC iview was the number one ranked BVOD service in 2023–24 with a 34% share of on-demand minutes across the year.
- ABC Radio reached an estimated 4.77 million people each week in the five capital cities.
ABC Managing Director David Anderson congratulated Chris on his achievements in the role and thanked him for his leadership and valuable contribution to the ABC.
“Chris has been outstanding in his creative approach to supporting our content teams and delivering valued programs for our audiences. He took on a very challenging role, one that required someone with his experience and ability, and led our content teams through this period of change and growth.
“The ABC thanks him and wishes him well for the next stage of his career.”
In a message to his ABC colleagues, Chris Oliver Taylor said:
“After recent discussions with the Managing Director and reflecting on my ongoing conversations with the ABC Board and the Chair across many months, I have decided to make a difficult decision and move on to new opportunities outside of the ABC. With a new MD, a renewed Board and what I think is a very positive and hopeful future, the ABC is in great shape to continue its vital role as the pre-eminent public broadcaster in Australia.
“There is sadness in this decision but also pride and excitement with the slate that will roll out across 2025 and in future years.
“The ABC is a vital cultural institution that will continue to deliver world-class content. I will always be a strong supporter of the ABC and public broadcasting and am deeply grateful for my time here, as well as the dedication of my ABC colleagues and the production companies that contribute to its success.”
Following the elevation of ABC Audio in late 2024, the ABC will now discontinue the Chief Content Officer role.
Chris’ final day at the ABC will be February 28th. ABC Head Screen Content Jennifer Collins will step into the role of Director Content from today to lead the Content division until further notice.
Media Release – ABC
Link to ABC iview HERE
TV Central ABC content HERE
Chris Oliver-Taylor to depart the ABC
