ABC Me was an Australian children's free-to-air television channel owned by theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation. It was launched byPrime MinisterKevin Rudd on 4 December 2009 asABC3, to become Australia's first dedicated children’s channel on free-to-air. It also aimed to broadcast 50%local programming. Inratings recorded in 2015, ABC3 held a high average audience of 562,000 among its target audience of 5–12-year-old children.[1]
Budget cuts by theAbbott government led to a brand refresh on 19 September 2016 toABC Me, with the network pushingonline streaming. The channel also reduced its Australian content quota to 25%. On 3 June 2024, ABC Me was rebranded toABC Entertains, which now features general entertainment programming. Children's programming mostly moved toABC Family andABC iview.
In September 2007, theAustralian Government announced a proposal to launch a new digital-only children's channel,ABC3.[2][3] It would be the first dedicatedfree-to-air children's channel in the country.[1] A new ABC channel appeared on television receivers on 11 February 2008, as a placeholder for the future ABC3 channel.[4] ABC3 was considered by theAustralia 2020 Summit and given as one of the recommendations to the Government.
In April 2009, the Government's official response to the Summit approved the idea,[5] and in the 2009–10 Commonwealth Budget $67 million was allocated towards ABC3 as part of the Government's $167 million funding increase to the ABC. The channel would aim to feature at least 50% Australian-produced content.[6] It was not constrained by a local content quota.[7]
On 4 December 2009 at 5pm, the hour-longCountdown to 3 special was broadcast on the channel and was simulcast onABC1. It featured special performances from Australian artistsCassie Davis andShort Stack, an introduction to various ABC3 presenters and shows and the station's launch around 6pm by then-Prime MinisterKevin Rudd.[11][12]
In April 2011, James Elmer joined as co-host ofStudio 3 along with Tremills and Lobo.[13] On 4 December 2011, the winners from the MeOn3 contest were revealed as Alfie Gledhill and Olivia Phyland.[14] On 14 September 2012, Alfie leftStudio 3 to pursue acting dreams. In October 2012, Comedian Khaled Khalafala joinedStudio 3, and stayed with the crew until early 2013 before leaving. Tim Matthews, Grace Koh and Ivy Latimer later joined Elmer and Phyland in July 2014 after winning the3 Factor competition.[15]
In late 2014, theAbbott government announced an ABC funding cut of 4.6% over five years.[1] To adapt, ABC3 quietly revised its Australian content quota from 50% to 25%, and slashed the amount of new episodes commissioned for original programs likeNowhere Boys andReady For This.[1]
In August 2016, it was announced that ABC3 would change its name to ABC Me on 19 September 2016,[16] as more children watched television on a mobile device.[17] The rebranded channel is reported to be "designed to reflect and celebrate the lives, interests and diversity of young Australians" and will increase its focus to primary school children.[18][19] To mark the rebrand, ABC Me teamed up with 16-year-old singer Angel Tairua to record a new song "Unique (Me2U)", which became the channel'stheme music.[20]
In June 2020, many of the ABC Me staff in Melbourne lost their jobs after redundancies at the ABC were announced.[21] The network was then broadcast without any presenters.[21]
On 9 May 2024, it was announced that ABC Me would change its name toABC Entertains on 3 June, shifting its format to general entertainment programming (with its launch anchored by premieres of new series ofInterview with the Vampire andWreck). Youth programming moved toABC Family; although some programs still air in the morning (from 5–11am) and the ABC Education block (from 9–11am on weekdays) largely remains untouched.[22][23] The ABC is also promotingABC iview as the main home of its youth and children's output.[24]
^"ABC ME introduces Angel" (Press release). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 19 September 2016. Archived fromthe original on 3 May 2018. Retrieved3 May 2018.
