Opinion polls on whether the ABC should receive more funding from the government are not of much value in this regard. Let me hasten to say, however, that it should not be assumed that the Australian public would not support a public broadcaster. Similarly, studies of willingness to pay for assistance to the arts have found considerable support among Australians. My guess would be that a properly conducted study of Australians' willingness to pay for the ABC and SBS would be likely to find justification for the current level of expenditure. But I think it would also be likely to find a desire to change the way the money is spent.
Digitisation is a challenge to public broadcasters everywhere.
In Europe where the previous state broadcasting monopolies have had to adapt to the increasing competitive challenge of private broadcasters, as well as digitisation, the emerging trend seems to be an expansion of public broadcasting in both traditional and new services. While Scharf's views may contain an element of self-serving optimism, there are signs that European policy makers may be predisposed to an expanded role for public broadcasters. In several major European countries, considerable resources have been devoted to develop a public broadcasting presence on the world wide web. In the UK, one of the few countries that has already introduced digital television, the role of the BBC has been expanded with the addition of two digital channels on top of the two existing channels. The funding of the BBC has been increased in line with this expansion.