Going Digital

How Australia's public broadcaster reinvented itself for the digital age

Today, the ABC offers things that were unimaginable twenty years ago: twenty-four-hour news coverage, an entire app of kids' content, countless podcasts and on-demand TV shows. Before smartphones, broadband and Bluey, all this would have sounded impossible.

Going Digital tells the tumultuous story of how the ABC transformed itself for the digital age, revealing the key players and controversial decisions along the way.

These were the years of The Chaser and Q+A, endless political interference, and heated debates about what a public broadcaster should be. The ABC's transformation has been remarkable – but unanswered questions remain. Has broader coverage come at the expense of depth? Have politicians learnt anything from their attempts to intervene? Who really pulls the strings in our public broadcasters?

Drawing on candid interviews with key players and Simons's deep understanding of Australian media, Going Digital is a gripping, behind-the-scenes look at one of our most beloved public institutions.