Australia Network (Ausnet)

Project Overview

Ausnet is Australia’s overseas TV network broadcasting to the Pacific, Asia and India. After a tender process the Federal Government awarded the operation of Ausnet to ABC.

The project involved the following:
• Preparation and signoff of a business case and PMP without which no commitments could be made
• Procurement of equipment both locally and mostly from overseas by both ABC and MHA
• Investigation and design of the technical Fitout
• Relocation of a computer system and database from Newcastle to Sydney
• Installation and commissioning of equipment at MHA by both MHA and ABC
• Procurement of Telstra lines between Melbourne and MHA and Ultimo and MHA
• Procurement of a new satellite uplink
• Organisation of subtitles including production overseas
• Preparation of workflows and dot point procedures for Ausnet, ABC and MHA
• Recruitment and training
• Equipment and systems debugging
• Operation of white channel (full production in practice mode for two weeks)
• Cutover from NBN to ABC/MHA

TBH’s Role

TBH was engaged to undertake the project management of this project in a very short period. This included:

• Preparation of the business plan and procurement of its approval to allow the project to proceed
• Preparation of a project plan, including schedule and budget and risk identification
• Management of procurement of overseas and local equipment
• Management of the design process
• Management of the procurement of Telstra landlines and Optus satellite uplink
• Co-ordination of ABC and MediaHub and Ausnet activities
• Management of technical fitout and installation process
• Management of the procurement of subtitles
• Management of commissioning process
• Management of the White Channel Process and Issues
• Time cost and risk management
• Project reporting

Areas of focus may be grouped as contracts management, project controls, change management.

To find out more about TBH’s Project Management experience, please visit the Project Management page.