Triple J broadcasters imagine what ABC would sound like if privatised

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Triple J broadcasters imagine what ABC would sound like if privatised

By Broede Carmody

What would the ABC actually sound like if it was privatised?

It's a question Ultimo's in-house pranksters have been asking themselves amid a fierce debate about the importance of public broadcasting.

The comedy program Tonightly poked fun at calls to privatise the ABC on Wednesday evening. But Triple J breakfast presenters Ben Harvey and Liam Stapleton have taken the gag one step further by imagining what their show would sound like if the the Liberal Party's plan to sell off Aunty were to be successful.

The radio hosts have written and voiced a parody program complete with gravely voices that sound eerily similar to a certain commercial rival that markets itself to tradies and AFL fans.

Triple J breakfast hosts Ben and Liam.

Triple J breakfast hosts Ben and Liam.Credit: Daniel Boud

"Zipper and the Shitstick here on the station that loves music," Stapleton says during the skit. "And guess what else I love Shitstick?"

"What?" replies Harvey.

"Australian music! Guess what else? Drugs. And one other thing: claiming we're impartial broadcasters but secretly being massive lefties.

"But we're also very forward-thinking here at Triple J, Shitstick. We believe in equality. In fact, we have a real-life woman on our show."

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When the token woman asks to give her opinion, the boys tell her to shut up.

"We don't care unless it's about pies or footy," Stapleton says. "Up next we're speaking to Miguel Van Der Fart, the Dutch indie artist who makes tunes out of every orifice. And right now here's Spice Bitch with Crumpet Boogie Rat."

Earlier this week, a string of ABC personalities including 7.30 host Leigh Sales spoke out in support of public broadcasting.

Managing director Michelle Guthrie also hit back at the ABC's critics. She argued the broadcaster wasn't a "punching bag" for vested interests in a strongly-worded speech for the Melbourne Press Club.

The comments come after the Liberal Party's peak council voted to privatise the ABC. The Government quickly distanced itself from the vote and said the ABC would never be sold off.

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