ABC cuts to NT Football League coverage a 'big blow' to Indigenous football fans, AFLNT says

Indigenous fans of local football will suffer from the cutting of the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) games on ABC TV, according to the AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT).

The organisation said it was disappointed its games will no longer be shown on the ABC.

Local sporting competitions were one victim of cuts announced by ABC management, after the broadcaster's budget was slashed by almost 5 per cent by the Federal Government.

In a statement to staff, managing director Mark Scott said there had been declining interest in local sport in recent years.

AFLNT chief executive Tony Frawley said axing coverage did not come as a surprise.

"When you see the amount of cuts right across Australia - we we knew it was going to come," he said.

"Certainly with the cuts that have been organised by the ABC over the last couple of days, it was a fait accompli for us."

Mr Frawley said the cuts would be "a big blow" for Indigenous football fans in particular.

"It's been great for us to be able to get it out to particularly Indigenous communities that don't get access to the football by coming to the stadiums here in Darwin," he said.

"It will be disappointing not to have the broadcast because we've had such a great relationship with the ABC over many, many years but the cuts just won't make that available.

"The ABC here locally put an enormous amount of work and effort into delivering a really professional product."

The ABC will continue to broadcast the rest of the NTFL season.

"Come March 14 when the NTFL grand final is on it will be a sad day that the ABC isn't here with us again," Mr Frawley said.

Chief Minister urges ABC to treat NT differently

ABC management was unable to confirm the exact number of positions that would be lost in the NT.

The NT director will be cut, along with directors from other state and territories.

The Friday night current affairs program 7.30 NT was also among cuts announced.

Chief Minister Adam Giles said he was extremely concerned about the cut to local current affairs.

"On behalf of all Territorians, I have voiced my concern about the impact of ABC management's decision to axe 7.30 NT as part of its new round of budget cuts," he said.

"The in-depth stories and interviews on 7.30 NT are a crucial and unique contribution to public debate in such a small news market."

The Chief Minister urged ABC management to consider the NT as a special case and spare the program.

"I appreciate the recent budgetary constraints facing your organisation, but the NT has unique needs given its vast land mass and sparse population," he said.

"While my government receives its fair share of scrutiny from the program, I stand by 7.30 NT as an important source of balanced and considered information on important stories right across the Territory."