The Age newspaper carried a report on 25 January 2008 headlined "Rethink funding, says SBS chief".

Missing from the report is the deterioration of SBS since Brown became managing director (sic) and its dumbing down, which people like George Negus have disputed.

From the article: "Mr Brown acknowledged that SBS' decision to allow advertising in the middle of programs angered viewers, but defended it on the basis that it increased advertising revenue by $10 million".

This is outrageous! $10 million over what period of time? $10 million at a time when the federal government's budget surplus is at an all-time high, and some of it could certainly be skimmed off to improve the quality - and control - of the SBS and ABC managements.

For a paltry $10 million viewers of SBS have been subjected to junked programmes, interruptions to some of the best documentaries which used to be on offer, and a marked dumbing down of the whole delivery of all types of programmes which have departed completely from what was SBS' original charter.

Shaun Brown should never have been given the position he holds and he is directly responsible for the departure of Mary Kostakidis, one of the best broadcasters in Australia, and possibly well beyond Australia's shores.

Not only should Brown's departure be instant, it should be accompanied by the return of Kostakidis to her rightful place, and the restoration of the news bulletin which was one of the best on offer anywhere in the world.

Advertising should be removed from programme interruption immediately and the new federal government, which is already showing itself to be a pathetic imitation of the departed tragics, should install a managing director who knows what he is doing and is not a blow-in Mr Know-All!!!