ABC v the government. ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie addressed staff around the country yesterday about the federal budget cuts to the broadcaster, repeating via video many of the points from her public and internal staff statements. She said the ABC would continue to oppose the “further, substantial budget cut”, and keep negotiating the ABC’s next three years of funding with the government.

Guthrie also noted that any cuts would be judged at the upcoming federal election:

We will continue to pursue our agenda with the government, and make clear to them that a strong ABC is a well-funded ABC, that delivers content and services for all Australians in every electorate. In the coming year, Australians will head to the polls for the next election. More than 80% of Australians value the ABC, a point that shouldn’t be lost on anyone seeking government.

The ABC yesterday also had to correct its original statement on the cuts, which added into its figuring the $43 million enhanced news-gathering fund, due to expire next year. Communications Minister Mitch Fifield said the government hadn’t yet made a decision about that funding.

Irish abortion ad ban. In an abrupt about-face, Google is banning ads on Ireland’s May 25 abortion referendum from its website, a day after Facebook said it was stopping non-Irish ads on the vote. The decision applies to all Google’s advertising platforms, including AdWords and YouTube. Facebook announced it would block all ads on the referendum that came from advertisers outside of Ireland. But it also pledged to implement the same rule for any future elections in Ireland. Twitter hasn’t made any such announcements.

The Irish move follows a decision by Google, announced last week, that it was starting a verification process for election ads in the United States. It says the decision about the referendum campaign is linked to that process. — Glenn Dyer

London calling. Nine’s Amelia Adams is moving to London as the network’s new Europe correspondent, Media Week reports. The reporter and presenter will be replacing Seb Costello, who has been dogged by rumours that he failed to show up for shifts late last year — “misinformation” that Nine said was being spread by rival network Seven.

Front page of the day.

Glenn Dyer’s TV Ratings. Oh dreary me, what a night of TV. The total people figures were meaningless — a narrow win for Seven — the main channels (won by Nine) were more accurate but the real tale from the night was that MasterChef is working for Ten (1.18 million last night and the most watched non-news program). Nine, Seven and Ten all said they won something: total people, demos, 25 to 54s respectively.

The story from this week and last night is that Seven is facing weeks of depressing figures because House Rules is a dud. It is no MKR. Hughsie (633,000 nationally, not good enough) remains a problem for Ten though, and weak after MasterChef. The ABC did OK — Gruen (1.03 million nationally) is still popular, Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery  (900,000 nationally) is shaping up as the best series so far.

In regional markets, Seven News with 606,000 was tops, with Seven News/Today Tonight next with 513,000, then Home and Away with 480,000, House Rules with 424,000 (which is keeping it alive) and the 5.30pm part of The Chase Australia with 377,000. Read the rest on the Crikey website.