Sydney- The Liberal/National Party Coalition has pledged to spend $A82 million ($US74.9 million) to fund a new digital children’s channel for the Australian Broadcasting Commission if it is re-relected on Nov. 24. The four-year funding would be split between commissioning new Australian entertainment and education programming, and buying Australian and international content. The digital channel, likely to be branded ABC Kids, would screen for 15 hours a day between 6am and 9pm seven days a week. “This service will be a great addition to the breadth of services that the ABC provides,” said ABC managing director Mark Scott. The ABC was forced to drop two digital kids channels in 2003 after the government slashed its funding. The Labor Party, which has a healthy lead over the Government in opinion polls, is considered likely to support the new channel.