History Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1 history

1.1 1920s–40s
1.2 1950s–70s
1.3 1980s–90s
1.4 2000s
1.5 2010s

history

1920s–40s


abc mobile studio caravan, used concerts presented abc @ army camps , other locations, 1940

the first public radio station in australia opened in sydney on 23 november 1923 under call sign 2sb other stations in melbourne, brisbane, adelaide, perth , hobart following. licensing scheme, administered postmaster-general s department, established allowing stations government funding, albeit restrictions placed on advertising content.

following 1927 royal commission inquiry radio licensing issues, government established national broadcasting service subsequently took on number of larger funded stations. nationalised australian broadcasting company had been created entertainment interests supply programs various radio stations. on 1 july 1932, australian broadcasting commission established, taking on operations of national broadcasting service , establishing offices in each of australia s capital cities.

the abc s perth headquarters in 1937

over next 4 years stations reformed cohesive broadcasting organisation through regular program relays, coordinated centralised bureaucracy. australian broadcast radio spectrum constituted of abc , commercial sector.

news broadcasts restricted, due pressure sir keith murdoch, controlled many australian newspapers. however, journalists such frank dixon , john hinde began subvert agreements in late 1930s. in 1939, warren denning appointed canberra first abc political correspondent, after murdoch had refused allow newspapers cover speech joseph lyons.

in 1942 australian broadcasting act passed, giving abc power decide when, , in circumstances, political speeches should broadcast. directions minister whether or not broadcast matter had made in writing, , exercise of power had mentioned in commission s annual report. used once, in 1963. in same year, kindergarten of air began on abc radio in perth, , later broadcast nationally.

cater argues reform urgently needed in 1945:

by end of world war ii, abc decadent, hollow institution. authority had been compromised poorly drafted charter , further undermined timid management, poor governance , creeping wartime censorship. in april 1945, boyer refused accept post of chairman until prime minister curtin issued mandate of independence boyer drafted itself. abc under boyer , general manager charles moses invested best in cultural capital of nation, establishing viable symphony orchestras , seizing on potential of television.... [boyer s] neutrality never questioned.

1950s–70s



the first broadcast of abc tv – presented michael charlton, 5 november 1956



james dibble, reading first abc news television bulletin in nsw, 1956

the abc commenced television broadcasting in 1956, , followed earlier radio practice of naming station after first letter of base state. abn-2 (new south wales) sydney inaugurated prime minister robert menzies on 5 november 1956, first broadcast presented michael charlton, , james dibble reading first television news bulletin. abv-2 (melbourne, victoria) followed 2 weeks later, on 18 november 1956. stations in other capital cities followed: abq-2 (brisbane, queensland) (1959), abs-2 (adelaide, south australia) (1960), abw-2 (perth, western australia) (1960), , abt-2 (hobart, tasmania) (1960). abc-3 canberra opened in 1961, , abd-6 (darwin, northern territories) started broadcasting in 1971, both named after base city.

although radio programs distributed nationally landline, television relay facilities not in place until 1960s. meant news bulletins had sent each capital city teleprinter, prepared , presented separately in each city, filmed materials copied manually , sent each state. other television programs @ time included popular 6 o clock rock hosted johnny o keefe, mr. squiggle, operas , plays.

in 1973 new south wales rugby league boss kevin humphreys negotiated rugby league s first television deal abc. in 1975, colour television introduced australia, , within decade abc had moved satellite broadcasting, enhancing ability distribute content nationally. in same year, abc introduced 24-hour-a-day rock station in sydney, 2jj (double jay), expanded national triple j fm network. year later, national classical music network established on fm band, broadcasting adelaide. known abc-fm (now called abc classic fm) – referring both fine music programming , radio frequency.

abc budget cuts began in 1976 , continued until 1985. in 1978 abc nsw staff association organised strike against budget cuts , political interference. sydney abc off air 4 days. packed free concert in support held @ regent theatre , compered bob hudson. featured fred dagg , robyn archer. in 1991, tom molomby wrote:

effects of budget reductions had been badly handled organisation remain crippled years.

1980s–90s

the australian broadcasting corporation act 1983 changed name of organisation australian broadcasting commission australian broadcasting corporation , effective 1 july 1983. @ same time, newly formed corporation underwent significant restructuring. abc split separate television , radio divisions, overhaul of management, finance, property , engineering. geoffrey whitehead initial managing director; however, following resignation in 1986, david hill (at time chair of abc board) took on position.

program production in indigenous affairs, comedy, social history , current affairs expanded, while corporation s output of drama boosted. local production trebled 1986–91 assistance of co-production, co-financing, , pre-sales arrangements.

a new concert music department formed in 1985 co-ordinate corporation s 6 symphony orchestras, in turn received greater level of autonomy better respond local needs. open-air free concerts , tours, educational activities, , joint ventures other music groups undertaken @ time expand orchestras audience reach.

abc radio restructured again in 1985 – radio 1 became metropolitan network, while radio 2 became known radio national (callsigns, however, not standardised until 1990). new programs such world today, australia over, , coodabeen champions introduced, while abc-fm established australian music unit in 1989. radio australia began focus on asia-pacific region, coverage targeted @ south west , central pacific, south-east asia, , north asia. radio australia carried more news coverage, special broadcasts during 1987 fijian coup, tiananmen square massacre, , first gulf war.

the abc s sydney headquarters in ultimo

in 1991, corporation s sydney radio , orchestral operations moved new building built leighton holdings on single site in inner-city suburb of ultimo. in melbourne, abc southbank centre completed in 1994, , houses radio division in victoria melbourne symphony orchestra.

the abc multimedia unit established in july 1995, manage new abc website (launched in august). funding allocated later year online content, opposed reliance on funding television , radio content. first online election coverage put in 1996, , included news, electorate maps, candidate information , live results.

by 1990s, major abc broadcasting outlets moved 24-hour-a-day operation, while regional radio coverage in australia extended 80 new transmitters. live television broadcasts of selected parliamentary sessions started in 1990. abc newsradio, continuous news network broadcast on parliamentary , news network when parliament not sitting, launched on 5 october 1994.

international television service australia television international established in 1993, while @ same time radio australia increased international reach. reduced funding in 1997 radio australia resulted in staff , programming cuts.

australia television sold 7 network in 1998, service continued show abc news , current affairs programming until closure in 2001. abc s television operation joined radio , online divisions @ corporation s ultimo headquarters in 2000.

2000s

in 2001, digital television commenced after 4 years of preparation. in readiness, abc had digitised production, post-production , transmission facilities – heralded @ time greatest advance in television technology since introduction of colour . first programmes produced in widescreen drama series in air, grass roots , in mind of architect.

at same time, abc s multimedia division renamed abc new media , becoming output division of abc alongside television , radio. legislation allowed abc provide multichannels – additional, digital-only, television services managed new media division. after introduction of digital television in 2001, fly tv , abc kids channel launched, showing mix of programming aimed @ teenagers , children.

in 2002, abc launched abc asia pacific – replacement defunct australia television international operated 7 network. predecessor, , companion radio network radio australia, service provided mix of programming targeted @ audiences throughout asia-pacific region. funding cuts in 2003 led closure of fly tv , abc kids channel.

the abc launched digital radio service, abc dig, in november 2002, available though internet , digital television, not available through other terrestrial broadcast until dab+ became available in 2009.

abc2 launched on 7 march 2005

abc2, second attempt @ digital-only television channel, launched on 7 march 2005. unlike predecessors new service not dependent on government funding, instead running on budget of a$3 million per year. minister communications helen coonan inaugurated channel @ parliament house 3 days later. genre restrictions limiting types of programming channel carry lifted in october 2006 – abc2 henceforth able carry programming classified comedy, drama, national news, sport , entertainment.

a high incidence of breast cancer in female staff working @ abc s offices in brisbane led closure of site, based in toowong, on 21 december 2006. sixteen women diagnosed disease in period spanning 1994 2007. progress report released in march 2007 independent panel formed investigate occurrences found rate of occurrence breast cancer rate @ offices eleven times higher elsewhere – after closure of site, abc s brisbane-based television , radio operations moved alternate locations around city, including ten brisbane s studios @ mt coot-tha. abc s managing director, mark scott, announced in august 2007 new studios built on site, following final release of review , scientific investigation panel s report. in january 2012 abc in brisbane moved purpose-built accommodation in south bank.

on 8 february 2008, abc tv rebranded abc1, complementing existing abc2 digital-only channel launched on 7 march 2005. branding added new kids channel had been announced throughout howard government based on winning 2007 election left 2009 rudd government budget abc3 funded , announced in june. new online video-on-demand service launched in july of same year, titled abc iview, , abc launched digital radio broadcasts in same month.

2010s

abc news 24 launched on 22 july 2010, , brought both new programming content collaboration of existing news , current affair productions , resources. abc launched 24-hour news channel both complement existing 24-hour abc news radio service , compete commercial offerings on cable tv. became abc s fifth domestic tv channel , fourth launched within past 10 years.

on 20 july 2014, abc1 reverted original name of abc.

in 2014 abc ran first mental week focusing on improving awareness of mental health issues, part of mental health week.

in december 2015 announced former google executive michelle guthrie take on managing director mark scott, retire in april 2016.