Omari Gates
The introduction of television to Australia in 1956 was a significant moment in the country's history, marking the start of a new era in news and entertainment. With the first words on Australian television, Good evening and welcome to television, Bruce Gyngell ushered in a new medium that would soon become a fixture in households across the nation. Over the years, television in Australia has undergone numerous transformations, from the early experimental broadcasts in the 1920s and 1930s to the widespread adoption of colour television in the 1970s and the eventual transition to digital and high-definition viewing in the early 2000s. The evolution of TV in Australia has been characterised by technological advancements, the emergence of local and commercial networks, and the ongoing competition between Australian-made and imported programming.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Launch of Australian television | 16 September 1956 |
| First words on Australian television | "Good evening and welcome to television", by Bruce Gyngell |
| Number of television sets in 1956 | <100,000 |
| Number of television sets today | >18 million |
| Introduction of colour television | 1975 |
| Launch of subscription television | Mid-1990s |
| Introduction of digital television | 2001 |
| Launch of Australia's first Indigenous-owned commercial television service | 2 January 1988 |
| Dominance of imported content | 80% of Australian TV content was imported from the US in the early 1960s |
| Local content production challenges | High costs, limited technical resources, competition from US and UK productions |
| Experimental television broadcasts | As early as 1929 in Melbourne |
| Transition to widescreen and high-definition | Early 2000s |
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What You'll Learn
The introduction of television to Australia
The Menzies Government had formally announced the introduction of a new two-tiered TV system in 1954, with a government-funded service run by the ABC and two commercial services in Sydney and Melbourne. The 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne was a significant factor in the introduction of television to Australia. TCN-9 Sydney began test transmissions on 16 September 1956 and officially commenced broadcasting on 27 October. HSV7 Melbourne became the first television station to broadcast to viewers in Melbourne on 4 November, soon followed by ABN-2 and GTV9 in November and January 1957, respectively. All these stations were operational in time for the 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics opening ceremony on 22 November 1956.
In the early years of Australian television, the majority of content was imported from the United States and, to a lesser extent, Great Britain. Local Australian producers struggled to compete with the high budgets and international talent of American and British programmes. As a result, by the early 1960s, at least 80% of Australian TV content was American, and American shows consistently topped the ratings.
The establishment of the Sydney-Melbourne co-axial cable link in 1962 marked the first step towards effective national networking for Australian TV stations. This cable enabled the simultaneous live broadcast of the 5th test of the 1962-63 Ashes series to Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne, a significant milestone in Australian television history. The introduction of satellite broadcasting in the late 1960s further expanded the reach of television, allowing news and programmes to be accessed from around the world.
The 1990s saw a boom in Australian-made drama and comedy programs, and the establishment of the Commercial Television Production Fund by the Federal Government further supported the development of high-quality Australian programming. The introduction of aggregation in regional television during this decade also brought greater variety to viewers, with two or three stations now available in these areas.
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The impact of imported programming
Television was introduced to Australia in 1956, in time for the country's first Olympic Games in Melbourne. The first words on Australian television were uttered by Bruce Gyngell on 16 September 1956: "Good evening and welcome to television".
In the early years of Australian television, the majority of content was imported from the United States, and to a lesser extent, Great Britain. This was due in part to the high costs and technical difficulties associated with producing and distributing local content. The few locally produced programs that were made were often low-cost copies of popular American formats. As a result, Australian TV became dominated by American and British programming, with high budgets, international talent, and huge economies of scale.
By the early 1960s, at least 80% of all Australian TV content was sourced from the US, and American programs consistently topped the ratings. This led to a significant concentration of cross-media ownership, with American producers and networks offering Australian channels discounted rates on bundled programming. The challenges for Australian producers trying to break into the industry were further exacerbated by the technical limitations of the time. Videotape technology was still in its infancy, and video recorders did not become widely available to Australian TV stations until the 1960s. As a result, the majority of local programming was broadcast live-to-air, and very little content from these early years was recorded, with much of that material now lost or destroyed.
Despite these challenges, local programs over the years have included a broad range of comedy, sport, drama series, news, and current affairs.
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The development of local content
However, local content gradually began to emerge and gain traction. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) played a significant role in producing and broadcasting local programs, including a range of comedy, sports, drama series, news, and current affairs. The introduction of television in 1956 also coincided with Australia's first Olympic Games in Melbourne in the same year, providing a significant platform for local programming and broadcasting.
In the early years of Australian television, the majority of local content was broadcast live-to-air due to the limitations of videotape technology. The kinescope process, which involved filming broadcasts with a movie camera, was the only available method for capturing TV programs. This meant that very little local programming from the early years of Australian television was recorded, and much of that material has since been lost or destroyed.
Despite these challenges, efforts were made to promote local production. In 1964, the federal government licensed a third station in major cities, beginning with Channel 0 in Melbourne and Channel 10 in Sydney. These stations later joined forces to create Australia's third commercial network, known as the Independent Television System (ITS) or the 0–10 Network, now called Network 10. This network took an early lead in catering to teenage viewers and became prominent in pop music programming.
Over time, Australian television has continued to evolve, with the introduction of colour television in 1975, subscription television in the mid-1990s, and digital terrestrial television in 2001. These technological advancements have provided new opportunities for local content development and distribution. Additionally, the launch of Australia's first Indigenous-owned commercial television service, Imparja, in 1988, further contributed to the diversity of local content in Australia.
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The transition to colour television
Colour television was introduced in Australia on 1 March 1975, nearly a decade after it had been introduced in most other countries. The Australian government had declared that by March 1975, all Australian television stations would be converted to colour. This shift was expected to cost ABC approximately $46 million and the commercial networks approximately $70 million.
The journey to 1975’s ‘C-day’, as it was known, started many years earlier. Colour television equipment manufacturers visited Australia to demonstrate their products as early as 1962–63. An interview with Prime Minister Robert Menzies at Sydney Showgrounds was captured by EMI colour cameras.
There were several reasons for the delay in the introduction of colour television in Australia. One of the biggest considerations for the government was tariff protection on the manufacture of colour television sets. The Australian broadcast and manufacturing industries, along with the Postmaster-General’s Department, were also researching the most suitable colour standard for Australia. The Postmaster-General, Alan Hulme, advised caution in 1966, stating that the experience of overseas countries with colour television suggested a cautious approach was best. It wasn't until 27 February 1969 that the Postmaster-General announced PAL as the Australian colour standard, citing greater colour stability and better results under poor reception conditions as deciding factors.
In the lead-up to C-day, television stations did conduct colour testing, but only those with colour-enabled sets would have seen them. Some stations had already installed colour-compatible equipment, but it took some time for every TV channel to make the switch.
The introduction of colour television in Australia was a huge step forward for broadcast media and a watershed moment in the industry's history. Within five years of the launch, almost 80% of Australian homes had a colour TV.
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The rise of digital television
The planning for digital terrestrial television in Australia can be traced back to 1993, when a group of specialists was formed to investigate potential options and policies relating to digital television. The initial plan was for digital television to be introduced on 1 May 2000, coinciding with the Olympics. However, it was later postponed, and digital television services were officially launched on 1 January 2001 in the country's five largest capital cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. This introduction brought about enhancements in picture and sound quality, as well as the introduction of datacasting and multi-view services.
The transition to digital television in Australia was gradual, with the free-to-air digital television platform being promoted under the Freeview brand name from 2009 onwards. By 2010, 75% of Australian households had made the switch to digital TV, and the analogue transmissions began to be phased out. This phase-out was completed by 10 December 2013, with the shutdown of analogue television services in various regions across Australia.
The introduction of digital multi-channels disrupted the business model of commercial television, leading to audience fragmentation and a decline in investment in scripted content. However, it also brought about new support mechanisms for local programs and adjustments to funding practices for children's live-action drama.
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Frequently asked questions
Television was introduced in Australia on 16 September 1956, in time for the country's first Olympic Games in Melbourne.
Television quickly became the nation's most influential news and entertainment medium. Local programs included a broad range of comedy, sports, drama series, news, and current affairs.
Television led to a significant concentration of cross-media ownership. The introduction of television also resulted in a shift from radio to television, with local technical and creative professionals in radio struggling to transition to the new medium.
Television technology in Australia has evolved from black-and-white to colour, with colour television being introduced in 1975. The country has also transitioned to digital television, with the turn of the millennium bringing digital terrestrial television to major cities and later expanding to smaller cities and regional areas.
