Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, known as "the ABC",[2] is Australia's national public broadcaster. It has a yearly budget of A$1.18 billion.[3] The ABC provides television, radio, online and mobile information services throughout Australia, as well as overseas through the ABC Australia and Radio Australia.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
TypeBroadcast
radio
television
online and mobile
Country
Australia
AvailabilityNationwide
SloganYours[1]
OwnerAustralian government
Launch date
13 November 1923
(radio)
1 July 1932
(incorporation)
5 November 1956
(television)
1995
(online)
1 January 2001
(digital TV)
2009
(digital radio)
Former names
Australian Broadcasting Company (1923–1932)
Australian Broadcasting Commission (1932–1983)
Picture format
576i (SDTV)
720p (HDTV)
CallsignsABC
Callsign meaning
Australian
Broadcasting
Corporation
Official website
www.abc.net.au

It began in 1929 as The Australian Broadcasting Company. It became a government owned corporation on 1 July 1932, called the Australian Broadcasting Commission. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983[4] changed the name of the organisation to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, from 1 July 1983.[4] Although funded and owned by the government, the ABC remains editorially independent. This independence is part of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983.[4]

Radio

The ABC has 46 local radio stations, four national networks and international service Radio Australia. It also has three digital radio stations.

ABC Local Radio has 46 individual stations, each with a similar format. This format is locally presented light entertainment, news, talkback, music, sport and interviews. It also has some national programs such as AM snd PM (current affairs), The World Today, sporting events and Nightlife.

ABC Radio National broadcasts more than 60 special interest programs every week. These cover a range of topics including music, comedy, book readings, radio dramas, poetry, science, health, the arts, religion, social history and current affairs.

ABC NewsRadio is a continuous news service. It was known as the Parliamentary and News Network. It was set up to broadcast sittings of the Australian Federal Parliament, and to provide a news service at other times. The network broadcasts news on a 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with updates on the quarter-hour. Much of the news content is produced by the ABC itself, however many programs come from the BBC World Service, NPR, Deutsche Welle, Radio Netherlands and CNN Radio.

ABC Classic FM was the ABC's first FM radio service. It was originally called "ABC FM". Its format was based on community stations and BBC Radio 3.

Triple J is a national youth radio network. It plays contemporary alternative and independent music. Its audience is people aged 18–35. While the network plays music from around the world, it has a strong focus on local artists. Triple J was formerly known as "Double Jay" when it launched in Sydney on 19 January 1975.

Television

The ABC operates four TV channels. ABC TV, the Corporation's original television service, receives most of funding for television and shows new comedy, drama, documentaries, and news and current affairs. In each state and territory a local news bulletin is shown at 7.00 p.m. nightly.

In 2001 ABC TV began its digital service.

ABC TV Plus which began in 2005, is a digital-only channel that shows mainly repeated programs from ABC TV. It does have some original content including news programs, children's shows, animation, and music shows.

ABC Me is a children's TV channel which began on 4 December 2009.

ABC News is a 24-hour news channel which began on 22 July 2010.[5][6]

Australian Broadcasting Corporation Media

References

  1. "ABC1 wants to change the way you think!". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 15 January 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  2. "Aunty celebrates 75th birthday in Townsville", ABC News, 16 July 2007, retrieved 24 December 2009
  3. Budget Paper No. 4 2010–2011, Retrieved 3 January 2012 "http://www.budget.gov.au/2010-11/content/bp4/html/bp4_agency_resourcing_4_bcde.htm Archived 2012-01-25 at the Wayback Machine"
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983". Attorney-General's Department. Retrieved 1 October 2007.
  5. "ABC to launch 24hr news channel next week". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 July 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  6. "ABC News 24 will launch on Thursday 22 July". The Spy Report (Media Spy). 13 July 2010. http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/07/13/abc-news-24-will-launch-on-thursday-22-july/. Retrieved 13 July 2010.