History of Television in Australia. It All Began with a Studio in a Windmill

Bruce Gyngell recreates his introduction to the first regular television service for Sydney residents on TCN-9. [Fair Use, Wikimedia Commons]

Although the first image transmissions occurred as early as the mid-19th century, it was not until 1926 in London that the first television broadcast took place. From then on, individual nations worked to advance this new field, with the United Kingdom and the United States leading the way.

In Australia, as early as 1885, thanks to Telephane, Henry Sutton’s invention, it was possible to watch horse races for the Melbourne Cup. However, the first test transmission did not take place until September 30, 1929. This event, broadcast using the Radiovision system, could be followed in Melbourne at the Menzies Hotel. These broadcasts were repeated several times over the following weeks and then, for 18 months, transmissions, equipment, and images were tested until May 6, 1934, when regular one-hour programs began in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland.

The Wickham Terrace Windmill Broadcasts

The first television broadcasts were conducted by Thomas MB Elliot and Val McDowall, whose station operated from the old windmill on Wickham Terrace in Brisbane. Only 18 television owners were viewers, but by the next year, test transmissions were being conducted in other major cities.

Early programs were limited to still images, news, and silent films. In July 1934, the windmill station was granted a license and assigned the code VK4CM. At that time, licenses were issued by the Australian Broadcasting Commission, established on July 1, 1932, to replace the Australian Broadcasting Company, which had managed radio stations.


The abbreviation ABC became widely used, and to distinguish various broadcasting divisions, a second component was added, such as ABC Radio or ABC TV, while the main institution was popularly referred to as THE AUNTIE.

The Second World War halted television development. Radio programs were more useful and easier to broadcast. It was not until the late 1940s that the Australian government revisited the idea of bringing television into the lives of its citizens.

In 1950, a decision was made to offer national services only in Sydney and commercial ones in Melbourne and Sydney, followed by every capital city where the applicant’s ability to provide the service justified granting a license. However, no action was taken for the next three years. In 1953, a Royal Commission was established to oversee the launch of television.

Green Light for Commercial Broadcasters

Although most countries worldwide were already broadcasting television programs, Australia struggled with the decision. Launch it or not? The Sun-Herald on Sunday, May 9, 1954, published an article titled Recommendation to Protect Children from Television, beginning with: The Royal Commission’s Television Report, released yesterday in Canberra, recommends the establishment of special commissions to oversee children’s and religious television programming interests. It states that censoring Australian “live” programs would be impractical but suggests there should be some authority to prohibit material that may be offensive.

The deliberations continued for another year. ABC had held a license since 1934, but commercial stations were finally granted their first licenses on April 18, 1955. There were only four:

• Herald and Weekly Times (Melbourne)
• General Television Corporation (Melbourne)
• Amalgamated Television Services (Sydney)
• Television Corporation (Sydney).

The licenses were in place, but another year passed before any progress was made. The upcoming 1956 Melbourne Olympics and public pressure accelerated the process. Assistance came from NBC in the U.S., as Australia decided to adopt their commercial television model. Equipment was purchased, and training was conducted.

In July, test transmissions began for two stations: TCN 9 Sydney and HSV 7 Melbourne. The first (known as Channel 9) won the race and began regular broadcasts on September 16 at 7:00 PM. The pioneering program was This is Television, with announcers John Godson and Bruce Gyngell.

The first words spoken on Australian television were by Gyngell: Ladies and gentlemen, good evening and welcome to television! Although the station had started broadcasting, its official opening took place on October 27.

Eleven days later, on September 27, GTV 9 launched its programming, starting at 4:30 PM. Announcer Geoff Corke delighted children with a cartoon and followed with a western for older viewers. Like its predecessor, the station broadcast daily but had its official opening on January 19, 1957.

On November 4, HSV 7 Melbourne officially launched, and the next day at 7:00 PM, the government-owned ABC station ABN2 Sydney began broadcasting. Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies conducted the official opening, announcer Michael Charlton greeted viewers, and James Dibble delivered the news. Although ABN2 did not launch first, ABC became the first to launch a second program, ABN2 Melbourne, on November 19.

Olympic Broadcasts Delighted the World

From November 22 to December 8, 1956, ABC, HSV 7, and GTV 9 made history by broadcasting the Melbourne Olympic Games. This event excited the world more than Australians, as only 5% of households in Melbourne had televisions. In Sydney, this figure was just 1%, totaling 5,000 receivers nationwide. Although radio reigned supreme, the television avalanche shook the world, with shop windows displaying televisions drawing crowds on the streets.

On December 2, ATN 7 Sydney joined the broadcasting scene with programs:

• At Seven On Seven hosted by Howard Craven (current events)
• Sydney Tonight hosted by Keith Walshe (evening show)

The following year saw new stations and debut programs, including:

• The game show Pick-A-Box (ATN7 and GTV9)
• Live broadcasts of Victorian Football League (VFL) matches
• The entertainment program In Melbourne Tonight (May 6, GTV9).

That same year marked the first mergers: TCN 9 combined with HSV 7, and GTV 9 merged with ATN 7.

TV Magazines Enter the Market

Some stations were well-promoted by local newspapers, but GTV 9 faced challenges promoting its programs. To address this, on December 5, 1957, the first issue of the magazine TV-Radio Week was launched in Melbourne. The cover featured station stars Geoff Corke and Val Ruff. The pocket-sized magazine cost a shilling. A year later, GTV 9 Sydney released its edition, and the name was shortened to TV Week.

In the same year, in June, ABC Sydney launched the magazine TV News. In 1959, its name was changed to TV Times, and an edition was introduced in Melbourne.

For the next two decades, TV Week and TV Times competed by organizing various contests, publishing articles about television and its programs, interviewing Australian and international stars, and printing radio and increasingly detailed TV schedules.

Over time, in 1980, the two magazines and a third, TV Guide, merged into a single national publication, TV Week, which, despite some tough moments, is still published today and annually presents the most popular television awards, the TV Week Logie Awards.

Sports and Children`s Programming

Until 1958, Australia’s television stations operated in only two cities: Sydney and Melbourne. Each city had its own programming. Starting January 9, 1959, tests began for simultaneous broadcasts in both cities, and by August, nationwide competition emerged with new stations launching:

• QTQ9 Brisbane (August 16)
• NWS9 Adelaide (September 5)
• TVW7 Perth (October 16)
• ADS7 Adelaide (October 24)
• BTQ7 Brisbane (November 1)

The network of commercial stations grew, but the national broadcaster ABC also kept pace. In Melbourne, the station had two broadcast trucks with three cameras each, successfully covering the Olympics. A year later, the station presented the first-ever Athlete of the Year Award.


Over the years, sports became a hallmark of ABC. Rugby, cricket, and horse racing matches became iconic, but no sport was ignored or left unseen on screen.

Another focus was on the youngest viewers. Children`s programming occupied a significant portion of airtime. The first show, the educational Kindergarten Playtime, launched in 1959, aimed to expand young viewers` experiences by introducing them to the world beyond their own homes.

Another popular and long-running program, lasting 40 years, was Mr Squiggle. The lovable character, reminiscent of Pinocchio with a pencil nose, was created by artist and puppeteer Norman Hetherington. He also provided Mr Squiggle`s voice. The program was based on children’s scribbles sent to the station, which Mr Squiggle transformed into drawings. He also traveled in a rocket named Rocket, had friends like Gus the Snail and Bill the Steam Shovel, and invited popular personalities as assistants.

Television Link for the Davis Cup, Cricket, and Christmas Service

Television quickly gained enthusiasts, which was fuel for the fire for TV manufacturers. Although only Sydney and Melbourne had studios for a long time, by 1959, every major city had its own television station. Within a decade, 95% of households nationwide owned a television.

To attract more viewers, on November 2, 1959, ABC launched its third studio, this time in Brisbane. The station received the code ABQ2, and in 1960, additional stations were established:

• ABW and ABW2 in Perth
• ABT and ABT2 in Hobart
• ABS and ABS2 in Adelaide

In 1962, the capital city, Canberra, welcomed television. ABC launched the channel ABC3.

Both commercial and national ABC stations faced challenges in transmitting news across cities. News bulletins were sent via telex and compiled locally. In December 1960, ABC created a temporary link between Sydney and Melbourne using 16 relays installed on mountain peaks. This allowed viewers to watch live coverage of the Davis Cup, the second cricket test, a Christmas service from St Andrews, and a New Year`s Eve event in Melbourne.

The installation of a coaxial cable in 1962 connected major cities, enabling simultaneous broadcasts of programs and increasing the popularity of videotapes, which allowed recording, copying, and sharing programs and films between states.

Too Little Australia in Australian TV

While Australians eagerly turned on their televisions, high-ranking officials were concerned about the lack of domestic content. Almost everything on existing channels came from the U.S. (97%), with only a few programs produced by ABC.

One of these, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2021, was the news program Four Corners. Its creator, Robert Raymond, was a pioneer of Australian television.

Based on the British Panorama, the program excelled in investigative journalism. Over the years, it received 85 awards, including 62 Walkley Awards for excellence in journalism.

Four Corners premiered on August 19, 1961. A year later, it aired a controversial segment about Aboriginal life in New South Wales. The program became a hallmark of ABC TV, earning the channel its first award, the News and Current Affairs Logie.

In 1963, the Senate Select Committee on the Encouragement of Australian Productions for Television (referred to as the Vincent Committee, after its chairman) recommended reforms in television production.

Although results were slow, changes began. On September 23, 1963, ABC presented the first Australian opera created for television, Fisher’s Ghost, followed by the premiere of the local police drama Homicide on October 20, 1964. The series was produced by HSV 7.

A month later, on November 11, viewers watched the first episode of the comedy series The Mavis Bramston Show, produced by ATN 7. Both series were highly successful and aired for decades. In 1965, the newly established station TEN 10 produced a major spectacle involving 150 performers, TV Spells Magic.

On April 10, 1967, ABC aired the first episode of its evening current affairs program This Day Tonight. The show complemented topics covered in Four Corners and current issues. It had a team of journalist-correspondents, including Gerald Stone, Frank Bennett, Peter Luck, and Eric Hunter. The idea was conceived by Ken Watts, then director of ABC Television, with Bill Peach as the host. Music, sketches, and humorous drawings by Peter Nicholson enriched the program.

While ABC led in producing local programs, every station sought to showcase its own content, such as the series Skippy The Bush Kangaroo, produced by Fauna Productions. It became the first Australian export sold to 128 countries and was broadcast by TCN 9.

The Golden 60s: Satellites and Color

The 1960s were not only marked by new programs but also by the rapid development of television as an institution. TV stations sprang up like mushrooms after rain. Not all could survive as independent studios, so partnerships were formed, creating networks. In July 1960, the first commercial television network, Frank Packer`s Consolidated Press (TCN9 Sydney + GTV9 Melbourne), was established. Two years later, in 1962, two more networks followed: National Television Network (now Nine Network) and Australian Television Network (now Seven Network).


In 1963, ABC launched its first regional stations, and by 1966, the satellite era had arrived. All stations benefited from this innovation, making information sharing easier and increasing global connectivity.

The first satellite broadcast was a televised meeting with the UK, but globally significant broadcasts included the June 6, 1967 transmission from Expo 67 in Montreal and the June 25, 1967 broadcast of Our World, a global event aired simultaneously in 30 countries.

That same year, in June, ATV 0 presented the first color broadcast: a horse race in Pakenham. Unfortunately, it was poorly received since there were no color-capable receivers. Australians had to wait another eight years for color television.

Since 1968, an annual televised fundraiser for needy and sick children, known as Telethon, has aired. This initiative was launched by Perth`s TVW 7, spearheaded by James Cruthers and Brian Treasure. From its inception, one child has annually represented all children treated at Perth Children`s Hospital. Since 2010, these representatives have been called Telethon Little Stars, with the first being Maryanne Lazerides, who underwent open-heart surgery at just 11 months old.

In February 1969, the Australian government announced a switch from the American NTSC system to the European PAL standard for color television.

Morning Shows, Prime-Time, and News Services

Until the late 1960s, televisions were turned on only in the afternoons, with the broadcast day lasting a few hours. This pattern was broken in July 1969, when GTV 9 aired the Apollo 11 Moon landing for 163 uninterrupted hours.

Television became a staple in Australia. While stations in the 1950s were concentrated in the south and east, by the late 1960s, every major city had a TV studio. By 1969, most stations were ready for color broadcasts and testing the system.

On February 15, 1972, the government announced that color television would begin on March 1, 1975. And so it did, with color becoming a permanent feature of all Australian stations.

New programming and longer broadcasts followed in the ensuing years. On October 10, 1970, HSV 7 debuted the Saturday evening show Penthouse Club. Four years later, on November 8, 1974, ABC launched Countdown, and on October 9, 1971, GTV 9 premiered the morning show Hey Hey It’s Saturday.

On March 20, 1972, BTQ 7 Brisbane announced: We’ve launched The Big News, Australia`s first one-hour news bulletin. On May 29, ATN 7 followed suit in Sydney with a program titled Seven National News Hour.

New shows included controversial ones, such as the series Number 96 by the 0-10 Network, airing late at night due to its depiction of a gay couple (1973), and GTV 9 Melbourne’s No Man’s Land, a public affairs program produced and hosted exclusively by women (June 11, 1973).

When color became ubiquitous in 1975, the first fully-colored program was Peter Page’s Color it Music on ABC. Four years later, the same station aired Nationwide, the first national current affairs program broadcast simultaneously across all states.

A Mission Emerges in Public Television

ABC, as the only state-run broadcaster, faced fierce competition. Its strongest rival was Christopher Skase`s Network 7, which in April 1977 won the exclusive broadcasting rights for the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

On January 1, 1978, Prime Minister Fraser’s government established the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), a public broadcaster tasked with providing multilingual and multicultural radio and television services to inform, educate, and entertain all Australians, reflecting Australia’s multicultural society.

Initially overseeing two ethnic radio stations, 2EA and 3EA, SBS expanded to television in March 1979. The Ethnic Television Review Panel recommended test transmissions, which began in April 1979. On Sunday mornings, two stations, ABV-2 Melbourne and ABN-2 Sydney, aired programs in foreign languages. Official full-day programming began on October 24, 1980, at 6:30 PM (United Nations Day), with the ethnic channel named Channel 0/28.

Today, SBS operates six TV channels, seven radio networks, and online TV. It is available nationwide, reaching 8.5% of Australia’s population.

On July 1, 1979, the government mandated that all existing commercial TV stations air "C" category programming for children. ABC had been doing so for years.

The regulation required 30-minute preschool programs before 4:00 PM and one-hour programming for children aged 6–13 between 4:00 and 5:00 PM on weekdays. Since every station already had a children’s section, and programming now spanned morning to evening, it was simply a matter of creating or purchasing content for kids and adjusting schedules.

The Era When "Greed Was Good"

In November of the same year, Australian television faced its first legal challenges, sparked by media mogul Rupert Murdoch, who in 1956 was also the publisher of TV Week.

Murdoch took control of the television station TEN 10 and began efforts to acquire the transport company of station ATV 0 Melbourne. The matter was escalated to the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal, which launched an investigation into media ownership.

One notable aspect of the 1970s was ABC’s resourcefulness. It remains the only public broadcaster in the world to own a retail network. The first store opened in 1974. That same year, with the advent of color broadcasting, ABC enhanced its logo. It was the only station with just a graphic symbol.


Initially, ABC used Lissajous curves with letters inside. In July 1963, a competition was announced for a new logo. The winning design by ABC graphic artist Bill Kennard modernized the old design by removing the letters. The project was described as bold, functional, and in tune with the times. Kennard was paid a remarkable 25 pounds, and the logo was officially introduced on May 1, 1964. It remained in use, with slight modifications, until January 1, 2021, when the letters "TV" were added to the basic design.

As noted on the Australian television website (https://televisionau.com/), the 1980s were described as: The decade when greed was good, and television led the way. Huge sums were spent on lavish productions, massive pay packages, and improved technology and production values, yet Australian television could still not match the glitz of the Americans.

This led to a focus on soap operas. It became standard for networks to produce at least two. Network 7 had Cop Shop and Skyways, Network 9 featured The Sullivans and The Young Doctors, while ABC offered Bellbird and Number 96, as well as a range of youth-oriented series.

However, there were also multimillion-dollar failures. One infamous example was the series Arcade by TEN 10. A replica shopping mall with authentic storefronts and floors was built, auditions were held for 1,500 actors (20 were chosen), and the soundtrack featured Australian music stars. No pilot episode was created, but millions were spent on advertising. The first episode aired on Sunday, January 20, 1980...and flopped. Viewers disliked the show, and its already-low ratings continued to decline over the next six weeks. By late February, the series was canceled, marking a major loss for the station, while the most expensive set became free firewood.

Stereo and 3D in the 1980s

Despite strict oversight by the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal (ABT) over media mergers and acquisitions, in December 1981, Rupert Murdoch`s News Limited acquired ATV 10 after a two-year battle. A year later, he secured the rights to broadcast the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics for $9.2 million. A few years later, Murdoch became the owner of TEN 10, and in February 1987, he sold both companies to Northern Star Holdings for $720 million.

Similar strategies were employed by Network 7, which bought and sold assets to stay competitive. In February 1982, Network 7 joined Network 9 and ABC in investing in new technologies. These three stations conducted test broadcasts in stereo sound.

On April 24, 1983, Australia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time, broadcast on SBS 0/28. Later that year, on October 14, the channel rebranded as Network 0/28 and began broadcasting in Canberra. Two weeks later, Network 7 initiated two-hour experimental 3D broadcasts.

Stations competed to draw viewers to their screens. New themed shows were created, additional series were produced, entertainment programs became more elaborate, and popular presenters were poached. In 1983, ABC introduced teletext services for hearing-impaired viewers, and in 1984, on February 3–4, Network 10 organized the first nationwide Telethon, lasting 26 hours, to raise funds for Australian athletes preparing for the Olympics.

In August 1985, ABC showcased the launch of the AUSSAT satellite, which in October was used to test radio and television broadcasts to remote rural areas.

Despite fierce competition, stations often collaborated. Jointly produced programs were simultaneously aired across all networks. One such show was the four-hour Australia Live, co-produced by ABC, SBS, Network 9, and several regional stations. Its first broadcast was on January 1, 1988.

Television Expands to Regional Areas

The 1990s saw the growth and promotion of regional television. The first regional station launched on May 23, 1960, in Hobart (TVT-6). Over subsequent decades, an average of four regional stations were established annually, relying heavily on programs supplied by metropolitan networks. While they created their own shows, limited funding restricted their scope. In the 1970s, like their urban counterparts, they formed partnerships and networks to reduce operating costs and import expenses. By the 1980s, frequency adjustments were made to enable larger stations to operate more efficiently. Rural Australians did not always have access to their own television stations.

The government introduced a system of aggregation in commercial stations to ensure regional viewers had the same program choices as metropolitan audiences. Most rural areas transitioned from having one local channel to accessing three metropolitan channels. Initially, regional stations protested, fearing revenue loss and reduced production, but the decision was final, and viewers benefitted.

The first region to aggregate was New South Wales, where, from March 31, 1989, residents had access to three channels. WIN Television Wollongong (WIN-4) became affiliated with Nine Network (Nine), The Prime Network joined Seven Network (Seven), and Capital Television Canberra partnered with Network Ten (Ten).

Subsequent regions followed:

• Queensland, December 31, 1990
• Northern New South Wales, December 31, 1991
• Victoria, January 1, 1992
• Tasmania, 1994 (only two stations)

Community Television and Paid Access

The year 1994 brought further changes in media. Community Television emerged, representing citizen media owned and operated by a community group and/or programmed to provide local programming tailored to its broadcast area. Each station operates as a non-profit entity under specific provisions of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992. The Australian Communications & Media Authority`s code of conduct provides additional sector regulations.


In 1984, a community group in Perth applied for a license for such television but was denied. In 1987, RMIT University students in Melbourne established RMITV, the first community station granted a temporary license. On July 31, 1994, the first official community television station, Briz 31, opened in Brisbane. That same year, C31 Melbourne launched, followed by Access 31 in Perth in 1999. These stations broadcast on UHF Channel 31.

In 1993, Australia introduced its first subscription television services. The first license was awarded to Galaxy Television, which launched its first channel, Premier Sports Network, in January 1995. In February, new providers, including Foxtel, Optus Television, and AUSTAR, joined the market.

Meanwhile, ABC moved faster by launching the paid channel Australia Television International in 1993, later selling it to Seven Network after five years. On March 7, 1993, ABC began broadcasting 24/7. Six years later, on December 31, it became the only Australian station to air the international television event 2000 Today, a 26-hour live New Year’s celebration across the globe starting at 8:30 PM.

Producers Couldn`t Keep Up: Digital Revolution Delayed

As the world prepared for the new millennium, TV stations globally, including in Australia, were gearing up to transition to the free-to-air digital system. On January 1, 2001, only five stations—ABC, Seven, Ten, Nine, and SBS—began broadcasting in digital in five Australian cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide. Other stations were mandated to transition by the end of the year. Delays arose as producers failed to supply enough equipment after the government formalized the new standards in late 2000. Analog television was scheduled to end by 2008.

Plans were one thing, reality another. Viewers were hesitant to adopt digital TV. Programs tailored for the new format had low viewership as digital receivers were unavailable. All stations faced this challenge. In 2007, Seven, Ten, and Nine launched special limited-hour HD channels with exclusive programming, while core content remained on analog.

To address this, broadcasters united in 2008 to promote digital TV under the Freeview campaign. The initiative offered a multi-channel, free platform and hardware promotions. Progress was slow until March 2009, when Network 10 launched the 24/7 sports channel OneHD. Sport proved to be a great draw, prompting other stations to target popular audience groups:

• Nine created the music channel GO! for youth (August 9)
• Seven launched 7TWO for entertainment programming (November 1)
• ABC introduced the children’s channel ABC3 (December 4)

Analog shutdowns began in June 2010, starting with the Mildura/Sunraysia region. The process concluded on December 31, 2013.

The Slow Entry into the Digital Era

Although the digital era, now indispensable globally, faced a rocky start in Australia, reality TV and game shows flourished. Big Brother on Ten, which debuted on April 24, 2001, broke viewership records, while Kath and Kim (2002) on ABC became an unexpected hit.

Collaborative efforts also proved popular, such as the January 8, 2005 telethon Australia Unites: Reach Out To Asia, where Seven, Ten, and Nine jointly aired a 3-hour fundraiser for tsunami victims in Asia.

The year 2006 marked Australian TV’s 50th anniversary. In September, Seven and Ten aired special programs to commemorate the occasion, and in November, ABC released a 90-minute feature titled The ABC Of Our Lives.

In April 2007, changes to media ownership laws caused a mini-panic in the market. Several stations changed hands, with figures like James Packer (PBL Media) losing control of their empires.

Aware of challenges introducing new technologies, ABC took incremental steps toward innovation starting in 2006. It introduced video podcasting of TV programs and, in July 2008, launched the ABC Playback website using Flash. In December 2010, ABC released an iOS app for iPads, followed by a mobile version for iPhones in June 2012.

This time, the reception was smooth. Smartphones became increasingly sophisticated, and audiences embraced various apps. On December 18, 2013, ABC launched its iview app for Android phones and tablets, which later expanded to Smart TVs and game consoles. The same year, the first streaming devices, such as Fetch TV, appeared.

Simultaneously, new and increasingly attractive programs were produced. Alongside public affairs shows like Sunday Night on Seven (2009) and the first edition of Masterchef Australia on Ten (2009), ABC launched Australia’s first 24/7 news channel, ABC News 24, on July 22, 2010. Four years later, in October 2014, it introduced the weekly mental health program Mental As.

In 2007, a third national broadcaster, National Indigenous Television (NITV), joined ABC and SBS. Officially under SBS`s management and funding, NITV is produced by Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islanders. NITV debuted on November 1 via Foxtel and Austar satellite services.

Different Concepts, Shared History

Innovative technologies and new programs do not always bring immediate profits. Losses can be so significant that some stations are forced to shut down. In 2012, Network 10 faced a debt of $12.9 million, while Nine Entertainment Co. owed as much as $3 billion. On September 16, 2014, ABC closed its Australia Television channel for the Asia-Pacific region. In December, financial cuts led to the cancellation of several programs.

On November 16, 2017, the American broadcaster CBS officially became the owner of Australia’s Network 10. A year later, on December 7, Nine Entertainment Co. merged with Fairfax Media. Television, much like radio decades earlier, lost audiences to the internet, and the global paralysis caused by COVID-19 hit it particularly hard.


However, Australia became one of the first countries to establish safe guidelines for TV production during the pandemic. Early examples of safe programming included shows like MasterChef Australia and Neighbours.

Australia has five main television networks. The most popular is Seven Network, followed by Nine Network, ABC TV, Network 10, and SBS. These networks are linked with regional stations, which broadcast content from their parent networks but also produce their own programs for national audiences.

Each network operates multiple channels, features unique logos, and boasts both personal and programmatic "screen stars." All networks are accessible on social media and the internet. Although each has its own website, detailed histories of their journeys from inception to the present, along with insights into their programs, challenges, and awards, can be found on a single, unified platform:

The History Of Australian Television
televisionau.com

A Chronology of Australian Television:

• 1885 - First image transmissions in Australia
• 1929, September 30 - First test television broadcast
• 1934, May 6 - First regular television programs
• 1934, July - First license issued to station VK4CM
• 1950 - Initial decisions to launch Australian television
• 1953 - Establishment of the Royal Commission on Television
• 1955, April 18 - First commercial station licenses issued
• 1956, July - Test broadcasts from TCN 9 (Sydney) and HSV 7 (Melbourne)
• 1956, September 16 - TCN 9 begins regular broadcasts
• 1956, November 5 - ABC launches its public service station ABN 2 Sydney
• 1956, November 19 - ABC opens its second channel, ABN 2 Melbourne
• 1957 - First game show, "Pick-A-Box" (ATN 7 and GTV 9)
• 1957, May 6 - First entertainment program, "In Melbourne Tonight" (GTV 9)
• 1957, December 5 - First issue of TV-Radio Week by GTV 9, later renamed TV Week
• 1958 - ABC launches its magazine TV News
• 1959, January 9 - Simultaneous broadcasting begins in two cities
• 1959 - TV News rebrands to TV Times
• 1959 - ABC launches its first children’s program
• 1960 - First commercial television network, Frank Packer’s Consolidated Press (TCN 9 Sydney, GTV 9 Melbourne)
• 1960, May 23 - First regional station, TVT-6 Hobart
• 1961, August 19 - Premiere of "Four Corners," ABC’s longest-running show
• 1962 - Television reaches Canberra
• 1962 - Installation of a coaxial cable connecting major cities
• 1963 - Vincent Commission recommends television reforms
• 1963, September 23 - Premiere of Australia’s first televised opera, "Fisher’s Ghost" (ABC)
• 1964, October 20 - Premiere of Australia’s first TV drama, "Homicide" (HSV 7)
• 1965 - TEN 10 enters the media market with "TV Spells Magic"
• 1966 - Satellites enter the television industry
• 1967 - ATV 0 tests color broadcasts
• 1968 - First nationwide charity event, "Telethon" (TVW 7)
• 1969, July - GTV 9 airs a 163-hour broadcast of the Apollo 11 Moon landing
• 1972, March 20 - First hour-long news bulletin (BTQ 7)
• 1974 - ABC opens its retail network
• 1975, March 1 - Introduction of color television
• 1977, April - Network 7 wins exclusive rights to broadcast the 1980 Moscow Olympics
• 1979, July 1 - Mandatory children’s programs introduced on commercial stations
• 1980 - TV News, TV Week, and TV Guide merge into a national TV Week magazine
• 1980, October 24 - SBS launches as a national ethnic broadcaster
• 1982, February - ABC, Seven, and Nine test stereo programs
• 1983 - ABC introduces teletext
• 1983, April 24 - Australia debuts in the Eurovision Song Contest
• 1983, October - Network 7 tests 3D programming
• 1989, March 31 - Aggregation begins to equalize regional broadcasting
• 1993 - Subscription television services launched
• 1993, March 7 - ABC becomes the first station to broadcast 24/7
• 1994, July - Community television introduced
• 2001, January 1 - Transition to digital broadcasting begins
• 2006 - 50th anniversary of Australian television
• 2007 - Media ownership laws revised
• 2007, November 1 - National Indigenous Television (NITV) launches
• 2008 - Unified Freeview initiative to promote digital TV
• 2008, July - ABC launches the ABC Playback website
• 2009 - First edition of "Masterchef Australia" (Ten)
• 2010, June - First analog TV shutdowns
• 2010, July - ABC News 24 launches as a 24-hour news channel
• 2013, December 31 - Full digital transition completed
• 2017, November 16 - CBS acquires Network 10
• 2019 - COVID-19 disrupts television production
• 2020, January - Australia begins producing "safe programming"

references:

• https://nickplace.me/2013/03/08/other-writing-the-birth-of-tv-in-australia/
• https://televisionau.com/timeline/1950-1959
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_in_Australia
• https://web.archive.org/web/20100107135512/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/50years/didyouknow/firsts.htm
• https://aso.gov.au/titles/tv/kindergarten-playtime/notes/
• https://web.archive.org/web/20100121113207/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/50years/didyouknow/facts.htm
• https://www.flickr.com/photos/abcarchives/4294498224/
• https://televisionau.com/feature-articles/tv-week
• https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21211942/
• https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv
• https://web.archive.org/web/20060828135629/http://www.uws.edu.au/download.php?file_id=14340&filename=1.5mins_30nov05.pdf&mimetype=application/pdf
• https://www.abc.net.au/news/programs/4corners
• https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/46449075
• https://aso.gov.au/titles/series/this-day-tonight/
• https://televisionau.com/this-day-tonight