This week, Australian TV turns 50!!
The development of Television started more than 130 years ago with the discovery of Selenium's photoconductive properties by Willoughy Smith in 1873. Over time, inventers such as John Logie Baird and Philo Taylor Farnsworth both demonstrated different ways of transmitting an image from one location to another.
John Logie Baird, in 1926, demonstrated what is considered to be the first true television system by electrically transmitting moving pictures. Just two years later, television broadcasts begun in America, followed by Britian in 1936.
Just a short 30 years after John's demonstration, Bruce Gyngell launched television in Australia with the now famous words "Good evening and welcome to television". This first official broadcast coming from TCN Sydney, 16th Semtember, 1956.
Over the next 15 years, Television was introduced around the nation:
NSW, Queensland and Victoria - 1956 South Australia - 1959 Tasmania - 1960 ACT - 1962 Northern Territory - 1971
From Valves to Diodes, From Black and White to Colour, from Analog to Digital - the last 50 years has been an incredible journey.
Notible dates, facts and figures in Australian television:
Number of Television sets: In 1956: 1% of Sydney Homes 5% of Melbourne Homes In 2006: 99% of Australian Homes have 1 TV 55% of Australian Homes have 2 or more TVs 23% of Australian Homes subscribe to Pay TV
First Sports broadcasts: Pelaco Golf Tournament 1956 Melbourne Olympics November 1956
National Microwave Link: Between Melbourne and Sydney, January 9th, 1959
Notable television programs (50's): In Melbourne Tonight, May 7th, 1957 Pick-A-Box, 1957 Bandstand, November 1958 Six O'Clock Rock, 1959 World of Sport, 1959
Number of Television Stations in operation: 1956 4 1960-1691 10 1961-1962 20 1963-1964 24 1965-1966 39 1967-1968 44 1970-1971 45 1980-1981 50 1990-1991 43 (During the year 3 pairs of commercial television licences were consolidated) 2000-2001 48
Notable television programs (60's): Four Corners, August 19th, 1961 Play School, 1966 Here's Humphrey, 1956 This Day Tonight, April 10th, 1967 Bellbird, 1967 Division 4, 1969
Abolition of paid Television licences: September 18th, 1974
Launch of Colour Television: March 1st, 1975
VCRs made available to the Australian market: Early 1978
Notable television programs (70's): Penthouse Club, 1970 Sesame Street, January 4th, 1971 Matlock Police, Febuary 25th, 1971 Young Talent Time, April 24th, 1971 Hey Hey It's Saturday, October 6th 1971 A Current Affair, November 22nd, 1971 Number 96, March 1972 The Mike Walsh Show, February, 1973 The Price is Right, 1973 The Box, February 11th, 1974 Countdown, November 8th, 1974 Don Lane Show, May 12th, 1975 Eyewitness Newshour, 1975 The Young Doctors, 1976 The Sullivans, 1976 Blankety Blanks, 1977 60 Minutes, February 11th, 1979 Prisoner, February 27th, 1979
Launch of SBS (Special Broadcasting Services) to cater for the non-English speaking population: October 24th, 1980 (United Nations Day)
Notable television programs (80's): Sale Of The Century, July 14th, 1980 Good Morning Australia, March 2nd, 1981 Wheel of Fortune, July 27th, 1981 A Country Practice, November 1981 Sons And Daughters, January 17th, 1982 Perfect Match, January 30th, 1984 Midday with Ray Martin, February 11th, 1985 Neighbours, March 18th, 1985 The Movie Show, 1986 Rage, April 1987 MTV, 1987 Burke's Backyard, September 1987 Home and Away, January 17th, 1988 The Comedy Company, February 16th, 1988 E Street, January 1989 GP, 1989
First Australian Reality TV show: Sylvania Waters, 1992
Pay TV launched in Australia: October 1st, 1992
Community Television begins broadcasting in Australia: Channel 31 (Melbourne) October 6th, 1994
Notable television programs (90's): Tonight Live, February 1990 Chances, January, 1991 The Simpsons, February 10th, 1991 Healthy, Wealthy and Wise, February 1992 Sylvania Waters, 1992 The Late Show, July 18th, 1992 Sports Tonight, August 30th, 1993 Blue Heelers, February, 1994 Heartbreak High, February 1994 Fire, 1995 Halifax fp, 1995 Water Rats, 1996 Friends, 1996 South Park, 1997 The Panel, 1998 SeaChange, 1998
Digital TV launched in Australia: January 1st, 2002
Happy Birthday Australian TV, and here's to another fine 50 years!!
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