Australian Broadcasting Commission
ABC
1 July 1932 – 1 July 1983
Renamed Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1983.
National public broadcaster that provided the programmes of the National Broadcasting Service radio stations, the overseas service Radio Australia from 1950 and national television from 1956.
Names over time
- Australian Broadcasting Commission1932–1983
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation1983–present
How it came into existence
Created by the Australian Broadcasting Commission Act 1932 from 1 July 1932, taking over programming of the National Broadcasting Service ('A-class') stations from the Australian Broadcasting Company, the private contractor to the Postmaster-General's Department; the transmitters remained with the Postmaster-General's Department.
- Programming of the National Broadcasting Service stations
Legislation: Australian Broadcasting Commission Act 1932; Australian Broadcasting Act 1942 (later the Broadcasting and Television Act 1942)
Changes during its life
- 1942The Australian Broadcasting Act 1942 replaced the 1932 Act and continued the Commission.
- 5 November 1956Began television broadcasting with ABN-2 Sydney.
- 19 December 1972Broadcasting moved from the Postmaster-General's portfolio to the new Department of the Media.
- 22 December 1975Moved to the Postal and Telecommunications Department (renamed Department of Communications in 1980).
- Overseas shortwave broadcasting (Radio Australia)
Radio Australia passed to the ABC when the Department of Information was abolished.
How it ended
Continued as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation under the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 from 1 July 1983, following the Dix review of the ABC.
Main functions
- National radio broadcasting
- National television broadcasting (from 1956)
- Overseas shortwave service (Radio Australia)
- News and current affairs
- Symphony orchestras and concert presentation
Where it sits
Last in the portfolio of Department of Communications.
Lineage
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