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!!