RTV Theory and Practice - Special Issue

Ву March 1924, it had become clear that the system of sealeđ sets had faited since only 1400 tistener-licences had been paid for . A new system was then introduced based on A and B class licences: A-class tisteners paid a fee to the government which in turn redistributed this топеу to some stations . B-class operators were asKed to finance their operations from ađvertising revenue atone . The split between what was to become the ABC and the purety commercial broadcasters had been established. One convincing reason behind this move was the fact that no one was realiy interested in broadcasting to rural areas . This could only be solved if the government itself would provide some services for country people . Moreover , the strong British bacKground of тапу intellectuals and politlcians made it almost compulsory for Australia to establish an eguivalent to the BBC . In 1929, the Australian Broadcasting Сотрапу won the tender for supply of programs to a national broadcasting service, and on July 1, 1932, the Australian Broadcasting Commission began to operate , funded by a radio-set licence fee . The commercial operators had already organiseđ a lobby group in 1930 under the name of Australian Federation of Commercial Broadcasting Stations . Legislation governing broadcasting was consolidated in опе single Act., the Australian Broadcasting Act, in 1942 (since 1956 the Australian Broadcasting and Tele'vision Act) . Between 192 3 and 1948 radio broadcasting was under the đirect supervision of the government through the PHG, since 1948 the Australian Broadcasting Control Boarđ (today the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal) is responsible for the running of commercial anđ public broađcasting rađio . THE AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION Over the уеагз , the ABC became a huge operation funded by licences - the ABC carries no advertisements, does, however, strongly advertise its own products, such as tapes and booKs until 1972 when the newly elected Labor government decided to abolish all fees for radio and TV reception . The ABC set up its independent news service in 1946, acguired symphony orchestraa throughout the country , began with TV transmissions in 1956 and eventually became the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1983. Today, it operates 213 radio transmitters 3 9 of which on FM , the rest on AM . In capital cities, the ABC provides two AM programs and one FM program . In country areas exist тапу regional studios which prođuce their own programs (Regional Radio) and re-broadcast the Radio National programs. (One unigue aspect of the ABC charter is the fact that the ABC must broadcast Commonwealth parliamentary debates m full which tends to blocK one station whenever Parliament is sittmg . ) ln Sydney , the ABC is in charge of a special youth station , 2JJJ . Australia-'s international short-wave serv.ce , Radio Australia ,

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