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Extract from the ABC’s 27th Annual Report to the
Postmaster-General:
Television
In our last report we mentioned the Commission’s concern that, while necessarily
presenting much material similar in character to that telecast by our commercial
colleagues, we should aim at developing that distinctive role in programme policy and
emphasis which we believe to be obligatory upon a service publicly supported. This
objective has been constantly in mind during the year, and you will note under the
separate headings of our programme divisions later in this report the manner in which we
have attempted to achieve it.
Reference, however, may be made here to our work in live drama, in serious music, in
education for schools and in our emphasis on documentaries and programmes of informational
value. Equally significant is our television news policy, which provides for a full
15-minute bulletin of world and Australian news at the major news periods. We are
confirmed in our view that television news on the National Stations should be no less
comprehensive in coverage and balanced in priority than our radio bulletins, and that
pictorial availability must not be permitted to erode these principles.
Television Technical Services
The installation of equipment in the second main studios in Sydney and Melbourne was
completed early in the year. Each of these studios has three cameras and the lighting is
provided by a motorised batten system designed by the A.B.C.’s officers and
manufactured in Australia.
Film processing and printing equipment was installed in Sydney to assist in the
distribution of telerecordings produced in Sydney and Melbourne to the additional centres
which will have television services next year. Further telecine equipment was ordered also
for Sydney and Melbourne. This will provide for greater flexibility in the transmission of
filmed material, particularly filmed slides, captions and filmed inserts in live
programmes.
Two extra mobile links were added to the equipment available in both Sydney and Melbourne
for securing programme material outside the studios. This made it possible to arrange
outside broadcasts over a much wider area. Outside broadcasts have been a feature of the
A.B.C.’s television service and up to the end of 1958-59 over 1,000 programmes from
cities as far afield as Canberra and Newcastle – had been successfully telecast.
Premises – Sydney and Melbourne
The initial studio buildings on the Gore Hill site in Sydney and the Ripponlea site in
Melbourne were completed. Progress was made with site planning for the future use of the
remainder of these sites for radio and television accommodation.
Source : Twenty-Seventh Annual report of the Australian Broadcasting
Commission, Year Ended June 30, 1959
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