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{{distinguish|Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Australian Broadcasting Company Pty. Ltd.
| logo =
| type = [[Proprietary company|Pty.]] [[Limited company|Ltd.]]▼
| logo_caption =
| foundation = 1924<br />[[Melbourne]]▼
| logo_alt =
| location = [[Australia]]▼
▲| type = [[Proprietary company|Pty.]] [[Limited company|Ltd.]]
| owner = [[Farmers Trading Company|Farmer & Company]]<br />[[J. C. Williamson Limited]]<br />[[J. & N. Tait]]<br />Others▼
| industry =
| successor = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]▼
▲| location = [[Australia]]
| defunct = {{End date|1932|06|30|df=y}}
| fate =
▲| successor = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]
| hq_location_city =
| hq_location_country =
| area_served =
| key_people =
| products =
▲| owner = [[Farmers Trading Company|Farmer & Company]]<br />[[J. C. Williamson Limited]]<br />[[J. & N. Tait]]<br />Others
| num_employees =
| num_employees_year =
| parent =
}}
The '''Australian Broadcasting Company Pty. Ltd.''' was a company founded in Melbourne in 1924 with a capital of £100,000 by a consortium of entertainment interests, notably [[Farmers Trading Company|Farmer & Company]], [[J. C. Williamson Limited]] and [[J. & N. Tait]] to found and operate commercial radio broadcasting stations.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204085872 |title=Radio Broadcasting |newspaper=[[The Age]] |issue=21,458 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=10 January 1924 |access-date=28 November 2017 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Other major shareholders, perhaps later entrants, were [[The Combine (Australian film industry)|Union Theatres Limited]], B & J. Fuller and [[J. Albert & Son]]. Directors were Stuart Doyle, Frank Albert and Sir [[Ben Fuller (producer)|Benjamin Fuller]].<ref name=national/>▼
▲The '''Australian Broadcasting Company Pty. Ltd.''' was a short-lived Australian commercial broadcasting company
== The Sealed Set system ==
In 1924 a new system was introduced, where radio stations were divided into two categories, class A and class B, Each drawing funding in different ways.<ref name="HistoryofAustralianRadio" />
==Licensing==
In 1929 the company won the contract to supply [[radio programme]]s for broadcast on the "A-class" transmitters contracted to the [[Federal Government]]'s National Broadcasting Service.<ref name=national>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article179330017 |title=National Service |newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Brisbane)]] |issue=17,631 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=7 June 1929 |access-date=28 November 2017 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The Royal Commission of 1927 had recommended full nationalisation in the style of the [[BBC]], but the conservative government of the time chose this [[out-sourced]] approach instead. As each of the "A-class" licences expired during 1929 and 1930, the Commonwealth acquired and then maintained the station's transmitters and studios through the [[Postmaster-General's Department]], while the programming was supplied by the Australian Broadcasting Company.<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/ahc/publications/commission/books/linking-a-nation/chapter-9.html |title=Linking a Nation: Australia's Transport and Communications 1788
[[File:Museums Victoria Collections.jpg|thumb|A Broadcasting Listener's Licence (March 30, 1952)]]
The ABC was originally funded through Licence fees which enabled radio programming. Listeners had to purchase a licence to be able to listen to the radio broadcast. From the 1920s to the 1970s, the earnings from these licences were used to finance the production of radio and television services.<ref>{{citation|title=Radio & Television Licensing in Australia in Museums Victoria Collections |first=C. |last=Gay |year=2018 |url=https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/articles/15789 }}</ref>
===
▲In 1924, the ‘open’ system replaced the sealed set scheme. Within this new system were two groups of radio stations, class A and class B. Both drew funding in different ways .<ref>{{citation|title= The History of Australian Radio {{!}} Radio Adelaide|year=2011|url=https://media.adelaide.edu.au/radio/intro/history_OZ-radio.pdf}}</ref>
==
In 1927, a
▲Similar to the sealed set system, class A stations on the ABC gained revenue from licence fees paid by listeners. This also included limited advertising. In 1929, the Australian Government acquired all class A stations that were originally owned and operated by the Postmaster-General’s Department.<ref>{{citation|title= The History of Australian Radio {{!}} Tadio Adelaide|year=2011|url=https://media.adelaide.edu.au/radio/intro/history_OZ-radio.pdf}}</ref> There was originally eight class A stations and most of the time, they aired music. This was done by placing a microphone in front of a hand-wound machine or pianolas. They either were broadcast live from the studio or another place connected to a station by telephone lines. The ABC would broadcast ‘stunts’ to influence the purchasing of licences, which financially benefited the A class stations and equipment shareholders would sell.<ref name="ThisistheABC" />
▲Out of all the stations broadcast by the ABC, station 3LO was the most profitable. Located in Melbourne, Victoria, 3LO was both an A-class and B-class radio station. Licence revenues for the station were immediately returned to the broadcasters after the government removed deductions and fulfilled royalty payments to the AWA. In 1928, a senior colleague working for 3LO estimated that the station was making an annual profit of around AUD 90,000 - in comparison to its initial investment of AUD 11,500.<ref>{{cite book|title=This is the ABC: The Australian Broadcasting Commission, 1932-1983|first=K.S|last=Inglis|year=2006}}</ref> According to Inglis, not all stations did nearly as well as 3LO. 6FW located in Perth wasn’t doing well in 1926. The station was aimed at country people, but the farming families who would hear its programs didn’t resonate with its content. This meant that not many in the WA audience held radio licences. In 1928, the Post Master General’s office had to rescue 6FW by buying its land, renting its premises, and paying staff to keep working. 6FW was the first wireless radio station managed by the Government, due to its lack of succession.<ref name="ThisistheABC" />
===B Class===
Class B was purely funded by advertising, with its first radio station being 2BE Sydney.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Making Radio: A History of Radio in Australia. (3rd ed.).|author=Charley|year=2011}}</ref> According to Jones in 1995, many B-class radio stations struggled. This included 2BE Sydney, which closed down in April 1929 due to its lack of consistent broadcasting.<ref name="Jones 1995">{{Cite book|title=Something in the Air: A History of Radio in Australia|publisher=Kangaroo Press|last=Jones|year=1995}}</ref> 2MK Bathurst followed by closing in December 1930. After inquiries as to why the station had been closed down, the Postmaster General's Department released a statement ensuring it was for the better, saying that
The Postmaster
Following the Department's statement in response to the B class radio stations, the ABC was subject to rules, requiring the company to avoid
Following the disruption to
1929 marked the five-year anniversary of A and B class stations. At the time, 301199 listener licences were held, and twenty radio stations were on air.<ref name="
According to Jones, 40% of listeners were located in Victoria. As the Great Depression began, 14 stations came on the air from 1930-1930, to keep the Australian
In May 1932, the government passed the Australian Broadcasting Commission Act, marking the fourth major change to broadcasting in just ten years.
The contract with the Australian Broadcasting Company expired on 30 June 1932 and thereafter programming for the National Broadcasting Service was provided by the newly established [[Australian Broadcasting Commission]], now the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] which purchased the assets of the earlier ABC.<!--The Australian Broadcasting Company continued as a separate entity, eventually acquiring interests in "B-class" licences, and was prominent in the industry until at least the 1950s.-->
▲In 1927, a royal commission inquiry was started by the Federal Government due to audience dissatisfaction. The outcome was that the Australian Broadcasting Company would provide radio content under the new National Broadcasting Service (NBS).<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
==Radio Stations==
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# 6WF located in Perth, WA<ref>{{citation|title=Year Book 1930 2nd Edition|publisher=Commonwealth Publications Limited Sydney|last=Australian Broadcasting Company Limited|year=1931}}</ref>
Lyons proclaimed his strategic direction for the company, saying its purpose was to provide
▲Lyons proclaimed his strategic direction for the company, saying its purpose was to provide ‘information, entertainment, culture, and gaiety and serve all diversified tastes of the Australian Public.<ref>{{cite book|title=This is the ABC: The Australian Broadcasting Commission, 1932-1983. |first=K.S|last=Inglis|year=2006}}</ref>
The 1932 Opposition Leader, James Scullin also stated the
==Radio Announcers==
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Prior to taking on a managerial role, he was primarily a sports commentator.
===Conrad
[[Conrad Charlton|"Con" Charlton]] was the first Chief Announcer. His two sons, Tony and Michael,
===Mel Morris===
Mel Morris was primarily a sports commentator.<ref name="ABC History
===''Bobby Bluegum''===
''Bobby Bluegum'' was the nom-de-plume of [[Frank Hatherley]]. He was the first children's session presenter.<ref name="ABC History
===Alfred (Alf) Andrew===
Alf Andrew was one of the ABC's first broadcasters. He later broadcast on [[RSN Racing & Sport|3UZ]], [[KIIS 106.5|2UW]] and [[3AK]].<ref name="ABC History
===Rupert Hazell===
Rupert Hazell, a pioneer broadcaster at Melbourne's 3LO, was dismissed in 1926 for producing two [[78 rpm]] (or actually 80 rpm) recordings under the title, "3.O.L. (A Radio Fan's Dream)". These were spoofs on 3LO's contemporary style of broadcasting.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/release/9997571-Rupert-Hazell-3-OL-A-Radio-Fans-Dream-Parts-1-2 | title=Rupert Hazell - 3 O.L. (A Radio Fan's Dream) - Parts 1 & 2 | website=[[Discogs]] }}</ref> Although they were a send-up, ironically they give contemporary listeners an insight into what radio sounded like in its early days.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.
==See also==
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[[Category:Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]
[[Category:Mass media companies established in
[[Category:Australian companies established in
[[Category:Mass media companies disestablished in 1932]]
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