Unlike Channel Nine last year [1], ABC Television are spot on when they claim to be fifty years old…in fact, they are correct to the day.
On the 5th of November 1956, ABN-2 (see, the GST was coming all the way back in the 50s!) started broadcasting, and Robert Menzies (hence “Bob Commences”) said a few words to start the broadcast (well, it was near the start). The Sydney television station started up a mere 13 days before its Melbourne counterpart ABV-2 began, just in time for the Melbourne Olympic Games.
Tonight at 8:30, ABC Television are running a special “50 Years of ABC Television” broadcast, and tomorrow will be running the first of a two part series on “50 Years of ABC Television News”.
The ABC have been nice enough to put their opening blooper show broadcast online, which can be viewed by clicking here for Windows Media [2] Format and here for MPEG4 [3] format.
So, happy birthday ABC Television…and considering one of your more famous “Aunty” shows, I think the following song is in order!
For she’s a jolly good fellow, for she’s a jolly good fellow
For she’s a jolly good fellow (pause), and so say all of us
And so say all of us, and so say all of us
For she’s a jolly good fellow, for she’s a jolly good fellow
For she’s a jolly good fellow (pause), and so say all of us
Samuel