Television.AU – The History of Australian Television

Obituary: Olivia Newton-John

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 16:00:10 +0200

Dame Olivia Newton-John has died from cancer at the age of 73. Born in England in 1948, she came to Australia with her family at the age of six. While still a teenager she became a regular performer on Melbourne television, appearing on shows like The Happy Show, Time For Terry and Go!! and formed …

Obituary: John Tingle

Sat, 06 Aug 2022 09:00:27 +0200

John Tingle, former journalist and politician, has died at the age of 90. His daughter, ABC journalist Laura Tingle, paid tribute to her father on social media: John Saxon Tingle November 2 1931 – August 5 2022 Love you Dadda pic.twitter.com/ELmriRbmgy — Laura Tingle (@latingle) August 5, 2022 John Tingle was born in Sydney in …

A Tale of Two Magazines

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 02:00:06 +0200

In 2002 the biggest battle in the TV landscape wasn’t on screen but was based around duelling TV magazines. For over 20 years, TV Week had a national monopoly on the market, published by Southdown Press (later Pacific Publications) on behalf of a joint venture between it and Australian Consolidated Press (ACP). This arrangement was …

Farewell to Neighbours

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 23:00:22 +0200

Tonight marks the end of an era — after 37 years and 8903 episodes, Neighbours comes to an end. The longest running Australian television drama series. It survived changes of broadcasters in both Australia and the United Kingdom, created international stars, provided a rite of passage for many in the industry, boosted tourism and migration …

Classic TV Guides: Nothing on TV!

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 23:00:46 +0200

Back in the day, electricity restrictions triggered by industrial action were an occasional feature of life in Victoria. Various measures were applied to domestic, business and industrial premises to stem the widespread use of electricity to ensure the demand did not exceed the instantly limited supply. Among the measures applied to cut back household power …

The Late Show at 30

Sun, 17 Jul 2022 23:00:35 +0200

It is 30 years since ABC‘s The Late Show made late Saturday night TV worth watching with its mix of live and pre-recorded sketches as it mocked politics, TV, films, advertising, sport, pop culture and some of our social mores. Debuting on 18 July 1992, The Late Show featured many cast members from the D-Generation‘s …

TV At 60: TV comes to regional Queensland

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 23:00:51 +0200

As Stage Three of the rollout of television in Australia continues in the early 1960s, Queensland’s Darling Downs region became the state’s first to get a local station. DDQ10, operating from studios in Toowoomba and transmitting from Mount Mowbullan, made its debut on Friday 13 July 1962. Shareholders in the channel, owned by Darling Downs …

Neighbours: Ten finale, ABC special

Sat, 02 Jul 2022 09:00:17 +0200

Network Ten has announced the schedule for the final week of Neighbours — bringing the long-running series to an end after 8903 episodes. Production for the series wound up last month after producer Fremantle cancelled the show in March, following the withdrawal of financial support from UK broadcaster Channel 5. In Australia, the series will …

ABC’s 50th Anniversary — and 1915

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 23:00:52 +0200

This week, ABC celebrates its 90th anniversary. Sure enough, 40 years ago was ABC’s 50th anniversary. Like it is this week, in 1982 the national broadcaster had a number of special projects to mark the occasion. For its 50th, ABC’s major television production was a mini-series, 1915, a dramatised version of the novel by Roger …

Today celebrates 40 years

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 23:00:25 +0200

The Nine Network‘s Today is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a look back at the news, events, special guests, road trips and bloopers that have featured over that time. The week-long celebration culminates in a special edition on Friday 1 July, which will feature some of the show’s past presenters and will appear in front …

Obituary: Carol Raye

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 22:00:11 +0200

Carol Raye, former television producer and performer, has died at the age of 99. British-born Raye had a successful career in British film and television in the 1940s and ’50s. In the early 1960s, her husband’s work took the family to Kenya and Raye ended up working as a producer for the Kenya Broadcasting …

The 62nd TV Week Logie Awards

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 12:00:30 +0200

After three years, the TV Week Logie Awards made their return, culminating with Hamish Blake winning the Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality On Australian Television. For Blake, host of Nine’s Lego Masters, it was his second Gold Logie, having won the first in 2012. In winning the Gold, he had beaten fellow nominees Julia …

TV Week Logie Awards: 10 years ago

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 03:00:21 +0200

Comedian Hamish Blake was awarded the Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television at the 54th annual TV Week Logie Awards. He had polled ahead of Adam Hills, Asher Keddie, Carrie Bickmore, Esther Anderson and Karl Stefanovic — with the short-listed nominees subject to an SMS vote that closed just as the Logies …

TV Week Logie Awards: 25 years ago

Sat, 18 Jun 2022 03:00:58 +0200

Blue Heelers star Lisa McCune won the Gold Logie at the 29th annual TV Week Logie Awards. The presentation, on Sunday 18 May 1997, was hosted by Daryl Somers and held at Melbourne’s new Crown Entertainment Complex. The venue would go on to host the Logies for the following 20 years. The Gold Logie was …

TV Week Logie Awards: 50 years ago

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 03:00:04 +0200

Division 4 star Gerard Kennedy won the Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television at the 14th annual TV Week Logie Awards. The awards were held at Melbourne’s Southern Cross Hotel on 18 February 1972 and hosted by Bert Newton. The Nine Network telecast was shown live to Sydney and Melbourne and for …

Obituary: Tommy Dysart

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 11:00:38 +0200

Actor Tommy Dysart, best known from Prisoner and the Yellow Pages “Goggomobil” commercials, has died at the age of 86. One of the first students enrolled at the National Institute Of Dramatic Art (NIDA) when it opened in 1959, Dysart’s acting career began in theatre. He soon made his television debut with a guest role …

ABC celebrates 90 years

Thu, 26 May 2022 23:00:17 +0200

ABC has announced the special shows that will commemorate its upcoming 90th anniversary. ABC 90 Celebrate! A live two-hour special celebrating ABC’s 90th anniversary. HostsCraig Reucassel, Zan Rowe and Tony Armstrong (pictured) will lead a night filled with festivities, entertainment, and fun. With cast reunions, special guests, and performances from some of Australia’s biggest acts, …

Obituary: Caroline Jones

Sun, 22 May 2022 11:00:30 +0200

Caroline Jones, a veteran of over 50 years at ABC television and radio, died last week following a fall at her Sydney home. She was 84. Raised in the NSW country town of Murrurundi, Jones first joined ABC in Canberra in 1963 as an announcer and the following year became host of magazine program Canberra …

Kath And Kim turns 20

Sun, 15 May 2022 23:00:17 +0200

It’s time to crack open the Bailey’s and put on the Footy Franks, Kath And Kim turns 20 today. The initial series of eight episodes debuted on ABC on 16 May 2002, though the characters and premise of the show was born some years earlier as a series of sketches in Big Girl’s Blouse and …

TV Week Logie Awards — Nominations

Sun, 15 May 2022 06:00:22 +0200

TV Week has announced its nominations for the 62nd TV Week Logie Awards, to be presented at The Star Gold Coast Entertainment Precinct at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on 19 June. Due to the pandemic, this is the first Logies presentation in three years. This year brings in a change to the …