History Creator / AustralianBroadcastingCorporation

Not to be confused with [[Creator/{{ABC}} the similarly-named American TV network]]. or ''TheABCMurders''.

The ABC is currently coming third in TV ratings. The three commercial networks each had higher viewership than the ABC for years until it overtook Creator/NetworkTen in mid-2012.[[note]]''The Late Show'' even lampshaded this with a parody of the Creator/NineNetwork's "Still The One" promotion, with the slogan 'We're still number four!'[[/note]] Specifically because it doesn't worry about ratings, the ABC takes care of a lot of public remit programming ranging from indigenous programming and religious shows to sessions of Parliament and current-affairs shows to hours and hours' worth of kids' shows. As a result, it holds a special place in many Aussies' hearts. Its news and current-affairs service makes the commercial networks look like amateurs. Its dedication to children's television means that millions of Aussies grew up in front of the ABC. Its production of a variety of esoteric programmes (''Collectors'', ''Gardening Australia'', ''Rage'', ''Series/MediaWatch'', and ''Message Stick'') would not have even run, let alone become successful, on Aussie commercial TV. This all makes it essentially a showcase of Australian television production. It also has a ''lot'' of British programming... possibly more than a lot of channels in Britain.

The ABC is currently coming third in TV ratings. The three commercial networks each had higher viewership than the ABC for years until it overtook Creator/NetworkTen in mid-2012.[[note]]''The Late Show'' even lampshaded this with a parody of the Creator/NineNetwork's "Still The One" promotion, with the slogan 'We're still number four!'[[/note]] Specifically because it doesn't worry about ratings, the ABC takes care of a lot of public remit programming ranging from indigenous programming and religious shows to sessions of Parliament and current-affairs shows to hours and hours worth of kids' shows. As a result, it holds a special place in many Aussies' hearts. Its news and current-affairs service makes the commercial networks look like amateurs. Its dedication to children's television means that millions of Aussies grew up in front of the ABC. Its production of a variety of esoteric programmes (''Collectors'', ''Gardening Australia'', ''Rage'', ''Series/MediaWatch'', and ''Message Stick'') would not have even run, let alone become successful, on Aussie commercial TV. This all makes it essentially a showcase of Australian television production. It also has a ''lot'' of British programming... possibly more than a lot of channels in Britain.

* ABC Local Radio (its' programming is actually divided between local, statewide and nationwide)

The '''Australian Broadcasting Corporation''' is the oldest national TV service in Australia. It originally began as the Australian Broadcasting Commission, a national public radio service that tried to be like the Creator/TheBBC.[[note]]Some Aussies even call the ABC "Auntie", as Brits do the Beeb[[/note]] Since its inception on 1 July 1932, the ABC has always tried to bring the same service to all Australians, first on radio and later on TV. Not an easy task, considering how remote every town and city is. However, it has paid off -- it is currently the only national radio service, and has consistently maintained its position as Australia's most trusted media service.

The '''Australian Broadcasting Corporation''' is the oldest national TV service in Australia. It originally began as the Australian Broadcasting Company, a national public radio service that tried to be like the Creator/TheBBC.[[note]]Some Aussies even call the ABC "Auntie", as Brits do the Beeb[[/note]] Since its inception on 1 July 1932, the ABC has always tried to bring the same service to all Australians, first on radio and later on TV. Not an easy task, considering how remote every town and city is. However, it has paid off -- it is currently the only national radio service, and has consistently maintained its position as Australia's most trusted media service.

Of course, it's not all nice and fuzzy. Ever since Australia got rid of the license fee (we had a license fee?), the ABC's budget has been depressingly meagre, meaning that while it provides a wide range of Aussie programming, many TV shows can afford little more than sets and people -- so be prepared for any ABC comedy or light-entertainment show to joke about this. Also, because many of its shows (especially comedies) push the envelope and are often offensive, it receives the ire of many conservative groups complaining about how their taxes are paying for filth. Many conservative Aussies also complain that the ABC also has a bias toward the Labor Party. The fact that former ABC newsreader Maxine [=McKew=] is now a Labor politician (and represented former Liberal[[note]]In Australia the Liberal Party represents the right and the Labor Party represents the left.'[[/note]] Prime Minister John Howard's Division of Bennelong from 2007-2010, no less) doesn't help this perception.

Of course, it's not all nice and fuzzy. Ever since Australia got rid of the license fee (we had a license fee?), the ABC's budget has been depressingly meagre, meaning that while it provides a wide range of Aussie programming, many TV shows can afford little more than sets and people -- so be prepared for any ABC comedy or light-entertainment show to joke about this. Also, because many of its shows (especially comedies) push the envelope and are often offensive, it receives the ire of many conservative groups complaining about how their taxes are paying for filth. Many conservative Aussies also complain that the ABC also has a bias toward the Labor Party. The fact that former ABC newsreader Maxine [=McKew=] is now a Labor politician (and represented former Liberal Prime Minister John Howard's Division of Bennelong from 2007-2010, no less) doesn't help this perception.

The '''Australian Broadcasting Corporation''' originally began as the Australian Broadcasting Company, a national public radio service that tried to be like the Creator/TheBBC.[[note]]Some Aussies even call the ABC "Auntie", as Brits do the Beeb[[/note]] Since its inception on 1 July 1932, the ABC has always tried to bring the same service to all Australians, first on radio and later on TV. Not an easy task, considering how remote every town and city is. However, it has paid off -- it is currently the only national radio service, and was the first national TV service established in Australia. It has also consistently maintained its position as Australia's most trusted media service.

-->--ABC Charter

The '''Australian Broadcasting Corporation''' originally began as the Australian Broadcasting Company, a national public radio service that tried to be like the Creator/TheBBC.[[note]]Some Aussies even call the ABC "Auntie", as Brits do the Beeb[[/note]] Since its inception on 1 July 1932, the ABC has always tried to bring the same service to all Australians, first on radio and later on TV. Not an easy task, considering how remote every town and city is. However, it has paid off -- it is currently the only national radio service, and was the first national TV service established in Australia.

The '''Australian Broadcasting Corporation''' originally began as the Australian Broadcasting Company, a national public radio service that tried to be like the Creator/TheBBC[[note]]Some Aussies even call the ABC "Auntie", as Brits do the Beeb[/note]]. Since its inception on 1 July 1932, the ABC has always tried to bring the same service to all Australians, first on radio and later on TV. Not an easy task, considering how remote every town and city is. However, it has paid off -- it is currently the only national radio service, and was the first national TV service established in Australia.

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/abctv_channel_logos_5528.gif]]
[[caption-width-right:300:There's more to ''Television''... [[note]](previous [=ABC1=] Branding)[[/note]] ]]

The '''Australian Broadcasting Corporation''' originally began as the Australian Broadcasting Company, a national public radio service that tried to be like the Creator/TheBBC[[hottip:*:[-Some Aussies even call the ABC "Auntie", as Brits do the Beeb-] ]]. Since its inception on 1 July 1932, the ABC has always tried to bring the same service to all Australians, first on radio and later on TV. Not an easy task, considering how remote every town and city is. However, it has paid off -- it is currently the only national radio service, and was the first national TV service established in Australia.

!!!The ABC broadcasts four different television channels altogether:
* '''[=ABC1=]''', formerly simply known as '''ABCTV''': the original channel.

* Two defunct channels are '''ABC Kids''' and '''Fly TV''': both children's channels, which aired from 2001 to 2003. Have now effectively been replaced by the ABC 4 Kids block and [=ABC3=], respectively.

* ''ShaunMicallefsMadAsHell''

* ''SpicksAndSpecks''

The ABC is currently coming third in TV ratings. The three commercial networks each had higher viewership than the ABC until it overtook Creator/NetworkTen in mid-2012.[[note]]''The Late Show'' even lampshaded this with a parody of the Creator/NineNetwork's "Still The One" promotion, with the slogan 'We're still number four!'[[/note]] Specifically because it doesn't worry about ratings, the ABC takes care of a lot of public remit programming ranging from indigenous programming and religious shows to sessions of Parliament and current-affairs shows to hours and hours worth of kids' shows. As a result, it holds a special place in many Aussies' hearts. Its news and current-affairs service makes the commercial networks look like amateurs. Its dedication to children's television means that millions of Aussies grew up in front of the ABC. Its production of a variety of esoteric programmes (''Collectors'', ''Gardening Australia'', ''Rage'', ''Series/MediaWatch'', and ''Message Stick'') would not have even run, let alone become successful, on Aussie commercial TV. This all makes it essentially a showcase of Australian television production. It also has a ''lot'' of British programming... possibly more than a lot of channels in Britain.

In mid-2012 the ABC overtook Creator/NetworkTen, and is currently coming third in TV ratings. Until that point, the three commercial networks had always got more viewers than the ABC, with the other public broadcaster Creator/{{SBS}} trailing behind.[[note]]''The Late Show'' even lampshaded this with a parody of the Creator/NineNetwork's "Still The One" promotion, with the slogan 'We're still number four!'[[/note]] Specifically because it doesn't worry about ratings, the ABC takes care of a lot of public remit programming ranging from indigenous programming and religious shows to sessions of Parliament and current-affairs shows to hours and hours worth of kids' shows. As a result, it holds a special place in many Aussies' hearts. Its news and current-affairs service makes the commercial networks look like amateurs. Its dedication to children's television means that millions of Aussies grew up in front of the ABC. Its production of a variety of esoteric programmes (''Collectors'', ''Gardening Australia'', ''Rage'', ''Series/MediaWatch'', and ''Message Stick'') would not have even run, let alone become successful, on Aussie commercial TV. This all makes it essentially a showcase of Australian television production. It also has a ''lot'' of British programming... possibly more than a lot of channels in Britain.

[[quoteright:200:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/200px-ABClogo.png]]
[[caption-width-right:200:There's more to ''Television''... [[hottip:*:(previous [=ABC1=] Branding)]] ]]

->"''We're still number four!\\
We're still number four!\\
Even Creator/{{SBS}} are knocking at the door!''"
-->--'''''The Late Show'''''

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation originally began as the Australian Broadcasting Company, a national public radio service that tried to be like the Creator/TheBBC[[hottip:*:[-Some Aussies even call the ABC "Auntie", as Brits do the Beeb-] ]]. Since its inception on 1 July 1932, the ABC has always tried to bring the same service to all Australians, first on radio and later on TV. Not an easy task, considering how remote every town and city is. However, it has paid off -- it is currently the only national radio service, and was the first national TV service established in Australia.

In mid-2012 the ABC overtook Creator/NetworkTen, and is currently coming third in TV ratings. Until that point, the ABC had always come fourth in TV ratings after the three commercial networks (''The Late Show'' even lampshaded this with a parody of the Creator/NineNetwork's "Still The One" promotion, as quoted at the top of this page). Specifically because it doesn't worry about ratings, it takes care of a lot of public remit programming ranging from indigenous programming and religious shows to sessions of Parliament and current-affairs shows to hours and hours worth of kids' shows. As a result, it holds a special place in many Aussies' hearts. Its news and current-affairs service makes the commercial networks look like amateurs. Its dedication to children's television means that millions of Aussies grew up in front of the ABC. Its production of a variety of esoteric programmes (''Collectors'', ''Gardening Australia'', ''Rage'', ''Series/MediaWatch'', and ''Message Stick'') would not have even run, let alone become successful, on Aussie commercial TV. This all makes it essentially a showcase of Australian television production. It also has a ''lot'' of British programming... possibly more than a lot of channels in Britain.

* ''AngryBoys''

* ''BlueWaterHigh''

* ''{{Frontline}}''

* ''TheGruenTransfer''
* ''TheHollowmen''
* ''KathAndKim'' (Ended up {{Channel Hop}}ping to Creator/SevenNetwork)

* ''FeralTV''

* ''TheFerals''

* ABC Local Radio (its'programming is actually divided between local, statewide and nationwide)

* ''GoodNewsWeek'' ({{Channel Hop}}ped to NetworkTen in 1999)

* ''KathAndKim'' (Ended up {{Channel Hop}}ping to SevenNetwork)

* Anything that originated on {{ABC3}}