ABC Television (Australian TV network)

ABC Television
Company type	Division of Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Industry	Broadcasting, Television
Founded	November 5, 1956; 70 years ago in Sydney, Australia
Headquarters	Sydney, Australia
Area served	Australia, South-East Asia (via ABC Australia)
Products	Television broadcasting, Digital streaming (ABC iview)
Owner	Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Website	abc.net.au/tv

ABC Television serves as the national broadcasting channel of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Prior to a reorganization in 2017/2018, the term ABC Television also designated a division within the ABC. Initially, it identified the original and long-established national ABC channel, which was later rebranded as ABC1 and subsequently ABC TV.

The Australian public broadcaster commenced its television transmissions in November 1956 through its inaugural station, ABN Sydney, marking the country's second television outlet following the commercial broadcaster TCN. By 1971, ABC had successfully developed a network spanning all Australian states and territories. In 2000, ABC consolidated its television operations with its radio and digital divisions at its Ultimo headquarters in Sydney.

As of 2021, ABC offers five non-commercial channels domestically, led by its primary channel ABC TV. It also operates ABC Australia, a satellite channel aimed at South-East Asia audiences, partially supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade alongside advertising revenue. Regional stations provide localized programming opt-outs, predominantly for evening news segments. ABC Television further extends its accessibility through the streaming and video-on-demand service ABC iview, available via web browsers and mobile applications.

ABC Television ranks among Australia's five principal free-to-air networks.

1950s to 2000

The inception of ABC's television services followed the enactment of the federal Television Act in 1953, which established regulatory guidelines for both public and commercial broadcasters. Over a span of three years, ABC undertook comprehensive planning for a nationwide television service, acquiring land for studios and transmission facilities in Sydney and Melbourne, while also engaging international experts to assist with staff training. The 1956 Annual Report highlighted the objective of delivering “a television service as truly national in character as its resources will permit”.

Commercial broadcaster TCN-9 Sydney commenced operations in September 1956, shortly before ABC’s Sydney station ABN began transmissions on 5 November 1956, officially opened by Prime Minister Robert Menzies at the Gore Hill studios. Melbourne’s ABV launched on 19 November 1956, just in time to cover the 1956 Summer Olympics.

Simultaneously, outside broadcasting capabilities were introduced with the deployment of ABC’s first outside broadcast van—now preserved at the National Museum of Australia. This vehicle was integral to thousands of broadcasts and featured prominently during events such as the 2000 Summer Olympics and Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to the museum site.

The network expanded with ABQ Brisbane starting in November 1959, followed by stations in Perth (ABW), Hobart (ABT), and Adelaide (ABS) throughout 1960. Canberra’s ABC3 began broadcasting in 1962, and Darwin's ABD station launched in August 1971, completing nationwide coverage.

Initially constrained by limited television relay infrastructure, news content was transmitted via teleprinter to each city for local presentation. A dedicated studio facility opened in Sydney in January 1958, replacing temporary accommodations. Major transmitters were installed in Melbourne (1957) and Sydney (1958). By 1961, direct television relays between Sydney and Melbourne replaced earlier microwave links, enabling simultaneous broadcasts across multiple stations. By 1963, programming from Adelaide was broadcast concurrently across eastern capital cities using microwave transmission technology. Nationwide installation of videotape equipment by 1962 enhanced program sharing capabilities.

The network established an operational model combining local programming with national content to cultivate state-based audiences for news and sports coverage. Initially, live sports broadcasts were limited to cities hosting events; however, infrastructure advancements allowed live nationwide broadcasts of test cricket matches by 1970/71.

Colour television was introduced across Australia on 1 March 1975. In 1983, ABC TV incorporated teletext services to provide closed captioning for viewers with hearing impairments. The international channel Australia Television International launched in 1993 but was sold to the Seven Network in 1998; it continued airing ABC News material until ceasing operations in 2001.

Programming

ABC Television was among the pioneers in embracing the rock 'n roll movement in Australia, particularly through Six O'Clock Rock, which featured Johnny O'Keefe as host. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the network maintained its focus on music with programs such as Hitscene, specials showcasing bands like Tully and Max Merritt & The Meteors, and the magazine-format series GTK, broadcast from 1969 until 1975. The renowned rock show Countdown, produced at ABC Melbourne's Ripponlea studios and presented by Molly Meldrum, aired from 1974 through 1987.

The weekly investigative program Four Corners premiered in 1961, followed by the introduction of the weeknight current affairs show This Day Tonight in 1967. In 1989, Aboriginal performers Lillian Crombie and Malcolm Cole became the inaugural co-hosts of Blackout, a program designed specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers.

2000 to present

In 2000, ABC unified its television, radio, and online divisions under one roof at its Ultimo headquarters. The launch of digital terrestrial television on 1 January 2001 coincided with the unveiling of a new metallic three-dimensional logo. Initial digital channels included ABC Kids and Fly TV; however, both were discontinued following budget reductions in 2003. That same year, ABC introduced ABC Asia Pacific (now ABC Australia), offering a range of programming tailored to audiences across the Asia-Pacific region.

To celebrate ABC’s 70th anniversary in 2002, the television logo returned to an earlier "over and under" style, complemented by refreshed idents that highlighted natural themes alongside the slogan Everyone's ABC. By 2003, these idents evolved to emphasize everyday Australians.

On 7 March 2005, ABC2 was launched with an annual budget of $3 million; restrictions on programming genres were lifted in October 2006, enabling a wider variety of content including comedy, drama, news, sports, and entertainment. From May 2006 until early 2008, the ABC Guide aired during off-peak hours on ABC HD and ABC2, providing viewers with program schedules and weather updates.

Prior to the 2007 federal election, government support was given for a dedicated children’s channel—ABC Me—targeting audiences under 15 years old with at least half of its content sourced from Australian productions spanning drama, comedy, animation, and music. Debuting on 4 December 2009, it replaced earlier children’s channels and extended daily broadcasting hours.

On 8 February 2008, the primary channel rebranded as ABC1, complementing ABC2 (which later became ABC TV Plus). By 2009, ABC enhanced its digital offerings nationwide by introducing a seven-day Electronic Program Guide along with updated channel numbering.

In June 2010, ABC HD was discontinued to facilitate the launch of ABC News 24. Simultaneously, playout operations were relocated to a joint facility shared with WIN Television at Ingleburn.

On 20 July 2014, ABC1 reverted to the name "ABC TV," adopting new idents that incorporated the iconic 1975 Lissajous curve logo alongside user-generated content under the hashtag "#OurABC," which was updated to "Yours" in 2018. The high-definition broadcast quality was improved from 720p to 1080i in December 2016.

Between July 2017 and June 2018, ABC underwent a structural reorganisation that merged separate Radio and Television Divisions into functional teams responsible for cross-platform content creation. The Entertainment & Specialist team managed comedy, children’s programming, drama, Indigenous content, music, entertainment, and factual shows; the Specialist team handled arts, science, religion & ethics, and educational material; while Regional & Local focused on regional programming.

The classic ABC logo from 1975 was reinstated in February 2019. Later that year in September, additional ABC Digital Radio channels were introduced as simulcasts on digital television.

In May 2023, ABC announced a significant organisational restructure scheduled to commence in July without detailing potential job impacts.

On 19 May 2025, ABC declared that starting June its Entertains and News channels would transition to HD broadcasting using MPEG-4 technology to enhance picture quality.

National

By 2021, ABC managed five non-commercial television channels broadcast nationally through digital terrestrial television and the free-to-air VAST satellite platform.

LCN	Service	Resolution	Notes
02 and 21	ABC TV	720x576i50	The main ABC channel, previously known as ABC1, showcasing original comedy, drama, documentaries, and news programming.
20	ABC TV HD	1920x1080i50	ABC’s inaugural high-definition broadcast channel.
22	ABC Kids ABC Family	720x576i50	ABC Kids airs preschool content from 5am to 7:30pm. ABC Family, formerly ABC TV Plus, broadcasts family and teen-oriented shows from 7:30pm to 3am.
23	ABC Entertains	1920x1080i50	A general entertainment channel aimed at children aged 6–15, previously branded as ABC3 and ABC Me.
24	ABC News	1920x1080i50	A round-the-clock news service delivering national and state coverage, launched in HD MPEG-4 format in June 2025.
25–29, 200–204	Multiple radio simulcasts including ABC Local Radio, Radio National, Triple J, Double J, among others.	N/A	Simulcast radio channels.

ABC TV serves as the flagship channel, primarily funded for original productions and nightly local news broadcasts at 7 pm across each state and territory. Launched in 2005, ABC Family features comedy and reruns from ABC TV during evening hours, sharing airtime with ABC Kids, which focuses on preschool programming during the day.

Established in December 2009, ABC Entertains is a dedicated channel targeting children aged between 6 and 15 with a diverse schedule running from early morning until late at night.

ABC News functions as a continuous news outlet presenting content from ABC News and Current Affairs alongside international partners such as BBC World News and Deutsche Welle. It also includes parliamentary broadcasts, documentaries, arts features, and election coverage.

State-based programming

While ABC’s Sydney headquarters manage national distribution, the network consists of eight state and territory centres that were once standalone stations with unique branding. These centres produced state-specific content including the nightly 7 pm news bulletins, regional editions of 7.30 until December 2014, election specials, and local live sports coverage.

With over fifty regional newsrooms operating under ABC Local across states, tailored news and radio programming are delivered to meet local audience needs.

ABC iview

ABC iview is a catch-up and video on demand platform introduced on 24 July 2008 as a successor to earlier podcasting efforts. Available only within Australia, iview streams content using H.264 encoding via RTMP for browsers supporting Adobe Flash. Additionally, native applications provide access on iOS and Android devices, tablets, HDMI-enabled gadgets, and selected internet-connected Smart TVs through HTTP streaming.

International Operations

ABC Australia operates as a satellite television service aimed at international audiences, supported financially through advertising and grants provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Its broadcast footprint spans East, Central, South, and Southeast Asia, along with Pacific Island nations such as India, Japan, Vietnam, Afghanistan, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu. The channel delivers English-language content featuring general entertainment, sports, and current affairs to strengthen Australia's media influence within these regions.

Financial Support

Within Australia, ABC television services do not feature external advertising due to prohibitions established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983, which also enshrines the corporation's editorial independence. The primary source of funding for the ABC is the Australian Government, supplemented by income from ABC Commercial. Since 1996, starting with the Howard government, the ABC has experienced ongoing budget reductions, including notable cuts in 2014 under the Abbott government and a continuing freeze on indexation. Despite these financial limitations, in April 2023 the social media platform X categorized ABC as "government-funded media"; subsequently, by August 2023, ABC announced it would be shutting down most of its X accounts.

The international arm, ABC Australia, which broadcasts throughout the Asia-Pacific region, benefits from additional funding supplied by DFAT and incorporates some advertising into its programming.

External links