WI: The ABC retained its monopoly in Australian television

To the Aussie members of AlternateHistory.com. G'day, mate!

In OTL, television in Australia was established in 1956; the ABC (then the Australian Broadcasting Commission) began broadcasting in 5th of November of that year, from the Gore Hill studios in Sydney, more than two months after the first television station (HSV-7) began their transmission.

What if the ABC was the very first television station to broadcast in Australia, and maintained its monopoly for a few more years (from five to ten years maximum, I think). What will be its influence on the media industry in general. Will the license fee retained?

Thanks!

Bumping...

Is anybody interested?!?!

I think you'll find that people are just really unfamiliar with the subject \

That's suck, though. Only one channel? (At that stage I doubt the ABC could've supported two -- even BBC2 didn't launch until 1964.) Hmm... maybe pirate television would've been a bigger thing?

ColeMercury said:

I think you'll find that people are just really unfamiliar with the subject \

That's suck, though. Only one channel? (At that stage I doubt the ABC could've supported two -- even BBC2 didn't launch until 1964.) Hmm... maybe pirate television would've been a bigger thing?

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Indeed.

NZ did what the OP was thinking - the NZBC started broadcasting in 1960 and apparently (according to Wiki) wanted to start a second channel by 1964, but wasn't allowed until 1975 - due to various reasons).

In NZ commercialisation didn't really start till the 1980s and the first independent channel started in 1989. There were attempts in the 1970s that apparently could have easily worked.

I would imagine Australia could go quite differently, given greater population, greater regionalisation (by this I mean the capital cities/States, greater wealth etc.

You might a very strong regional identity develop within the network so that if it continues holding a monopoly (until SBS comes along) it's effectively a number of stations under the ABC umbrella.

ColeMercury said:

I think you'll find that people are just really unfamiliar with the subject \

That's suck, though. Only one channel? (At that stage I doubt the ABC could've supported two -- even BBC2 didn't launch until 1964.) Hmm... maybe pirate television would've been a bigger thing?

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Because the AHC is related to media and broadcasting, just like some of the threads of Dan1988.
I'm think of an earlier second channel for the ABC, maybe in the 70s

Lord Brisbane said:

You might a very strong regional identity develop within the network.

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So, this alternate ABC will create more regional programs to cater the needs of their respective areas, not just their flagship news bulletins.
How about the national programming?

ramones1986 said:

So, this alternate ABC will create more regional programs to cater the needs of their respective areas, not just their flagship news bulletins.
How about the national programming?

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Depends how corporate it becomes as times moves on I would say. Probably British rather than American imported content. Also expect to see less money flowing into sport by the 1970s could have an impact as tv rights will not be fought over. Probably takes a similar route to the bbc, with a wide range of programming for the high and low end of the market IMHO.

Julius Vogel said:

I would imagine Australia could go quite differently, given greater population, greater regionalisation (by this I mean the capital cities/States, greater wealth etc.

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Is it possible that the commercial stations will appear in the 1970s? I'm just thinking.