Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Difference between revisions

The '''A'''ustralian '''B'''roadcasting '''C'''orporation was established in 1932 as the Australian Broadcasting Commission, though its origins can be traced back to the establishment of the Australian Broadcasting Company in 1924. The ABC is a public-funded broadcaster akin to the [[BBC One|BBC]] in the United Kingdom, funded through grants from the Australian Government, yet tasked with maintaining political independence. Like the BBC, they started as a radio broadcaster and originally charged listeners a license fee, though this was abolished in 1948. The ABC launched their television service in 1956, a few months after what would become the [[Nine Network National IDs (Australia)|Nine Network]] made Australia's first TV broadcast. The ABC adopted the original Lissajous figure as their logo in 1963 following a design competition. The figure took on its more familiar classic design in 1975 to mark the ABC's launch of color transmission. In 1983, as part of a major restructure, the Australian Broadcasting ''Commission'' was renamed the Australian Broadcasting ''Corporation''. By 2001, ABC had begun broadcasting on digital television, launching a new metallic logo to coincide as well as the new ABC Kids channel, making ABC the first major network in Australia to have a digital multichannel. This channel was short lived, however and was shut down in 2003 to cut costs. In 2002, the ABC marked its 70th anniversary with a modification of its new logo, returning to a more traditional design. In 2005, ABC launched its second digital multichannel, ABC2 (later ABC Comedy, now known as [[ABC TV Plus (Australia)|ABC TV Plus]]), this was followed by a second attempt at a digital kids' channel, ABC3 (now [[ABC ME (Australia)| ABC ME]]), which launched in 2009. Around this time, the main ABC channel was renamed to ABC1, to compliment ABC2. However, this rename would be short lived, as by 2014, the channel had returned to its original name. At the same time, the classic Lissajous figure was reinstated as a primary logo 13 years after it was retired on-air, along with the iconic three-note jingle which hadn't been used on air since 2005. The main channel was rebranded '''ABC TV''' as of January 1, 2021 to compliment the rebranding of ABC Comedy as ABC TV Plus.

'''Logo:''' Over a dark background with thin, wavy clouds at the center, we see a transmitter tower sitting on a globe. It is emitting constant signals from the top of the structure, which are illustrated by circular pulses. The letters "A.B.C" (representing the name of the broadcaster and in a sans serif font) suddenly "pop" upon to the center of the screen before fading out. The text “T.V” zooms in from the top of the transmitter tower and then fades out.

* Airport: This follows a man in uniform going around interacting with airport staff, while an airliner is being refueled and prepared for takeoff.

** Shepperton, "host to the Goulburn Valley"

** Mildura, "Victoria's vineyard and citrus center"   

** Bairnsdale, "commercial center to east Gippsland"

'''Music/Sounds:''' Used several variations of the instrumental "A Shade of Brass" by Bobby Byrne, depending on the film sequence. Some of the music variations end with a 3 note tune that sounds like a predecessor to the jingle introduced in the late 1980s. On most variants, an announcer says this at the end: "This is ABC Television. The good looking Australian.", though this is not used for the cities and towns idents.

'''Logo:''' We see the outlined yellow ABC logo. Several copies of the logo zoom out and stop in the logo, and the last copy fills the logo with the yellow color.

'''Availability:''' Extinct. It was used as ABC's second color ID.

'''Logo:''' We see what look like fountains in the sky against a black background. The fountains fall, and the ABC logo moves toward us like a rollercoaster, while the metallic floor with some running light reflections moving under the logo. Then the logo flashes on a black-blue gradient background, and a white light has "ABC" (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) fading in, in what looks like neon lights. “ABCTV” flashes above the logo.

'''Logo:''' We see several red squares form below on a black/blue gradient background. Then, the camera pans inside of one row, and a yellow globe forms in the distance. The camera pans through and up out of the row, and the globe, with a glass ABC logo on it and a map of Australia engraved on the globe, floats to the top, rotating. The ABC logo flies off the right of the globe and toward us. Light bars are seen on the reflection of the logo.

'''Logo:''' We see several silver ribbons swirling around on a dark blue background. They form an unidentifiable shape at first, but as the camera zooms in the center, spins around, and zooms out, we see a solid formation of the ABC logo (a series of twisting lines) set against a brown floor. "ABCTV" fades in above.

'''Logo:''' We see a glassy ABC logo turning upward against a background split into thirds that contains one of various image styles relating to Australian heritage. For idents made between 1988 to 1992, the logo is centered on the screen. For idents made between 1992 to 1996, the logo is made slightly smaller and pushed to the near bottom.

* Cave Painting: We see the walls of cave on the top and bottom rows, and in the middle row, we see an aboriginal cave painting of people holding hands.

* Seashells: We see moving images of various colored seashells on the top and bottom rows, and in the middle row, we see a still image of a palm tree.

* Special Variant 1: We see a marble-like texture on the top and bottom rows, and in the middle row, we see a crystal-like lake effect. Once the ABC logo flips in, the lake effect fades away, leaving the middle with the same marble texture as the top and bottom rows. The word "SPECIAL" (with the same glass effect) then zooms out from the center of the screen as the ABC logo fades out. Depending on the variant, either the background fades out (with the word "SPECIAL" remaining on a black background), or the word fades out with the background.

'''Availability:''' Most of the idents are obviously extinct. The Bush Tea ID makes a surprise appearance on ''The Best Of The Late Show Volume 3'' VHS (it was part of a joke to pretend that the show cut to a boring documentary about birds). The Bicentennial ID was also used as a home video logo for the release of From ''The Outback To The Sea - Images Of The Australian Bicentennial Year''.

'''Legacy:''' These idents are considered a favorite among some viewers of the channel, especially older ones.

'''Logo:''' On a black background with colored lights, we first see various close-up shots of a silver ring twisting and morphing in various angles. On the final shot, we then see the silver ring take the form of the ABC logo (without the usual "over and under" design), settling itself in the center of the screen.

*There are a few variations of the main ident itself, usually with different close-up shots, logo animation, and/or background colors.

'''Logo:''' A silver ring is seen on a background with either one of these elements: a fireplace, an iceberg, or a cluster of leaves. Then, a light ray passes on the silver ring, making it twist itself to form the ABC logo (back to the "over and under" design, but still keeping the silver texture of the previous logo). On the final shot, the logo is positioned in the center while three faint stars flash individually onto the Lissajous curve and another light ray shines from the right side of the screen. The following text fades in below the logo:  

'''Logo:''' On a white background with faint blue gradients, we see the ABC logo in the center, which then unfolds into a rectangular frame leading into various individuals interacting with CGI objects. At the end, half of the ABC logo slides into the near center, protruding from either the top or bottom of the screen. The text "There's more to Television..." appear in a blocky font above or below the logo From 2006 onwards, the slogan would vary depending on the ident.

'''Availability:''' Extinct. These ID's were used during the 50th anniversary of television in Australia.

**90 Choir Singers: Filmed in the Northen Territory on Arrernte Country in Alice Springs, this ident features a choir of Australians singing "I Am Australian", beginning with the first half in Aboriginal language before singing the last half in English. At the end of the ident, we see the ABC logo made on the sand-engraved ground.

*The "Celebrating 90 Years" IDs use a brand-new cover of "I Am Australian", and each of the idents has it's own unique version of it.