First revealed in The Age on October 25, 1980
New channel launched in `Star Wars’ fashion
Multicultural tv’s digital clock ticked off to six.30 pm and — after fanfares and a ‘Star Wars’ — fashion introduction Melbourne’s latest TV station started transmission final evening.
Information presenters George Donikian and Patrice Newell within the Elizabeth Road headquarters of SBS in 1985.Credit score:Antonin Cermak
Bruce Gyngell made it a private double by being the primary face on the brand new station, Channel 0/28, as he instructed viewers his was the primary face on Australian TV, on 16 September 1956.
English-speaking viewers who thought “multicultural” TV might imply hours of non-comprehension, have been incorrect. Other than some rare lapse, the primary 90 minutes of broadcasting was in English.
Non-English programmes might be subtitled, however the messages from Mr Gyngell and the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, weren’t translated by way of subtitles to non-English audio system who could have tuned in.
Mr Gyngell, the guide to the Particular Broadcasting Service, which is working Channel 0/28, stated that 25 per cent of tv units in Australia have been owned by folks born exterior English-speaking international locations.
The pattern of deliberate programmes final evening confirmed big selection of Italian, Spanish, Slavic, Greek and French programmes together with comedies, historic drama, opera and selection exhibits.
Mr Gyngell, the previous chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal, declared TV would by no means be the identical. Channel 0 would entertain, attraction, inform and educate. Simply as Australia was first with eight-hour working days, social companies and common suffrage, so it was now pioneering communal-harmony by way of cultural enrichment.
