Australian Broadcasting Company
The Australian Broadcasting Company Pty. Ltd. was a short-lived Australian commercial broadcasting company set up by Sir Benjamin Fuller and Frank Albert. Founded in Melbourne in 1924 with a capital of £A 100,000 by a consortium of entertainment interests, notably Farmer & Company, J. C. Williamson Limited and J. & N. Tait to found and operate commercial radio broadcasting stations.[1] Other major shareholders, perhaps later entrants, were Union Theatres Limited, B & J. Fuller and J. Albert & Son. Directors were Stuart Doyle, Frank Albert and Sir Benjamin Fuller.[2]
Not to be confused with Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Company type
The Sealed Set system[edit]
When the ABC was established in 1923, they adopted the 'sealed set' scheme as its source of income (see main article). 1,400 "sealed" receivers were sold, each fixed to receive one of four radio stations, before the system was abandoned, at least partly due to the ease with which it could be circumvented.[3]
In 1924 a new system was introduced, where radio stations were divided into two categories, class A and class B, Each drawing funding in different ways.[3]
Radio Announcers[edit]
Charles Moses[edit]
Sir Charles Moses CBE joined the Australian Broadcasting Company in 1929, and was General Manager from 1935 to 1965. Based in the Melbourne office, he used his voice on air for B class radio stations. According to ABC manager at the time Bernard Heinze, Moses had the perfect voice for broadcasting. Moses began commentating for ice hockey soon after his voice audition.[11]
In August 1930, Moses was promoted to an announcer, where he earned seven pounds per week. For the time, this was double the minimum wage. He worked a total of fifty hours per week at the ABC. By mid-1932, he was earning eight pounds per week. He achieved this by arranging announcer rosters and coordinating news sessions. He also earned this money by describing sports and doing fifteen-minute news commentary up to three times per week. By the time the ABC commission Act came into effect, Moses was 32 years old and decided to take a job with the commission.[11]
Prior to taking on a managerial role, he was primarily a sports commentator.
Conrad Charlton[edit]
"Con" Charlton was the first Chief Announcer. His two sons, Tony and Michael, also became broadcast personalities: Tony as a sports commentator on commercial television and Michael on ABC-TV.[12]
Bobby Bluegum[edit]
Bobby Bluegum was the nom-de-plume of Frank Hatherley. He was the first children's session presenter.[12]
Rupert Hazell[edit]
Rupert Hazell, a pioneer broadcaster at Melbourne's 3LO, was dismissed in 1926 for producing two 78 rpm (or actually 80 rpm) recordings under the title, "3.O.L. (A Radio Fan's Dream)". These were spoofs on 3LO's contemporary style of broadcasting.[13] Although they were a send-up, ironically they give contemporary listeners an insight into what radio sounded like in its early days.[14][15]