Talk:Radio National
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"Radio National as it is known today has had a long history. "..Hehehe..I'd love to know what it was. :)
--Randolph 09:30, 25 Mar 2005 (UTC)
- "The callsign 2FC (Farmers Company) was first broadcast in 1927, the Australian Broadcasting Commission took over the frequency in 1937. In 1985 ABC renamed Radio 2 to Radio National. Its current callsign (in New South Wales) is 2RN." Dysprosia 11:03, 25 Mar 2005 (UTC)
I guess I'm not seeing how those few sentences justify the opening sentence. They do describe it's many incarnations in that long history, but the actual substance of the history seems to be missing.
--Randolph 23:18, 25 Mar 2005 (UTC)
- It says that there is a long history, it just does not give you a lengthy rundown of that history. Dysprosia 00:02, 26 Mar 2005 (UTC)
It doesn't mention anything about the other stations (one in each capital city) that formed Radio National. I'd also dispute the date. My reference AUSTRALIAN RADIO: The Technical Story 1923-1983 by Winston Muscio, ISBN 0-949924-82-2, states that 2FC began regular broadcasts in December 1923.
--PeterJeremy 11:08, 26 December 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Commencement of Australian Broadcasting and of the ABC.
2FC actually commenced broadcasting in 1923 NOT 1927 as stated above and on the main body of this page. Prior to this, amateur broadcasters provided numerous broadcasts and even experimented with musical, news and entertainment programs. However, 2FC was the first officially recognised station.
By 1924 there were five official Australian stations: 2FC Sydney (Farmer & Co.); 2SB later 2BL Sydney (Sydney Broadcasters Limited); 3AR Melbourne (Associated Radio); 3LO Melbourne (named after 2LO in London); 6WF Perth (Westralian Farmers).
Due to the influence of Ernest Fisk of Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) [AWA], Australia initially introduced a most unusual sealed set system under which listeners purchased seats that were sealed to the frequency of the station they wanted to listen to. Portion of the purchase price of each set went to the station. (If you wanted to listen to more than one station, one was supposed to buy more than one set.) Not surprisingly the system was not successful because most of those listening-in were radio hams (amateurs) with enough technical knowledge to build their own sets and by-pass the law. (Compare this with the computer industry a few decades ago.)
In 1925 a new, licensing system was introduced. All those with wireless sets (radios), either purchased off the self or home made, had to buy a licence from the Post Office. The fees went to the major stations which were known as A Class stations - these later evolved into the ABC which commenced in 1932 (NOT 1937 AS STATED ABOVE AND ON THE MAIN BODY OF THIS PAGE). Other stations could apply for broadcasting licences but did not receive any government subsidy and, so, had to rely on advertising an other sources for their income. These stations were originally known as B Class stations.
I have made some corrections to the historical information on this page.
Australia's fascinating radio history is covered in a number websites and books. I strongly recommend the book: THE MAGIC SPARK. 50 YEARS OF RADIO IN AUSTRALIA by R.R. Walker (1973, Hawthorn Press, Melbourne). It is on the shelves of most libraries and is still freely available from second-hand bookshops. Another good book, albeit much harder to find is: SOMETHING IN THE AIR. A HISTORY OF RADIO IN AUSTRALIA by Colin Jones (1995, Kangaroo Press Ltd., Sydney).
Albert Isaacs 22:09, 9 January 2007 (UTC)
