1953. COMMONWEALTH OF AUS'fRALIA. FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CONTROL BOARD. YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE, 1953. By Authority: L. F. JOHNSTON, Oommonwea1th Government Printer, Canberra. (Printed In Au1tralla.) 5072. 1953. COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA. FIFTH ANNUAL R'EPORT. OF THE AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CONTROL BOARD. · YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE, 1953. By Authority: L. F . JOHNSTON, Commonweaith Government Printer, Canberra. (Printed In Au1tralla.) 5072. CONTENTS. PAGE No. PART !.-INTRODUCTORY 3 Membership of the Board 3 Functions of the Board 3 PART II.-ADMINISTRATION 3 Meetings of the Board 3 Consultation with the Australian Broadcasting Commission, Representatives of Commercial Broadcasting Stations, Advertisers and Manufacturers .. 4 Staff of the Board-Head Office 4 State Organization 4 Licensing of Commercial Broadcasting Stations 4 Grant of New Licences 4 Applications for Licences .. 6 Renewal of Licences 6 Current Licences for Commercial Broadcasting Stations 6 Fees for Licences for Commercial Broadcasting Stations 6 Commercial Broadcasting Stations- Financial Results of Operations 6 Transfer of Licences and Leasing of Stations . 7 Ownership of Commercial Broadcasting Stations 7 M.P.A. Productions Pty. Ltd... 8 Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Ltd. 9 Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation Pty. Ltd., Sydney, and Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation (Queensland) Ltd., Brisbane .. 9 Findlays Pty. Ltd., Tasmania 9 Nicholsons Ltd., Perth 9 Whitfords Interests, Perth 9 Newspaper Companies 9 Networks of Commercial Broadcasting Stations IO Australian UNESCO Committee for Radio 10 State Broadcasting Advisory Committees 11 Defamation by Means of Broadcasting 11 Television 11 Royal Commission on Television 11 The Television Act 1953 12 PART IIL- TECHNICAI. SERVICES 12 Plans for t he Development of the National Broadcasting Service 12 Plans for the Development of the Commercial Broadcasting Service 14 Increased P ower for Country Stations on Shared Channels .. 14 Increased Power for Commercial Stations in Capital Cities and Newcastle 14 Clear Channel Stations for Country Districts 16 Additional Commercial Broadcasting Stations 16 Unattended Operation of Broadcasting Stations 17 a Standards for the Technical Equipment and Operation of Broadcasting Stations 17 l Australian Broadcasting Commission- Request for Additional Programme Channels 17 l Synchronized Operation of Broadcasting Stations 17 High Frequency (Short -wave) Broadcasting . 17 Allocation of Frequencies .. 18 Very High Frequency Broadcasting 19 British Commonwealth Broadcasting Conference 19 Meetings of the C.C.I.R. (Comite Consultatif International Des Radiocommunications) 19 Television 20 Standards 20 Television Receiver I ntermediate Frequencies 20 Colour Television 20 Experimental Investigations 20 Medium Frequency Directional Aerials 21 Consultative Committee on Radio Research 21 P ART I V.-PROGRAMME SERVICES 21 General Considerations 21 Variety of Programmes 22 Religious Broadcasts 22 P olitical Broadcasts- Provision of Equitable Facilities 23 Broadcasts from Commercial Stations by Party Leaders throughout the Senate Election Campaign 23 Other Broadcasts by Parliamentary Parties and Members of such Parties from Commercial Stations 23 Broadcast s from Commercial Stations by Organizations which conducted programmes containing political matter during the Election Period 24 Total Times for Senate Election Broadcasts from Commercial Stations 24 National Broadcasting Service . 24 Advertising . 24 Sunday Advertising 25 Medical Advertisements and Talks 25 H ours of Service . 25 Broadcasts in Foreign Languages 26 Broadcasting of Personal Messages . 26 Emergency Messages to Ambulances 26 Community Service 27 News Broadcasts 27 Broadcasting of Objectionable Matters 27 Encouragement of" Local Talent" 27 Children's P rogrammes 28 Programmes for Adolescents 28 R evision of E xisting Instructions t o Licensees of Commercial Broadcasting Stations 29 Broadcasts relating to Sporting E vents . 29 Lotteries 29 Broadcasting of Telephone Conversations 29 Time Signals and Time Announcements 29 Standard of Announcing . 29 Observation of Programmes 30 Colombo Plan- Training in Broadcasting Practice 30 PART V.-GENERAL 30 Financial Accounts of the Board 30 Listeners' Licences 30 Cost of National Broadcasting Service 30 Acknowledgments 31 APPENDICES. "A "- Commercial Broadcasting Stations in Operation on 30th J une, 1953 32 " B "- National Broadcasting Stations in Operation on 30th J une, 1953 . 34 " C "-Commercial Broadcasting Stations- Increases in Operating Power Determined by the Board 35 "D "- Principles to Govern Children's P rogrammes 36 "E "-Australian Broadcasting Control Board-Statement of Receipts and Payments for Year Ended 30th June, 1953 37 ~No. 3 3 3 AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CONTROL BOARD. 3 3 FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT. 4 4 4 4 4 6 The Honorable the Postmaster-General: (b) to ensure that the technical equipment and 6 operation of such stations are in accordance 6 In conformity with the provisions of sec~ion 6P of 6 the Broadcasting Act 1942-1953, the Australian ~roB;d­ with such standards and practices as the 6 casting Control Board has the honour to furmsh its Board considers to be appropriate; 7 Report, bei11g the F~fth Annual Report of the Boa:d, (c) to ensure that adequate and comprehensive 7 programmes are provided by such stations 8 on its operations durmg the year ended 30th June, 19b3, 9 together with :financial accounts in the form appr?ved to serve the best interests .of the general by the Treasurer, and the report of the Aud1tor­ public. 9 9 General on those accounts. 6. The Board has other detailed functions relating 9 2. This Report is arranged as follows :­ to broadcasting, television, and other services, and 9 these are fully set out in paragraphs 42-45 of its First 9 Part I.-Introductory. 10 Annual Report. (They are also referred to, where 10 Part IL-Administration. appropriate, in this report.) In particular, the Board 11 Part III.-Technical Services. is required to determine the location, operating power, 11 and frequency of . all broadcasting and oolev:ision 11 Part IV.-Programme Services. 11 Part V.-General. stations, and to advise the JYiinister on all matters 12 relating to the licensing of commercial broadcasting 12 stations. 12 PART I.-INTRODUCTORY. 7. A historical review of the development of the 14 MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD. l4 Australian broadcasting system and a description of the l4 3. Section 6B of the Broadcasting Act 1942-1953 N ati01ial and Commercial Broadcasting Services has l6 provides that the Board shall oonsist of three members been given in earlier reports. The first two years l6 appointed by the Governor-General, one of whom shall l7 following the Board's establishment in 1949 were l7 be Chairman. The first Chairman of the Board was largely a period of investigation during which defi­ l7 Mr. L. B. Fanning, I.S.O., who held office from the ciencies in the Austrnlian broadcasting structure were .7 date the Board was constituted on 15th March, 1949, revealed and plans were prnp:uerl for their remedy and .7 until the expiration of his term of office on 14th March, .8 for the general irnpron:rn:cnt of the services. In its last .9 1952. Following Mr. Fanning's retirement, Mr. Robert Report, the Board was able to record defo1ite progress .9 Gumley Osborne, B.A., LL.:i:., a m~mber of t~e original in the implementation of many proposals designed, in 9 Board, was appointed Chairman ior a per10d of five :o pursuance of its statutory responsibilities, to ensure the :o years from 15th March, 1952, and Mr. Robert Bruce provision of a satisfactOl'y broadcasting service for the :o Mair, B.E.E., A.M.I.E. (Aust), S.M.I.R.E. (Ayst.), people in the Commonwealth and during the year under :o was reappointed a member of the Board for a period of review there have been further developments calculated :o three years from the same date.. An appointn;ient of a to improve the technical efficiency of the services, :1 third member of the Board (vice Mr. Fannmg) was 1 especially in the country areas of Australia. not made until 4th May, 1953, from which date Mr. 1 8. As a result of minor amendments made during thn 1 Raymond Cottam A.llsop, F.I.R.E. (Aust.), M. Brit. 2 I.R.E., S.M.I.R.E. (U.S.A.), F.S.M.P.E. (U.S.A.), year to provisions of the Broadca.sting Act 1942-1951 2 was appointed as a member for a period of .five years. relating to the banking accounts of the Board and the 3 Australian Broadcasting Commission, the Act is now 3 4. It is appropriate to mention that, under sections cited as the Broadcastirvg Act 1942-1953. The amend­ 3 6n and 6G of the Act, no per.son shall be appointed, or ments were made by the Commonwealth Bank Act 1953. 4 continue to hold office, as a member of the Board, who- 4 ( a) has any :financial interest, whether dir.ect or PART IL- ADMINISTRATION. 4 indirect, in any company which is the 4 }/fEETil'\GS OF THE BOARD. 5 licensee of a commercial broadcasting 5 station or manufactures or deals in equip­ 9. During the year, the Board continued its normal 5 ment for the transmission or reception of practice of holding meetings every week at its officf' 5 in Melbourne for the transaction of businesss requiring 5 broadcasting, television or facsimile pro- 5 grammes ; the attention of the Board, as distinct from the day-to­ 7 (b) is a member of the governing body of any day direction by individual members ·of particular 7 company or other association of persons aspects of its work. The Board also held meetings in each 7 other State capital and visited Albury and Launceston. 7 which is the licensee of a commercial broad­ l casting station; or Individual members of the Board and senior officers of its staff visited several other country centres. The , (c) is the licensee of a commercial broadcasting ) purpose of these visits, as has been explained in previous ) station.