ABC2
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| ABC2 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Launched | March 7, 2005 |
| Network | ABC Television |
| Owned by | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
| Picture format | 576p (SDTV) |
| Slogan | Connecting 2 |
| Country |  Australia |
| Broadcast area | Nationally |
| Replaced | ABC Kids Channel & Fly TV |
| Sister channel(s) | ABC1 |
| Website | abc.net.au/tv/abc2 |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| SD Digital | Channel 22 |
| Satellite | |
| Foxtel Digital | Channel 126 |
| Austar Digital | Channel 126 |
| Cable | |
| Foxtel Digital | Channel 126 |
| TransTV Digital | Channel 22 |
ABC2 is a national public television channel in Australia. Launched on March 7, 2005, it is the responsibility of the ABC's television division, and is available nationally to digital television viewers in Australia. The channel broadcasts a range of original content supplemented with repeats of popular ABC1 programs, notably children's programs, magazine shows, and sport.
Contents |
[edit] History
- Further information: History of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
[edit] Origins
The history of ABC2 can be traced back to 1998, when the Australian Broadcasting Authority released a report, titled Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting, recommending that the Australian Government support the early introduction of digital broadcasting as a free-to-air service with the loan of a 7 Mhz channel for each broadcaster.[1] The Australian Broadcasting Corporation stated that it wished to run up to four multichannels at different times of the day or alternatively offer a high-definition television service. The corporation claimed that up to AUD$100 million would be needed to prepare for these services, half of which would need to be government-funded.[1]
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched, in August 2001, the ABC Kids Channel, with Fly TV launching in November 2001. The two multichannels, available only through digital television, broadcasted a range of programming targeted at younger and teenage viewers.[2] Funding issues meant that, in May 2003, ABC Television closed ABC Kids and Fly TV.[3]
Unlike its predecessors, ABC2 launched on March 7, 2005, independent of government funding, instead running on a budget of AUD$3 million per year.[4] The first program in the launch schedule was an episode of Landline - although scheduled to begin at 6.25am, the program was delayed ten minutes. The channel was officially inaugurated by former Minister for Communications, Senator Helen Coonan, at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra on March 10, 2005.[5]
[edit] Late 2000s
Weekly video gaming and technology program Good Game was launched on September 19, 2006, becoming one the first programs in its genre to be broadcast on free-to-air television in Australia.[6] Similarly in the same year, programs produced included Australia Wide, Short and Curly, dig tv and Late Night Legends.
Genre restrictions imposed by the Australian government on digital multichanneling were lifted along with the media ownership laws passed through the Australian parliament on October 18, 2006.[7][6] Previously limited in the subjects it could cover, ABC2 was henceforth able to carry shows identified as comedy, drama, national news, sport or entertainment.
On February 6, 2008, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation announced the introduction of live coverage and program content on ABC2 from the Australian Film Commission, Opera Australia, and the Australian Ballet.[8]
At 12:00pm on February 8, 2008, ABC2 was rebranded with a new slogan[9] and yellow-coloured logo, complementing the new ABC TV logo, which was con-currently revamped as ABC1.[10][11] The channel also moved from channel 21 to channel 22.[12]
[edit] Programming
- Further information: List of programs broadcast by ABC Television
ABC2 is required by charter to meet certain programming obligations.[13] Although it has a strong focus on comedic and lifestyle programming, it also presents documentaries and educational programmes, news and current affairs, children's shows, drama, and sports.
ABC2's programming consists primarily of repeated programs from ABC1, and classic content from the ABC archives, in addition to original exclusive content, which include Good Game, triple j tv, triple j tv presents, Australia Wide, Short and Curly, dig tv and Late Night Legends. Overseas programs exclusive to the channel, include Scrapheap Challenge, Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights, Cowboy Bebop, London Live, Ergo Proxy, Noein, Death Note, Monkey Dust, Ideal, and Peep Show.[14]
ABC2's timeshifted and archival drama line-up consists of both imported and local content including The Bill, Something in the Air and MDA. Timeshifted comedy on the channel is primarily locally-produced but also includes foreign series such as Little Britain and That Mitchell and Webb Look. ABC2's current timeshifted and archival comedy shows include Spicks and Specks, The Chaser's War on Everything and The Sideshow.
The remainder of ABC2's schedule consists of timeshifted lifestyle, music, game and talk shows. Lifestyle programs include cooking shows such as Surfing The Menu and The Cook and the Chef or travel related programs, such as Pilot Guides, but also include programmes such as Gardening Australia, Compass and Collectors. Game shows include quiz shows The Einstein Factor, and competition based programs, which include The New Inventors. In addition to this, ABC2 also broadcasts arts discussion shows At the Movies and Sunday Arts. Factual programs include Catalyst, Australian Story and Foreign Correspondent.
[edit] News & Current Affairs
- Further information: ABC News and Current Affairs, ABC News
In order to allow automated operation of the channel without the complications of variable length live news broadcasts, ABC2 broadcasts hourly ABC News updates produced for ABC Online.
Australia Wide is a public and current affairs program that is produced and broadcast exclusively for ABC2. The program is broadcast at 5pm on weekdays and contains content relating to regional Australia. Different segments include Earth Works, Gen Next, Video Lives, Arts About, and Outta Here which are broadcast each day of the week respectively. The channel also broadcasts ABC Asia Pacific News, which is originally produced for the Australia Network.
All eight editions of Stateline, which includes one for every state and territory of Australia, are broadcast throughout the week, allowing national access to state-level current affairs. In addition to these news programs, various ABC1 news and current affairs programs, which include Lateline, Lateline Business, Four Corners, Australian Story, and Foreign Correspondent, are timeshifted onto the channel.
[edit] Sport
- Further information: ABC Sport
ABC2 broadcasts exclusive national coverage of many sporting competitions, which include the New South Wales Rugby Union, Queensland Rugby League, Victorian Football League, South Australian National Football League, West Australian Football League and the Northern Territory Football League. The Women's National Basketball League is broadcast live on ABC2 every week, the first time that domestic netball has been shown live on Australian television. In addition to this ABC2 also broadcasts four games of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy, the Fed Cup and the Tiwi Islands Football League Grand Final annually. Late Night Legends, an exclusive program on ABC2 hosted by Lex Marinos, also broadcasts major sporting events from the ABC archives.
[edit] Children
- Further information: ABC Kids
ABC2's children's programming, combined with ABC1's, is more extensive than any other network in Australia.[15] Children's programmes are broadcast under the ABC Kids brand in one block from 10:00am to 4:00pm weekdays, from 7:00am to 3:00pm Saturdays and no children's programmes on Sundays.
ABC Kids on the channel consists of a mixture of both in-house and out-sourced children's television programs that is either timeshifted or archival, however exclusive children's programming such as 6Teen, Kaput and Zosky, and P.E.T detectives, are also broadcast. International programs which are regularly broadcast include Sesame Street, Bob the Builder, Pingu, Arthur, Fireman Sam and older-years shows Degrassi, Lizzie McGuire, Freaky Stories and Daria.
[edit] Availability
- Further information: ABC Television
ABC2 is available on all of ABC Television's digital television transmitters in 576i 2008 changes to 576p SD Digital, as well on most satellite and cable services.
ABC2 does not broadcast 24 hours a day. ABC2 usually closes sometime between midnight and 3am and opens at 6.30am. During this time the ABC Guide and ABC DiG, is broadcast.
[edit] Logos
The channel launched with a three-dimensional logo of the numeral two. The previous idents were produced in part by Amanda Dennis (known for her work on Australia Wide, and Good Game), and were used in some form since the channel's launch, until the 2008 rebrand. ABC2's previous slogan was More Choice, More Often. All promos featured the "Big 2" placed in famous, and iconic Australian locations, such as Port Jackson, the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre and the Northern Territory. The "Big 2" was somewhat similar to the on air mascot of BBC Two in appearance. ABC2's logo was modified for the promotion of the channels launch, and for various sporting events, notably the channel's launch, where the logo appeared under-construction, and during the promotion of Australians Women's Netball where it took on the appearance of a netball.
On February 8, 2008, ABC2 updated to a yellow logo, and slogan to Connecting 2[11], as well as moving its digital terrestrial broadcast from Channel 21 to Channel 22. In addition to this, the slogan More Choice, More Often was changed to Connecting 2. After concerns in some sections of the media that the 43-year-old Lissajous curve brand was to disappear completely, ABC management reaffirmed that it would remain in use by the corporation.[16][17]
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| Mar. 7, 2005 - Feb. 7, 2008 | Feb. 8, 2008 - present[11] |
[edit] References
- ^ a b Bills Digest No. 178 1997-98: Television Broadcasting Services (Digital Conversion) Bill 1998. Australian Parliamentary Library. Retrieved on 2007-08-19.
- ^ Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (2001-08-17). "ABC Kids Channel". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-08-19.
- ^ Lindsay Tanner MP, Shadow Minister for Communications (2003-05-26). "Government digital disaster as ABC cuts ABC Kids and Fly TV". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-08-19.
- ^ Inglis, Kenneth Stanley (2006). Whose ABC? The Australian Broadcasting Corporation 1983-2006. Melbourne, Victoria: Black Inc.. ISBN 1-86395-189-X.
- ^ ABC2 launched at Parliament House. ABC New Media & Digital Services. dba.org.au (2005-03-11). Retrieved on 2007-03-31.
- ^ a b "The ABC's digital evolution", The Australian, 2006-10-19. Retrieved on 2008-02-07.
- ^ Australia opens up media investment. MediaGuardian.co.uk. guardian.co.uk (2006-10-18). Retrieved on 2007-03-31.
- ^ "Live interactive role for Jones", The Australian, 2008-02-07. Retrieved on 2008-02-07.
- ^ ABC Redefining Television
- ^ "ABC promises more content choice", The Australian, 2008-02-06. Retrieved on 2008-02-06.
- ^ a b c "ABC gets squiggle on for new channels", The Australian, 2008-02-07. Retrieved on 2008-02-07.
- ^ ABC Television Contact Us
- ^ Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1983). Retrieved on 2007-12-06.
- ^ Genre Restrictions Lifted. ABC New Media & Digital Services. abc.net.au (2006-10-18). Retrieved on 2006-10-18.
- ^ Annual Report 2006-07. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (2007-11-01). Retrieved on 2007-12-06.
- ^ Welch, Dylan. "ABC squiggle to stay", Brisbane Times, 30 January 2008. Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
- ^ "ABC revamps squiggle logo", ABC Online, 30 January 2008. Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
[edit] External links
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