The Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is Australia's national broadcaster. It is principally funded by direct grants from the Australian Government and is administered by a government-appointed board. The ABC is a publicly-owned body that is politically independent and fully accountable, with its charter enshrined in legislation, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983. ABC Commercial, a profit-making division of the corporation, also helps to generate funding for content provision.

The ABC was established as the Australian Broadcasting Commission on 1 July 1932 by an act of federal parliament. It effectively replaced the Australian Broadcasting Company, a private company established in 1924 to provide programming for A-class radio stations. The ABC was given statutory powers that reinforced its independence from the government and enhanced its news-gathering role. Modelled on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), which is funded by a television licence, the ABC was originally financed by consumer licence fees on broadcast receivers. Licence fees were abolished in 1973 and replaced by direct government grants, as well as revenue from commercial activities related to its core broadcasting mission. The ABC adopted its current name in 1983.[4]

The ABC provides radio, television, online, and mobile services throughout metropolitan and regional Australia. ABC Radio operates four national networks, a large number of ABC Local Radio stations, several digital stations, and the international service Radio Australia. ABC Television operates five free-to-air channels, as well as the ABC iview streaming service and the ABC Australia satellite channel. News and current affairs content across all platforms is produced by the ABC News division.

Contents

 * 1History
 * 1.1Origins
 * 1.2War years
 * 1.31950–2000
 * 1.42000s–2010s
 * 1.52020s
 * 2Lissajous curve logo
 * 3Governance and structure
 * 4Funding
 * 5Services
 * 5.1Radio
 * 5.2Television
 * 5.3Online and digital
 * 5.4International
 * 6ABC Commercial
 * 7Orchestras
 * 8ABC Friends
 * 9Criticism and controversy
 * 9.1Independence and impartiality
 * 9.2Perceived bias
 * 9.2.1Reviews and investigations
 * 9.3Relationships with government
 * 9.3.11990s to 2013
 * 9.3.22013–present
 * 9.4Specific topics
 * 9.4.1Same-sex marriage
 * 9.4.2Australia Day
 * 9.4.3The Catholic Church and George Pell
 * 9.4.4Environmentalism
 * 10ABC journalists in politics
 * 11See also
 * 12References
 * 13Further reading
 * 14External links