Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Background

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation was established in 1932 as the Australian Broadcasting Commission, though its origins can be traced back to the establishment of the Australian Broadcasting Company in 1924. The ABC is a public-funded broadcaster akin to the BBC in the United Kingdom, funded through grants from the Australian Government, yet tasked with maintaining political independence. Like the BBC, they started as a radio broadcaster and originally charged listeners a license fee, though this was abolished in 1948. The ABC launched their television service in 1956, a few months after what would become the Nine Network made Australia's first TV broadcast. The ABC adopted the original lissajous figure as their logo in 1963 following a design competition. The figure took on it's more familiar classic design in 1975 to mark the ABC's launch of color transmission. In 1983, as part of a major restructure, the Austalian Broadcasting Commission was renamed the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. By 2001, ABC had begun broadcasting on digital television, launching a new metallic logo to coincide as well as the new ABC Kids channel, making ABC the first major network in Australia to have a digital multichannel. This channel was short lived, however and was shut down in 2003 to cut costs. In 2002, the ABC marked its 70th anniversary with a modification of its new logo, returning to a more traditional design. In 2005, ABC launched its second digital multichannel, ABC2 (later ABC Comedy), this was followed by a second attempt at a digital kids' channel, ABC3 (now ABC ME), which launched in 2009. Around this time, the main ABC channel was renamed to ABC1, to compliment ABC2. However, this rename would be short lived, as by 2014, the channel had returned to its original name, while also re-instating the classic Lissajous figure as a primary logo 13 years after it was retired on-air, as well as the iconic three-note jingle which hadn't been used on air since 2005.

1st (known) ID (1959-1961)

Nickname: "Transmitter"

ID: Over a dark background with thin, wavy clouds at the center, we see a transmitter tower sitting on an Earth globe. It is emitting constant signals from the top of the structure, which are illustrated by circular pulses. The letters "A.B.C" (representing the name of the broadcaster and in a sans serif font) suddenly "pop" upon to the center of the screen.

FX/SFX: The signals emitting from the tower, the sudden appearance of the initials.

Music/Sounds: Silent.

Availability: Long since extinct. See the video at the bottom of the page for this ident, and the idents below.

Editor's Note: TBA

2nd (known) ID (1961-mid 1960s)

Nicknames: "Atom", "Earth Globe"

ID: On a dark, hazy background representing space, we see a rotating globe of the earth a la Universal Pictures. Points of light (seen as small dots) begin to encircle the globe like the electrons of an atom, leaving lines behind them. As the trails are completed, a TV-tube shape with the letters "ABC" suddenly appears over the globe. After a few seconds, the shape splits into three,the first shape containing" A", the middle "B" and the last "C".

FX/SFX: The globe rotating, the motion of the "electrons", the splitting of the tube.

Music/Sounds: An abridged version of the ABC's signature news theme, Majestic Fanfare,which was composed by Charles Williams in 1943 (Although, the available recording of this logo may have been sourced from the start of a news bulletin.)

Availability: Same as above.

Editor's Note: TBA

3rd (known) ID (1968-early 70's)

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Nickname: "Yours", "I Am Australian"

ID: There are a few different versions of this ID.

The main ID consists of a compilation of Australians singing "I Am Australian" by the Seekers. A short version of this also exists.
Other IDs, consist of ABC presenters discussing various topics, e.g. in the New Year period, they give us their new year's resolutions
Another set of IDs consist of prominent Australians discussing the role of the ABC in their lives, this is known as "ABC Stories"
An additional subset, known as "With You, for Life" highlighting how the ABC has been with Australians throughout their lives, has a girl moving through various phases of life as different ABC presenters appear, starting with the Toys from iconic children's show Play School when the girl is young.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, ID featured a series of Australians singing "We Are Australian" from their homes.

FX/SFX: See the 19th ID

Music/Sounds:

Originally, A cover of "I Am Australian" by The Seekers, sung by a female singer. the "ABC Stories" IDs use an instrumental version of this.
Later IDs use various generic music cues
The "With You For Life" ID opens with a music box version of the Play School theme, before segueing a slow, soulful version of the Tourists' "I Only Want to Be With You"

Availability: Current. Since 2019, these are being used in tandem with the next ID.

Editor's Note: Very nice IDs. The ones with "We Are Australian" will make Australians feel very patriotic, while the "With You, For Life" IDs will be heartwarming and nostalgic for many Australians who grew up watching ABC from childhood.