Today (8 December) Kinglake Ranges News visited Melbourne’s Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in Southbank for ABC Open Day.
Arriving at ABC Victoria headquarters in Southbank gardening guru Costa Georgiadis greeted visitors.
First on view was a “Mole-Richardson” 1940s Hollywood design broadcast camera bought by the ABC in 1956 for black and white TV. It was in use until 2004 when digital (HD) replaced analogue TV broadcasting.
The camera (pictured below) was used to film programs such as Bellbird, Adventure Island, Countdown, ABC News and many other programs.
Using the camera was a three-person operation requiring a camera operator (seated) a driver and a swinger. It was hard work to use these cameras, especially when going live to air.
Guests were then shown artwork (wood carvings) originally commissioned for ABC Broadcast House (Corner William and Lonsdale Streets, Melbourne) in 1936.
Next was the ABC Newsroom where guests were explained all the background of putting together a 30 minute ‘sorry 28’ new bulletin. (ABC News Melbourne, 7pm).
Weekend (Friday and Saturday) ABC Melbourne news presenter Mary Gearin explained to guests how a TV newsroom works. The newsroom holds over 5000 hours of content.
Then off to Studio 38, where Insiders is broadcast live to air. Studio 38 operates in two modes, automated for news with two people and manually with 12 ‘floor’ crew for News Breakfast, The World, Insiders and Offsiders.
After the newsroom tour guests went to view the ‘on-air’ radio studios of ABC Melbourne, Triple J, ABC Classic FM and view ABC Melbourne Master Control, with nine studio pairs over two floors.
Then it was off to see the production and music recording area, where Richelle Hunt and Brian Nankervis present the Friday Review for ABC Radio Melbourne. Musicians perform in this acoustically designed room. Also can function as recording studio.
The tour concluded with a visit to the set of Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell and Charlie Pickering’s The Weekly. Once a month the same studio (31) becomes the Melbourne Q&A set.
