We take a look in the crystal ball to see where the television industry is heading. The Australian ABC’s Jonathan Holmes and the Media Watch team did the same in 2008, and a number of their findings are still relevant today. Future of Australian TV WA TV History Veterans who worked in the television industry have witnessed many changes, not only in the technology, but the organisational adjustments too. We started off with local independent stations, which later affiliated into networks to share content and gain a program buying advantage. Eventually the individual stations were acquired...

June Holmes, formerly of STW Publicity & Programs solemnly advised that the highly respected and well liked Vick Evans has passed away. June said that Vick was a friendly and jovial work mate who, after working for a number of years at STW-9, became CEO of the Constable Care program for 14 years, and sadly passed away after a battle with motor neurone disease. Present Nine Perth Traffic Manager Alan Hooper also spoke highly of Vick, who at the time of Alan’s engagement at STW, was the Traffic Manager until about 1983. WIN’s Jenny Satchell, a former colleague and close...

The introduction of television to Australia involved predominantly newspaper owning applicants competing for the licenses. Television was anticipated to be in direct competition with the newspaper audience and the soliciting of advertisements, therefore the powerful media moguls were keen to have a part of the action. In the process, all successful applicants for Australia’s first TV stations went to newspaper publishers. Four commercial licenses were granted for the initial stations opening in 1956, two each for Sydney and Melbourne. TCN Channel 9 in Sydney, was issued to a company...

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Ron Tutt (1924-2011) a well known and respected Perth film industry identity. Daryl Binning with Ron Tutt in 2006 Ron was born in Tasmania where his father was a government photographer. He was to pursue a career as a pilot in England, prior to the second world war. During the war he flew sorties throughout Europe and North Africa employing photographic skills he had acquired for photo reconnaissance. After the war, he worked as a professional photographer in England, before heading to Hollywood in 1957, where he trained as a cinematographer. ...

West Australian artist Greg Baker has entered a portrait titled ‘Peter Harries Presents’ as a candidate for the 2011 Archibald Prize, the nation’s best-known portraiture prize. Finalists for the prize will be named on April 8 and the winner on April 15. Gallery staff member Stuart Watters looks on at the recently unpacked portrait of Peter Harries The Archibald Prize is regarded as the most important portraiture prize in Australia. It was first awarded in 1921 after a bequest from J. F. Archibald, the editor of The Bulletin who died in 1919. It is administered by the Trustees...

Lotterywest Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Industry – Jill Perryman See the glamour of the red carpet, the drama of the awards ceremony, the joy of the winners and the buzz of the party! WTV has put together a half-hour special capturing the highlights of the 2011 WASA’s. It was great night for the screen industry to celebrate the achievements of the past year by emerging and professional filmmakers. The program features interviews with nominees and recipients, industry identities and the Minister for Culture and the Arts, the Honourable John Day. The special will...

As part of Museum Week, the Australian Museum of Motion Picture and Television (AMMPT) will conduct a public presentation with demonstrations of very early equipment. Featured will be a shadow puppet theatre, Magic Lantern show and a range of early carnival and sideshow moving image attractions, which captivated young children and parents during the mid 1800’s to early 1900’s, before the cinema. Baby boomers may remember a number of these coin operated machines still existing in the 1940’s and 1950’s. Early History of the Moving Image WA TV History This video gives a glimpse of...

The importance attached to keeping our heritage differs greatly between individuals, organisations and governments. Fortunately there are many who devote their time and energy to collecting artefacts which may otherwise be lost. TV Veterans at 2009 TVW Reunion The ABC Collectors program does a wonderful job of maintaining the profile of people engaged in keeping memorabilia, by doing so in a most entertaining and informing manner. Screening on ABC TV, The Collectors explores the many aspects of collecting; from how to get started, tracking down a bargain, spotting a fake, to what’s...

We followed the demolition of the former ABW Channel 2 Television studios in Perth, Western Australia, which are making way for two new apartment buildings. UPDATE: Demolition of ABW Channel 2 Studios in Perth WA WA TV History We followed the demolition of the former ABW Channel 2 Television studios in Perth, Western Australia, which are making way for two new apartment buildings. By Monday, 24th January 2011 the television studios, offices, OB garage, props area, operational areas and West Wing were removed. Workers were also chipping away at the Radio building, with the last remnants of...

Xmas Greetings from WA TV History WA TV History Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year… May next year bring you Good Health, Happiness and considerable Prosperity. It has been another great year topped off with the West Australian newspaper providing us with some wonderful publicity in the form of a Shannon Harvey penned article that takes up most of Page 5 of the ‘Today’ section – of the Wednesday, December 15, 2010 copy. Page 5 of the West Australian ‘Today’ section – Wednesday, December 15, 2010 Please click on this...