1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910672439003321

Autore

Thurlow Michael

Titolo

A History of Regional Commercial Television in Australia / / Michael Thurlow

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cham, Switzerland : , : Palgrave Macmillan, , [2022]

©2022

ISBN

9783031109447

9783031109430

Edizione

[1st ed. 2022.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (511 pages)

Disciplina

302.23

Soggetti

Local mass media

Television broadcasting - Australia

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references (pages 447-466) and index.

Nota di contenuto

1. Introduction -- PART I: ESTABLISHMENT (TO 1966) -- 2. Power and Politics -- 3. Monopolies and Manoeuvres -- PART II: EXPANSION (1966-76) -- 4. Dualities and Downturns -- 5. Colour and Contrasts -- PART III: MATURATION (1976-86) -- 6. Prosperity and Promise -- 7. Security and Status -- PART IV: EQUALISATION (1986-99) -- 8. Aggregation and Aggravation -- 9. Patronage and Protection -- PART V: DISRUPTION (2000-21) -- 10. Incumbency and Influence -- 11. Reform and Rationalisation -- 12. Conclusion.

Sommario/riassunto

‘Monumental and elegantly constructed … an extraordinary tale of opportunities won and lost.’ – Sue Turnbull, University of Wollongong, Australia ‘An impeccably researched, wide-ranging study of one of Australia’s most overlooked but dynamic media sectors.’ – Bridget Griffen-Foley, Macquarie University, Australia ‘A major contribution to the field of media and television history.’ – Jamie Medhurst, Aberystwyth University, UK This book is the first history of commercial television in regional Australia, where diverse communities are spread across vast distances and multiple time zones. The first station, GLV Latrobe Valley, began broadcasting in December 1961. By the late 1970s, there were 35 independent commercial stations throughout regional Australia, from Cairns in the far north-east to Bunbury in the



far south-west. Based on fine-grained archival research and extensive interviews, the book examines the key political, regulatory, economic, technological, industrial, and social developments which have shaped the industry over the past 60 years. Regional television is often dismissed as a mere extension of – or footnote to – the development of Australia’s three metropolitan commercial television networks. Michael Thurlow’s study reveals an industry which, at its peak, was at the economic and social heart of regional communities, employing thousands of people and providing vital programming for viewers in provincial cities and small towns across Australia. Michael Thurlow is a media scholar and historian with a PhD from Macquarie University, Australia. He is a former regional commercial television journalist, presenter, and producer. .