ABV

ABV is the call sign and local television identity of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Victorian service, based in Melbourne. It is part of ABC Television, Australia's national public-service television network, and supplies Victorian viewers with a combination of nationally distributed ABC programming and locally relevant output. Its principal local role is the production and presentation of ABC News Victoria, along with state-focused current affairs, weather, sport, election coverage and other programming adapted to Victorian audiences. The station commenced broadcasting on 19 November 1956 under the ABV-2 identity. It was the second television station established in Victoria, following HSV-7, and the fourth television station to begin broadcasting in Australia. Its launch formed part of the ABC's early expansion into television, alongside the corporation's Sydney service, ABN-2. From Melbourne, ABV's signal was distributed across Victoria through a network of relay transmitters, giving the station a statewide reach rather than limiting it to the metropolitan area. ABV's early decades were also marked by locally produced entertainment, drama, children's and music programming. Historical productions associated with the station include Variety View, Melbourne Magazine, Sweet and Low, Melody Time, the live drama Roundabout, Corinne Kerby's Let's Make a Date, Adventure Island, Power Without Glory, The Big Gig and Countdown. These programs illustrate the station's former role as more than a relay point for national output: ABV was a production centre that contributed distinctive programs to the broader ABC schedule. It also carried local sport, including Victorian Football League matches and TAC Cup finals for periods specified in the station's historical record. The station initially operated from facilities in Melbourne's inner south-east. ABV-2 moved to purpose-built studios in Gordon Street, Elsternwick, in 1958, using major studios identified as Studios 31 and 32. The ABC later consolidated its Melbourne television and radio operations at Southbank. Television news moved to Southbank in 2000, while a wider studio-production consolidation followed the approval of government financing in 2013. The Southbank facility was completed in 2017; the final program filmed at Ripponlea was Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell in November of that year, after which production was concentrated in Southbank's Studio 31. ABV's transmission history also reflects Australia's national transition from analogue to digital television. Melbourne's analogue television signal was switched off on 10 December 2013, the final metropolitan shutdown in Australia's phased conversion program. ABV now operates within the ABC's digital television environment, while its local identity remains most visible through Victorian news and state-specific coverage. ABC News Victoria has used weekday and weekend presenter teams, with sport, weather and national finance segments integrated into the bulletin structure. As a public broadcaster service rather than a separately incorporated commercial company, ABV does not have an independent stock listing, standalone ownership structure or separately reported commercial financial profile. Its significance lies in its long-running public-service role, its contribution to Australian television production and its continuing function as the ABC's principal television service for Victoria.

ABV is the Melbourne television station of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the ABC's Victorian television service. It began broadcasting on 19 November 1956, shortly after HSV-7 launched in Melbourne. This made ABV the second television station in Victoria and the fourth to launch nationally, following TCN-9 in Sydney, HSV-7 and the ABC's ABN-2 service in Sydney. From its beginning, ABV served metropolitan Melbourne while also operating through relay transmitters that extended the service throughout Victoria. Its early schedule included locally made variety, magazine, music, children's, dramatic and entertainment programs. The station's first dramatic production was Roundabout, a live half-hour play broadcast on 4 January 1957. Other historically associated programs included Variety View, Melbourne Magazine, Sweet and Low, Melody Time, Let's Make a Date, Adventure Island, Power Without Glory, The Big Gig and Countdown. These productions helped establish ABV as a significant regional production centre within the ABC rather than merely a transmitter of programs made elsewhere. The station moved to new facilities in Gordon Street, Elsternwick, in 1958. The complex included Studios 31 and 32 and remained an important base for Melbourne television production for many years. Over time, the ABC expanded and leased additional properties around the site. Television news moved to the corporation's Southbank premises in 2000, beginning a longer process of bringing Melbourne television and radio operations together. In 2013, government approval was given for a loan supporting the relocation and consolidation of studio production. The new Southbank facility was completed in 2017. The last program filmed at Ripponlea was Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell in November 2017, after which production moved into Southbank's Studio 31. The relocation represented an operational and facilities transition rather than a change in ABV's public-service remit. ABV also participated in the major technical change from analogue to digital television. Melbourne's analogue signal was switched off on 10 December 2013, the final metropolitan stage of Australia's phased analogue shutdown. The station continues as part of ABC Television's digital service, with its local identity centred on Victorian news and state coverage. The station's contemporary local output follows a schedule broadly aligned with other ABC state services while allowing for local time differences and Victorian material. ABC News Victoria has included nightly news, sport, weather and national finance segments, as well as coverage of current affairs, elections and selected sporting events. ABV historically carried Victorian Football League matches on Saturday afternoons during the season and TAC Cup finals, although the cited historical account records that these sports broadcasts continued only through 2015. ABV is not a separately listed company or independent commercial broadcaster. It is operated within the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia's national public broadcaster. Its institutional importance therefore comes from its role in providing public-interest television to Victoria, preserving a long record of Melbourne production and connecting statewide audiences with both national ABC programming and locally relevant reporting.

• 2017

  Southbank production consolidation

  [1]ABV (TV station)en.wikipedia.org

  The Southbank facility is completed and ABV production is consolidated in Studio 31 after the final Ripponlea production.

• 2013

  Analogue transmission ends in Melbourne

  [1]ABV (TV station)en.wikipedia.org

  The Melbourne analogue television signal is shut down on 10 December during Australia's digital conversion.

• 2000

  Television news moves to Southbank

  [1]ABV (TV station)en.wikipedia.org

  ABV's television news operation moves to the ABC's Southbank premises as part of a wider Melbourne consolidation.

• 1958

  Move to Elsternwick studios

  [1]ABV (TV station)en.wikipedia.org

  ABV-2 relocates to new Gordon Street studios in Elsternwick, including Studios 31 and 32.

• 1957

  First ABV dramatic production

  [1]ABV (TV station)en.wikipedia.org

  The station broadcasts Roundabout, a live 30-minute play, on 4 January.

• 1956

  ABV launches in Melbourne

  [1]ABV (TV station)en.wikipedia.org

  ABV begins broadcasting on 19 November, becoming Victoria's second television station and Australia's fourth.

A statewide public-service television station combining ABC network programming with locally produced Victorian news, current affairs, sport and civic coverage.

• Local television news

  ABC News Victoria

  ABV's principal local news service for Victorian audiences. The bulletin combines state reporting with current-affairs material, weather, sport and a national finance segment. Its schedule is structured around Melbourne and Victorian news needs while remaining part of the ABC's broader national news operation.

• Broadcast transmission · 1956

  Victorian relay television service

  ABV's television signal is distributed beyond Melbourne through relay transmitters across Victoria. This statewide transmission role allows the station to function as the ABC's Victorian television service rather than solely as a metropolitan outlet.

• Television production · 1957

  Local and historical ABV productions

  ABV has historically produced or hosted a broad range of local television, including variety, magazine, children's, dramatic, music and entertainment programs. Associated titles include Roundabout, Adventure Island, Power Without Glory, The Big Gig and Countdown.

• 2017

  Consolidation of Melbourne television production at SouthbankStrategy

  Background

  The ABC sought to consolidate Melbourne television and radio operations and modernise its studio infrastructure.

  Action taken

  After completion of the Southbank facility, ABV production moved into Studio 31 and the Ripponlea production base was retired.

  Aftermath

  Southbank became the consolidated production centre for the station's Melbourne television operations.

  Source

• 2013

  Transition from analogue to digital televisionGeneration change

  Background

  Australia implemented a phased national conversion from analogue television to digital broadcasting.

  Action taken

  ABV's Melbourne analogue signal was switched off on 10 December 2013, completing the metropolitan transition for Melbourne.

  Aftermath

  ABV continued as part of the ABC's digital television service, with statewide relay distribution and local Victorian programming.

  Source

1. 1ABV (TV station)en.wikipedia.org