ABQ
Channels
Programming
AffiliationsABC Television
Ownership
OwnerAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
History
First air date
2 November 1959 (1959-11-02)
Former channel number(s)
Analog: 2 (VHF) (1959–2013)
Call sign meaning
ABC Queensland
Technical information
ERP200 kW (analog)
50 kW (digital)
HAAT336 m (analog)
355 m (digital)[1]
Transmitter coordinates27°27′52″S 152°56′51″E / 27.46444°S 152.94750°E / -27.46444; 152.94750 (ABQ)
Links
Websitewww.abc.net.au/tv/

ABC Television in Queensland comprises national programming on the ABC television network in or from Brisbane, Queensland which broadcasts on a number of channels under the ABC call sign. There is some local programming from the Brisbane studio.

ABQ or ABQ-2 was the historic call sign of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's television station in Brisbane, which began broadcasting on 2 November 1959 as the third television station in Queensland and Brisbane.[2] with the "Q" in the call sign standing for Queensland.

ABC Television in Brisbane is based at a purpose-built headquarters on the South Bank. The station is received throughout the state through a number of relay transmitters.

History

ABC Television started broadcasting from Brisbane on 2 November 1959, with the "Q" in the call sign standing for Queensland.

Available by satellite transmission on the now defunct Optus Aurora free-to-view platform during the 2000s, ABC's digital channels have been available via the Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) network since 2010.

For many years, the station was based at studios in the inner-western suburb of Toowong, with a transmitter at Mount Coot-tha. In December 2006, the Toowong studios were closed after an unacceptably high rate of breast cancer has been observed at the facility. An independent study examined 10 cases of breast cancer reported at the studios, and found the incidence rate was 11 times higher than the general working community.[3] led to the closure of the site in December 2006,[4] TV and radio operations were moved to alternative locations around the city.[5]

Staff worked from several sites around Brisbane, with ABC Radio based in nearby Lissner Street in Toowong, ABC News staff working from Network Ten's Mount Coot-tha studios, ABC Innovation and Online staff working at QUT Kelvin Grove, and other staff based in other locations, including Coronation Drive and West End. On 10 January 2012, ABC Brisbane moved into new purpose-built accommodation in South Bank.[6]

The analogue signal for Brisbane/Gold Coast/Sunshine Coast was shut off on May 28, 2013.[7][8]

ABC Television in Brisbane today

ABC Building, South Bank, Brisbane, 2013

All ABC operations are located in the South Bank building. As of 2021 there is a large number of transmitters broadcasting a number of ABC channels throughout Queensland.[9]

Programming

ABC Television in Brisbane schedule largely consists of national programming with opt-outs for news and current affairs, rugby league and state election coverage.

Local programming

ABC News Queensland is presented by Matt Wordsworth (Monday – Thursday) and Jessica van Vonderen (Friday – Sunday). Weather is presented by Jenny Woodward (Monday – Friday) and Craig Zonca (Sunday). Finance is presented by Alan Kohler in Melbourne.

Past presenters of the bulletin have included Rod Young and Andrew Lofthouse, both of whom went on to read the flagship 6:00 pm bulletins on Seven and Nine respectively. The pair opposed each other in this timeslot between mid-2009 and late-2012, during which the Seven bulletin co-read by Young and Kay McGrath consistently rated higher than the Nine bulletin co-read by Lofthouse and Melissa Downes (as of 2017, however, Nine has regained the lead in the south-east Queensland ratings).[10][11][12][13]

Relay stations

The following stations currently or formerly relay ABQ throughout Queensland:

Call Region served City Channels
(Analog/
digital)
First air date 3rd letter's
meaning
ERP
(Analog/
digital)
HAAT
(Analog/
digital)
1
Transmitter coordinates Transmitter location
ABAQ Alpha Alpha 8 (VHF)
NA
19 December 1974 Alpha 0.021 kW 88 m 23°37′5″S 146°37′49″E / 23.61806°S 146.63028°E / -23.61806; 146.63028 (ABAQ) Alpha
ABAAQ Augathella Augathella 11 (VHF)
NA
8 March 1974 AugathellA 0.021 kW 51 m 25°48′23″S 146°35′21″E / 25.80639°S 146.58917°E / -25.80639; 146.58917 (ABAAQ) Augathella
ABBQ Barcaldine Barcaldine 10 (VHF)
7 (VHF)
19 December 1974 Barcaldine 0.02 kW
0.005 kW
61 m
61 m
23°31′43″S 145°15′33″E / 23.52861°S 145.25917°E / -23.52861; 145.25917 (ABBQ) Barcaldine
ABBLQ Blackall Blackall 9 (VHF)
7 (VHF)
19 December 1974 BlackalL 0.2 kW
0.05 kW
61 m
66 m
24°25′53″S 145°29′48″E / 24.43139°S 145.49667°E / -24.43139; 145.49667 (ABBLQ) Blackall
ABCAQ Cunnamulla Cunnamulla 10 (VHF)
NA
8 March 1974 CunnamullA 0.026 kW 41 m 28°2′54″S 145°42′6″E / 28.04833°S 145.70167°E / -28.04833; 145.70167 (ABCAQ) Cunnamulla
ABCEQ Charleville Charleville 9 (VHF)
11 (VHF)
8 March 1974 CharlevillE 0.26 kW
0.065 kW
99 m
99 m
26°24′59″S 146°21′20″E / 26.41639°S 146.35556°E / -26.41639; 146.35556 (ABCEQ) Charleville
ABCLQ Cloncurry Cloncurry 7 (VHF)
6 (VHF)
17 March 1971 CLoncurry 0.2 kW
0.05 kW
115 m
115 m
20°43′21″S 140°32′21″E / 20.72250°S 140.53917°E / -20.72250; 140.53917 (ABCLQ) Mount Avarice
ABCTQ Clermont Clermont 10 (VHF)
54 (UHF)
19 December 1974 ClermonT 0.1 kW
0.2 kW
89 m
80 m
22°51′22″S 147°38′39″E / 22.85611°S 147.64417°E / -22.85611; 147.64417 (ABCTQ) Clermont
ABDQ Darling Downs Toowoomba 32 (UHF)2 6
37 (UHF)
16 December 1963 Darling Downs 1600 kW
500 kW
570 m
549 m
26°53′32″S 151°36′29″E / 26.89222°S 151.60806°E / -26.89222; 151.60806 (ABDQ) Mount Mowbullan
ABDIQ Dirranbandi Dirranbandi 7 (VHF)
NA
8 March 1974 DirranbandI 0.016 kW 65 m 28°33′28″S 148°15′1″E / 28.55778°S 148.25028°E / -28.55778; 148.25028 (ABDIQ) Dirranbandi
ABEQ Emerald Emerald 11 (VHF)
9 (VHF)
21 December 1973 Emerald 2 kW
0.625 kW
92 m
92 m
23°28′28″S 148°9′4″E / 23.47444°S 148.15111°E / -23.47444; 148.15111 (ABEQ) Emerald
ABGQ Goondiwindi Goondiwindi 6 (VHF)
56 (UHF)
9 July 1973 Goondiwindi 0.5 kW
0.625 kW
41 m
49 m
28°31′9″S 150°20′16″E / 28.51917°S 150.33778°E / -28.51917; 150.33778 (ABGQ) Goondiwindi
ABHQ Hughenden Hughenden 9 (VHF)
8 (VHF)
30 June 1971 Hughenden 0.2 kW
0.125 kW
80 m
80 m
20°50′53″S 144°11′9″E / 20.84806°S 144.18583°E / -20.84806; 144.18583 (ABHQ) Hughenden
ABIQ Mount Isa Mount Isa 6 (VHF)
7 (VHF)
21 December 1970 Mount Isa 1.6 kW
0.4 kW
72 m
75 m
20°44′4″S 139°30′45″E / 20.73444°S 139.51250°E / -20.73444; 139.51250 (ABIQ) DCA Hill
ABJQ Julia Creek Julia Creek 10 (VHF)
NA
20 April 1971 Julia Creek 0.2 kW 65 m 20°39′9″S 141°44′23″E / 20.65250°S 141.73972°E / -20.65250; 141.73972 (ABJQ) Julia Creek
ABLQ Longreach Longreach 6 (VHF)
10 (VHF)
19 December 1974 Longreach 0.7 kW
0.175 kW
69 m
69 m
23°27′22″S 144°21′6″E / 23.45611°S 144.35167°E / -23.45611; 144.35167 (ABLQ) Longreach
ABMQ Mackay Mackay 8 (VHF)3 6
10 (VHF)
21 December 1967 Mackay 360 kW
90 kW
611 m
613 m
21°1′56″S 148°56′36″E / 21.03222°S 148.94333°E / -21.03222; 148.94333 (ABMQ) Mount Blackwood
ABMKQ Mary Kathleen Mary Kathleen 9 (VHF)

(shut down in 1982)

15 December 1971 Mary

Kathleen

Unknown

NA

Unknown

NA

Unknown

NA

Mary

Kathleen

ABMLQ Mitchell Mitchell 6 (VHF)
12 (VHF)
8 March 1974 MitchelL 0.2 kW
0.05 kW
149 m
149 m
26°32′35″S 148°6′41″E / 26.54306°S 148.11139°E / -26.54306; 148.11139 (ABMLQ) Mitchell Escarpment
ABMNQ Morven Morven 7 (VHF)
NA
8 March 1974 MorveN 0.13 kW 133 m 26°30′20″S 147°8′4″E / 26.50556°S 147.13444°E / -26.50556; 147.13444 (ABMNQ) Morven
ABMSQ Miles Miles 9 (VHF)
63 (UHF)
30 November 1973 MileS 0.32 kW
0.8 kW
132 m
132 m
26°38′58″S 150°16′14″E / 26.64944°S 150.27056°E / -26.64944; 150.27056 (ABMSQ) Miles Hill
ABNQ Cairns Cairns 9 (VHF)6
8 (VHF)
25 July 1966 North 200 kW
50 kW
1190 m
1190 m
17°15′51″S 145°51′14″E / 17.26417°S 145.85389°E / -17.26417; 145.85389 (ABNQ) Mount Bellenden Ker
ABRQ Rockhampton Rockhampton 9 (VHF)4 6
11 (VHF)
21 December 1963 Rockhampton 160 kW
50 kW
495 m
495 m
23°43′48″S 150°32′9″E / 23.73000°S 150.53583°E / -23.73000; 150.53583 (ABRQ) Mount Hopeful
ABRAQ Roma Roma 7 (VHF)
8 (VHF)
14 December 1973 RomA 2 kW
0.5 kW
103 m
105 m
26°34′20″S 148°51′1″E / 26.57222°S 148.85028°E / -26.57222; 148.85028 (ABRAQ) Timbury Hills
ABRDQ Richmond Richmond 6 (VHF)
7 (VHF)
4 June 1971 RichmonD 0.2 kW
0.05 kW
70 m
70 m
20°45′0″S 143°9′29″E / 20.75000°S 143.15806°E / -20.75000; 143.15806 (ABRDQ) Richmond
ABSQ Southern Downs Warwick 1 (VHF)6
45 (UHF)
4 July 1966 Southern Downs 200 kW
500 kW
255 m
316 m
28°32′9″S 151°49′58″E / 28.53583°S 151.83278°E / -28.53583; 151.83278 (ABSQ) Passchendaele Ridge
ABSEQ Springsure Springsure 8 (VHF)5
46 (UHF)
19 December 1974 SpringsurE 0.8 kW
2 kW
280 m
283 m
24°8′31″S 148°9′1″E / 24.14194°S 148.15028°E / -24.14194; 148.15028 (ABSEQ) Roddas Lookout
ABSGQ St. George St. George 8 (VHF)
12 (VHF)
8 March 1974 St. George 0.13 kW
0.033 kW
63 m
64 m
27°59′40″S 148°34′1″E / 27.99444°S 148.56694°E / -27.99444; 148.56694 (ABSGQ) St. George
ABTQ Townsville Townsville 3 (VHF)6
31 (UHF)
21 September 1964 Townsville 160 kW
200 kW
635 m
644 m
19°20′36″S 146°46′50″E / 19.34333°S 146.78056°E / -19.34333; 146.78056 (ABTQ) Mount Stuart
ABWQ Wide Bay Maryborough 6 (VHF)6
9A (VHF)
8 October 1965 Wide Bay 240 kW
60 kW
601 m
646 m
25°25′37″S 152°7′3″E / 25.42694°S 152.11750°E / -25.42694; 152.11750 (ABWQ) Mount Goonaneman
ABWNQ Winton Winton 8 (VHF)
7 (VHF)
15 November 1974 WintoN 1.6 kW
0.4 kW
97 m
94 m
22°14′31″S 143°2′57″E / 22.24194°S 143.04917°E / -22.24194; 143.04917 (ABWNQ) Rangelands

Notes:

  • 1. HAAT estimated from http://www.itu.int/SRTM3/ using EHAAT.
  • 2. ABDQ was on VHF channel 3 from its 1963 sign-on until 1993, moving to its current channel in order to accommodate FM radio.
  • 3. ABMQ was on VHF channel 4 from its 1967 sign-on until 1988, moving to its current channel in order to accommodate FM radio.
  • 4. ABRQ was on VHF channel 3 from its 1963 sign-on until 1988, moving to its current channel in order to accommodate FM radio.
  • 5. ABSEQ was on VHF channel 9 from its 1974 sign-on until 1989.
  • 6. ABMKQ was on VHF channel 9 from its 1974 sign-on until the town was abandoned, making the relay station shut down in 1982.

See also

References

  1. HAAT estimated from http://www.itu.int/SRTM3/ using EHAAT.
  2. "THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CONTROL BOARD FOR YEAR 1960-61" (PDF). nla.gov.au. The Parliament Of the Commonwealth Of Australia. p. 26. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  3. ABC Toowong to close after cancer scare
  4. Robinson, Georgina (19 December 2007). "Cancer case no 16 for ABC". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 20 December 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  5. "New Studies to be completed on ABC Toowong site" (Press release). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 17 August 2007. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2007.
  6. "ABC News arrives at Brisbane's new HQ". ABC. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  7. "Analogue TV gets an official switch-off date". Lifehacker Australia. 25 June 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  8. Knox, David (28 May 2013). "Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast switch off analog TV". TV Tonight.
  9. Australian Communications and Media Authority (April 2021). "Section 7: Television Callsign order (by state)" (PDF). Radio and television broadcasting stations: Internet edition (PDF). ACMA. p. 192-187. Retrieved 18 June 2021. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.
  10. Hunter, Clare (3 October 2011). "Seven dominates Nine in TV ratings". Queensland University of Technology. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  11. "SEVEN WINS THE 2009 RATINGS YEAR IN SEQ". Yahoo!7. 30 November 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  12. "50 Years of Brisbane TV-Part 1 Good night and Goodbye: Farewells from the newsdesk..." Kuttsywood. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  13. HowieBennett9 (3 September 2017). "Congratulations @9NewsQueensland team winning 7 day ratings year @AlisonAriotti @DarrenCurtis9 @9MelissaDownes @Loftea #9NewsAt6". Twitter. Retrieved 3 September 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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