On 1 August 1964, Channel 10 (then called Channel 0) was first broadcast in Melbourne, and six decades later, is celebrating its 60th birthday today.
10 News First presenter Sandra Sully joined the network in the early 90s, and tells Mediaweek that since joining, she “hasn’t wanted to work anywhere else.”
“I’m thrilled to actually be a part of the 10 family for so long and I’ve stayed there so long because the culture is so good,” she said.
“It’s always been the best place to work, and I have loved the ride.”
Sully was on air on September 11, 2001, breaking the news of the terrorist attack in New York and she says to this day, it is her most memorable moment working at 10.
“It was too profound for words. I think there are several generations that will never fully appreciate what that time was like.
Sully in front of the camera on September 11, 2001
“At the time, there was only one international cable network in the country, and the world just froze. We thought we were watching the beginning of WW3 unravel before our eyes.
“That’s without doubt the most significant news event for me.”
This Is It actor and co-host Brian James said the first televised words on Channel 0, the real start to Channel 10, was a test broadcast: “This is ATV Channel O, we are broadcasting a picture and sound so you may adjust your television receiver for this new channel in the Melbourne area. If you are not receiving a clear picture, we suggest you call your service man.”
One year later, 10’s first on-air female journalist, Tanya Halesworth, made her debut alongside Bill Peach, and co-produced and anchored a current affairs show on TEN-10 called Telescope.
Halesworth was part of a group of women who became the first women to read television news bulletins in Australia, alongside Katrina Lee (Ten Eyewitness News), Margaret Throsby (ABC), and Melody Iliffe (QTQ-9).
In 1975, Channel 10 was the first station to go to air in colour. And 10 was home to Australia’s first primetime soap airing five nights a week, Number 96, and brought (at the time) taboo subjects like sex, infidelity, drugs, racism, and homosexuality into homes for the first time.
The first episode of the show in 1972 saw actress Vivienne Garrett appear topless, prompting protestors to picket the Channel 10 studios the next day.
“We’ve always been the bold, cheeky network and the one that just took risks,” Angela Bishop, entertainment reporter at 10, tells Mediaweek.
“Things like putting MasterChef primetime, which then was a little cooking show in England and definitely was not on primetime, makes me pretty proud of the place.”
Bishop celebrated 35 years at 10 this year and says the most memorable story she worked on was Oprah visiting Australia in 2010.
Angela Bishop and Oprah Winfrey
“I was one of a handful of people on the planet who knew about her coming and giving the trip away to her viewers on the show. I had to keep that in a vault, I could not tell anyone.
“I then covered her whole visit here and did the first interview with her. She’s someone I have the utmost admiration for. To be able to bring all of her adventures to view is definitely the absolute highlight for me.”
In the 80s, Neighbours began, going on to become the country’s longest-running drama. No TV wedding has topped Scott and Charlene’s in July 1987. In 2018, the show aired TV’s first legal same sex wedding, officiated by Magda Szubanski.
Ten said in a release: “While we can’t list all our favourite and memorable moments and whether you’ve joined us from your living room, travelled with us to the jungle, cooked with us, watched breaking news with us, cheered with us, giggled with us in the studio, on the set of a game show or on a panel, here’s to many more years of laughs, drama, and maybe a few more kidnappings in Ramsay Street.
“Thank you, our Aussie viewers, for being a part of our incredible story, we are your number one fan.”