[austvarchive]

Australia didnt get color until 1975

There were a few test transmissions done by ATV0 in the late 60's, but this was NTSC broadcast using a camera borrowed from the states - it would not have been viewable or compatible with any of the equipment


There were also color demos at the royal melbourne show around the same time, but these were closed circuit and not aired.

We were to go with PAL in 69/70 around the time the british did, but it was delayed and delayed by the government, until the official start date in early 1975.

Most videotape machines were color capable and some broadcasts prior to the official date were possibly color, but they got into trouble many times so were forced to kill the color signal at the transmitter.

There were however very few models of cameras prior to 1974 in australia, most cameras were still monochrome image orthicon models up until 75, most stations ordered in color cameras around 1974, and the release of the models used here usually co-incides with that date.