African Broadcasting Company
The first commercial broadcaster
In 1927 I.W. Schlesinger obtained permission from the South African government to establish a commercial organisation, the African Broadcasting Company (ABC). ABC offered a number of novel services, including time signals, reports on market prices, news, sports reports, weather forecasts, and advertisements. Music was also provided by a live studio orchestra. The ABC was active till 1936, when it was taken over by the newly founded national broadcaster, the SABC.
(EC/PF)
The ABC Drama Company
By 1928 an ABC Drama Company had also been formed and it broadcast its first production - The Marriage ... will not take place by Alfred Sutro (1863-1933) - in the same year. This sparked off a tremendous interest in radio drama as a medium.
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