Bruce Gyngell
Encyclopedia
Bruce Gyngell was a hugely influential Australia
n television
executive, prominent for 50 years in both Australian and U.K. television. Although Gyngell began his career in radio, in the 1950s he stepped into the arena of early television broadcasting, helping to set up Channel 9
, the first commercial TV station in Australia. He is credited with introducing the sofa format of breakfast television and in later life, for expressing his attraction to eastern ideas which ranged through Zen Buddhism, meditation and Insight philosophy.
, Victoria
. According to the Guardian, among Gyngell's relatives were an assorted lot of entrepreneurs. His great-grandfather was the pyrotechnician for the wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
, while his grandfather, who settled in Australia, introduced cider-making
to the continent. His father ran a flying circus
before becoming an engineer with Mobil
, and his mother was of Irish extraction.
He was a pupil at Sydney Grammar School and briefly studied medicine. He worked as a disc jockey
for the ABC
, and joined the University air squadron but the Korean war
ended before he had a chance to participate.
. He was soon poached by Sir Frank Packer
, who hired him to assist in the establishment of TCN
-9, Australia
's first commercial television station, in 1956. Gyngell is often credited as being the first person to appear on Australian television
on 16 September 1956, when he spoke the words, "Good evening, and welcome to television". However, many people (possibly several hundred) had already appeared in various television test broadcasts in Australia prior to Gyngell, including performer Alan Rowe
, comedy duo "Ada & Elsie", "Happy" Hammond, and Graham Kennedy
.
During the 1970s Gyngell was the head of many television networks in Australia
, including the Nine Network
, the Seven Network
and also as deputy chairman of ATV
in the United Kingdom
. He was also the first Chief Executive of the Special Broadcasting Service
(SBS
) in Australia during the 1980s. Gyngell also created the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal, the forerunner of the Australian Broadcasting Authority
, and was its first Chairman in 1977. In the United Kingdom
, he was Managing Director at TV-am
between 1984 and 1993, and Yorkshire Television
(which by then had become "Yorkshire-Tyne Tees Television" after taking over Tyne Tees Television
).
Gyngell would repeat his opening night words upon the opening of the Special Broadcasting Service
in 1980, and again in 1995, when cable television
with (Optus Television
). He was the founder of the Nine Network
's most popular music-variety program, the long-running Bandstand
, which he had adapted from the American program of the same name.
from a cancer-related illness. Upon Gyngell's death, the Prime Minister of Australia
John Howard
paid tribute to him, saying, "It's a big loss to the Australia
n television industry. In a way, he probably contributed more to the industry than just about any other Australian."
Gyngell married twice and had five children. The first time to Ann Barr with whom he had three children, designer Briony Gyngell, restaurateur and chef Skye Gyngell, and Nine Network
CEO David Gyngell
, who is married to Leila McKinnon
. In 1986 he married Kathy Rowan, a TV-AM producer. They had two sons, Adam and Jamie.
The comedian Kym Gyngell
is the son of his cousin Peter.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
executive, prominent for 50 years in both Australian and U.K. television. Although Gyngell began his career in radio, in the 1950s he stepped into the arena of early television broadcasting, helping to set up Channel 9
Channel 9
- Asia and Pacific :* Channel 9 * DZKB-TV Channel 9, the flagship television station of Radio Philippines Network* Modernine TV, formerly known as Channel 9 * Nine Network, Australia* TV9 * TV9 * TV9...
, the first commercial TV station in Australia. He is credited with introducing the sofa format of breakfast television and in later life, for expressing his attraction to eastern ideas which ranged through Zen Buddhism, meditation and Insight philosophy.
Early life
Gyngell was born 8 July 1929 in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. According to the Guardian, among Gyngell's relatives were an assorted lot of entrepreneurs. His great-grandfather was the pyrotechnician for the wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
Prince Albert
Prince Albert was the husband and consort of Queen Victoria.Prince Albert may also refer to:-Royalty:*Prince Albert Edward or Edward VII of the United Kingdom , son of Albert and Victoria...
, while his grandfather, who settled in Australia, introduced cider-making
Cider
Cider or cyder is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from apple juice. Cider varies in alcohol content from 2% abv to 8.5% abv or more in traditional English ciders. In some regions, such as Germany and America, cider may be termed "apple wine"...
to the continent. His father ran a flying circus
Flying Circus
Flying Circus may mean:In aviation:*Jagdgeschwader 1 , a German World War I fighter wing commanded by Manfred von Richthofen at one point*The American World War II air corps led by Joe Foss...
before becoming an engineer with Mobil
Mobil
Mobil, previously known as the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, was a major American oil company which merged with Exxon in 1999 to form ExxonMobil. Today Mobil continues as a major brand name within the combined company, as well as still being a gas station sometimes paired with their own store or On...
, and his mother was of Irish extraction.
He was a pupil at Sydney Grammar School and briefly studied medicine. He worked as a disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
for the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
, and joined the University air squadron but the Korean war
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
ended before he had a chance to participate.
Career
Gyngell's media career began in the record industry, in the mid-1950s, when he was hired by Australian label Festival RecordsFestival Records (Australia)
Festival Records was an Australian music recording and publishing company which was founded in Sydney in 1952 and operated until 2005....
. He was soon poached by Sir Frank Packer
Frank Packer
Sir Douglas Frank Hewson Packer, KBE , was an Australian media proprietor who controlled Australian Consolidated Press and the Nine Network.-Biography:...
, who hired him to assist in the establishment of TCN
TCN
TCN stands for:* Take Care Now, a private company providing out-of-hours medical cover in England* TanenbaumCHAT North Campus, a private Hebrew high school in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada* TCN-9, a Sydney television station...
-9, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's first commercial television station, in 1956. Gyngell is often credited as being the first person to appear on Australian television
Australian television
Television in Australia began experimentally as early as 1929 in Melbourne with stations 3DB and 3UZ using the Radiovision system by Gilbert Miles and Donal McDonald, and later from other locations, such as Brisbane in 1934....
on 16 September 1956, when he spoke the words, "Good evening, and welcome to television". However, many people (possibly several hundred) had already appeared in various television test broadcasts in Australia prior to Gyngell, including performer Alan Rowe
Alan Rowe
Alan Rowe was a New Zealand-born English actor, perhaps best known for his appearances on the British science fiction programme Doctor Who.-Career:...
, comedy duo "Ada & Elsie", "Happy" Hammond, and Graham Kennedy
Graham Kennedy
Graham Cyril Kennedy, AO was an Australian radio, television and film performer, often called Gra Gra and The King of Australian television.-Childhood:...
.
During the 1970s Gyngell was the head of many television networks in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, including the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
, the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
and also as deputy chairman of ATV
Associated TeleVision
Associated Television, often referred to as ATV, was a British television company, holder of various licences to broadcast on the ITV network from 24 September 1955 until 00:34 on 1 January 1982...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He was also the first Chief Executive of the Special Broadcasting Service
Special Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
(SBS
Special Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
) in Australia during the 1980s. Gyngell also created the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal, the forerunner of the Australian Broadcasting Authority
Australian Broadcasting Authority
The Australian Broadcasting Authority was an Australian government agency whose main roles were to regulate broadcasting, radiocommunications and telecommunications....
, and was its first Chairman in 1977. In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, he was Managing Director at TV-am
TV-am
TV-am was a breakfast television station that broadcast to the United Kingdom from 1 February 1983 to 31 December 1992. It made history by being the first national operator of a commercial television franchise at breakfast-time , and broadcast every day of the week for most or all of the period...
between 1984 and 1993, and Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television, now officially known as ITV Yorkshire and sometimes unofficially abbreviated to YTV, is a British television broadcaster and the contractor for the Yorkshire franchise area on the ITV network...
(which by then had become "Yorkshire-Tyne Tees Television" after taking over Tyne Tees Television
Tyne Tees Television
Tyne Tees Television is the ITV television franchise for North East England and parts of North Yorkshire. As of 2009, it forms part of a non-franchise ITV Tyne Tees & Border region, shared with the ITV Border region...
).
Gyngell would repeat his opening night words upon the opening of the Special Broadcasting Service
Special Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
in 1980, and again in 1995, when cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
with (Optus Television
Optus Television
Optus Television is the cable television division of Australian telecommunications company Optus.-History:Its immediate predecessor was Optus Vision, a joint venture between, Optus and Continental Cablevision with small shareholdings by media companies Publishing and Broadcasting Limited and Seven...
). He was the founder of the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
's most popular music-variety program, the long-running Bandstand
Bandstand (Australia)
Bandstand was an Australian musical/variety television show which screened from November 1958 to 1972. It was produced at the studios of TCN-9 in Sydney and eventually became a national program as Nine Network expanded into other Australian cities in the early 1960s.Bandstand was created by Nine...
, which he had adapted from the American program of the same name.
Death
Gyngell died at the age of 71, on 7 September 2000 in Chelsea, LondonChelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
from a cancer-related illness. Upon Gyngell's death, the Prime Minister of Australia
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
paid tribute to him, saying, "It's a big loss to the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n television industry. In a way, he probably contributed more to the industry than just about any other Australian."
Personal life
Gyngell followed a macrobiotic diet for much of his later life.Gyngell married twice and had five children. The first time to Ann Barr with whom he had three children, designer Briony Gyngell, restaurateur and chef Skye Gyngell, and Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
CEO David Gyngell
David Gyngell
David Gyngell is the CEO of Australian commercial broadcasting network Channel Nine. He is currently serving his second stint as CEO after resigning from the job in May 2005...
, who is married to Leila McKinnon
Leila McKinnon
Leila McKinnon is an Australian journalist.McKinnon is currently co-host of Weekend Today an is also a reporter and fill in presenter for Nine News and A Current Affair.-Career:...
. In 1986 he married Kathy Rowan, a TV-AM producer. They had two sons, Adam and Jamie.
The comedian Kym Gyngell
Kym Gyngell
Kym Gyngell is an Australian AFI award winning comedian and film, television and stage actor...
is the son of his cousin Peter.