On 5 November 1956, the Australian Broadcasting Commission's television service ABN Channel 2 began transmission. Television was just months old in Australia with TCN-9, HSV-7 and GTV-9 having started in September.

ABC television's opening ceremony was produced from an outside broadcast van parked on Kellett Street in Kings Cross, Sydney and relayed from a stumpy mast across the Harbour Bridge at Gore Hill.

Only Sydney audiences saw the opening of the 'national television service' which was national in name only. It was Melbourne's turn two weeks later when ABV Channel 2 began transmission on the eve of the Olympic Games.