Bruce Gyngell facts for kids

Bruce Gyngell (born 8 July 1929 – died 7 September 2000) was a very important person in Australian and British television. He worked in TV for over 40 years. Bruce started his career in radio. But in the 1950s, he helped create Channel 9. This was Australia's first commercial TV station. He also led a breakfast TV company in the UK called TV-am. Later in his life, he became interested in ideas from Eastern cultures. These included Zen Buddhism and meditation.

Early Life and Beginnings

Bruce Gyngell was born in Melbourne, Australia, on 8 July 1929. His family had a history of being creative and business-minded. For example, his great-grandfather was a pyrotechnician, someone who creates fireworks. He made fireworks for the wedding of Queen Victoria. Bruce's grandfather brought cider-making to Australia. His father ran a flying circus before becoming an engineer.

Bruce went to Sydney Grammar School. For a short time, he studied medicine. He also worked as a disc jockey for the ABC. He joined the University Air Squadron, but the Korean War ended before he could serve.

A Career in Television

Bruce Gyngell's media journey began in the music business. In the mid-1950s, he worked for Festival Records. Soon after, Sir Frank Packer hired him. Bruce's job was to help set up TCN-9. This was Australia's very first commercial TV station. It opened in 1956.

Many people say Bruce was the first person to appear on Australian television. On 16 September 1956, he famously said, "Good evening, and welcome to television." He was also the first TV quiz show host in Australia. However, many others had appeared on test broadcasts before him.

Leading TV Networks

From 1964, Bruce became the managing director of the Nine Network. Then, in 1969, he moved to the Seven Network. In 1972, he became a leader at ATV in the United Kingdom. He also chaired a planning committee for the ITV network.

After leaving ATV, he became the first chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal in 1977. This group later became the Australian Broadcasting Authority. From 1980, he was the first chief executive of Australia's Channel 0. This channel is now known as the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS).

Saving TV-am in the UK

Bruce Gyngell went back to the UK in 1984. He became the managing director at TV-am, a breakfast television company. He is known for creating the "sofa format" for breakfast TV. TV-am had a very difficult start in 1983. It was losing a lot of money and almost went bankrupt. Bruce helped save the company.

Kerry Packer, who owned a large part of TV-am, insisted Bruce take the job. During a strike by technicians, Bruce had to make tough decisions. Managers even became cameramen to keep the shows on air.

Return to Australia

In 1993, Bruce returned to Australia. He became the chief executive of the Nine Network again. In 1995, he joined Yorkshire Television in the UK. He oversaw a rebranding of Tyne Tees Television to "Channel 3 North East." He hoped to use this "Channel 3" brand across the whole ITV network. Bruce stayed with the company until 1997.

Bruce repeated his famous opening night words two more times. He said them when the Special Broadcasting Service opened in 1980. He also said them in 1995 when Optus Television started cable TV. He was also the founder of the Nine Network's music show, Bandstand. He got the idea from the US show American Bandstand.

Personal Life

Bruce Gyngell followed a special macrobiotic diet later in his life. He was married twice and had five children. His first wife was Ann Barr, an interior designer. They had three children: Briony, Skye, and David Gyngell. David later became a CEO of the Nine Network. In 1986, Bruce married Kathy Rowan, a TV producer. They had two sons, Adam and Jamie.

Death

Bruce Gyngell passed away on 7 September 2000, at age 71. He died in Chelsea, London, from lung cancer, even though he did not smoke. After his death, the Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, honored him. He said Bruce contributed greatly to Australian television.

Filmography

• Name That Tune (1956)