The Australian Mint is releasing a 50th anniversary Countdown coin today
A unique, vibrant tribute to one of Australia’s favourite TV shows, we are delighted to present the Royal Australian Mint’s Countdown 50th Anniversary 2024 50c Colour Uncirculated Coin! First going to air on November the 8th, 1974, Countdown ran for fourteen seasons and 563 episodes before the last show was aired on the 19th of July, 1987. During that time, Countdown established itself as the most popular music program in Australian TV history. One of the first Australian TV series to be made entirely in colour, rather than black & white, watching Countdown from 6pm every Sunday became a ritual in thousands of homes across Australia.
The ‘countdown’ of the Top 10 singles on the Aussie charts at the end of program was an unmissable finale. Led by its inimitable host, music icon Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum, Countdown was unashamed in its promotion of Australian musical talent. In the early 1970s, the proportion of Aussie acts in the charts had hit an all-time low, and Countdown was crucial in turning that around. In addition, the show gave exposure to international acts that were regularly ignored by commercial radio, and also played a key role in the widespread recognition of the importance of video clips in the global music industry.
The perfect way to pay homage to the cultural phenomenon that was Countdown, this new Australian legal tender coin features the show’s iconic logo on a retro TV set, surrounded by a very 1970s multi-coloured motif. A must-have for anyone who watched Countdown growing up, and any Aussie music fan, this unique, one-year-only type is an essential acquisition for collectors. Why? Because, not to be issued for circulation and never found in change, this is the only way you can keep your collection complete! With just 50,000 coins struck – each set in a bright, colourful, official card – and our allocation strictly limited, we must impose a limit of two coins per household.
Nine Network should revive the 9DVD brand with a retro streaming channel (via Stan or 9Now) in addition to a joint venture with network and production companies
Following from heyhey.tv’s digitising success, the DVD follow ups are to accommodate the digitising the old analogue tapes from the Nine Network’s former shows and special events from the network’s video library and clips as well as rare unaired footage.
Time to go through Bert’s, Don’s and Graham’s trash again…as well as Mike Walsh’s and Ray Martin’s historic days…as well as full Logie Awards ceremonies when Nine had the long-time broadcast rights
Last weekend Adelaide TV icon Anne ‘Willsy’ Wills celebrated her 80th Birthday - Willsy still holds the record for the most Logies awarded to a single individual.
