From 1958 Report by Australian Broadcasting Control Board

 

p 37 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.c2772591&view=image&seq=321&q1=drama

There is still some hesitation on the part of stations to attempt live dramatic productions, and this has caused dissatisfaction in some quarters. There are, however, special problems, primarily financial, in the production and presentation of live drama programmes: the cost of producing such a programme is, at present, far in excess of the amount which is likely to be met by an Australian sponsor, and, at this stage, it does not seem reasonable to expect stations to carry any substantial amount of such programmes as a “station feature * or “sustaining programme ‘’. The ard would be disturbed if stations failed to keep the possibility of this type of production in mind, And it was pleased to note that, at the end of the period under review, some stations had plans for the presentation of Australian dramatic productions. It may be expected that the opportunities for the presentation of Australian productions will be greatly improved as additional stations are established.