Osterlands News Agency

The Osterlands News Agency (Den Osterlanden News Agencie) is a public broadcasting network in the Osterlands. It's primary mission is to present impartial news free of corporate funding. It was founded in 1928 as part of the National Broadcasting Act and continues to broadcast today.



Foundation
In 1925, Ernst Bruck lobbied the Osterian government for exclusive radio news broadcasting rights. Bruck already owned three national newspapers; The Herald, The Osterian Eagle and The Oster Times. Known as something of a right wing supporter, the government rejected Bruck's proposal but did establish the Broadcast Commission in 1926 which paved the way for the foundation of the Osterian Broadcasting Agency. Primarily charged with radio broadcasts, the OBA was founded to provide light entertainment programming and public news services. Funded by public subscription to the service, it's popularity was huge. The OBA established itself at Radio House in Oster City, giving rise to the daily greeting "From Oster City, this is the news" which was first delivered on the 10 June 1929 by actor Herman de Nieppe. The OBA operated as the country's only national radio station with the Osterlands News Agency founded in 1928 to provide "impartial news of national importance". Although Bruck failed to secure broadcasting rights for his private corportation, Bruck Broadcasting, he was appointed Chairman of the Osterian Broadcasting Agency in 1930 and served in the position until 1937 when his son, Guillaume Bruck took over the position. Between 1940 and 1946, the OBA ceased to broadcast but returned to public service in 1947.

Transition to Television
In 1956 under the patronage of Guillaume Bruck, the OBA trialled it's first television broadcasts via a new terrestrial channel, OBA1. This was joined by OBA2 in 1960. Broadcasts took place in black and white with news bulletins provided by the Osterlands News Agency at 9am and 9pm. Broadcasting ceased directly after the news bulletin which always ended with the National Anthem being played and an image of the Royal Family shown on the screen. In 1985, TVN was founded which began offering a third channel with it's own news service, ending the ONA monopoly on news that had existed since the early 1920s. In 2002, the ONA Channel was established offering 24 hour rolling news. It remains the most popular news service in the Osterlands.