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GTV (Australian TV station)

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GTV is a commercial television station in Melbourne, Australia, owned by the Nine Network. The station is currently based at a new high-tech, purpose-built studios at 717 Bourke Street, Docklands.

History

File:GTV1956.png
GTV-9 logo 1957-1970
GTV-9 former premises in Richmond

GTV was amongst the first television stations to begin regular transmission in Australia. Test transmissions began on 27 September 1956, introduced by former 3DB radio announcer Geoff Corke, based at the Mt Dandenong transmitter, as the studios in Richmond were not yet ready.[1] The station was officially opened on 19 January 1957[2] by Victorian Governor Sir Dallas Brooks from the studios in Bendigo Street, Richmond. A clip from the ceremony has featured in a number of GTV retrospectives, in which the Governor advises viewers that if they did not like the programs, they could just turn off.

GTV former front gate

The Richmond building, bearing the name Television City, had been converted from a Heinz tinned food factory, also occupied in the past by the Wertheim Piano Company (from 1908–1935).[3][4] A cornerstone, now visible from the staff canteen courtyard, was laid when construction of the Piano factory began.

Eric Pearce was appointed senior newsreader in the late 1960s, after having been the first newsreader at rival station HSV-7. He held that position for almost twenty years.[citation needed] In 1957, GTV-9's first large-scale production was the nightly variety show In Melbourne Tonight ("IMT"), hosted by Graham Kennedy. Kennedy was a radio announcer at 3UZ in Melbourne before being 'discovered' by GTV-9 producer Norm Spencer, when appearing on a GTV telethon. Bert Newton moved from HSV-7 to join Kennedy. IMT continued for thirteen years, dominating Melbourne's television scene for most of that time. It set a precedent for a number of subsequent live variety programmes from the station.[citation needed]

Ownership has changed over the decades. The station was first licensed to the General Television Corporation Ltd., a consortium of two newspapers, The Argus and The Age, together with cinema chains Hoyts, Greater Union, Sir Arthur Warner's Electronic Industries, JC William's Theatres, Cinesound Productions, and radio stations 3XY, 3UZ, 3KZ. In early 1957 The Argus was acquired by The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd, and the paper was closed on the same day that GTV officially opened. The Herald in turn sold its interests in the station to Electronic Industries, later acquired by UK television manufacturer Pye, in 1960.[citation needed] Because of the restriction on foreign ownership of television stations, GTV-9 was then sold to Frank Packer's Australian Consolidated Press, which already owned TCN-9 in Sydney, resulting in the formation of the country's first commercially owned television network.[citation needed] Prior to this GTV-9 was affiliated with ATN-7 in Sydney. Son Clyde Packer ran the network for some time, until a falling out led to a handover to younger son Kerry Packer. In the 1980s the network was sold to Alan Bond, but later bought back at a much lower price.[5] Following the death of Kerry Packer, his son James Packer progressively sold down his stake in the network. (See also Publishing and Broadcasting Limited.)

Along with most Australian TV stations, GTV-9 commenced colour test transmissions in October, 1974.[6] The official changeover took place at 12.00am on Saturday 1 March 1975.[7] In 1976 GTV became the first Melbourne television station to commence permanent 24-hour transmission.[citation needed] In 2001 the station commenced digital television broadcasting, in line with most other metropolitan stations. GTV continued broadcasting in analogue on VHF9, with a digital simulcast on VHF8.

In 2010 it was announced to public and then staff, that after 54 years at Bendigo Street, GTV9 would move day-to-day operations including News and commercial sales to 717 Bourke Street, Docklands. On 25 October 2010, it was announced that GTV9 would begin producing larger scale studio productions, such as The Footy Show, Hey Hey its Saturday, and Millionaire Hotseat from the new Docklands Studios Melbourne.[8]

On 28 February 2011, GTV9 broadcast its final live program - the 6pm edition of Nine News - from the Richmond studios, and the following day began broadcasting news bulletins from 717 Bourke Street. Also while their new fiber link to their transmission site was being completed, a temporary DVB-S2 link was put up on Optus D1, which ceased at the end of the year.

In 2012, no new programming has been produced out of the new studios. The network opted to move ACA to its Sydney studios and the Block is also expected to make the move back to Sydney in 2013.

In May, 2012, a lower powered permanent backup DVB-S2 link for their transmission site was re-established on Optus D1, which requires at least a two-metre solid receiving dish.

Digital multiplex (Transport: 1072 Network: 12829)

LCN Service
Name 		Service ID Timing PID Video / PID Audio / PID Subtitles / PID EPG / PID
09 Nine 1072 135 H.262 SD
(720x576i) / 519 		MPEG-1 Audio Layer II
(48 kHz stereo) / 720 		EBU Teletext
(page 801) / 583 		DSM-CC
MHEG-5 / 2306
DVB Events / 18
90 9HD 1073 128 H.262 HD
(1440×1080i) / 512 		Dolby Digital
(48 kHz stereo) / 650 		EBU Teletext
(page 801) / 576
92 and 99 9Go! 1074 133 H.262 SD
(704x576i) / 517 		MPEG-1 Audio Layer II
(48 kHz stereo) / 700 		EBU Teletext
(page 801) / 581

Programming

Locally produced programs by or with GTV-9 Melbourne.

Current

717 Bourke Street

Docklands Studios Melbourne - Stage 5

Location

Past

2010s

2000s

1990s

1980s

1970s

1957 - 1960s

News

GTV9 news helicopter
Further information: Nine News

The station's evening news bulletin, Nine News Melbourne is presented by Peter Hitchener on weekdays, a position he has held since 1998. Alicia Loxley presents the weekend bulletins. Sport is presented by Tony Jones on weeknights. Livinia Nixon presents the weather on weeknights and Rebecca Judd on weekends.

Tony Jones is the fill-in news presenter for Peter Hitchener on weeknights, with Brett McLeod being the fill-in presenter for Alicia Loxley on weekends. Rebecca Judd presents the weather in place of Livinia Nixon.

The 6pm news bulletin is produced locally from Nine's Melbourne studios and is also simulcast on Light FM and streamed online. Nine News national bulletins (Nine Early Morning News, Nine Morning News, Nine News Now and Nine Afternoon News) are produced from Sydney although late newsbreaks at the weekend are produced from Melbourne and presented by Alicia Loxley.

Presenters

Fill-in Presenters

Former presenters

Eric Pearce, who was knighted after his retirement, was GTV-9's chief news presenter from the late 1950s until 1974. After his first retirement, the subsequent American style "News Centre Nine" presented by Peter Hitchener did not rate well, so Pearce was persuaded to return in 1976, remaining until 1978.

In 1979, former HSV-7 news presenter Brian Naylor joined as GTV-9's chief weeknight news presenter, with Hitchener on weekends. Naylor's association with Nine lasted 19 years - he retired at the end of 1998, with Naylor replaced by then deputy news presenter Peter Hitchener. Jo Hall took over on weekends, with Tony Jones the main weekend fill-in.

Other main presenters of Nine News Melbourne included Tracy Grimshaw (1981–1993), who has since moved to A Current Affair and Tracey Curro, who also worked on Nine's 60 Minutes and Jo Hall (1998-2011).

Past weekend sport presenters in recent years have included Leith Mulligan (1999-2006), Heath O'Loughlin (2006-2008), Grant Hackett (2008-2009) and Lisa Andrews (2009-2011). Rob Gell was the previous weather presenter he held the position for fifteen years from 1988 to 2004.

See also

References

  1. ^ Geoff Corke interview by Keith McGowan of 3AW
  2. ^ "You, Me and Gerry Gee" by Ron Blaskett, p.86
  3. ^ Bendigo St to fade to black - The Age 25-02-2010
  4. ^ Television City was Australia's Hollywood - TV Tonight
  5. ^ Packer was reported as saying "You only get one Alan Bond in your lifetime, and I've had mine" "Kerry Francis Bullmore Packer 1937–2005". The Age. 28 December 2005. p. 7. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
  6. ^ "The History of Australian Television - Classic TV Guides". televisionau.com. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
  7. ^ "The History of Australian Television - Classic TV Guides". televisionau.com. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
  8. ^ Dennehy, Luke (14 November 2010). "Channel 9 says bye bye Bendigo St". Sunday Herald Sun. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
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