Golden West Network
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Type | Terrestrial and Satellite television network |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Market share | 65.3% (2006) |
| Licence Area | Remote and Regional Western Australia |
| Owner | Prime Television |
| Callsigns | BTW-3 VEW-8 GSW-9 GTW-11 WAW |
| Affiliation | Seven Network |
Golden West Network (GWN) is the Seven Network affiliate in Western Australia, servicing all areas except metropolitan Perth in competition with WIN Television WA. There are two services that GWN operates:
- Normal terrestrial television, and
- A free-to-air satellite service, broadcasting to remote areas that can’t receive television by normal means.
For the most part, GWN's on-air schedule follows that of Seven Perth, including Perth's editions of Seven News and Today Tonight. GWN also broadcasts a local news service, Golden West News, at 5:30pm weeknights and its own edition of the Saturday Club with GWN's mascot, Doopa Dog.
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[edit] History
GWN began as several smaller stations:
- BTW-3 Bunbury, which started on 10 March 1967, with a relay in Mount Barker commencing in August 1968.
- VEW-8 Kalgoorlie began on 18 June 1971.
- GSW-9 Albany began on 29 August 1974. GSW relayed BTW’s programming.
- GTW-11 Geraldton began on 21 January 1977.
Jack Bendat purchased South Western Telecasters (BTW/GSW) in the early 1980's and changed the company’s name to Golden West Network.
On 31 October 1984, the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal started looking for companies to run a commercial television service in remote Western Australia, Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands via satellite. GWN was granted the Remote Commercial Television License (RCTS) in June 1985 and the service went to air on 18 October 1986 using the call-sign WAW.
GWN acquired VEW-8 Kalgoorlie in December 1985 and GTW-11 Geraldton in 1987. Current Seven Network chairman Kerry Stokes purchased GWN in 1988, and upgraded equipment throughout the network. In April 1990, BTW and GSW stations merged to become SSW.
In December 1996, Prime Television purchased GWN, and three years later, GWN became an affiliate of the Seven Network, following the expansion of WIN Television into Western Australia, who took the Nine Network and Network Ten affiliations.
[edit] On-Air Presentation
Since 2001, GWN's on-air presentation is almost identical to that of Prime, only differing in the Prime/GWN logo itself.
GWN uses the slogan "Bringing it home to ME," as seen at the end of station IDs. The IDs are based around programs which air on GWN, and consist of a combination of 3D computer graphics and video footage from programs which air on GWN.
GWN also uses 'Tonight' signposts (program menu) and rating advisory screens which match the style of station IDs.
In early April 2005, GWN's on-air presentation control was moved from their Bunbury office to their multi-million dollar digital broadcast facility in Canberra. The programming is delivered to regional Western Australia via a Satellite feed.
[edit] Golden West News
Golden West News (also referred to as GWN News) is the only local news service operating in regional Western Australia. The main bulletin consists of 30 minutes of news affecting people in regional WA, and runs at 5:30pm weeknights in direct competition with the Perth edition of Ten News on WIN. The bulletin is highly successful, receiving a commercial audience share of 86% in the 2006 ratings survey. [1]
The Golden West News bulletin is hosted by Noel Brunning, sport presented by Troy Hynam and weather presented by Shauna Willis or Chris Mills. Alex Cullen previously presented the sport segment for Golden West News, however transferred to Seven News Perth in November 2005. Reporters for Golden West News live in major towns in Western Australia, including Bunbury, Albany, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Karratha and Broome, as well as the Perth metropolitan area.
A brand new look was launched for Golden West News on July 25, 2005. This relaunched involved new graphics, opening music and a brand new set. The new look Golden West News is modelled on a red and blue theme, similar to its metropolitan news partner Seven News. The current look of Golden West News was later phased into Prime News bulletins in the eastern states.
Golden West News updates are aired in conjunction with Seven News updates on weekdays until 8:30pm, after which time only Seven News updates are aired. GWN also air a repeat of their 5:30pm bulletin at later that night at 12:30am.
Golden West News insert a minor update in to the GWN broadcast of Seven News Perth whilst Seven News airs the Speed Camera Locations for the following day. The Speed Camera Locations on Seven News Perth do not cover Regional WA, and therefore are not relevant to GWN viewers.
[edit] See also
- Prime Television
- Seven Network
- List of Australian television channels
- Regional television in Australia
[edit] External links
| Free-To-Air Television Networks in Australia |
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Main: ABC TV | ABC2 | Seven Network | Nine Network | Network Ten | SBS TV |
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Regional/Affiliates: Prime (GWN) | Seven Queensland | Southern Cross | NBN | WIN | Southern Cross Ten |
