GTV-9

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Channel Nine Logo

GTV-9 is the Melbourne, Australia station in the Nine television network and was one of the first two commercial TV stations in Melbourne. It began test transmissions on 27 September 1956, shortly after the commencement of transmission of TCN-9 Sydney. Former 3DB radio announcer Geoff Corke introduced GTV Channel 9's first test transmission.

Later in 1956, GTV-9, while still in test transmission mode, telecast the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games in competition with HSV-7 and ABV-2.

Sir Dallas Brooks officially opened GTV Channel 9 on 19 January 1957 from studios in Bendigo Street, Richmond where the building had been converted from a Heinz tinned food factory. The building's previous occupants include Wertheim Piano (1908 - 1935) and Heinz (1935 - 1955). A conerstone, now visible from the GTV-9 staff canteen courtyard, was laid when construction of the Piano factory began.

GTV Channel 9's first major production in 1957 was the 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-9 telethon. IMT continued for thirteen years and dominated Melbourne's television scene for most of that time, and established a long tradition of live variety from GTV Channel 9.

Shortly after the beginning of television, GTV-9 poached newsreader Sir Eric Pearce (knighted in 1979) to lead their news and current affairs programming.

Initially managed by the consortium General Telecasters Victoria (GTV), which included The Argus newspaper. In 1957 The Argus was acquired by The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd which sold its interests in GTV-9 to Sir Arthur Warner's Electronic Industries, later acquired by UK manufacturer Pye in 1960. The channel was subsequently sold to Frank Packer's Australian Consolidated Press group in 1961, which already owned TCN-9 and the two channels formed the foundation for what is now the Nine Network.

GTV-9 along with most Australian TV stations, commenced test transmissions in colour in October 1974 with the official changeover at 12.00am Saturday 1 March 1975. In 1976, GTV became the first Melbourne television station to commence 24 hour transmission.

In 1979, HSV-7 newsreader Brian Naylor signed up with GTV-9 to begin an association that lasted 20 years. Retiring at the end of 1998, Naylor was replaced by deputy newsreader Peter Hitchener. National Nine News Melbourne is anchored by Peter Hitchener (Monday-Friday) & Jo Hall (Saturday/Sunday)

Digital television began officially on 1 January 2001 with GTV broadcasting on VHF channel 8 in simulcast with the analogue channel 9 signal.

Contents

[edit] Chief Newsreaders

[edit] Station ID's

  • Model 9: 1956-68.
  • Golden 9: 1969-70.
  • True Grit: 1970-72.
  • Have a Happy Summer: Summer 1970/71.
  • Get the Channel 9 Feeling: 1972.
  • Get the Channel 9 Moomba Feeling: Moomba 1972.
  • This is the Place to Be: 1973.
  • Winter Warm-Up: Autumn 1974.
  • Come Home to Us this Winter: Winter 1974.
  • Living Color: 1975.
  • That's Entertainment '75: 1975.
  • The Good Times: Summer 1975/76.
  • The Nine Squares: 1976.
  • Let Us Be the One: 1977.
  • Still the One: 1978.
  • We're the One: 1979.
  • Still the One (Yellow): 1980.
  • Still the One (Blue 1): 1981.
  • First in Australia: 1981.
  • Still the One (Blue 2): 1982.
  • Come on Along: 1983.
  • Still the One: 1984-85.
  • Fly Around: 1986-87.
  • Skyline: 1988-91.
  • Tower: 1992-94.
  • Generic: 1995-96.
  • 40 Years of Television: Sept. 1996.
  • Fly Through: 1997-98.
  • New Millennium Television: 1999-2000.
  • Ninemsn: 2001-02.
  • Fly Around: 2002-03.
  • Still the One: 2004-Jan. 30, 2006.
  • 50 Years of Television: Sept. 25, 2005.
  • This is Channel Nine: Jan. 30, 2006-June 2006.
  • Channel Nine: June-November 2006.
  • 50 Years of Nine: August-September 2006.
  • Swim Between the Flags: Summer 2006/07.

Many of these identifications throughout 50 years of broadcasting have includes Peter Smith OAM

[edit] Logo Guide

  • GTV Channel 9: 1956-70.
  • The 9 Dots: 1970-76.
  • Living Color: 1975-76.
  • 9: 1977-87.
  • The 9 Dots: 1988-Jan. 30, 2006.
  • The 9 Square: Jan. 30, 2006-?

[edit] Pre-Network Logos

Used on GTV-9 from 1956 to 1970

Nine Network logos can be found at the following article; Nine Network.

[edit] Current Production At GTV-9

[edit] Past Production At GTV-9

[edit] Also known as...

  • Channel Nine (9) Melbourne
  • Channel Nine (9)
  • GTV Channel Nine (9)
  • Television City


Broadcast television in the Melbourne, Victoria market  

ABV-2 (ABC)- HSV-7 (Seven)- GTV-9 (Nine)- ATV-10 (Ten)- SBS-28 (SBS) - C31
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