Southern Cross GTS/BKN
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| Southern Cross GTS/BKN | |
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| Type | Terrestrial television network |
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| Country | Australia |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Licence Area | Spencer Gulf & Broken Hill |
| Owner | Southern Cross Broadcasting |
| Callsigns | GTS-4 BKN-7 |
| Affiliation | Seven Network Nine Network Sport & Major Events |
Southern Cross GTS/BKN is an Australian television network based in Port Pirie. It broadcasts throughout South Australia's Spencer Gulf and in Broken Hill. The station's name originates from the original Port Pirie & Broken Hill stations callsigns, GTS-4 in Port Pirie and BKN-7 in Broken Hill, New South Wales. It is the last station in Australia to use its callsign as part of its name.
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[edit] History
In 1974, the stations (and their repeaters) joined to become Spencer Gulf Telecasters and broadcast under the name Central GTS/BKN. The company has since been bought by Southern Cross Broadcasting (SCB), though it retained the Central name until the end of 2005. In 2003, Spencer Gulf Telecasters won the right to broadcast a second station in the same area, and in January 2004 started broadcasting Southern Cross Ten. In January 2006 Central GTS/BKN was renamed Southern Cross GTS/BKN, changing its logo to the same one currently used by Southern Cross Tasmania and Southern Cross Darwin. The Southern Cross Ten logo was also updated to the current logo used by SC 10 stations elsewhere.
[edit] Programming
Southern Cross GTS/BKN broadcasts mainly Seven Network programming and generally Nine Network mainly AFL,cricket and other Sport/Major events with channel 9 content often delayed to make way for channel 7 programming.
Some consider this unusual, as SCB also owns the Adelaide station of the Nine Network (NWS-9). However, its Seven focus existed many years before its current ownership situation, and also meshes neatly with SCB's Southern Cross Central service (unrelated to the original Central GTS/BKN) available via satellite throughout the broadcasting area, and via terrestrial transmission in some adjacent areas.
[edit] News
In line with the name change, GTS/BKN's local news bulletin, Central News, was revamped and renamed Southern Cross News. This bulletin is broadcast on Southern Cross GTS/BKN at 6.30pm, after Seven News. The current newsreader is Selga Berzins.
