GTV

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see GTV (disambiguation).
GTV
Melbourne, Victoria
Branding Nine
Slogan We Heart TV
Channels Analog: 9 (VHF)

Digital: 8 (VHF)
Affiliations Nine (O&O)
Network Nine
Owner PBL Media Holdings Pty Ltd
(General Television Corporation Pty Ltd)
First air date January 19, 1957
Call letters’ meaning General
Television
Victoria
Transmitter Power 200 kW (analog)
50 kW (digital)
Transmitter Coordinates 37°49′42″S, 145°21′12″E
Website www.ninemsn.com.au

GTV (General Television Corporation) is a television station in Melbourne, Australia owned by the Nine Network. It was the second commercial TV stations in Melbourne, and amongst the first to began transmission in Australia. Test transmissions began on 27 September 1956, introduced by former 3DB radio announcer Geoff Corke.[citation needed] The station is based at a converted factory in Bendigo Street, Richmond.

Contents

[edit] History

GTV front gates on Bendigo Street, Richmond
GTV front gates on Bendigo Street, Richmond
GTV's original logo on the studios outside wall
GTV's original logo on the studios outside wall

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

The station was licensed to the General Television Corporation Ltd., a consortium of two newspapers, The Argus and The Age, as well as Hoyts, Greater Union, Electronic Industries, JC William's Theatres, Cinesound Productions, and radio stations 3XY, 3UZ, 3KZ. GTV-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 telethon. IMT continued for thirteen years, dominating Melbourne's television scene for most of that time. It set a precedent for a number of live variety programmes from the station.[citation needed] Soon after the station's launch, Eric Pearce was appointed to read the news on the station - a position held for almost twenty years.[citation needed]

In 1957 The Argus was acquired by The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd, which in turn sold its interests in the station to Sir Arthur Warner's 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 commercial television network.[citation needed]

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

[edit] Programming

[edit] News and Current Affairs

HSV-7 newsreader Brian Naylor joined the station in 1979, an association that lasted 20 years.[citation needed] Retiring at the end of 1998, Naylor was replaced by deputy newsreader Peter Hitchener. The station's weekday evening news bulletin, National Nine News Melbourne is currently presented by Hitchener from every Monday to Friday, with Jo Hall presenting the Saturday & Sunday bulletins.

Brett McLeod is the fill-in presenter for the Melbourne news service on Saturdays & Sundays, with Christine Ahern the fill-in sport presenter. Carolyne Randoe presents the weather in place of Livinia Nixon over the summer or as a fill-in.

[edit] Current Newsreaders

[edit] Past Newsreaders

[edit] Current

(*) an asterisk means these shows are produced in Studio 9.

[edit] Past

[edit] See also

v • d • e
PBL Media
Television
Sydney · Melbourne · Brisbane · Darwin
Other
Other
Assets
See also
v • d • e
Television in Victoria
Melbourne
ABV (ABC) · HSV (Seven) · GTV (Nine) · ATV (Ten) · SBS · MGV (C31)
Regional Victoria
ABV (ABC) · AMV (Prime) · VTV (WIN) · GLV/BCV (SC Ten) · SBS
Mildura and Sunraysia
ABMV (ABC) · PTV (Prime) · STV (WIN) · MDV (Ten) · SBS
Remote areas
ABV (ABC) · IMP (Imparja) · QQQ (SC TV) · SBS