| Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|
| Branding | Nine |
| Slogan | Welcome Home |
| Channels | Analog: 9 (VHF) Digital: 8 (VHF) |
| Affiliations | Nine (O&O) |
| Network | Nine |
| Owner | Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Pty Ltd (General Television Corporation Pty Ltd) |
| First air date | September 27, 1956 |
| Call letters' meaning | General Television Victoria |
| Transmitter power | 200 kW (analog) 50 kW (digital) |
| Website | www.ninemsn.com.au |
GTV (General Television Corporation) 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.
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GTV was amongst the first TV 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 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 don't like the programs, they can just turn off.
"If you don't like what you see or it quite frankly bores you, simply switch the dial to off."
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.
Soon after the station's launch, Eric Pearce was appointed to read the news, a position held for almost twenty years. 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.
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. 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. 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. 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 the 25th of October 2010 it was announced that GTV9 will record larger scale studio production, such as The Footy Show, Hey Hey its Saturday, and Millionaire Hotseat from the new Docklands Studios Melbourne. Stage 4 will become home to all GTV9 productions, before moving into a refurbished Sound Stage 5 in twelve months time.[8] On the 28th of February 2011, GTV9 ended its last live news bulletin from the Richmond studios, and the following day started broadcasting its 6pm News from 717 Bourke Street.
| LCN | Service | SD/HD |
|---|---|---|
| 09 | Nine | SD |
| 90 | GEM | HD |
| 99 | GO! | SD |
Locally produced programs by or with GTV-9 Melbourne.
2010s
2000s
1990s
1980s
1970s
1957 - 1960s
The station's evening news bulletin, Nine News Melbourne is presented by Peter Hitchener on weekdays, a position he has held since the retirement of Brian Naylor at the end of 1998. Alicia Gorey presents the weekend bulletins. Sport is presented by Tony Jones on weeknights, and Clint Stanaway on weekends. Livinia Nixon presents the weather on weeknights.
Tony Jones is the fill-in news presenter for Peter Hitchener on weeknights, with Jo Hall being the fill-in presenter for Alicia Gorey on weekends. Clint Stanaway is the fill-in weeknight sport presenter, while Corey Norris is the fill-in weekend sport presenter. Brodie Harper, Jacqueline Felgate or Sonia Marinelli present the weather in place of Livinia Nixon over the summer, or as a fill-in.
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 Hour and Nine Afternoon News) are produced from Sydney although late news updates at the weekend are produced from Melbourne and presented by Alicia Gorey.
From mid 2008 onwards, A Current Affair moved its studio production from TCN-9's Sydney studios to the GTV-9 studios with Tracy Grimshaw returning to Melbourne as anchor. The program is now broadcast nationally at 6.30pm on weeknights after localised editions for Adelaide and Perth were axed in 2009.
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Main Presenters
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Sports Presenters
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Weather Presenter
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Fill-in Presenters
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News Reporters
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Sport Reporters
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Director of News
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Eric Pearce, who was knighted after his retirement, was GTV-9's chief news presenter from 1957 until 1974. After his first retirement, the subsequent American style "News Centre Nine" presented by Peter Hitchener did not rate well, so Pearce returned to the helm 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.
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