| GO! | |
|---|---|
| GO! logo | |
| Launched | 9 August 2009 |
| Network | Nine Network |
| Owned by | Nine Entertainment Co. |
| Picture format | 576i (SDTV) |
| Audience share | 3.8% nationally (2010 ratings season, [1]) |
| Slogan | Let's GO! |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Broadcast area | Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Regional QLD, Southern New South Wales, Regional Victoria, Tasmania, Northern New South Wales Easten South Australla(espectered 11/11/11[southeast] 6/12/11[riverland] |
| Replaced | Nine Guide (2001–2008) |
| Sister channel(s) | Nine GEM |
| Website | gochannel.com.au |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| SD Digital | Channel 99 Channel 88 (in regional areas via WIN and NBN) |
| Satellite | |
| Foxtel | Channel 129 |
| Cable | |
| Foxtel | Channel 129 |
GO! is an Australian free-to-air standard definition digital television channel launched by the Nine Network on Sunday 9 August 2009.[2][3]
Contents |
The general concept for GO! was revealed on 23 March 2009, with the Nine Network announcing their intention to start a standard definition variety-based multichannel, launched mid-way through 2009. The channel's name and branding was first revealed as GO!99 on 14 April 2009 by TV Tonight, a blog dedicated to Australian television.[4]
The channel's name was confirmed by the Nine Network via A Current Affair as Go! on 15 July 2009,[5] as well as multi-coloured logo variations.[2][5]
The channel went to air at 1:00 pm on 5 August 2009, broadcasting a promo loop. GO! officially began broadcasting scheduled programming from 9 August 2009 at 6:30 pm with a 1 minute promo featuring the song GO! by Noise International.[6] It was then followed by an episode of Wipeout, the first programme to air on the new channel.[7] The Nine Network's regional affiliates, WIN Television and NBN Television, also launched Go! on 9 August 2009, on Channel 88. It has been confirmed that Darwin will receive the channel in October 2010 (over a year after other capital cities started transmitting the multi channel). From December 2010, Nine Network affiliate Imparja Television will commence transmission of the Go! channel to viewers in remote areas of Central, Northern and Eastern Australia.[8] before epanding to Eastern South Australia on 11 November 2011 There have been reports that GO!'s technical launch had caused a significant number of digital TV receivers to no longer pick up Nine's digital channels. Nine have established a helpline for viewers experiencing problems or requiring assistance to tune in to the new channel.[9]
Les Sampson, Nine’s Network Director of Multichannels, describes GO! as a "work in progress". He states that in future the channel will expand its current programming blocks, introduce "stunt" programming such as series marathons, and produce and broadcast interstitials such as fashion updates, beach report updates, and bar and restaurant reviews between programmes starring new on-air talent.[10][11]
GO! celebrated its birthday by airing movies every night during the month of August 2010. GO! also played a mini clip during the commercial breaks thanking everyone for watching GO!.
Original plans for GO! suggested it would consist of a mix of entertainment and lifestyle programming (this rules wasn't featured until the launch of future Female-oriented HD channel GEM in 2010).[12][13] However, this branding was replaced by a youth-orientated light-entertainment channel instead.[14] GO!'s programming is generally structured under nightly themed blocks,[15] which currently consists of comedy on Sunday, all new reality shows on Tuesday, sci-fi on Wednesday, female-skewed drama on Thursday (until the launch of GEM, when it is replaced by Movies themings instead), and movies on Friday.[15] Movies will screen with "limited and brief commercial breaks".[11] The schedule is designed not to cannibalise viewers from the main Nine channel.[10]
It was announced in June 2009 that the Nine Network had signed a $500 million deal with Warner Bros. to continue its current output deal for another five years from 2011 to 2015.[16][17] The deal helped Nine retain existing content (including many television series and films), as well as providing new content for both its primary channel, GEM (launched in 2010) and Go!.[16][17] The network also has ongoing content deals with Columbia Pictures and Village Roadshow,[16][17] and has secured a new content partnership with MTV Networks.[18]
Programming currently airing on the channel includes:
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