GTV (Australian TV station)

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Template:Short description Template:Distinguish Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Template:Infobox television station GTV is a commercial television station in Melbourne, Australia, owned by the Nine Network. The station is currently based at studios at 717 Bourke Street, Docklands. GTV-9 is the home of the Australian Open tennis coverage.

History

GTV-9 former premises, Television City in Richmond

GTV-9 was amongst the first television 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 Mount Dandenong transmitter, as the studios in Richmond were not yet ready. The station covered the 1956 Summer Olympics which Melbourne hosted.,<ref>Geoff Corke interview by Keith McGowan of 3AW</ref> the 1956 Carols By Candlelight and the Davis Cup tennis as part of its test transmissions.

The station was officially opened on 19 January 1957<ref>"You, Me and Gerry Gee" by Ron Blaskett, p.86</ref> by Victorian Governor Sir Dallas Brooks from the studios in Bendigo Street, Richmond. GTV-9 was the third television station to launch in Victoria after HSV-7 and ABV-2, on 19 January 1957. A clip from the ceremony has featured in a number of GTV-9 retrospectives, in which the Governor advises viewers that if they did not like the programs, they could just turn off.

GTV-9 former front gate

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 to 1935).<ref>Bendigo St to fade to black – The Age 25-02-2010</ref><ref>Television City was Australia's Hollywood – TV Tonight</ref> A cornerstone, now visible from the staff canteen courtyard, was laid when construction of the Piano factory began.

Eric Pearce was appointed senior newsreader in the late 1960s, after having been the first newsreader at rival station HSV-7. He held that position for almost twenty years.Template:Citation needed 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-9 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.Template:Citation needed

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 Williamson'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-9 officially opened. The Herald in turn sold its interests in the station to Electronic Industries, later acquired by UK television manufacturer Pye, in 1960.Template: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 commercially owned television network.Template:Citation needed 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.<ref name="Age-obit"> Packer was reported as saying "You only get one Alan Bond in your lifetime, and I've had mine" Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The official changeover took place at 12.00am on Saturday 1 March 1975.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1976, GTV-9 became the first Australian television station to commence permanent 24-hour transmission.Template:Citation needed In 2001 the station commenced digital television broadcasting, in line with most other metropolitan stations. GTV-9 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, Richmond, GTV-9 would move day-to-day operations including News and commercial sales to 717 Bourke Street, Docklands. On 25 October 2010, it was announced that GTV-9 would begin producing larger scale studio productions, such as The Footy Show, Hey Hey its Saturday, and Millionaire Hotseat from the new Docklands Studios Melbourne.<ref name=HeraldSun14Nov>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 28 February 2011, GTV-9 broadcast its final live program – the 6pm edition of Nine News – from the Richmond Television City studios, and the following day began broadcasting news bulletins from 717 Bourke Street, Docklands. Also while their new fibre link to their transmission site was being completed, a temporary DVB-S2 link was put up on Optus D1, which ceased at the end of the year.

In 2012, no new programming has been produced out of the new studios. The network opted to move A Current Affair and its host Tracy Grimshaw to TCN-9 in Sydney.

In May 2012, a lower powered permanent backup DVB-S2 link for their transmission site was re-established on Optus D1, which requires at least a two-metre solid receiving dish.

Digital multiplex

Template:Update

LCN Service
Name 		Service ID Timing PID Video / PID Audio / PID Subtitles / PID EPG / PID
9 and 91 Nine 1072 135 H.262 SD
(720x576i) / 519 		MPEG-1 Audio Layer II
(48 kHz stereo) / 720 		EBU Teletext
(page 801) / 583 		DSM-CC
MHEG-5 / 2306
DVB Events / 18
90 9HD 1073 128 H.264 HD
(1440×1080i) / 512 		Dolby Digital
(48 kHz stereo) / 650 		EBU Teletext
(page 801) / 576
92 9Gem TBC TBC H.262 SD
(704x576i) / 517 		MPEG-1 Audio Layer II
(48 kHz stereo) / 700 		EBU Teletext
(page 801) / 581
93 and 99 9Go! 1074 133 H.262 SD
(704x576i) / 517 		MPEG-1 Audio Layer II
(48 kHz stereo) / 700 		EBU Teletext
(page 801) / 58
94 9Life TBC TBC H.262 SD
(704x576i) / 517 		MPEG-1 Audio Layer II
(48 kHz stereo) / 700 		EBU Teletext
(page 801) / 58
95 9Gem HD TBC TBC H.264 HD
(1440×1080i) / TBC 		Dolby Digital
(48 kHz stereo) / TBC 		EBU Teletext
(page 801) / TBC
96 9Rush TBC TBC H.262 SD
(TBCx576i) / TBC 		MPEG-1 Audio Layer II
(48 kHz stereo) / TBC 		EBU Teletext
(page 801) / TBC
97 Extra TBC TBC H.262 SD
(TBCx576i) / TBC 		MPEG-1 Audio Layer II
(48 kHz stereo) / TBC 		EBU Teletext
(page 801) / TBC

Programming

Locally produced programs by or with GTV-9 Melbourne.

Current

717 Bourke Street

Docklands Studios Melbourne

Other Location

Sport

Past

2010s

2000s

1990s

1980s

1970s

1957 – 1960s

News

GTV-9 news helicopter

Template:Further

Nine News Melbourne is produced in, and presented from, the GTV-9 studios in Docklands by Alicia Loxley and Tom Steinfort (weeknights) and Peter Hitchener (weekends) with sport presenters Tony Jones (weeknights), Natalie Yoannidis and weather presenters TBA (Monday – Thursday) and Madeline Spark (Friday – Sunday).

The 6PM main bulletin is also simulcast on community radio station Light FM and also streamed online. Nine News nationwide bulletins (Nine Early Morning News and Nine Morning News) are produced in, and presented from, the studios of TCN-9 in Sydney although late night news updates at the weekend are produced at GTV-9 and presented by Peter Hitchener.

In May 2017, the station launched its first local afternoon news bulletin, Nine Afternoon News Melbourne, putting it head-to-head with rival station HSV-7's local afternoon news. The bulletin is presented by Brett McLeod.

Presenters

News presenters

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-3 Weeknights

Template:Col-3 Weekends

Template:Col-endTemplate:Col-begin Template:Col-3Afternoon News

Template:Col-3Template:Col-end

Sports presenters

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-3 Weeknights

Template:Col-3 Weekends

  • Natalie Yoannidis (2024–present)

Template:Col-3 Template:Col-end

Weather presenters

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-3 Weeknights

  • TBA

Template:Col-3 Weekends

  • Madeline Spark (2020–present)

Template:Col-end

Reporters

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2

  • Christine Ahern (Today Melbourne reporter)
  • Jo Hall
  • Alexis Daish (A Current Affair reporter)
  • Madeline Spark
  • Justine Conway
  • Eliza Rugg
  • Neary Ty
  • Izabella Staskowski (Today Melbourne reporter)
  • Reid Butler (US correspondent)
  • Brett McLeod Template:Col-2
  • Heidi Murphy (State Political reporter)
  • Stephanie Anderson
  • Lana Murphy
  • Penelope Liersch
  • Gillian Lantouris
  • Mimi Becker (Europe correspondent)
  • Mark Santomartino
  • Ollie HaigTemplate:Col-end

Sports Reporters

  • Nathan Currie
  • Natalie Yoannidis
  • Trent Kniese
  • Tom Morris (Chief AFL reporter)

Fill-in Presenters

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2

  • Brett McLeod (News)
  • Stephanie Anderson (News & Weather)
  • Natalie Yoannidis (Sport)
  • Madeline Spark (Weather)
  • Mimi Becker (Weather)

Template:Col-end

Former presenters

Eric Pearce, who was knighted after his retirement, was GTV-9's chief news presenter from the late 1950s until 1974. After his first retirement, the subsequent American style "NewsCentre Nine" presented by Peter Hitchener did not rate well, so Pearce was persuaded to return in 1976, remaining until 1978.

In 1978, 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 20 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), 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), Lisa Andrews (2009–2011) and Clint Stanaway (2011–2025). Livinia Nixon was chief weather presenter for 21 years, from 2004 to 2025. She succeeded Rob Gell, who had held the role for 15 years between 1988 and 2004.

GTV 9 Football Club

Template:Infobox Australian football club

Colours of GTV 9

The GTV 9 Football Club, sometimes stylised as GTV-9 or GTV9 and nicknamed the Gunners, was an Australian rules football club that competed in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The club represented GTV and wore the nine dots that were used in the station's branding.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

GTV 9 was formed in 1986 and joined the VAFA the same year, competing in the newly created G Section.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The club made finals in its first season, finishing fourth on the ladder before being defeated by Parkside in the first semi-final.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The club struggled in its second season in 1987, winning just three games and finishing 11th on the ladder, resulting in the club's relegation to H Section for the 1988 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

GTV 9 significantly improved in 1988, winning 14 out of 16 games, however they were defeated in the preliminary final by St Kevin's.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> GTV 9 player Tony Fox was awarded joint H Section best-and-fairest winner for the 1988 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The club won five out of 16 games in its final season in 1989, finishing second last on the H Section ladder. GTV 9 subsequently folded before the 1990 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Clear

See also

References

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Template:PBL Media Template:Victoria TV

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