BTQ
| Company type | Television station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcasting |
| Founded | 1959-11-01 |
| Headquarters | Mount Coot-Tha, Brisbane , Australia |
Area served | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
Key people | Michael Coombes (news director) |
| Products | Television broadcasting, news programming, local entertainment programs |
| Parent | Seven Network (Australia) |
BTQ serves as the Brisbane-based television outlet for Australia's Seven Network. It commenced operations on 1 November 1959, launching shortly after QTQ of the Nine Network and just ahead of ABQ from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The station's production facilities and corporate offices are situated at 560 Sir Samuel Griffith Drive in Mount Coot-Tha.
Digital transmissions from BTQ began on 1 January 2001. In the early 1980s, Seven National News became the first news bulletin produced in Brisbane to be broadcast across independent Queensland stations. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, BTQ was known for producing a range of well-loved children’s and entertainment programs, including Wombat, Now You See It, Family Feud, and Play Your Cards Right. The station also organized annual telethons to raise funds for the Children’s Hospital.
In 1995, BTQ launched "Tourist TV," a channel providing tourism information available in Gold Coast hotels such as Sea World Nara Resort. Up until 2007, BTQ served as the main broadcaster for the national Austext teletext service, which later transitioned to automated operations from ATN-7 Sydney before ceasing in September 2009.
After nearly six decades of operation, dismantling of BTQ’s transmission tower commenced in July 2018. On 21 July 2018, the upper section containing broadcasting equipment was airlifted by helicopter as part of the deconstruction process.
Brisbane and Queensland
Seven News Brisbane is overseen by director Michael Coombes and features weeknight presentations by Max Futcher and Sarah Greenhalgh. Weekend editions are anchored by Samantha Heathwood. The news team broadcasts from Seven’s Brisbane studios located at Mount Coot-tha. Sports segments are delivered by Steve Titmus from Sunday to Wednesday and Ben Davis from Thursday through Saturday. Weather updates are provided by meteorologist Tony Auden Sunday to Thursday, with Coastal Expert Paul Burt handling Friday and Saturday.
The bulletin is simultaneously broadcast on Brisbane’s 96.5 Family FM, extends across regional Queensland through the Seven Queensland network, and reaches central and remote eastern Australia via Southern Cross Central.
In October 2002, Rod Young joined Kay McGrath as co-anchor following her solo stint after Frank Warrick’s retirement. The introduction of a dual-anchor format improved ratings significantly, enabling Seven News Brisbane to regain leadership over Nine News Brisbane by 2007. This success was further supported by recruiting former Nine weatherman John Schluter and appointing Rob Raschke as news director. By 2008, the bulletin dominated Brisbane ratings, winning every one of the 40 rating weeks that year.
In January 2013, Sharyn Ghidella and Bill McDonald assumed presenting roles from Sunday to Thursday, while McGrath and Young moved to weekend slots. Ghidella also began hosting a local version of Today Tonight. Following a decline in ratings, Max Futcher replaced McDonald in March 2018.
Samantha Heathwood took over weekend presenting duties from Katrina Blowers in January 2024; Blowers transitioned to co-hosting Seven Afternoon News alongside reporting responsibilities. In July 2024, Sharyn Ghidella was made redundant after a 17-year tenure. August 2024 marked Shane Webcke’s exit from the sports desk after an 18-year career to pursue other ventures.
In October 2024, Sarah Greenhalgh joined Max Futcher as co-anchor for the flagship weekday 6:00 pm news broadcast.
Afternoon and early evening news bulletins for Brisbane are presented either by Futcher or Greenhalgh. Katrina Blowers serves as a fill-in news presenter; sports coverage is occasionally handled by Ben Davis and Alissa Smith; weather fill-ins include Laura Dymock.
Presenters
| Position | Broadcast days | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
| News | Max Futcher (2018–present) Sarah Greenhalgh (2024–present) |
Samantha Heathwood (2024–present) | |||||
| Sports | Steve Titmus (2024–present) | Ben Davis (2023–present) | Steve Titmus (2024–present) | ||||
| Weather | Tony Auden (2013–present) | Michelle Jensen (2024–present) | Tony Auden (2013–present) | ||||
Reporters
- Garth Burley (crime)
- Katrina Blowers
- Laura Dymock
- Anna McGraw
- Amanda Abate
- Brittany Lane
- Rosanna Kingsun (court)
- Mitchell Kroehn
- Deon Savage
- Carly Madsen
- Alex Lewis
- Tamra Bow
- Ben Davis (sport)
- Shane Webcke
- Trevor Gillmeister
Sunrise correspondents
- Georgia Chumbley (lead)
- Tamra Bow (backup)
Former presenters
- Frank Warrick – news anchor (1976–2001)
- Darren McDonald – news presenter (1980s)
- Tracey Challenor – news anchor (1991–2007)
- Simon Reeve – news presenter (2001–2003)
- Bill McDonald – sports presenter
- Talitha Cummins – weather presenter (2005–2010)
Current regional programming
- Creek to Coast
- Queensland Weekender
- The Great Day Out
- Seven Afternoon News Queensland Edition (since August 2015)
- Sunrise Queensland bulletins (since October 2021)
Discontinued local programming
- Today Tonight (1995–2003, 2013–2014)
- Family Feud
- Wipeout
- Wombat
- Agro's Cartoon Connection – Transferred to ATN-7 in 1997.
- Saturday Disney – Shifted to ATN-7 in 1997.
- A*mazing – Relocated to TVW-7 in 1997.
- Time Masters – Moved to TVW-7 in 1997.
- The Mole (Australian season 3) – Episodes 2 through 10, excluding part of Episode 4.
- The Mole (Australian season 6) – Gold Coast segment until Ally's departure.