CTC (TV station)

CTC

Company type	Television station
Industry	Broadcasting
Founded	19 May 1958
Headquarters	Canberra , Australia
Owner	Paramount Networks UK & Australia (Network 10)
Parent	Network 10

CTC is a television station based in Canberra, Australia, recognized as the tenth regional and 26th television station established in the country. It functions as an O&O under Network 10, managed by Paramount Networks UK & Australia. Throughout its history, CTC has experienced several rebranding phases, including identities such as CTC-TV, Super 7, Capital 7, Ten Capital, Southern Cross Ten, and Channel 10.

Origins

The origins of CTC date back to 19 May 1958 with the creation of Canberra Television Limited (CTL), a publicly listed company formed by leaders from The Federal Capital Press of Australia Pty. Ltd. (owners of The Canberra Times) and Canberra Broadcasters Pty Ltd (owners of radio station 2CA). Both entities contributed A£45,000 (equivalent to A$90,000) to acquire the commercial television licence for Canberra. Arthur Shakespeare, who founded The Canberra Times, was appointed as CTL’s inaugural chairman.

In April 1959, CTL submitted its application for the broadcasting licence along with four other contenders and proceeded to list on the Australian Securities Exchange, offering 100,000 shares that were heavily oversubscribed, raising A£300,000 (A$600,000). Following an extended review process, the Australian Broadcasting Control Board awarded the licence to CTL in November 1960. The station received the callsign CTC and was assigned VHF channel 7.

For its transmission and studio facilities, Black Mountain was chosen over alternatives such as Mount Ainslie due to its superior signal reach and accessibility. Standing at 812 meters high and located near Canberra’s central area, Black Mountain provided an optimal site. Both CTC and ABC constructed guyed masts there—CTC’s mast measured 126 metres while ABC’s was taller at 152 metres. Construction of access roads commenced in July 1961, with CTL securing a lease on the site by 26 September 1961.

The studio complex—later colloquially known as 'the tin shed'—was developed by Civil & Civic within a span of 28 weeks (from September 1961 to March 1962) at a cost of £77,912 (A$155,824). The facility encompassed , including a 140 m² studio outfitted with RCA equipment featuring two TK-12 cameras priced at £8,000 each. The transmitter mast was specially designed by Co-El (Italy) and installed by EPT Limited from Sydney.

Test broadcasts began on 2 April 1962, delivering strong signal quality throughout Canberra and neighboring regions such as Queanbeyan, Yass, Cooma, and Goulburn. These transmissions contributed to increased local television set purchases despite competition from WIN 4 Wollongong.

Opening night

By April 1962, both the studio and transmitter were fully operational with test patterns being broadcast. On 23 May 1962 at 5:45 pm, the inaugural live test transmission aired a 13-minute public service message on fireworks safety presented by Senior Constable T. A. M. Cooper.

CTC 7 officially launched at 6 pm on 2 June 1962 with promotional programming and a documentary detailing the construction of the studio. The formal opening ceremony took place at 7 pm featuring Postmaster-General Charles Davidson alongside CTL chairmen A. T. Shakespeare and Sir Patrick McGovern, as well as station manager George Barlin. The event introduced viewers to on-air talent followed by a news bulletin and a filmed segment of the Queen's Birthday Procession from Duntroon. The evening continued with an hour-long variety show titled The B.P. Super Show hosted by Margaret Fonteyn. The detective series Michael Shayne debuted that night, accompanied by a kinescope recording of the opening ceremony itself. Programming concluded with an epilogue and a preview of upcoming shows before ending transmission at 10:30 pm.

Introducing new competitors

On 18 December 1962, ABC-3 began broadcasting in Canberra, marking the first rival to CTC-7. CTC's manager, George Barlin, expressed a positive reception to ABC-3's arrival, emphasizing that it offered viewers a comprehensive television experience. He also pointed out the strong local appetite for television, with approximately 42% of households owning or renting a TV set within six months following CTC's debut.

CTC transmitted its inaugural program to another station on 11 October 1964 by simulcasting Olympic Games coverage alongside RVN-2 in Wagga. The broadcast was received at ABC-3’s Canberra studios and then connected via coaxial cable to ABN-2 Sydney. To ensure high-quality reception of the content rebroadcast from Canberra, RVN-2 upgraded its equipment.

1970s – Introducing colour television to the capital

In October 1974, CTC became a trailblazer in Australian television by establishing the nation's first studio and film lab specifically designed for colour production in Watson, investing over $2 million. This complex housed sales and administrative offices, a full-scale production studio, and two smaller studios dedicated to commercials and on-air presentation. Fully equipped with colour technology from inception, more than 80% of its broadcasts were transmitted in colour five months ahead of the official nationwide switch on 1 March 1975. This achievement made CTC the pioneer Australian station to predominantly air colour programming.

1980s – Transition from Super 7 to Channel 10

In May 1980, Kerry Stokes acquired majority ownership of CTC by purchasing shares from John Fairfax & Sons’ Surita, outbidding Television Wollongong Transmissions Ltd. At that time, Stokes also held stakes in Western Australia’s Golden West Network. The station discontinued its 'Super 7' branding and reinstated the CTC call letters.

May 1980 also saw the inauguration of Canberra’s Telecom Tower, which became a crucial transmission point for CTC’s VHF channel 7 signal. The original CTC studio was demolished to make way for this tower, and the station produced a promotional film documenting its construction.

On 1 July 1981, CTC adopted the name Capital 7, introducing a logo inspired by the Australian flag to emphasize Canberra’s role as the national capital. Under Stokes’ management, broadcasting hours were extended, local news bulletins expanded to full-length editions, and breakfast television was introduced in 1982 through relayed programming from the Nine Network. In 1983, the station refreshed its image with a new theme tune titled "Look at Us."

October 1983 marked the launch of Network 0-28 (now SBS) as Canberra’s first UHF channel, expanding beyond Sydney and Melbourne markets. Viewer surveys indicated significant interest in this new service compared with ABC and Capital 7.

The Broadcasting (Ownership and Control) Act of 1987 implemented a "60% Reach" regulation that encouraged networks to expand beyond Sydney and Melbourne. Kerry Stokes owned ADS Adelaide, CTC Canberra, and NEW Perth licenses at this time and made an unsuccessful bid to acquire Seven Network.

Due to financial pressures associated with regional aggregation, Stokes sold CTC to Northern Star Holdings (owners of Network Ten) on 7 August 1987. Although parts of its broadcast area received CTC on VHF channel 10 frequencies, the station retained the Capital 7 branding for an additional eighteen months.

In 1988, CTC aligned more closely with Network Ten’s programming schedule by replacing Nine Network’s Today Show with Ten’s Good Morning Australia. The evening news was rebranded as Eyewitness News, which expanded into a one-hour bulletin by September. Preparations were underway to launch services in Illawarra from a new Wollongong base; concurrently, the station name shifted from Capital 7 to Capital Television to reflect its move away from Seven Network content.

Starting on 1 January 1989, CTC began broadcasting around the clock daily by utilizing Network Ten feeds for overnight hours. By March of that year, it launched its Illawarra service amid competition from Prime and WIN entering Canberra. Local news was broadcast across both Canberra and Illawarra with customized segments for each market; expansion into Riverina and Central West awaited completion of transmitter infrastructure.

In July 1989, under new Network Ten CEO Bob Shanks, the network underwent rebranding as 10 TV Australia, retiring the X logo in favor of an Australian map design; locally, CTC adopted "CAPITAL" branding. Nationwide news services reverted to Eyewitness News, except in Canberra where Ten News continued due to its strong performance.

Following financial difficulties after the 1987 stock market crash, Northern Star Holdings announced restructuring plans in September 1989 that included selling ADS Adelaide, NEW Perth, and CTC Canberra to Charles Curran's Capital Television Group. The transaction finalized in October effectively divided ownership within Network Ten.

After Curran assumed control, CTC drastically reduced its Wollongong newsroom operations by December 1989—merely eight months after launching—cutting local news segments and laying off staff. No local news facilities were established for Riverina or Central West regions as their transmitters came online.

1990s – Embracing a Capital Identity

On 15 July 1990, after operating for just one year, CTC discontinued its round-the-clock broadcast service in Canberra, signing off at 1:30 am.

Northern Star Holdings continued to face financial challenges, and by 14 September 1990, Network Ten—which then included TEN Sydney, ATV Melbourne, and TVQ Brisbane—entered receivership. By this stage, the TV Australia branding had mostly been phased out. On 13 January 1991, the network rebranded from TV Australia to The Entertainment Network, shifting its focus toward attracting a younger audience. Simultaneously, CTC abandoned the Channel 10 label in favor of Capital Television, named after its parent company; however, the locally produced news program Ten News retained its original title for an additional year. The station adopted a new ribbon-style logo inspired by the classic Capital 7 emblem from the 1980s, accompanied by an updated version of The Entertainment Network identification.

In 1993, Charles Curran attempted to broaden his regional television portfolio by bidding for NRTV, which would have expanded Capital Television’’’s coverage in New South Wales to encompass Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, and Taree—effectively tripling its reach. However, Curran’s bid was unsuccessful as NRTV was acquired by a consortium including Jack Cowin, Kerry Stokes, and Telecasters North Queensland. With limited growth prospects available, Curran sold CTC to Southern Cross Broadcasting in December 1994 while retaining ownership of ADS Adelaide and NEW Perth.

Southern Cross rapidly streamlined CTC’s operations following the model applied at their Victorian stations. By early 1995, workforce reductions were announced, the weekend local news bulletin was discontinued, and on 6 February the station was rebranded as Ten Capital to simplify branding efforts related to Network Ten promotions and station IDs. This marked a return to a similar naming convention used five years earlier when it was called Capital 10. At this point, CTC also resumed broadcasting on a 24-hour schedule.

2000s – The Rise of a Regional Star

On 22 November 2001, Southern Cross terminated CTC’s one-hour weekday news bulletin, bringing an end to four decades of locally produced news content. In 2002, following Southern Cross’s acquisition of Ten-affiliated stations in North Queensland, CTC adopted the name Southern Cross Ten, aligning all affiliated stations under a unified Southern Cross Ten brand. Consequently, CTC became a full relay of TEN Sydney programming with differentiation limited to local advertising and occasional weather segments.

In response to an Australian Broadcasting Authority directive in 2004, Southern Cross Ten reinstated local news segments. The Watson studios in Canberra functioned as a central production hub for pre-recorded news updates that were broadcast across the Southern Cross Ten network.

The introduction of the Southern Cross Ten Star branding occurred in 2005 to distinguish regional affiliates from metropolitan Network Ten stations. While primarily utilizing Network Ten promotional material and IDs, Southern Cross Ten incorporated its own branding elements for community messaging and localized news content.

CTC marked its fiftieth anniversary of broadcasting in Canberra on 2 June 2012.

2016 – Transitioning to Channel 9

On 1 July 2016, Southern Cross altered its programming partnership from Network Ten to the Nine Network across Canberra, southern New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland through a five-year agreement. Consequently, CTC along with most Southern Cross Ten affiliates rebranded as Channel 9, concluding a 27-year association with Network Ten. (Northern NSW maintained its affiliation with Ten owing to Nine’s ownership of NBN.) This shift mirrored the frequency exchange between ADS and SAS Adelaide that occurred in 1987. Significantly, CTC remains Australia’s only television station to have operated under all three major commercial channel numbers: Channel 7, Channel 9, and Channel 10.

2017 – Proposal to Demolish Watson Studios

In December 2016, Southern Cross Austereo lodged a planning request with the ACT Government seeking approval to demolish the CTC studios, administrative offices, and playout facilities to make way for residential construction. This followed WIN Television's 2015 shutdown of its Canberra studios located in Kingston, which were subsequently moved to Fyshwick. The transition from expansive television complexes to housing developments mirrors a wider pattern observed in cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth. It is worth mentioning that a 2009 redevelopment initiative for Melbourne’s original ATV studios was abandoned due to a downturn in the property market.

By September 2018, Southern Cross Austereo revealed plans to outsource its Canberra broadcast playout operations to NPC Media, a partnership formed between Nine and Seven Networks. Consequently, CTC’s remaining personnel were transferred to leased office premises within Canberra, with these changes slated for completion by 30 June 2020.

2020 – Watson Studios Demolished

The full demolition of the CTC and Southern Cross Austereo studio complex at Watson was finalized in August 2020, clearing the site for residential development. This marked the conclusion of 46 years during which the location served as Canberra’s television production center and was home to Australia’s first colour television station.

2021 – Return to Network 10 Programming

On 12 March 2021, Nine announced it would re-establish its regional affiliation with WIN Television across most markets starting from 1 July 2021, under a contract extending at least seven years. This ended Southern Cross Austereo’s five-year partnership with the Nine Network. Subsequently, on 25 June 2021, SCA and Network 10 entered into a two-year affiliation agreement covering regional Queensland (served by TNQ), Southern New South Wales (served by CTC), and regional Victoria (served by GLV and BCV). This arrangement brought 10 Shake to regional viewers, including those in Southern NSW and the ACT, broadcasting on Channel 54. Additionally, Sky News Regional launched on 1 August 2021 via Channel 56. To facilitate this launch, Aspire TV ceased transmission on this network as of 31 July 2021.

2024 – Network 10 Takes Back Ownership

Southern Cross Austereo declared on 17 December 2024 that it would sell its regional television licenses covering Regional Queensland, Southern NSW/ACT, and Regional Victoria back to affiliate Network 10. The transaction was completed on 1 March 2025.

Programming

As Canberra’s exclusive commercial broadcaster, CTC operated autonomously from network schedules between its inception in 1962 and the aggregation process in 1989. Following its acquisition in 1988, it progressively aligned its programming with the Ten Network lineup. This independence enabled CTC to curate content from multiple sources, boasting broadcasts of over 80% of Australia’s top-rated programs. Nonetheless, several popular shows were never aired locally, while reruns of American sitcoms such as Bewitched and Gilligan's Island remained staples into the late 1980s.

Significantly, CTC never included Nine Network staples like Hey Hey It's Saturday, lifestyle series Burke's Backyard, or game show Wheel of Fortune. Similarly, drama series from the Seven Network such as Sons and Daughters and Home & Away were absent. The original Seven Network soap Neighbours was briefly broadcast in 1985 before returning in an early evening slot in 1987.

CTC’s schedule featured Australian soap operas including A Country Practice, Prisoner, E Street, Richmond Hill, and The Sullivans. Its current affairs offerings included programs like 60 Minutes and Willesee. Children’s fantasy dramas such as Ocean Girl and H₂O: Just Add Water, science-focused series like Beyond 2000, quiz shows including Sale of the Century, and medical dramas such as The Flying Doctors were also part of its lineup. Notably, CTC was among the first broadcasters to air the bold dramas from the 0–10 Network like Number 96 and The Box from their initial releases in the early seventies.

News and current affairs

CTC boasts a rich tradition in delivering local news, with bulletins broadcast for nearly four decades before their discontinuation on 22 November 2001. Beginning in the early 1970s, the station’s format featured a distinct 10–20 minute local news segment followed by national coverage from ATN 7 Sydney. When Kerry Stokes took ownership in 1980, the local bulletin was extended to a 30-minute slot at 6pm on weekdays, leading into Seven National News. By October 1981, CTC introduced its inaugural one-hour bulletin combining local, national, and international news at 6pm on weeknights, anchored by Laurie Wilson and John Bok. In 1982, John Bok joined Wilson as co-anchor, and weekends saw the airing of Australian Capital News for a half-hour.

In that same year, CTC began airing weekday morning news by featuring Nine Network's National News Today at 7am. This choice favored Nine's program over Network Ten's Good Morning Australia, likely influenced by the prominence of local presenter Steve Liebmann. This move marked the station’s first consistent pre-9am broadcast since the earlier locally produced Breakfast at Seven.

By 1985, the newsroom staff comprised fourteen journalists alongside three dedicated sports journalists and presenters, supported by three camera operators during live broadcasts. On 10 January 1986, John Bok departed to join ABC Adelaide; David Allen took over as chief news anchor while the bulletin was shortened to a thirty-minute composite utilizing Nine Network’s news theme.

Following Network Ten’s acquisition of CTC in 1987, the news service underwent significant transformation. Ken Begg was appointed News Director with a clear directive to enhance quality. The bulletin abandoned Nine’s graphics and theme music, adopting the Eyewitness News brand to align with Network Ten’s identity. A late-night current affairs show titled This Week, hosted by David Allen and Niree Creed, debuted on Thursdays at 10:30pm. The program featured international segments—a notable achievement given the high costs associated with satellite technology at the time.

In January 1988, CTC further integrated Network Ten’s schedule: Nine’s Today Show was replaced by Ten's Good Morning Australia, and National Nine Morning News gave way to Ten Eyewitness News This Morning. The revamped Capital 7 Eyewitness News adopted Frank Gari’s Turn to News theme song, following TVQ-0 Brisbane’s lead.

Face to Face

August 1988 saw Network Ten introduce Face to Face, a Sunday morning political news program hosted by then Political Editor Kerry O'Brien. Production took place across CTC Canberra, ATV Melbourne, and TEN Sydney studios depending on guest location. Running until 1989, it was notable as the first national program both produced and broadcast from CTC.

The News Hour Returns

On 19 September 1988, coinciding with Seoul Olympics coverage, CTC reinstated its one-hour Eyewitness News bulletin at 6pm. The team featured seasoned ABC newscaster Geoff Hiscock alongside Christine Kininmonth, weather presenter Mike Larkan, and sports anchor Greg Robson. A new set was constructed at CTC’s Watson studios in line with other Network Ten outlets; during this period, broadcasts temporarily originated from Black Mountain Tower.

By December 1988, the bulletin was rebranded as Ten News, positioning CTC firmly as a full Network Ten affiliate ahead of Prime and WIN launching in Canberra. The bulletin incorporated a local opt-out segment for Illawarra viewers with content generated from CTC's Wollongong facility. However, this arrangement lasted only nine months before the Wollongong news team was disbanded following Charles Curran’s takeover in September 1989. Although coverage expanded into Riverina and Central West areas, no dedicated local news service was established there.

CTC’s commitment to delivering metropolitan-standard news enabled it to retain a number one ratings position in Canberra for three years after Prime and WIN commenced operations. The locally produced one-hour bulletin remained largely consistent for thirteen years thereafter.

The Initial 'First at Five' Setback

On 20 January 1992, CTC moved its 6pm Ten Evening News to an earlier 5pm slot, renaming it Capital Eyewitness News and heavily promoting the slogan 'First at Five' throughout Canberra. Although this scheduling adjustment offered Network Ten a competitive advantage in other regions, it encountered strong resistance from viewers in Canberra. The loyal audience disapproved of the change, particularly since the traditional 6pm news was replaced by the tabloid-style show Hinch and the American dating program Studs. Within six weeks, CTC restored the news broadcast to its original 6pm slot and updated bus advertisements to reflect this reversal.

Outside Canberra, areas such as Illawarra, Central West, and Riverina continued to receive TEN-10 Sydney's 5pm news. This arrangement persisted until the 2021 affiliation realignment back to Network Ten, which also saw the local news return to the 5pm timeslot.

The Canberra Television News Battle of 1993

In 1993, Prime directly challenged CTC by launching a comprehensive one-hour news bulletin at 6pm covering local, national, and international stories. Prime's earlier local news efforts had been unsuccessful; after debuting a 30-minute bulletin in 1989 with former CTC journalist John Bok as anchor, it was scaled down to brief updates by 1991 due to poor viewership.

To enhance its news offering, Prime assembled a team of 26 personnel, including Ken Begg and Geoff Hiscock from CTC, along with future national presenters Melissa Doyle and Jessica Rowe. Concurrently, CTC appointed John Stock as news director and elevated Greg Robson alongside Kininmonth as co-anchors for Capital Eyewitness News. WIN continued airing a half-hour local bulletin anchored by veteran Peter Leonard.

Prime’s refreshed 6 O'clock News premiered on 1 March 1993 with extensive promotion, resulting in Canberra viewers having three competing locally produced six o’clock bulletins for the first time since aggregation. However, by late 1993 Prime reduced its hour-long bulletin back to a half-hour local edition. Throughout this period, Capital Eyewitness News maintained its position as market leader, with WIN trailing closely behind.

1995 – The Start of Decline

Following Southern Cross Broadcasting’s acquisition of CTC, major reductions in newsroom staff occurred, including the discontinuation of the half-hour weekend bulletin. In Canberra, the news brand was updated to Ten Capital Eyewitness News, reflecting the station’s new ownership identity.

Over the subsequent five years, limited financial investment led to technical difficulties becoming noticeable on air due to outdated equipment causing broadcast interruptions. Despite these challenges, the newsroom continued delivering coverage on local, national, and international matters. By May 1997, the bulletin underwent another rebranding as Ten Capital News.

During the 1990s, Network Ten experienced weak ratings in Canberra. Southern Cross Broadcasting ceased producing locally generated news on 22 November 2001, citing falling viewership and expensive digital upgrade requirements as reasons. This decision coincided with Prime’s cancellation of its local bulletin and triggered an investigation by the Australian Broadcasting Authority into regional news services; however, no local bulletins were reinstated as a result.

Local news made a comeback in 2004 through short updates produced by Southern Cross News from CTC’s Canberra studios. Additionally, a half-hour magazine-style program titled State Focus was introduced to satisfy local content mandates. Initially broadcast on Saturdays at noon, it later moved to Sundays preceding Meet the Press.

Beginning late 2001, CTC aired TEN Sydney’s one-hour weekday state and half-hour weekend national 10 News First bulletins at 5 pm. The station also featured programs such as The Project and The Bolt Report, complemented by state and national news updates from TEN Sydney.

2016 – Nine News Hour

On 1 July 2016, Southern Cross Austereo realigned its Southern Cross Ten stations to affiliate with the Nine Network. Consequently, CTC began airing daily national Nine News Canberra bulletins produced in Sydney, alongside key flagship programs such as A Current Affair, Today Extra, and national and state news updates. Significantly, the program Today made its return to CTC for the first time since 1987, and 60 Minutes resumed broadcasting after a hiatus dating back to 1988.

Following the affiliation change, local news updates persisted, with Southern Cross Austereo pledging to enhance content beyond brief 'rip and read' segments by reinstating comprehensive news bulletins, thereby diminishing dependence on national and state news services.

In November 2016, Nine Network declared plans to produce 15 localized news bulletins, including a dedicated one-hour news service for Canberra. Although journalists operated from CTC’s offices in Watson, the news presentations were delivered from Sydney’s TCN studios; the Watson studios themselves were not reactivated. The weather reports were pre-recorded at NBN in Newcastle.

At Nine Network’s 2017 programming launch, former ABC weather presenter Vanessa O'Hanlon was appointed as the anchor for the Canberra bulletin. On 18 January 2017, News Director Mike Dalton introduced the first team of CTC bulletin reporters in 15 years: Harry Frost and Rosana Kingsun (both formerly of WIN News Canberra), Emma Larouche (from GTS/BKN Southern Cross News), and Mike Lorigan (NBN News Central Coast).

The inaugural broadcast of Nine News Canberra took place on 6 February 2017, adopting a production style akin to that of NBN News. This included a generic live-read format combined with pre-recorded segments covering local news, sports, and weather. Similar formats were employed in Illawarra, Riverina, and Central West markets, each featuring customized local content. The shared weather segment for Canberra and Illawarra was pre-recorded at NBN Newcastle. This launch marked CTC’s re-entry into local news production after a 15-year absence.

On 17 March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nine News temporarily halted its regional hour-long news bulletins.

2020 – Nine News Local

Localized news bulletins resumed on CTC on 10 August 2020 with a condensed 30-minute program covering the ACT and southern NSW regions including Illawarra, Riverina, and Central West. The live broadcast was scheduled at 5:30 pm, preceding the statewide edition of Nine News at 6 pm.

Natassia Soper succeeded Vanessa O'Hanlon as presenter for news and sport segments, while Mike Lorigan transitioned to Nine News Adelaide. Weather reports were delivered by Gavin Morris from NBN’s Newcastle studios, providing coverage across the entire broadcast region.

2021 – 10 News First and Sky News agreement

Following Southern Cross Austereo’s (SCA) return to Network 10 affiliation on 1 July 2021, the Nine News Local bulletins concluded after a five-year run, with their final airing on 30 June 2021. This shift resulted from Nine entering an affiliation with WIN Television, which maintains its own local news services. Consequently, CTC ceased producing localized bulletins and reverted to brief rip-and-read updates under the 10 News First banner produced out of Hobart. Additionally, CTC broadcasts 10 News First from Sydney alongside programs such as The Project and The Sunday Project. The mid-morning show Studio 10 aired until its cancellation in November 2023.

In May 2021, SCA entered a content partnership with Sky News Australia to launch Sky News Regional as a free-to-air service on its Network 10 stations—including CTC—beginning on 1 August 2021. This new offering replaced the previous Sky News service available via WIN Television. Under this collaboration, CTC gains access to Sky News Australia’s newsroom resources and remote studios for content creation and acts as the lead station for SCA’s regional broadcasts during significant state and national events. Furthermore, CTC serves as the primary free-to-air outlet for select Fox Sports News programming across SCA’s regional network, providing sports content relevant at both regional and national levels.

Presenters

Current presenters

• Will Boddy (substitute presenter for 10 News updates since July 2022)
• Rebecca Gaitaneris (presenter for 10 News updates beginning March 2023)

Entertainment programs

An Evening With

An Evening With was a monthly variety series broadcast from 1966 to 1967, co-produced and hosted by David Brice. The show highlighted talent from Canberra and other Australian regions, premiering on 23 August 1966 with the local group Treblefolk. Notably, Little Pattie appeared in a 1967 episode.

Breakfast At Seven

Debuting in May 1967, CTC aired Breakfast At Seven, a two-hour Saturday morning show combining light entertainment, news segments, and community updates. David Brice served as host, presenting music, film excerpts, weather forecasts, sports news, gardening tips, cartoons, and previews of evening programming.

Tonight in Canberra

Broadcast from April to August 1968 on Monday nights at 10:05 pm, Tonight in Canberra featured a blend of interviews and variety performances. Hosted by David Brice alongside Steve Liebmann, the program included conversations with local personalities such as RSPCA inspectors and politicians Tom Lewis and Jim Pead, as well as segments on Christmas card artist Gordon Fraser.

During his time at CTC, David Brice secured the rights to a book by Don and Elizabeth Coleman about a student protest in Canberra. This led to the production of the film Demonstrator, which began filming in September 1970 and was released the following year. Although it achieved moderate local recognition, it did not perform well commercially or critically.

Tonight with Frank Jones

In the mid-1970s, CTC brought back its variety format with Tonight with Frank Jones, airing Saturdays at 9:30 pm.

Meeting in the Middle

Meeting in the Middle was a pioneering early Sunday evening talk show hosted by Canberra teenagers that ran for 26 weeks starting on 17 June 1979. Teen hosts conducted interviews with celebrities using questions they developed themselves. The program was created by Desmond Bishop, head of CTC’s Canberra Children's Television Workshop, with the goal of bridging generational divides.

Constable Kenny on Duty

During the 1980s, Constable Kenny on Duty was a prominent segment within the afternoon show Children's Hour. Alongside the cantankerous Sergeant Bully, Constable Kenny taught vital lessons such as road safety to children in Canberra. The program also featured visits to the zoo and responses to viewer letters. Constable Kenny had previously appeared in series like Constable Kenny's Casebook and Junior Police 7.

RPM

The motoring show RPM, focusing on vehicle tests, performance reviews, and maintenance advice, launched a 13-week season on 10 July 1985 following a pilot aired in February. Demonstrating strong distribution potential, it was pre-sold to all regional Australian stations except NBN-3. Originally planned to be hosted by Paul Gover, motoring editor of The Canberra Times, Will Hagon from The Sunday Telegraph ultimately assumed hosting duties due to Gover’s other commitments. Network Ten later revived the RPM title twelve years afterward for an automotive and motorsports program.

Rock Till Dawn

In 1985, CTC introduced Rock Till Dawn, a late-night music video show that mirrored trends seen on metropolitan stations. Debuting on Friday, 22 March 1985, the program was presented by Ron Cooper, a well-known radio personality from 2CA. Initially broadcast on Friday evenings, the show primarily focused on rock 'n' roll but also incorporated elements of pop and jazz. Its content included live studio performances, interviews, and music videos. A memorable moment features the Doug Anthony All Stars, during which Cooper erroneously identified the studio location as Dickson instead of Watson.

Saturday Morning Live

Between 12 October and 21 December 1985, CTC aired Saturday Morning Live, a one-hour program starting at 8:30 am. The show was hosted by Donna Lynch and Cameron Humphries from radio 2CC, alongside the character Rowdy Rabbit. Inspired by the popular children's show Hey Hey It's Saturday, it blended uplifting news segments, cartoons, and musical performances. The program received sponsorship from Woden Shopping Square (now Westfield Woden), whose mascot Rowdy Rabbit had amassed a fan base of 3,000 in 1984.

The Up-Late Game Show

In 2005, CTC studios produced The Up-Late Game Show, representing Canberra's first regularly scheduled nationally broadcast television program in sixteen years. This interactive quiz aired late at night on Network Ten for ninety minutes and was hosted by Simon Deering (known as Hotdogs), a contestant from Big Brother. Viewers participated by solving straightforward puzzles via phone calls to win cash prizes. The series ran for two seasons before concluding on 15 December 2006.

Community and sport

During the 1970s and 1980s, CTC's Community Billboard was a key feature of early evening programming in Canberra, offering a brief five-minute segment highlighting upcoming nonprofit community events presented by the station's news team. Following Network Ten's acquisition of CTC in 1987, this segment was shortened to three minutes in March 1988 to accommodate commercial breaks. Airing from November 1962 until December 1988, it was eventually supplanted by similar community event formats introduced by local competitors WIN and Prime.

CTC’s weekend lineup throughout the 1970s and 1980s prominently showcased both local and national sports coverage. The two-hour Sports Action program aired on Saturday afternoons—originally broadcast on Sundays from noon to 2 pm starting in May 1968—and featured various sporting events across Australia. Revived as Sportswatch in March 1983 with Tony Campbell as host, this show played an important role in Canberra’s unique commercial TV market, where viewers often debated whether to watch AFL or Rugby League broadcasts.

From 1985 until 1994, CTC televised the Canberra Birdman Rally held annually during the Canberra Festival. At its height in 1987, more than 100,000 spectators gathered around Lake Burley Griffin to witness participants launch themselves from a ten-meter platform attempting to glide fifty meters to claim a $10,000 prize. The event was discontinued in 1995 due to escalating production expenses.

Main transmitters

Region served	City	Channels (Analog/ Digital)	First air date	ERP (Analog/ Digital)	HAAT (Analog/ Digital)	Transmitter Coordinates	Transmitter Location
Canberra	Canberra	7 (VHF)Template:Notetag 6 (VHF)	2 June 1962	200 kW 50 kW	345 m 335 m		Black Mountain
Central Tablelands	Orange	33 (UHF) 38 (UHF)	30 December 1989	2000 kW 350 kW	627 m 628 m	(analog) (digital)	Mount Canobolas
Central Western Slopes	Dubbo	35 (UHF) 11 (VHF)	30 December 1989	1000 kW 150 kW	648 m 653 m		Mount Cenn Cruaich
Illawarra	Wollongong	62 (UHF) 37 (UHF)	31 March 1989	950 kW 250 kW	619 m 600 m	(analog) (digital)	Knights Hill
South West Slopes, New South Wales and Eastern Riverina	Wagga Wagga	35 (UHF) 51 (UHF)	30 December 1989	1600 kW 350 kW	525 m 540 m		Mount Ulandra
Victorian Upper Murray (Upper Hume region)	Albury, New South Wales	39 (UHF) 8 (VHF)	1 January 1992	1200 kW 60 kW	533 m 525 m		Mount Baranduda

Related Topics

• Regional television in Australia
• Network 10