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GTV (Australian TV station)

From Alfawiki
GTV
Company typeCommercial television station
IndustryBroadcasting
PredecessorGeneral Television Corporation Ltd.
Founded1956-09-27
FounderConsortium including The Argus, The Age, Hoyts, Greater Union, 3XY, 3UZ, 3KZ
Headquarters
Melbourne
,
Australia
Area served
Melbourne and Victoria, Australia
Key people
Alicia Loxley (News anchor), Tom Steinfort (News anchor), Peter Hitchener (News anchor), Tony Jones (Sports presenter), Natalie Yoannidis (Sports presenter), Clint Stanaway (Sports presenter), Livinia Nixon (Weather presenter), Madeline Spark (Weather presenter)
ProductsTelevision broadcasting, News programming, Sports coverage
OwnerNine Network
ParentNine Network
Websitewww.9now.com.au

GTV is a commercial television station based in Melbourne, Australia, and is owned by the Nine Network. The station broadcasts from its studios located at 717 Bourke Street in Docklands and is notably recognized for airing the Australian Open tennis event.

History

Among the earliest television stations in Australia, GTV-9 commenced test broadcasts on 27 September 1956, initially transmitting from the Mount Dandenong transmitter before its studios in Richmond were fully operational. Its initial programming lineup featured coverage of the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne, the annual Carols By Candlelight, and the Davis Cup tennis competition.

GTV-9 officially began operations on 19 January 1957, inaugurated by Victorian Governor Sir Dallas Brooks at its Richmond studios. It was the third television station established in Victoria, following HSV-7 and ABV-2. The Richmond premises, dubbed Television City, were repurposed from a former Heinz factory that had previously accommodated the Wertheim Piano Company.

In the late 1960s, Eric Pearce assumed the role of senior newsreader, maintaining this position for nearly twenty years. The station's first significant production was the nightly variety program In Melbourne Tonight, hosted by Graham Kennedy. This show dominated Melbourne's television landscape for thirteen years and established a tradition of live variety entertainment at GTV-9.

Initially, the station was licensed to General Television Corporation Ltd., a consortium comprising newspapers (The Argus, The Age), cinema chains (Hoyts, Greater Union), and radio broadcasters (3XY, 3UZ, 3KZ). Following the closure of The Argus in 1957, ownership interests transferred to Electronic Industries and subsequently to UK-based manufacturer Pye. Due to regulations limiting foreign ownership, GTV-9 was sold to Australian Consolidated Press under Frank Packer, which also controlled Sydney's TCN-9, thereby creating Australia's first commercially owned television network. Control remained within the Packer family until a brief sale to businessman Alan Bond during the 1980s, after which it was repurchased at a reduced price. After Kerry Packer's passing, his son James Packer gradually reduced his holdings.

Colour test transmissions commenced at GTV-9 in October 1974, with full colour broadcasts officially starting on 1 March 1975. In 1976, GTV-9 pioneered permanent 24-hour broadcasting in Australia. The transition to digital broadcasting began in 2001 through simulcasts on VHF frequencies.

In 2010, GTV-9 shifted its daily operations—including news production and commercial sales—from its Bendigo Street location in Richmond to new facilities at 717 Bourke Street in Docklands. Later that year, larger studio productions such as The Footy Show and Millionaire Hotseat relocated to Docklands Studios Melbourne.

The last live transmission from the Richmond studios took place on 28 February 2011 with Nine News. Subsequently, news broadcasts moved entirely to Docklands. During the installation of a fibre link, a temporary satellite connection via Optus D1 was employed to maintain transmissions; a permanent backup satellite link was reinstated in May 2012, necessitating substantial receiving equipment.

By 2012, original programming production had ceased at Docklands studios as programs like A Current Affair were relocated to Sydney's TCN-9 facilities.

Digital Multiplex

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

Content produced locally by or in collaboration with GTV-9 Melbourne.

717 Bourke Street

Docklands Studios Melbourne

Other Locations

Sport

  • Coverage of the Super Netball league (since 2017)
  • Broadcasts of the National Rugby League (Melbourne Storm)
  • Coverage of the Australian Open tennis tournament (from 2019 forward)
  • Tennis coverage including the French Open and US Open, starting in 2021 and continuing from 2022 respectively

Historical Programming

2010s

2000s

1990s

  • Pig's Breakfast(1999–2000)
  • Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?(1999–2007)
  • Stingers(1998–2004)
  • The Russell Gilbert Show(1998)
  • Burgo's Catch Phrase(1997–2001, 2002–2004)
  • This Is Your Life(1995–2005, 2011)
  • Don't Forget Your Toothbrush(LIVE)(1995)
  • AFL Footy Show(1994–2019) – recorded in Studio 9
  • The Price Is Right(1993–1998, 2003–2005)
  • The Bob Morrison Show(1994)
  • Banjo Paterson's The Man From Snowy River: The McGregor Saga(1993–1996)

1980s

  • The Flying Doctors(1986–1993)
  • Sale of the Century(1980–2001)

1970s

  • The Don Lane Show(1975–1983)
  • The Ernie Sigley Show(1974–1976, 1985)
  • The Graham Kennedy Show(1972–1975)
  • A Current Affair(1971–1978)
  • Hey Hey It's Saturday(Oct 1971 – Dec 1977, Feb 1979 – Nov 1999 finale; reunion specials in 2009; Apr-Nov 2010)
  • Sullivans(1976–1983)

1957 – 1960s

  • A variety of early productions including In Melbourne Tonight, New Faces, World Championship Wrestling, along with assorted variety and game shows from the late 1950s through the 1960s.
    • Studio 9 functioned as the main production facility throughout this era.

News

Produced and broadcast from GTV-9’s Docklands studios, Nine News Melbourne features anchors Alicia Loxley and Tom Steinfort on weeknights, with Peter Hitchener anchoring weekends. Sports coverage is delivered by Tony Jones on weeknights, Natalie Yoannidis on Saturdays, and Clint Stanaway on Sundays. Weather updates are provided by Livinia Nixon Monday through Thursday and Madeline Spark from Friday to Sunday.

The flagship 6PM bulletin is simulcast on community radio station Light FM, as well as streamed online. National bulletins such as Nine Early Morning News and Nine Morning News are produced at TCN-9 in Sydney. Weekend late-night news updates originate from GTV-9 and are presented by Peter Hitchener.

In May 2017, GTV-9 introduced its inaugural local afternoon news segment, Nine Afternoon News Melbourne, directly competing with HSV-7’s local afternoon news offering. This bulletin is hosted by Brett McLeod.

Presenters

News Anchors Template:Col-start Template:Col-3

Template:Col-3 Template:Col-end

Sports Presenters Template:Col-start Template:Col-3

  • Tony Jones (Weeknights, since 1990)
  • Natalie Yoannidis (Saturdays, since 2024)
  • Clint Stanaway (Sundays, since 2011)

Template:Col-3 Template:Col-end

Weather Presenters Template:Col-start Template:Col-3

  • Livinia Nixon (Weeknights, since 2004)
  • Madeline Spark (Weekends, since 2020)

Template:Col-3 Template:Col-end

Reporters Template:Col-start Template:Col-2

  • Christine Ahern ('Today' Melbourne correspondent)
  • Seb Costello ('A Current Affair' correspondent)
  • Jo Hall
  • Alexis Daish ('A Current Affair' correspondent)
  • Madeline Spark
  • Justine Conway
  • Eliza Rugg
  • Neary Ty
  • Izabella Staskowski ('Today' Melbourne correspondent)
  • Reid Butler (US correspondent)
  • Brett McLeod
  • Heidi Murphy (State Political correspondent)
  • Stephanie Anderson
  • Lana Murphy
  • Penelope Liersch
  • Gillian Lantouris
  • Mimi Becker
  • Ollie Haig

Template:Col-end

Sports Reporters

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

Substitute Presenters

Template:Col-start Template:Col-2

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

Template:Col-end

Former Anchors

Sir Eric Pearce (broadcaster), who was knighted following his retirement, served as GTV-9’s chief news anchor from the late 1950s until 1974. After a brief retirement and an unsuccessful attempt with an American-style "NewsCentre Nine" anchored by Peter Hitchener, Pearce returned to the role between 1976 and 1978.

In 1978, ex-HSV-7 presenter Brian Naylor took over as chief weeknight news presenter while Hitchener handled weekend editions. Naylor remained in this role for two decades until his retirement in 1998 when deputy Peter Hitchener assumed the position. Weekend duties were then taken over by Jo Hall, with Tony Jones serving as principal weekend fill-in.

Other prominent presenters have included Tracy Grimshaw, who worked from 1981 to 1993; Tracey Curro, who also contributed to Nine's 60 Minutes; and Jo Hall who anchored weekends from 1998 to 2011.

Weekend sports anchors have featured personalities such as Leith Mulligan between 1999 and 2006, Heath O'Loughlin from 2006 to 2008, former swimmer Grant Hackett, who presented during 2008 and 2009, and Lisa Andrews from 2009 through to 2011. Weather presenter Rob Gell held his position for fifteen years spanning from 1988 until his departure in 2004.

GTV 9 Football Club

The GTV 9 Football Club, frequently referred to as GTV-9 or GTV9 and commonly known by the nickname Gunners, was an Australian rules football team that competed within the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA). This club served as the sporting representative for the television broadcaster GTV, incorporating the station’s signature nine-dot logo into its identity.

Established in 1986, GTV 9 entered the VAFA's newly created G Section and achieved a finals berth in its inaugural year, securing fourth place before being eliminated by Parkside in the semi-final round.

During the 1987 season, the club managed only three victories, finishing 11th on the ladder, which led to their demotion to H Section for the 1988 campaign. GTV 9 responded strongly in 1988, winning 14 out of 16 matches; however, their run ended in the preliminary final against St Kevin's. That year, Tony Fox was honored as joint recipient of the H Section best-and-fairest award.

In what would be their final season, 1989, GTV 9 recorded five wins and ended second from bottom in H Section. The club disbanded prior to the commencement of the 1990 season.

See also

External links

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