MyTalk
| Company type | Television channel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcasting |
| Founded | April 13, 2007 |
| Founder | Fairfax Media |
| Defunct | February 25, 2008 |
| Fate | Ceased independent broadcast; switched to simulcasting Southern Cross Ten and Southern Cross Television channels |
Area served | Regional Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Darwin, Spencer Gulf, Broken Hill (Australia) |
| Products | Digital television channel, online platform |
| Owner | Fairfax Media |
MyTalk was a Fairfax Media television channel introduced on 13 April 2007, aimed at audiences accessing digital television in Australia. It complemented the digital offerings of Southern Cross Ten and Southern Cross Television, alongside its online platform, delivering tailored content across thirty markets, including international, national, and local news, as well as weather forecasts.
History
The MyTalk website became operational on 5 April 2007 and was officially inaugurated by then Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, on 11 April. The channel commenced broadcasting two days following the launch event. Subsequently, in the same year, Fairfax Media purchased Southern Cross Broadcasting’s radio division for $1.35 billion, which included ownership of the MyTalk website and channel. On 25 February 2008, MyTalk stopped its independent broadcast and switched to simulcasting the primary Southern Cross Ten and Southern Cross Television channels after Fairfax discontinued the MyTalk website to concentrate on their newly acquired radio holdings and existing websites.
Features
MyTalk provided a continuous 24-hour television schedule specifically for Southern Cross Ten and Southern Cross Television, customized according to each broadcast region. It supplied up-to-the-minute news coverage nonstop, spanning local, national, and global topics, along with current affairs and regional weather reports.
The channel incorporated a live video preview highlighting programming from Southern Cross Ten or Southern Cross Television, including reruns of the regional current affairs show State Focus, accompanied by a Now and Next program guide. Additionally, MyTalk promoted Southern Cross content through a small billboard loop that also advertised features of the online portal and forthcoming promotions.
Availability
Broadcasting in 576i standard definition, MyTalk was accessible across Regional Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and Darwin through Southern Cross Television and Southern Cross Ten owned-and-operated stations. These stations included GLV and BCV in Victoria; CTC and NRN in New South Wales; TNQ in Queensland; TNT in Tasmania; TND in Darwin; as well as SGS/SCN serving Spencer Gulf and Broken Hill. Plans to extend MyTalk’s availability to Nine Adelaide were abandoned following Southern Cross Broadcasting’s sale of the station to WIN Corporation.
Identity
Throughout its lifespan, MyTalk maintained a uniform visual identity featuring a yellow and white color scheme consistent with its web portal design. The datacast channel displayed a small 4:3 video window positioned in the top right corner of the screen.