Jump to content

TCN

From Alfawiki
TCN
Company typeTelevision station
IndustryBroadcasting, Television
FoundedSeptember 16, 1956; 70 years ago (1956-09-16)
FounderTelevision Corporation Ltd (under Frank Packer)
Headquarters
North Sydney
,
Australia
Area served
Australia
ProductsTelevision broadcasting, News programming, Sports coverage
OwnerNine Network (Publishing and Broadcasting Limited)

TCN serves as the principal television station of the Nine Network in Australia, with its main offices located at 1 Denison Street, North Sydney. Operating under a license granted to Television Corporation Ltd during the tenure of Frank Packer, it was one of the inaugural four commercial TV licenses awarded in Australia. TCN-9 functions as the key broadcaster for NRL events and nationwide Nine News programming.

History

Regular transmissions from TCN commenced on 16 September 1956, making it Australia's first television station to do so. Preliminary test broadcasts had begun approximately two months prior. The original transmission tower at Willoughby, constructed in 1956 and standing 171 m tall, was superseded in 1965 by a 233 m lattice structure—the tallest in Australia at that time—currently managed by TXA Australia.

The station's initial audio introduction was delivered by John Godson, followed by Bruce Gyngell’s first on-camera appearance, marking the earliest televised presentation in Australia. Among its early shows was the enduring variety program Bandstand, initiated by Brian Henderson.

In 1957, TCN partnered with Melbourne-based HSV-7 to exchange programming content. By 1963, it contributed to establishing the National Television Network, which included stations from Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide, setting the groundwork for what is now known as the Nine Network. At that stage, ownership of stations in Sydney and Melbourne rested solely with Packer's Nine Network Limited.

After Sir Frank Packer passed away in 1974, control transferred to his son Kerry Packer following a familial dispute that excluded his brother Clyde from leadership. In March 1981, TCN expanded its broadcast reach by transmitting on UHF channel 49 to enhance reception within central Sydney, later shifting to channel 52.

In January 1987, Kerry Packer divested the Sydney and Melbourne stations to Alan Bond’s Bond Media for $1.055 billion, including equity stakes. Due to financial difficulties, Bond Media entered receivership in 1990; subsequently, Packer reacquired the enlarged Nine Network for $200 million, excluding assets in Perth.

By 1994, Packer consolidated his print media and television interests into Publishing and Broadcasting Limited (PBL). On 1 October 1997, TCN-9 executed the first digital TV trial in the southern hemisphere. Official digital broadcasts began on 1 January 2001 via VHF Channel 8 while analogue transmissions continued on Channel 9 until analogue services ended on 3 December 2013.

From 2014 to 2015, TCN produced Inside Story and The Verdict for the Nine Network; however, The Verdict was discontinued in 2016 due to insufficient audience numbers.

Following a new affiliation agreement between Nine and Southern Cross in 2016, TCN started producing Nine News bulletins tailored for Canberra and Southern NSW from January 2017 onward.

In late 2018, after a quarter-century run, the Nine Network concluded The NRL Footy Show, bringing an end to this long-established primetime variety series.

After operating from Willoughby for over six decades, TCN transitioned its facilities to North Sydney during late 2020. The final Willoughby-based broadcasts included Sydney’s Nine News on 20 November and Weekend Today on 21 November; subsequent transmissions originated from North Sydney.

Studio A: Lifestyle and Entertainment

Studio B: 9News Sydney

  • A Current Affair (2021–ongoing)
  • 9News Sydney broadcast statewide (excluding Northern NSW) (2020–ongoing)
  • 60 Minutes (2020–ongoing)
  • Today (2020–ongoing)
  • Today Extra (2020–ongoing)
  • Weekend Today (2020–ongoing)
  • 9News Morning, 9News Afternoon Sydney, and Sunday-only 9News Late (2020–ongoing)
  • Sports Sunday, The Sunday Footy Show, and 100% Footy (2020–March 2021; subsequently produced from Studio A)

Studio C: Secondary/backup news studio

Studio D

  • Segments for Nine Digital and Nine Publishing (2020–ongoing)

Studio E

  • Production of 9Honey segments (2021–ongoing)

Studio 1: 9News Sydney

Studio 2: Lifestyle and Entertainment

Weekday programming includes:

  • 9News Sydney, Today, Today Extra, and various Nine News bulletins throughout 2020
  • Inside Story (2014–2015)
  • The Mike Walsh Show (1977–1984)
  • The Mike Walsh At Night Show (1985)

Weekend programming features:

Studio 24: Secondary/backup news studio

Studio 3: National Newsroom

Recorded at Fox Studios Australia

Location-based productions

  • Ongoing filming of the travel series, Getaway, since 1992
  • Coverage of the annual music event, the ARIA Awards, during periods from 2011 to 2013 and resuming in 2017 to present
  • Broadcasts covering the NRL
  • Ongoing coverage of the Australian Open tennis tournament since 2019

Past

The network's extensive past programming roster comprises a wide array of enduring and niche shows across news, entertainment, sports, and children’s genres that have significantly influenced its content lineup over many years.

News

The primary nightly news broadcast from TCN is 9News Sydney, with Peter Overton anchoring Monday through Thursday and Sunday, and Georgie Gardner presenting on Friday and Saturday. Sports segments are delivered by James Bracey from Sunday to Thursday and by Emma Lawrence on weekends. Weather updates are provided by Amber Sherlock during the week and Belinda Russell on Saturdays and Sundays. Substitute anchors frequently include Jayne Azzopardi and Mark Burrows.

For 45 years, including 38 consecutive weeknights, Brian Henderson was the face of Nine’s Sydney news until his retirement in 2002. He was followed by Jim Waley, who was succeeded in 2005 by Mark Ferguson. Ferguson transitioned to weekend presenting in 2009 when Peter Overton took over weekday evening broadcasts. Later that year, Ferguson departed Nine to join the Seven Network. Meanwhile, Deborah Knight handled Friday and Saturday evening slots, with Overton also covering Sundays.

In a notable achievement in 2011, Nine News Sydney reclaimed the ratings lead against Seven News Sydney for the first time in seven years, securing victories in 26 weeks compared to Seven’s 14.

News presenters

Sport presenters

Weather presenters

Relief presenters

Reporters

  • Charles Croucher (Political Editor)
  • Andrew Probyn (Editor for National Affairs)
  • Chris Kohler (Finance Editor)
  • Effie Zahos (Money Editor)
  • Liz Daniels, Claudia Vrdoljak, Amanda Copp (Reporters covering Federal Politics)
  • Edward Godfrey, Jessica Millward, Hannah Sinclair (Correspondents based in Europe)
  • Jonathan Kearsley, Lauren Tomasi, Reid Butler (United States Correspondents)
  • Mark Burrows, Damian Ryan, Eddy Meyer, Airlie Walsh (Senior Reporters)
  • Sophie Upcroft (Reporter for State Politics)
  • Tiffiny Genders (Chief Court Reporter), Annalise Bolt (Court Reporter)
  • Emma Partridge (Senior Editor for Crime)
  • Gabriella Rogers (Medical Reporter)
  • Mike Dalton (Reporter for Special Features)
  • Jayne Azzopardi, Vicky Jardim (Senior Reporters)
  • Kate Creedon, Sophie Walsh, Ruth Wynn-Williams, Hayley Francis, Elizabeth Bryan, Zara James, James Wilson, Massilia Aili, Alex Heinke, Maddison Scott, Erin Ramsey (Reporters)
  • Danny Weidler (Lead Rugby League Reporter)
  • Danika Mason, Emma Lawrence, Zac Bailey, Luke Dufficy, Tom Marriott (Sports Reporters)
  • Samuel Djodan (Cricket Reporter)
  • Simon Bouda (Crime Editor for A Current Affair)
  • Lizzie Pearl, Steve Marshall, Nat Wallace, Maggie Raworth (Sydney-based Reporters for A Current Affair)
  • Gabrielle Boyle, Lara Vella, Sarah Stewart, Bethan Yeoman, Jack Hahn (Sydney Reporters for Today)

Former Presenters

See also

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=TCN&oldid=56980"