TNT (Australian TV station)
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Predecessor | Northern TV Ltd (TNT-9) |
| Founded | May 26, 1962 in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia |
| Headquarters | Launceston , Australia |
Area served | Tasmania |
| Products | Television broadcasting, local programming, news |
| Owner | Seven West Media |
| Parent | Seven West Media |
| Website | 7tasmania |
TNT is a television broadcaster located in Launceston, Tasmania, owned by Seven West Media. Initially catering to northern Tasmania, the station expanded its reach across the entire state after the 1994 Tasmanian television market aggregation.
History
TNT-9 commenced operations as Northern TV Ltd on 26 May 1962, delivering broadcasts to Launceston and the surrounding northern region of Tasmania. In 1965, it was incorporated into ENT Ltd (Examiner-Northern TV Ltd). By 1980, TNT-9 had introduced a customized version of the Nine Network’s "9 Dots" emblem.
In 1982, ENT acquired Hobart’s TVT-6 and subsequently rebranded both stations as TasTV in 1985, while retaining their original callsigns. On 30 March 1988, ENT divested TNT-9 to Tricom Corporation (which later became Southern Cross Broadcasting) for $40 million, complying with aggregation rules that mandated ENT to sell one station by 1992. In September 1988, TNT launched a relay transmitter on King Island. Beginning 1 January 1989, the station operated under the name Southern Cross Network.
With aggregation, Southern Cross Television began broadcasting in Hobart, whereas TasTV (later WIN Television) focused on Launceston, establishing statewide competition. In 1999, Southern Cross Tasmania adopted a distinctive Tasmanian tiger logo to differentiate itself from mainland affiliates.
In December 2003, Southern Cross and WIN Television collaborated to launch Tasmanian Digital Television, a digital-only channel relaying Network Ten programming.
Southern Cross Broadcasting standardized its branding in July 2005 by replacing the Tasmanian Tiger emblem with a unified Southern Cross corporate identity. In June 2018, Southern Cross Tasmania rebranded as Seven Tasmania, aligning its local brand with the Seven Network.
In February 2025, Southern Cross Austereo announced plans to sell its television assets, including Seven Tasmania, to Australian Digital Holdings (ADH). However, by May 2025 this transaction was abandoned; instead, Seven West Media acquired these stations for $3.75 million. The acquisition was completed on 1 July 2025.
After more than sixty years at its South Launceston studios, Seven Tasmania vacated the premises in May 2025. News production temporarily shifted to Hobart while new facilities are constructed in Launceston's central business district.
Local programming
TNT delivers the leading daily news broadcast in its market alongside local lifestyle and sports shows.
Past local productions have included Sports Club (a weekly sports roundup), Quiz Quest (a children’s quiz show), The Saturday Night Show (variety entertainment), Down the Line (morning talk and community events), Tasmanian New Faces (talent showcase), and annual broadcasts of Targa Tasmania and The Launceston Cup.
News
The station’s primary news program, Nightly News (previously known as Southern Cross News), airs live every evening at 6:00 pm from studios in Launceston. This bulletin was produced at the original Watchorn Street location from its inception in 1962 until 2025.
Short news bulletins are broadcast throughout the day alongside national Seven News Updates. The nightly program consistently ranks as Tasmania’s top-rated television show. A shortened version focusing on local news, sports highlights, and weather forecasts is made available on the station’s YouTube channel.
A planned transition to the Seven News Tasmania brand in July 2018 was delayed due to ongoing discussions between Southern Cross Austereo and Seven Network. SCA CEO Grant Blackley stated that Seven Network preferred not to have their brand associated with content they did not control. Consequently, the station revived the Nightly News branding in December 2018.
In addition to its local bulletin, Seven Tasmania broadcasts national news and current affairs programs from Seven Network, including:
- Sunrise
- Weekend Sunrise
- The Morning Show
- Various editions of Seven News, such as Early News, National News At Noon, Afternoon News, and Weekend Afternoon News
TNT also simulcasts weekday editions of Seven News at 4 from HSV-7 Melbourne, National News At Noon, and weekend news programs from ATN-7 Sydney.
Lead anchors
- Kim Millar (Weeknights & Substitute)
- Michael Maney (Weekends & Substitute)
Sports presenters
- Nick Kelly
- Lily Thompson
Weather team
- Peter Murphy (Weeknights & Substitute)
- Kiah Wicks
- Jackie Harvey
- Carmen Wilkin
Hook, Line and Sinker
The fishing series Hook, Line and Sinker, presented by former journalists Andrew Hart and Nick Duigan, ranked as Tasmania’s top locally produced show, with nationwide broadcast. Spanning 24 seasons from 2000 to 2025, it delivered 300 episodes. Following its conclusion, the program sustained engagement through its YouTube channel.
Renovation Relief
Renovation Relief is a home improvement series led by well-known wood-chopper David Foster. The program showcases Foster collaborating with sponsor teams such as Gunns to renovate residences, often benefiting community members or individuals supporting children.
Targa Torque
Throughout the two-week Targa Tasmania event, Andrew Hart and Nick Duigan provide nightly summaries and analyses of key moments.
Holiday at Home
Holiday at Home is a lifestyle program highlighting attractions and experiences across Tasmania.
Burnie Ten – Ten Week Challenge
In the ten weeks leading up to the Burnie Ten race, Mark Connelly coaches participants in a Seven Tasmania-backed initiative featuring weekly progress reports during commercial breaks. Initially spotlighting prominent Tasmanians, the program expanded in 2006 to include a family from Launceston.
Sports broadcasting
Seven Tasmania airs sports content from the Seven Network, including Australian Rules Football, Horse racing, cricket, tennis, golf, and motorsport. During the 1990s dual affiliation period, it transmitted Network Ten’s daily sports show Sports Tonight, later replaced by Seven’s current affairs program Today Tonight.
Through its Seven partnership, the station broadcasts three AFL matches each round and prioritizes Tasmanian sports such as cricket, athletics, netball, and basketball in its news segments. Past sports reporters include Chris Rowbottom, Alicia Muling, and Trent Dann.
Local sports coverage
Annual local programming features the international road race Targa Tasmania. The station also provides live broadcasts of the Launceston and Hobart Cup horse races, along with regular updates on the Boxing Day Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race during the competition.
Network affiliation
TNT operates as an affiliate of the metropolitan Seven Network, carrying most of Seven's sub-channels (7two, 7mate, SBN, and Racing.com). Its competitors include TVT-6 (WIN Television), aligned with the metropolitan Nine Network, and the jointly owned TDT, affiliated with metropolitan Network 10.
Following aggregation in 1994, TNT held dual affiliation with Seven and Ten; however, Ten programming was gradually withdrawn in the late 2000s after digital-only station TDT launched in 2003 as a joint venture between Southern Cross Austereo and WIN.
In July 2025, Seven West Media—the proprietor of Seven Network—purchased TNT for $3.75 million, placing TNT directly under the ownership of its affiliate network.
Channels
| Channel Name | LCN | Coverage Area | Programming Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel 7/HD | 6 (HD), 60 (HD), 61 (SD) | Statewide | General entertainment • Australian content • Sports • Reality shows |
| 7two | 62 | Statewide | General entertainment • Adult-oriented programming |
| 7mate | 63 | Statewide | Men’s interest shows • Sports coverage |
| SBN International | 64 | Statewide | Religious content |
| TVSN | 65 | Statewide | Home shopping network |
| you.tv | 66 | Statewide | Home shopping network |
| gecko | 67 | Statewide | Home shopping network |
| Racing.com | 68 | Statewide | Horse and greyhound racing broadcasts |
(*) – awaiting official confirmation from Seven West Media
| Channel Name | LCN | Programming Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 7flix | Set to replace you.tv on channel 66* | Movies • General entertainment programming |
| 7Bravo | Set to replace TVSN on channel 65 | American television series and content |
Main transmitters
| Service Area | City | Channels (Analog/Digital) |
Launch Date | Effective Radiated Power (Analog/Digital) |
Height Above Average Terrain (Analog/Digital)1 |
Coordinates of Transmitter | Transmitter Site Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Hobart | 31 (UHF) 10 (VHF) |
30 April 1994 | 1300 kW 50 kW |
1061 m 1030 m |
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Mount Wellington |
| North Eastern Tasmania | Launceston, Tasmania | 9 (VHF) 45 (UHF) |
26 May 1962 | 300 kW 600 kW |
809 m 839 m |
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Mount Barrow |
Notes:
- 1. HAAT figures derived from https://www.itu.int/SRTM3/ utilizing EHAAT methodology.
See also
References
External links
- Official website for 7 Tasmania's Nightly News
- TNT9 profile on Television.AU