GTV is a commercial television station in Melbourne, Australia, owned by the Nine Network. The station is currently based at studios at 717 Bourke Street, Docklands. GTV-9 is the home of the Australian Open tennis coverage.
History
GTV-9 was amongst the first television stations to begin regular transmission in Australia. Test transmissions began on 27 September 1956, introduced by former 3DB radio announcer Geoff Corke, based at the Mount Dandenong transmitter, as the studios in Richmond were not yet ready. The station covered the 1956 Summer Olympics which Melbourne hosted.,Geoff Corke interview by Keith McGowan of 3AW the 1956 Carols By Candlelight and the Davis Cup tennis as part of its test transmissions.
The station was officially opened on 19 January 1957"You, Me and Gerry Gee" by Ron Blaskett, p.86 by Victorian Governor Sir Dallas Brooks from the studios in Bendigo Street, Richmond. GTV-9 was the third television station to launch in Victoria after HSV-7 and ABV-2, on 19 January 1957. A clip from the ceremony has featured in a number of GTV-9 retrospectives, in which the Governor advises viewers that if they did not like the programs, they could just turn off.
The Richmond building, bearing the name Television City, had been converted from a Heinz tinned food factory, also occupied in the past by the Wertheim Piano Company (from 1908 to 1935).Bendigo St to fade to black – The Age 25-02-2010Television City was Australia's Hollywood – TV Tonight A cornerstone, now visible from the staff canteen courtyard, was laid when construction of the Piano factory began.
Eric Pearce was appointed senior newsreader in the late 1960s, after having been the first newsreader at rival station HSV-7. He held that position for almost twenty years. In 1957, GTV-9's first large-scale production was the nightly variety show In Melbourne Tonight ("IMT"), hosted by Graham Kennedy. Kennedy was a radio announcer at 3UZ in Melbourne before being 'discovered' by GTV-9 producer Norm Spencer, when appearing on a GTV-9 telethon. Bert Newton moved from HSV-7 to join Kennedy. IMT continued for thirteen years, dominating Melbourne's television scene for most of that time. It set a precedent for a number of subsequent live variety programmes from the station.
Ownership has changed over the decades. The station was first licensed to the General Television Corporation Ltd., a consortium of two newspapers, The Argus and The Age, together with cinema chains Hoyts, Greater Union, Sir Arthur Warner's Electronic Industries, JC Williamson's Theatres, Cinesound Productions, and radio stations 3XY, 3UZ, 3KZ. In early 1957 The Argus was acquired by The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd, and the paper was closed on the same day that GTV-9 officially opened. The Herald in turn sold its interests in the station to Electronic Industries, later acquired by UK television manufacturer Pye, in 1960. Because of the restriction on foreign ownership of television stations, GTV-9 was then sold to Frank Packer's Australian Consolidated Press, which already owned TCN-9 in Sydney, resulting in the formation of the country's first commercially owned television network. Prior to this GTV-9 was affiliated with ATN-7 in Sydney. Son Clyde Packer ran the network for some time, until a falling out led to a handover to younger son Kerry Packer. In the 1980s the network was sold to Alan Bond, but later bought back at a much lower price.Packer was reported as saying "You only get one Alan Bond in your lifetime, and I've had mine" Following the death of Kerry Packer, his son James Packer progressively sold down his stake in the network. (See also Publishing and Broadcasting Limited.)
Along with most Australian TV stations, GTV-9 commenced colour test transmissions in October 1974. The official changeover took place at 12.00am on Saturday 1 March 1975. In 1976, GTV-9 became the first Australian television station to commence permanent 24-hour transmission. In 2001 the station commenced digital television broadcasting, in line with most other metropolitan stations. GTV-9 continued broadcasting in analogue on VHF9, with a digital simulcast on VHF8.
In 2010 it was announced to public and then staff, that after 54 years at Bendigo Street, Richmond, GTV-9 would move day-to-day operations including News and commercial sales to 717 Bourke Street, Docklands. On 25 October 2010, it was announced that GTV-9 would begin producing larger scale studio productions, such as The Footy Show, Hey Hey its Saturday, and Millionaire Hotseat from the new Docklands Studios Melbourne.
On 28 February 2011, GTV-9 broadcast its final live program – the 6pm edition of Nine News – from the Richmond Television City studios, and the following day began broadcasting news bulletins from 717 Bourke Street, Docklands. Also while their new fibre link to their transmission site was being completed, a temporary DVB-S2 link was put up on Optus D1, which ceased at the end of the year.
In 2012, no new programming has been produced out of the new studios. The network opted to move A Current Affair and its host Tracy Grimshaw to TCN-9 in Sydney.
In May 2012, a lower powered permanent backup DVB-S2 link for their transmission site was re-established on Optus D1, which requires at least a two-metre solid receiving dish.
Digital multiplex LCN ServiceName Service ID Timing PID Video / PID Audio / PID Subtitles / PID EPG / PID 9 and 90 9HD 1073 and 1077 129 H.264 HD(1920×1080i) / 513 Dolby Digital(48 kHz stereo) / 650 EBU Teletext(page 801) / 577 DSM-CCMHEG-5 / 2306DVB Events / 18 91 Nine 1072 135 H.262 SD(720x576i) / 519 MPEG-1 Audio Layer II(48 kHz stereo) / 720 EBU Teletext(page 801) / 583 92 and 95 9Gem HD 1076 and 1078 128 H.264 HD(1920×1080i) / 512 Dolby Digital(48 kHz stereo) / 710 EBU Teletext(page 801) / 576 93 and 99 9Go! HD 1074 and 1079 133 H.264 HD(1920×1080i) / 517 Dolby Digital(48 kHz stereo) / 770 EBU Teletext(page 801) / 581 94 9Life HD 1075 136 H.264 HD(1920×1080i) / 520 Dolby Digital(48 kHz stereo) / 730 EBU Teletext(page 801) / 578 96 9Rush 1080 138 H.264 SD(720x576i) / 522 MPEG-1 Audio Layer II(48 kHz stereo) / 750 EBU Teletext(page 801) / 579 97 Extra 1081 139 H.262 SD(720x576i) / 523 MPEG-1 Audio Layer II(48 kHz stereo) / 760 none
Source:
Programming Locally produced programs by or with GTV-9 Melbourne.
Current
717 Bourke Street Nine News Melbourne (1957–present) Nine Afternoon News Melbourne (2017–present) Nine News: First at Five (Weekends, 2014–present) TAC Cup Future Stars (2009–present) The AFL Sunday Footy Show (1993–present) Footy Classified (2007–present)
Docklands Studios Melbourne Tipping Point Australia (2024–present)
Other Location Lego Masters (2019–present) The Block (2011–2012, 2014–present) Family Food Fight (2017–2018) Postcards (1998–present) Paramedics (2018–present) Bad Mothers (2019–present) Carols by Candlelight (1972–present)
Sport Super Netball coverage (2017–present) NRL coverage: Melbourne Storm Australian Open coverage (2019–present) French Open and US Open tennis coverage (2021–present and 2022–present, respectively)
Past
2010s Millionaire Hot Seat (2009–2023) – previously filmed in Studio 9 Nine News Victoria (March 2017 – June 2021, commissioned for affiliate GLV/BCV in regional Victoria, weeknights only) replaced by WIN News from July 2021. Weakest Link (2021) Your Domain (2019–2020) Australian Ninja Warrior (2019–2020) Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation (2009–2012 on Ten, 2018–2019 on Nine) The Logies (various years from 1959–present) House Husbands (2012–2017) Underbelly (2008–2009, 2013) A Current Affair (2008–2011) (production moved back to TCN Sydney) This Is Your Life (2011) (previous produced at TCN Sydney) The Million Dollar Drop (2011) Between the Lines (2011) Ben Elton Live From Planet Earth (2011)
2000s 20 to 1 (2005–2010) Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? New Zealand (2008–2010) – The show was tapped at GTV set for New Zealand Viewers. Australia's Funniest Home Videos: Daily Edition (2009–2010) The Singing Bee (2007–2009) Here's Humphrey (2008–2009) (Previously Adelaide) Temptation (2005–2009) Underbelly series 1 (2008) Canal Road (2008) Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune (2008) Power of 10 (2008) Hole in the Wall (2008) The Mint (2007–2008) 1 vs. 100 (2007)(Filmed at the Central City Studios at Melbourne Docklands but managed by GTV-9) The Nation (2007) Kids’ WB Australia (2006–2019) Quizmania (2006–2007) Bert's Family Feud (2006–2007) Shopping for Love (2005–2007) Comedy Inc (in part, 2003–2007) Magda's Funny Bits (2006) Any Given Sunday (AFL Chat Show) (2005–2006) Celebrity Golf Shoot-Out (2005–2006) StarStruck (2005) Australia's Funniest Home Video Show (2000–2004) (production returned to Sydney in 2005) Micallef Tonight (2003) Test Australia: The National IQ Test (2002–2003) AFL (2002–2006) Shafted (2002) Pass the Buck (2002) Surprise, Surprise (2000–2001) Russell Gilbert Live (2000)
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) The Footy Show (AFL) (1994–2019) – previously filmed 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) Saturday at Rick’s (1992–1993) Chances (1991–1992) All Together Now (1991–1993)
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 (October 1971 – December 1977, February 1979 – 20 November 1999 (Finale), 2009 (Reunion), April 2010 – November 2010) The Sullivans (1976–1983) The Daryl and Ossie Cartoon Show (1977) Cartoon Corner (1971–1976) No Man's Land (1973–1976)
1957–1960s The Big Game (1966) New Faces (Australian) (1963–1985) World Championship Wrestling (1964–1978) In Melbourne Tonight (1957–1970, 1996–1998) The Tarax Show (1957–1969) Boomerang (1961–1962) It Could Be You (1961–1969) The Adventures of Gerry Gee Concentration Toddy Time (1961) Let Me Read to You (1961) Bongo (1960) The Bert Newton Show (1959–1960) On the Spot (1959–1960) Geoff and Judy (1959) with Geoff Corke and Judy Jack The Astor Show (1958) Face the Nation (1958–1959) Keeping Company (1958–1959) Personal Album (1958–1959) The Peters Club with Rod McLennan, Judy Banks & Joff Ellen The Shirley Abicair Show (1958 series of specials, 2 of the 9 episodes were produced by GTV) Anything Goes (1957) Do You Trust Your Wife? (1957–1958) Eric Welch's Sports Album (1957) Football Inquest (1957, not to be confused with 1960–1974 HSV-7 series) The Happy Go Lucky Show (1957–1959) Hillbilly Requests (1957–1958) The Jack Perry Show (1957) Juke Box Saturday Night (1957–1958) Lovely to Look At (1957) Mannequin Parade (1957) Neptune Presents (1957) Open House (1957–1958) Thursday at One (1957–1960) Raising a Husband (1957) Studio 9 was used as the primary studio.
News
Nine News Melbourne is produced in, and presented from, the GTV-9 studios in Docklands by Alicia Loxley (weeknights) and Peter Hitchener (weekends) with sport presenters Tony Jones (weeknights) and Natalie Yoannidis (weekends) and weather presenters Scherri-Lee Biggs (weeknights) and Madeline Spark (weekends).
The 6PM main bulletin is also simulcast on community radio station Light FM and also streamed online. Nine News nationwide bulletins (Nine Early Morning News and Nine Morning News) are produced in, and presented from, the studios of TCN-9 in Sydney although late night news updates at the weekend are produced at GTV-9 and presented by Peter Hitchener.