ATN
1232869
225340253
2008-07-13T04:42:02Z
124.184.230.223
/* Programming */
{{Infobox_Broadcast |
call_letters = ATN|
city = |
station_logo = [[Image:Channelseven.svg|120px]]|
station_slogan = GOTTALOVEIT/ Get Ready|
station_branding = Seven|
analog = 7 ([[very high frequency|VHF]])|
digital = 6 ([[very high frequency|VHF]])|
other_chs = |
affiliations = [[Seven Network|Seven]] '''([[Owned-and-operated station|O&O]])'''|
network = [[Seven Network|Seven]]|
founded = |
airdate = [[December 2]], [[1956]]|
location = [[Sydney|Sydney, New South Wales]]|
callsign_meaning = '''A'''malgamated<br>'''T'''elevision<br>'''N'''ew South Wales|
former_callsigns = |
former_channel_numbers = |
owner = [[Seven Media Group|Seven Media Group Pty Ltd]]|
licensee = Channel Seven Sydney Pty Ltd|
sister_stations = |
former_affiliations = |
effective_radiated_power = 200 [[kilowatt|kW]] (analog)<br>50 kW (digital)|
HAAT = 246 [[metre|m]] (analog)<br>248 m (digital)<ref>[[height above average terrain|HAAT]] estimated from http://www.itu.int/SRTM3/ using EHAAT.</ref>|
class = |
facility_id = |
coordinates = {{coor dms|33|48|20|S|151|10|51|E|type:landmark_scale:2000}}|
homepage = [http://www.yahoo7.com.au/tv www.yahoo7.com.au/tv]|
}}
{{about|the Australian television station}}
'''ATN''' is the [[Sydney]] [[flagship]] [[television station]] of the [[Seven Network]] in [[Australia]]. The license, issued to a company named '''Amalgamated Television Services''', a subsidiary of [[John Fairfax Holdings|Fairfax]], was one of the first four licenses (two in Sydney, two in [[Melbourne]]) to be issued for commercial television stations in Australia. It began broadcasting on [[2 December]] [[1956]].
The station formed an affiliation with [[GTV-9]] Melbourne in 1957, in order to share content. In 1963, [[Frank Packer]] ended up owning both GTV-9 and [[TCN-9]], so as a result the stations switched their previous affiliations. ATN-7 and [[HSV-7]] joined to create the ''Australian Television Network'', which later became the [[Seven Network]].
==The studios and transmission tower==
The station opened in 1956 with principal offices and studios located at Mobbs Lane, [[Epping, New South Wales|Epping]] (a suburb about 12 kilometres NW of Sydney). The initial black and white cameras and other equipment was supplied by the [[Marconi Company]] of [[England]]. Conversion to [[PAL]] colour occurred on [[1 March]] [[1975]]. Digital [[DVB-T]] commenced on [[January 1]], [[2001]].
The initial transmission tower in 1956 was located near the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] tower at [[Gore Hill]], Sydney. This was eventually demolished after ATN was invited to share a new site at Artarmon which was built by a new 3rd, commercial broadcaster [[TEN-10]].
== Digital and analog broadcasts ==
ATN's Sydney transmissions - both DVB-T terrestrial digital and analog PAL - are on [[VHF]] RF Channels 6 and 7 respectively and are broadcast from masts operated by [http://www.txaustralia.com.au/ Transmitters Australia] (TXA) at [[Artarmon, New South Wales|Artarmon]] and/or [[Willoughby, New South Wales|Willoughby]]. Retransmission translators to [[Ultra high frequency|UHF]] channels service Sydney viewers from [[Kings Cross, New South Wales|Kings Cross]] and [[North Head, New South Wales|North Head]] at [[Manly, New South Wales|Manly]] and north of Sydney at [[Bouddi, New South Wales|Bouddi]], [[Gosford, New South Wales|Gosford]] and [[Forresters Beach, New South Wales|Forresters Beach]] (see the [http://www.dba.org.au Digital Broadcast Australia]) web site.
The on-air programs are sent by digital link from the Seven Network's national program play-out centre at Docklands in [[Melbourne]].
== Epping site satellite links ==
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:ATN7 12m Sattelites.jpg|170px|right|thumb|These are the 12m satellite dishes used by ATN-7 to communicate to the USA]] -->
In 1983, one of the first full-time commercial TV [[satellite]] links was established between [[Los Angeles]] and Sydney using the mid-Pacific [[Intelsat]] satellite. This was unique for what was known as a half transponder link, as it carried 2 NTSC TV programs each with stereo sound and data. (Comsat pretested this at their Clarksberg MA center). The video was multiplexed using [[Thomson]] "Vidiplex", and the audio and data equipment was from Wegener. The various news and other programs were fed out of Seven's News Bureau at [[Century City, Los Angeles, California|Century City]] in Los Angeles and then north to a Comsat satellite earth station at [[Santa Paula]].
Because in 1983 the satellite power was very limited, a receive satellite dish (TVRO) for east-coast Australia needed to be in the order of 18 metres diameter. An alternative of two 12 metre dishes ("C-band" with Gregorian feed-horn from Andrews), were installed at the Epping site. The signals received from the two dishes were electronically combined so that the signal was equivalent to an 18 metre dish's reception. Later when replacement satellites with higher powers were placed in orbit, the two dishes were used independently on different satellites. Other innovations such as analogue video noise reduction were also used to improve the signal.
One of the TV programs carried was [[CNN]]. This was the first international transmission of CNN outside North America. In 1984 [[TV Asahi]] in Tokyo contracted to also receive CNN via the Iberaki earth station operated by Japan's KDD Corporation (Kokusai Denshin Denwa - now ([[KDDI]]). After ATN's engineering staff assisted KDD and TV Asahi with the special receiving adaptors, CNN was distributed on Japan Cable TV which mainly served the Roppongi district of Tokyo, including many foreign consolates and embassies. This first international distribution of CNN was formally opened by [[Ted Turner]], CNN's then owner.
Subsequently, in 1986, a 13 metre Vertex "Ku-band" dish was added for Australian Television Network program distribution via the new Aussat satellite.
==Program production==
The Epping facilities were expanded to provide 5 operational studios and the centre became the largest producer of Australian produced TV content, including ''[[Wheel of Fortune (Australian game show)|Wheel of Fortune]]'', ''[[Sons and Daughters (Australian TV series)|Sons and Daughters]]'', ''[[A Country Practice]]'', ''[[All Saints (TV series)|All Saints]]'' and ''[[Home and Away]]''.
News and live telecasted programs are filmed and broadcast from the [[Martin Place, Sydney|Martin Place]] studios. Nationwide program promos for the network and ''Home and Away'' are produced and filmed from the Epping studios.
The very last editions of ''[[Home and Away]]'', ''[[All Saints (TV series)|All Saints]]'' was broadcast at the former studios in [[Epping, New South Wales|Epping]] in [[March 2005]], before the studios moved to new premises at [[Pyrmont, New South Wales|Pyrmont]], a suburb west of [[Darling Harbour]], 2 km west of Sydney.
The very last episode of ''Wheel Of Fortune'' (Episode 5,628) was broadcast from the Epping studios on 28th July 2006. The show relocated to new house in Melbourne's [[Nine Network|Channel Nine]] in [[Richmond, Victoria|Richmond]] on the corner of Bendigo Street, from where the rebadged title ''[[Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune]]'' will now broadcast from Monday (May 26).
==RaceCam==
ATN's engineering staff received 2 [[Emmy Award]]s - making ATN the first Australian company to receive such an award - for the technology, invention and further development of ''[[RaceCam]]'', live mobile point-of-view TV cameras which were initially developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s for the station's coverage of [[touring car racing|touring car]] races at [[Mount Panorama]] in [[Bathurst, New South Wales]]. Visiting commentators from the United States organised for ATN staff to supply the camera and transmission systems for [[CBS]]' coverage of [[NASCAR]] races.
A variant of RaceCam was also developed for yachts in the [[America's Cup]] off the coast of [[Fremantle, Western Australia]], in 1985. Later in the mid 1980s, the [[American Broadcasting Company]] asked ATN staff to develop aerofoil-designed cameras suitable for [[Formula 1]] cars, and these were subsequently used at the [[Indianapolis 500]].
==Relocation==
In 2004 the station was included with the shift of the Seven Network corporate offices and sales department into new premises in a "heritage" building at Pirrama Road, [[Pyrmont, New South Wales|Pyrmont]], close to the Sydney [[Central business district|CBD]], while the news department shifted into a street level location in Sydney's [[Martin Place]]. In June 2006, the network announced that the Epping studio site will close and facilities would be relocated to purpose-built studios at the [[Australian Technology Park]] in [[Redfern, New South Wales|Redfern]] by 2009.
*[[Epping, New South Wales|Epping]] (1956-Early 2005, now shared with Seven Local TV)
*[[Martin Place]] (2004-present, news/variety)
*[[Pyrmont, New South Wales|Pyrmont]] (2005-present, production)
==Seven Martin Place==
[[Image:sevenmartinplace.jpg|170px|right|thumb|The set used for [[Seven News]]]]
[[Channel Seven]]'s Martin Place studio, referred to in bulletins as "News Central" and based on the first five floors of The Colonial Building in Sydney, is the network's major news presentation centre. It comprises 3,000 square metres. Viewers can see the programs being filmed. On the live broadcasted-shows ''Sunrise'' and ''Weekend Sunrise'' the backdrop shows the street with people outside and the presenters regularly go outside and talk to the fans. Seven claims it is one of the most technologically advanced digital television centres in the world.
==Seven News==
{{Further|[[Seven News]]}}
''Seven News'' is presented from the network's national [[ATN-7|television studios]] at [[Martin Place, Sydney|Martin Place]], by [[Ian Ross (news)|Ian Ross]] from Mondays to Thursdays and [[Chris Bath]] on Fridays and weekends. [[Matthew White (journalist)|Matthew White]] and [[Sara Groen]] present weekday sport and weather, while on weekends sport is presented by [[Ben Damon]].
At the end of 2003, a year before all of Channel 7's news and current affairs moved to Martin Place, the ill-fated dual presenter format of [[Ross Symonds]] and [[Ann Sanders]] finally came to an end after the pair failed to make an impact in the Sydney market, losing viewers to competition winner ''[[National Nine News#Sydney|National Nine News Sydney]]'', which had led in the ratings for decades. With Ross taking over from Symonds and Sanders in 2003, he took Seven News in Sydney to their first big No.1 timeslot by 2005 onwards.
The very last days of ''[[Sunrise (television program)|Sunrise]]'' and all of the ''[[Seven News]]'' bulletins were broadcast at the former studios in [[Epping, New South Wales|Epping]] on the Closing Ceremony of the Athens Olympics, before the station moved to new premises at Martin Place in the centre of Sydney, from where ''Sunrise'', ''The Morning Show'' ''Seven News'' and ''Today Tonight'' will now be broadcast. A year later, the state-of-the-art Seven Network's new store, The ''7 Store'' is opened.
News updates for Sydney are presented by either Ian Ross or Chris Bath throughout the afternoon and the early evening, with updates during the night being shown nationally.
===Notable Presenters===
====News====
*[[Ross Symonds]] (1980-2003)
*[[Roger Climpson]] (1963-1996)
*[[Ann Sanders]] (1989-present)
*[[Ian Ross (news)|Ian Ross]] (2003-present)
*[[Chris Bath]] (1996-present)
*[[Samantha Armytage]] (2003-present)
*[[Chris Reason]] (1997-present)
*[[Simon Reeve (Australian television presenter)|Simon Reeve]] (2004-present)
*[[Georgie Gardner]] (early 1990s-2001)
*[[Anne Fulwood]] (2001-2003)
*[[Anna Coren]] (2003-2005)
====Sport====
*[[Mark Beretta]] (1996-present)
*[[Kylie Gillies]] (2000-present)
*[[Matthew White (journalist)|Matthew White]] (2004-present)
*[[Nick McArdle]] (2000-2006)
*[[Ben Damon]] (2006-present)
====Weather====
*[[Adam Digby]] (1997-2003)
*[[Nuala Hafner]] (2004-2006)
*[[Sara Groen]] (2007-present)
====Reporters====
*[[Robert Ovadia]]
*[[Damien Smith (journalist)|Damien Smith]]
*[[Chris Maher]]
*[[Lee Jeloscek]]
*[[Alex Cullen (journalist)|Alex Cullen]]
*[[Sarah Cumming]]
*[[Aela Callan]]
*[[Mark Riley (journalist)|Mark Riley]]
==Programming==
Some of the highest rating programs in Australia are produced at Seven Sydney, including:
'''''Martin Place''''''s [[Seven News]] studio will be producing
*''[[Seven News|Seven Early News]]'' c/w *''[[Sunrise (television program)|Sunrise]]'' (both now sponsored by [[Sony BMG]], [[Jetstar]] and [[Nissan]])
*''[[The Morning Show (TV series)|The Morning Show]]'' (now sponsored by [[Jetstar]] and [[Harvey Norman]])
*''[[Sunrise (television program)|Weekend Sunrise]]'' (both now sponsored by [[Sony BMG]], [[Jetstar]] and [[Nissan]])
*''[[Seven News|Seven Morning News]]''
*''[[Seven News|Seven Afternoon News]]''
*''[[Seven News|Seven Late News Updates]]''
*''[[Today Tonight]]''
'''''Redfern''''' will be producing
*''[[Home and Away]]''
*''[[Sydney Weekender]]''
*''[[All Saints (TV series)|All Saints]]''
*''[[It's Academic (Australian game show)|It's Academic]]''
==Former shows produced in Martin Place==
*''[[The NightCap]]'' (2008)
==Former shows==
*''[[Wheel of Fortune (Australian game show)|Wheel Of Fortune]]'' (1996 - Early 2008, production moved to [[GTV-9|Nine Network]] and titled ''[[Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune]]'' in 2008)
*''[[AMV (television program)|All Music Video]]'' (2000-2001, 2004-2008)
*''[[Where Are They Now?]]''''' (2006-2007)
*''[[Last Chance Learners]]'' (2007)
*''[[A Country Practice]]'' (1981-1993 - production moved to [[Network Ten]] in 1994 for its last series)
*''[[Sons and Daughters (Australian TV series)|Sons and Daughters]]'' (1981-1987)
*''[[Popstars]]'' (2000-2002)
*''[[Always Greener]]'' (2001-2003)
*''[[Big Bite]]'' (2003-2004)
*''[[Fast Forward (TV series)|Fast Forward]]'' (1989-1992)
*''[[Full Frontal (TV series)|Full Frontal]]'' (1993-1997)
*''[[Sportsworld]]'' (2003-2006)
*''[[Popstars Live]]'' (2004)
*''[[My Restaurant Rules]]'' (2004-2005)
*''[[headLand]]'' (filmed in Sydney by independent producers, 2005)
*''[[You May Be Right (game show)|You May Be Right]]'' (2006)
*''Good As Gold!'' (2006)
==Logo guide==
*'ATN Channel 7': 1956-1959.
*'Spearhead' Logo: 1960-1969.
*'Revoultion' Logo: 1970-1974.
*'Rainbow' Logo: 1974-1988.
*'Split' Logo: 1989-1999.
*'Ribbon' Logo: 2000-2003.
*'Red 7' Logo: 2003-????.
==Pre-network logos==
'''ATN-7''' used many logos throughout its pre-network history.
{| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" style="border:1px solid #aaa"
|- align=center
!height="150px" bgcolor="#F9F9F9" | [[Image:ATN7 1956-59.png|120px]]
|-
!width="150px" colspan="1" bgcolor="#CCCCCC" | 1956 - 1959
|}
<small>'''Note''': ''Post-network logos can be found at the following article; [[Seven Network#Logos|Seven Network]].''</small>
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:ATN7 1985.JPG|280px|right|thumb|ATN7's "Let's All Be There" promo which ran from 1985 - 1987. This was based on NBC's 1984-85 slogan of the same name.]] -->
== Station slogans ==
* 1956: "This is ATN Channel 7, Sydney"
* 1968: "Seven is..."
* 1974: "Looking Better than Ever"
* 1977: "Seven is Your Place to Be"
* 1979: "Seven's Reaching for the Stars"
* 1980: "Channel 7's Proud in Sydney" ''(borrowed elements from NBC's "Proud as a Peacock")''
* 1981-82: "All The Best!" ''(based on NBC's 1976 slogan)''
* 1982: "Our Pride is Showing" ''(based on NBC's 1981-82 slogan)''
* 1983: "Just Watch Us Now" ''(based on NBC's "We're NBC, Just Watch Us Now")''
* 1984: "Be There" ''(based on NBC's 1983 slogan)''
* 1985: "The World on Seven - Let's All Be There" ''(based on NBC's "On NBC, Let's All Be There")''
* 1985-87: "[[Let's All Be There]]" ''(borrowed from NBC slogan, even though NBC changed slogans in '86)''
* 1986: "Sydney CBD" ''(used alongside "Let's All Be There")''
* 1986 (Nov.): "Thirty Years Together - Channel 7 and You"
* Summer 1986/87: "Summer is the Time, Seven is the Place" ''(based on ABC (US)'s "Now is the Time, ABC is the Place")''
* 1987: "You're Invited on a Journey"
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:ATN7 Summer '86.jpg|280px|right|thumb|ATN7's "Summer is the Time, Seven is the Place" which ran during the summer of 1986/87. Based on ABC America's 1981 slogan "Now is the Time, ABC is the Place".]] -->
==See also==
*[[Television broadcasting in Australia]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Seven Media Group}}
{{New South Wales TV}}
[[Category:Television stations in New South Wales]]
[[Category:Television stations in Sydney]]
[[Category:Seven Network]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1956]]