TCN 1228620 225377102 2008-07-13T10:41:32Z 121.216.162.159 /* News */ {{Infobox_Broadcast | call_letters = TCN| city = | station_logo = [[Image:Channelnine.svg|150px]]| station_slogan = We Heart TV| station_branding = Nine| analog = 9 ([[very high frequency|VHF]])| digital = 8 ([[very high frequency|VHF]])| other_chs = | affiliations = [[Nine Network|Nine]] '''([[Owned-and-operated station|O&O]])'''| network = [[Nine Network|Nine]]| founded = | airdate = [[September 16]], [[1956]]| location = [[Sydney|Sydney, New South Wales]]| callsign_meaning = '''T'''elevision<br>'''C'''orporation<br>'''N'''ew South Wales| former_callsigns = | former_channel_numbers = | owner = [[PBL Media|PBL Media Holdings Pty Ltd]]| licensee = TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd| sister_stations = | former_affiliations = | effective_radiated_power = 200 [[kilowatt|kW]] (analog)<br>50 kW (digital)| HAAT = 259 [[metre|m]] (analog)<br>260 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|42|S|151|11|45|E|type:landmark_scale:2000}}| homepage = [http://www.ninemsn.com.au/ www.ninemsn.com.au]| }} {{about|the Australian television station}} '''TCN''' is the [[Sydney]] [[flagship (television)|flagship]] [[television station]] of the [[Nine Network]] in [[Australia]] and is located at [[Willoughby, New South Wales|Willoughby]]. The license, issued to a company named Television Corporation Ltd headed by [[Frank Packer]], was one of the first four licenses (two in Sydney, two in Melbourne) to be issued for commercial television stations in Australia. ==History== TCN began broadcasting on [[16 September]] [[1956]], and became the first station in Australia to begin regular transmissions. The first tv tower was built there in 1956<ref> Communications - TV - the mast of Australia's first television transmitter, TCN rises 561 feet from the site of a former dairy at Willoughby, near Sydney http://naa16.naa.gov.au/rs_images/ShowImage.php?B=7654355&S=1&T=P [[National Archives of Australia]] 1956 Retrieved on 2008-03-14 </ref> <ref> Communications - TV - the 75-foot antenna of Australia's first television transmitter, TCN Channel 9 at Willoughby, five miles from Sydney, NSW http://naa16.naa.gov.au/rs_images/ShowImage.php?B=7654345&S=1&T=P [[National Archives of Australia]] 1956 Retrieved on 2008-03-14 </ref> <ref> Communications - TV - view southwards from the top of the 486-foot tower which carries the antenna of TCN Australia's first television transmitter - Municipality of Willoughby, NSW http://naa16.naa.gov.au/rs_images/ShowImage.php?B=7654358&S=1&T=P [[National Archives of Australia]] 1956 Retrieved on 2008-03-14 </ref> <ref> Communications - TV - view southwards from the top of the 486-foot tower which carries the antenna of TCN Australia's first television transmitter - Municipality of Willoughby, NSW http://naa16.naa.gov.au/rs_images/ShowImage.php?B=7654357&S=1&T=P [[National Archives of Australia]] 1956 Retrieved on 2008-03-14 </ref> <ref> Communications - TV - suburban homes in Willoughby, near Sydney, NSW from the top of TCN's television tower http://naa16.naa.gov.au/rs_images/ShowImage.php?B=7654356&S=1&T=P [[National Archives of Australia]] 1956 Retrieved on 2008-03-14 </ref>, but was replaced by a taller one which is the tallest lattice tower in Australia at 233 metres and is now operated by TXA Australia which operates another tower nearby at Artarmon. The first words spoken on the station were by [[John Godson]], who introduced the station audio-only<ref name="Original Voice">{{cite news |first = Vanessa |last = Walker |url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19845891-7582,00.html |title = TV's original voice speaks up |publisher = [[The Australian]] |date = 2006-07-20 |accessdate = 2006-07-20 }}</ref>, shortly before the first program, ''This Is Television'', was introduced by [[Bruce Gyngell]], the first person to appear on Australian television, however original footage of this program does not exist. Gyngell again said this passage in 1959 for archival purposes. Other early programming included the [[1958]] variety music program ''[[Bandstand (Australia)|Bandstand]]'' which was launched by [[Brian Henderson]]. It lasted for 14 years on the station and launched the careers of many Australians. In 1957, the station formed an affiliation with [[Melbourne]] station [[HSV-7]], allowing them to share programming. In [[1963]], station affiliations changed; TCN-9 formed part of the [[National Television Network]] with [[GTV-9]] in Melbourne, [[QTQ-9]] in [[Brisbane]] and [[NWS-9]] in [[Adelaide]]. These stations formed the basis of what is now the Nine Network, although only the Sydney and Melbourne stations have been owned by Packer's company. On Frank Packer's death in [[1974]], station ownership was passed to his son [[Kerry Packer]]. [[Image:WelcomeToTelevision.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Bruce Gyngell]] welcoming television broadcasting in Australia via TCN-9.]] In December [[1987]], Kerry Packer sold the Sydney and Melbourne stations to [[Alan Bond (businessman)|Alan Bond]]'s [[Bond Media]] for $1055 million, including $200 million in shares of Bond Media. Bond already owned the [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]] and [[Brisbane]] Nine affiliate stations (among others). In [[1990]], Bond Media's inability to pay out preference shares to Packer forced Nine into receivership. In July [[1990]], Packer bought back the expanded Nine network (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth stations) for only $200 million, one-fifth of what he sold it for. On [[1 October]] [[1997]], TCN-9 performed the first on-air trial of [[digital television|digital broadcasting]] in the southern hemisphere. ==Production== ===Drama=== * ''[[Sea Patrol (TV series)|Sea Patrol]]'' (2007-present) ===News=== * ''[[60 Minutes (Australian TV program)|60 Minutes]]'' (1979-present) * ''[[National Nine News|National Nine News Sydney]]'' * ''[[National Nine News|National Nine Early Morning News]]'' * ''[[National Nine News|National Nine Morning News]]'' * ''[[National Nine News|National Nine Afternoon News]]'' * ''[[Nightline (Australian news program)|Nightline]]'' * ''[[Sunday (TV program)|Sunday]]'' (1981-present) * ''Your Business Success'' (2004-present) * ''[[Today (Australian TV program)|Today]]'' (1982-present) [[Image:Willoughby Tower.JPG|thumb|TCN 9 Tower at [[Willoughby, New South Wales|Willoughby]]]] ===Entertainment=== * ''[[Australia's Funniest Home Video Show|Australia's Funniest Home Videos]]'' (1990-1999, 2005-present) * ''[[Comedy Inc.]]'' (parts) (2003-present) * ''[[The Footy Show]]'' (NRL) (1994-present) * '' The Sunday Footy Show'' * ''[[The Chopping Block]]'' (2008-present) * ''[[Hi-5 (Australian TV series)|Hi-5]]'' (1999-present) * ''[[Nine Presents]]'' (2003-present) * ''[[The Music Jungle]]'' (2007-present) * ''[[Things To Try Before You Die]]'' (2007-present) * ''[[The Sunday Roast]]'' (2004-present) * ''Fresh Cooking with The Australian Women's Weekly'' (2001-present) * ''Wide World of Sports'' * ''[[Mornings with Kerri-Anne]]'' (2002-Present) ===Past=== * ''[[A Current Affair]]'' (1988-2008) * ''[[Body Work]]'' (2005) * ''[[Boots N' All]]'' (2001-2005) * ''[[Burgo's Catch Phrase]] (2002-2003) * ''[[Burke's Backyard]]'' (1987-2004) * ''[[The Midday Show]]'' (1973-1998) * ''[[My Two Wives]]'' (1993) * ''[[Outback Jack]]'' (2004/05) * ''[[The Block (Australian TV)|The Block]]'' (2003-2004) * ''[[The Sullivans]]'' (1976-1983) * ''[[This Is Your Life]]'' (1995-2005) * ''[[Torvill and Dean's Dancing on Ice]]'' (2006) * ''[[Skating on Thin Ice]]'' (2005) * ''[[So Fresh]]'' (2003-2006) * ''[[Water Rats (TV series)|Water Rats]]'' (1996-2001) * ''[[Wide World of Sports (Australian TV show)|Wide World of Sports]]'' (1981-1999) * ''[[The Young Doctors]]'' (1976-1983) * ''[[The Paul Hogan Show]] (1973-1984) ==News== {{Further|[[National Nine News]]}} ''Nine News Sydney'' is anchored by [[Mark Ferguson (television presenter)|Mark Ferguson]], with [[Ken Sutcliffe]] presenting sport Sundays to Thursdays and [[Stephanie Brantz]] presenting sport on Fridays and Saturdays. [[Jaynie Seal]] presents the weather Sunday to Thursday, with Mike Bailey presenting on Friday and Saturday. Mark Ferguson succeeded [[Jim Waley]] when he signed out at the start of 2005 as the bulletin's major weekday presenter. Waley had been the longest serving presenter at the time, following the retirement of [[Brian Henderson]] way back in 2002. [[Mike Munro]] presents on weekends Sydney & Darwin, alongside sport presenters [[Stephanie Brantz]] on Saturdays and [[Ken Sutcliffe]] on Sundays. [[Mike Munro]] and [[Michael Usher]] are regular fill-in presenters for public holidays. '''Current Newsreaders''' *[[Mark Ferguson (television presenter)|Mark Ferguson]] (1989-present) (News - weekdays) *[[Mike Munro]] (2005-present) (News - weekends/Public Holidays) *[[Ken Sutcliffe]] (1982-present) (Sport - Sunday-Thursday) *[[Stephanie Brantz]] (2004-present) (Sport - Friday-Saturday) *[[Jaynie Seal]] (Weather - Sunday-Thursday) *[[Mike Bailey (weatherman)|Mike Bailey]] (Weather - Friday-Saturday) '''Past Newsreaders''' *[[Jim Waley]] (2002-2005) *[[Brian Henderson]] (1964-2002) ==References== {{reflist}} ==See also== {{autvportal}} *[[Television broadcasting in Australia]] {{PBL Media}} {{New South Wales TV}} [[Category:Nine Network]] [[Category:Television stations in New South Wales]] [[Category:Television stations in Sydney]] [[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1956]]