Wikipedia

ATN

This article is about the Australian television station. For other uses, seeATN (disambiguation).

ATNis theSydneyflagshiptelevision stationof theSeven NetworkinAustralia.The licence, issued to a company namedAmalgamated Television Services,a subsidiary ofJohn Fairfax & Sons,was one of the first four licences (two in Sydney, two inMelbourne) to be issued for commercial television stations in Australia. The station formed an affiliation withGTV-9Melbourne in 1957, in order to share content. In 1963,Frank Packerended up owning both GTV-9 andTCN-9,so as a result the stations switched their previous affiliations. ATN-7 andHSV-7joined to create theAustralian Television Network,which later became theSeven Network.ATN-7 is the home of the national levelSeven Newsbulletins.

ATN
Channels
BrandingSeven
Programming
AffiliationsSeven(O&O)
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
2 December 1956;67 years ago(1956-12-02)
Former channel number(s)
Analog:7 (VHF) (1956–2013)
National Television Network(1956–1963)
Call signmeaning
Amalgamated
Television
New South Wales
Technical information
Licensing authority
Australian Communications & Media Authority
ERP200kW(analog)
50 kW (digital)
HAAT249 metres (817') (analog)
251 metres (823') (digital)[1]
Transmitter coordinates33°48′20″S151°10′51″E/ 33.80556°S 151.18083°E/-33.80556; 151.18083
Links
Website7plus.au

History

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ATN-7 began broadcasting on 2 December 1956 and became the third television station inSydneyto begin regular transmissions.

The station opened in 1956 with principal offices and studios located at Mobbs Lane,Epping.The initial black and white cameras and other equipment was supplied by theMarconi Companyof England. Conversion toPALcolour occurred on 1 March 1975. DigitalDVB-Tcommenced on 1 January 2001.

The initial transmission tower in 1956 was located near theABCtower atGore 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 broadcasterTEN-10.

ATN-7 commenced digital television transmissions on 1 January 2001, broadcasting on VHF Channel 6 while maintaining analogue transmission on VHF Channel 7.

ATN-7's Sydney transmissions are broadcast from masts operated by Transmitters Australia (TXA) atArtarmonand/orWilloughby.Retransmission translators toUHFchannels service Sydney viewers fromKings CrossandNorth HeadatManlyand north of Sydney atBouddi,GosfordandForresters Beach.

Beginning in the early 2000s, on-air programs were sent by digital link from the Seven Network's national program play-out centre at Docklands inMelbournewhere the Master Control Room was located for all metropolitan and regional feeds to be controlled. Programming line-up, advertisement output, feed switching, time zone monitoring and national transmission output was previously delivered here. All Seven Network owned and operated studios used to have their live signals relayed here: for instance, ATN's output was fed to HSV and then transmitted via satellite or fibre optics to the towers around metropolitan Sydney. In 2019 however, this function was transferred to a new play-out centre in Sydney as part of a joint venture with the Nine Network.

The analogue signal for ATN-7 was turned off at 9:00 a.m. on 3 December 2013 by using a special five-minute retrospective clip of the local station and the song "My City of Sydney" byTommy Leonetti,used for the first time in 30 years, combined with the old "Mother kangaroo putting her baby joey to bed" animation, which was played during the channel closedown sequence until the network began 24-hour service in 1993.

In June 2023, 7NEWS moved their operations fromMartin Placeto their new purpose built studios inEveleigh.In July 2023, Sunrise hosted its very first broadcast at its new studios. The first edition went to air live at 5:30am on 24 July 2023, with hostsNatalie BarrandMatt Shirvington,newsreaderEdwina Bartholomewand sports presenterMark Beretta,followed byThe Morning Show’sLarry EmdurandKylie Gillies.[2]Joining 7NEWS, 7NEWS Spotlight, The Latest and 7NEWS.au, for the first time in more than 40 years, the entire Seven Sydney operation and all broadcast and operational staff (across all departments) are now under one roof. The new space cover two floors of Seven’s head office and are five times larger than the previous Martin Place location, with permanent sets for all programs. It brought to an end 19 years of Sunrise and Seven News, and 16 years of The Morning Show broadcasting at Martin Place.[3]

Program production

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The Epping facilities were expanded to provide five operational studios and the centre became the largest producer of Australian produced TV content, includingWheel of Fortune,Sons and Daughters,A Country Practice,Hey Dad..!,All Saints,Terry Willesee TonightandHome & Away.

The Epping studios closed in early 2010 when new studio facilities serviced byGlobal Television,opened at theAustralian Technology ParkinEveleigh.[4][5]

News and live telecast programs are presently broadcast from theEveleighstudios.[6]

RaceCam

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ATN's engineering staff received twoEmmy Awards– making ATN the first Australian company to receive such an award – for the technology, invention and further development ofRaceCam,live mobile point-of-view TV cameras which were initially developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s for the station's coverage of theBathurst 1000.Visiting commentators from the United States organised for ATN staff to supply the camera and transmission systems forCBS' coverage ofNASCARraces.

A variant of RaceCam was also developed for yachts in the1987 America's Cupoff the coast ofFremantle.Later in the mid-1980s, theAmerican Broadcasting Companyasked ATN staff to develop aerofoil-designed cameras suitable forFormula Onecars, and these were subsequently used at theIndianapolis 500.

Seven's Eveleigh Studios

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The set used forSeven News

Prior to theirEveleighStudios at theAustralian Technology Park,the Seven Network'sMartin Placestudios, once referred to on-air asNews Centraland based on the first five floors of The Colonial Building in Sydney were the main news presentation studios for,Seven News Sydney,Sunrise,Weekend Sunrise,andThe Morning Show.Comprising 3,000 square metres, viewers and tourists can see programs being broadcast from the street level studio.

In March 2021, it was announced that theSeven Networkwould move out of Martin Place toEveleighby the end of 2022 after almost two decades.[7]The decision is understood to be a cost-saving move away from CBD property leasing. This then got delayed to mid-2023.

On 25 June 2023,Seven News Sydneysigned off its final bulletin at Martin Place studios, wrapping 19 years and 6,873 days of broadcast. From 26 June 2023, its new broadcast home is at a purpose built studio at Eveleigh headquarters. The new space is five-times larger than Martin Place, allows for permanent sets for all programs, with two complete control rooms and more than 40sq m of LED screens, while all newsroom operations will now be located on a second entire floor.[8][6]

Seven News

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Seven News Sydneyreporter Jessica Dietrich reporting outside theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation's Ultimo studios inSydney
Further information:Seven News

Seven News Sydneyis directed by Sean Power and presented byMark Fergusonand Angela Cox from Sunday to Thursday andMichael UsherandAngie Asimuson Friday and Saturday from Seven's headquarters, located atEveleigh.Sport is presented byMel McLaughlinfrom Sunday to Thursday andMatt Carmichaelon Friday and Saturday. Weather is presented byAngie Asimusfrom Sunday to Tuesday andSally Bowreyon Friday and Saturday.

News updates for Sydney are presented throughout the afternoon and the early evenings, with news updates during the night being shown nationally, they can be seen onSeven,7twoand7mate,as well as7flix.

At the end of 2003, a year before all of the Seven Network's News and Current Affairs moved to Martin Place, the ill-fated dual presenter format ofRoss SymondsandAnn Sanderscame to an end after the pair failed to make an ratings impact in the Sydney market, losing viewers to competition winnerNine News Sydney(then National Nine News), which had led in the ratings for decades. After Ian Ross took over from both Symonds and Sanders in 2003,Seven News Sydneybecame the 6pm ratings leader from February 2005 until 2010.

Ross presented his final bulletin for Seven News Sydney on Friday 27 November 2009 with Bath taking over as main weeknight presenter on Monday 30 November 2009. FormerNine NewspresenterMark Fergusontook over from Bath as weekend news presenter from Saturday 28 November 2009. The bulletin retained its ratings lead until it was overtaken again by the rival Nine News bulletin in the ratings in 2011 – Seven's 6pm bulletin won 14 out of 35 ratings weeks.[9]

In January 2014,Mark Fergusonwas appointed weeknight presenter, replacingChris Bathdue to poor ratings. Bath became weekend presenter and continued to hostSunday Nightuntil her resignation in July 2015,[10]after which Melissa Doyle took over.[11]More changes to Sydney's news presenting team in subsequent months saw former Melbourne weather presenter David Brown replace Sarah Cumming as Sydney's weather presenter andMel McLaughlinreplaceJim Wilsonas the sports presenter.[citation needed]

In August 2016, it was announced thatMichael Usherwould replaceMelissa Doyleas Friday and Saturday presenter. Doyle will move into a new expanded role as senior correspondent and host ofSunday Night.[12]

For its efforts in bringing news of the2014 Sydney hostage crisisto the whole of Australia (ATN's Martin Place news rooms and facilities were evacuated and news operations shifted to a makeshift studio miles from the site, with additional coverage from other stations nationwide), Seven News Sydney became the2015 Logie Awardswinner for Most Outstanding News Coverage.

In June 2020, Jim Wilson left Seven after 28 years with the network, to become a new host of 2GB's Drive program. His last sports bulletin was 27 June 2020. It was later announced thatMatt Shirvingtonwould replace him.[13]

On 5 November 2020,David Brownleft the Sydney newsroom to return to Melbourne withAngie Asimuspromoted to weeknights weather presenter.[14]

In December 2020, it was announced Angela Cox would be joiningMichael Usheras co-host of the weekend news bulletin from January 2021.[15]

In June 2023,Matt Shirvingtonstepped down from his role of weekend sports presenter, to take up his new role as co-host ofSunrise.[16]Matt Carmichaelwas announced as his replacement.

In September 2024, Seven News announced further presentation changes with Sydney anchor Mark Ferguson would be joined by Angela Cox from Sundays to Thursdays bulletins.[17]In October 2024, it was announced Angie Asimus would join Michael Usher at the 7News Sydney on Friday and Saturday evenings. Asimus would also continue her role as Sydney weather presenter alongside Mark Ferguson and Angela Cox, Sundays to Tuesdays.[18]

Fill-in presenters includeMichael Usher,Chris ReasonandAngie Asimus(News),Matt Carmichaeland Jelisa Apps (Sport), and Sally Bowrey and Amber Laider (Weather).

Presenters

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Current presenters
Role Bulletins
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
News Mark Ferguson(2014–present)
Angela Cox(2024–present) 		Michael Usher(2016–present)
Angie Asimus(2024–present)
Sport Mel McLaughlin(2016–present) Matt Carmichael(2011–13; 2023–present)
Weather Angie Asimus(2020–present) Amber Laidler(2024–present) Sally Bowrey(2020–present)

Reporters

Fill-In Presenters

Sunrise/Weekend Sunrisecorrespondent

  • Liam Tapper

The Latest: Seven News correspondent

  • Tom Sacre

Programmes produced by ATN-7

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Eveleigh

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Current productions at Australian Technology Park

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Filmed at FOX Studios

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On Location

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Past Programming

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Early efforts by the station included variety seriesSydney Tonight(1956–1959),Captain Fortune Show(1956–1960) for children, soap operaAutumn Affair(1958–1959) and talent programTV Talent Scout(1957–1958).

See also

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References

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  1. ^HAATestimated fromhttp:// itu.int/SRTM3/using EHAAT.
  2. ^Knox, David (24 July 2023)."Sunrise, The Morning Show embark on new chapters in South Eveleigh studios | TV Tonight".TV Tonight.Retrieved7 August2023.
  3. ^Knox, David (24 July 2023)."Weekend Sunrise final broadcast at Martin Place | TV Tonight".TV Tonight.Retrieved7 August2023.
  4. ^"New Channel Seven Studios in Redfern".Architecture Australia.Archived fromthe originalon 6 January 2009.Retrieved27 December2008.
  5. ^Cummins, C.Redfern to rival Pyrmont as a hub for mediaSydney Morning Herald,12 July 2008.
  6. ^abKnox, David (26 June 2023)."Seven News Sydney signs off from Martin Place studios | TV Tonight".TV Tonight.Retrieved26 June2023.
  7. ^Knox, David (3 March 2021)."Sunrise, Morning Show, 7News to relocate studios | TV Tonight".TV Tonight.Retrieved3 March2021.
  8. ^"7NEWS Sydney to broadcast from new home after 19 years at Martin Place".Seven News.26 June 2023.Retrieved10 July2023.
  9. ^Nine News Sydney takes ratings crown from SevenArchived12 December 2013 at theWayback Machine,Media Spy, 22 October 2011
  10. ^Mark Ferguson replaces Chris Bath at Seven News,TV Tonight,27 January 2014
  11. ^"Seven Network farewells Chris Bath".Yahoo!7. 16 June 2015.Retrieved16 June2015.
  12. ^"Melissa Doyle takes on expanding role with Sunday Night – Mumbrella".15 August 2016.Retrieved15 August2016.
  13. ^"Channel Seven welcomes Olympian Matt Shirvington to the team".7NEWS.au.3 July 2020.Retrieved3 July2020.
  14. ^"David Brown departs Seven News Sydney | TV Tonight".7 November 2020.
  15. ^"7NEWS welcomes Angela Cox to 6pm team to join Michael Usher for weekend editions".TV Blackbox.17 December 2020.Retrieved7 August2023.
  16. ^Lawler, Brianna."Sunrise gold for Matt Shirvington – Inside 7".Inside 7.Retrieved9 June2023.
  17. ^https://tvtonight.au/2024/09/angela-cox-joins-mark-ferguson-at-seven-news-desk.html#comments
  18. ^https://tvtonight.au/2024/10/angie-asimus-joins-7news-sydney-weekend-bulletins.html
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