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

TCN
CitySydney
Channels
BrandingNine
Programming
AffiliationsNine(O&O)
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
16 September 1956;68 years ago(1956-09-16)
Former channel number(s)
Analog:9 (VHF) (1956–2013)
Independent (September 1956 – November 1956)
Australian Television Network (1956–1963)
Call signmeaning
Television
Corporation
New South Wales
Technical information
Licensing authority
Australian Communications and Media Authority
ERP200kW(analog)
50 kW (digital)
HAAT259 m (analog)
260 m (digital)[1]
Transmitter coordinates33°48′42″S151°11′45″E/ 33.81167°S 151.19583°E/-33.81167; 151.19583
Links
Website9now.com.au

TCNis theflagshiptelevision stationof theNine NetworkinAustralia.The station is currently located at 1 Denison Street,North Sydney.The licence, issued to a company named Television Corporation Ltd headed bySir Frank Packer,was one of the first four licences (two in Sydney, two in Melbourne) to be issued for commercial television stations in Australia. TCN-9 is the home of theNRLcoverage and national-levelNine Newsbulletins.

History

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TCN began broadcasting on 16 September 1956, and became the first television station in Australia to begin regular transmissions. Test broadcasts, initially consisting of a test slide and later documentaries and dramas, had commenced two months earlier on 13 July 1956.[2]The first TV tower was built there at 24 Artarmon Rd, Willoughby, in 1956 and rose 171 m (561 ft) in height,[3][4][5][6][7]but was replaced by a taller one in 1965 which is thetallest lattice tower in Australiaat 233 m (764 ft),[8]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,[9]shortly before the first program,This Is Television,was introduced byBruce Gyngell.As Godson's voice only was heard, Gyngell (who spoke and was seen) is regarded as the first person to "appear" on Australian television. Original footage of Gyngell's opening address is not believed to exist but it was re-created in 1959 to have a representation in the archives (albeit, not the real thing). Other early programming included the 1958 variety music programBandstandwhich was launched byBrian Henderson.It lasted for 14 years on the station and launched the careers of many Australian performers.

In 1957, the station formed an affiliation withMelbournestationHSV-7,allowing them to share programming. In 1963, station affiliations changed; TCN-9 formed part of theNational Television NetworkwithGTV-9in Melbourne,QTQ-9inBrisbaneandNWS-9inAdelaide.These stations formed the basis of what is now theNine Network,although only the Sydney and Melbourne stations were owned by the Packer-controlled companyNine Network Limited.

On Sir Frank Packer's death in 1974 ownership of Nine Network passed to his younger sonKerry Packer.Kerry's older brotherClyde Packerhad been groomed to take over from their father but after a bitter split with his father ca. 1972 he relinquished his role in the company and subsequently moved to the USA.

On 2 March 1981[1],the station began broadcasting at the Kingsgate Hyatt Tower (now Elan Building) on UHF channel 49, later moving to UHF channel 52 in February 1983[2]to allow for ABC and SBS to set up transmitters there. This transmitter was installed to cover areas of central Sydney where reception is affected by the ghosting caused by the high-rise buildings in Sydney's central business district.

In January 1987, Kerry Packer sold the Sydney and Melbourne stations toAlan Bond's Bond Media for $1.055 billion, including $200 million in shares of Bond Media. Bond already owned thePerthandBrisbaneNine 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 and Brisbane) for only $200 million, one-fifth of what he sold it for. Perth was not included due to Bond selling it to Sunraysia Television before Packer buying back the company.

In 1994, Packer's print operations (owned byAustralian Consolidated Press) and the Nine Network were merged into one new company,Publishing and Broadcasting Limited(PBL). On 1 October 1997, TCN-9 performed the first on-air trial ofdigital broadcastingin the southern hemisphere.

TCN commenced digital television transmission on 1 January 2001, broadcasting on VHF Channel 8 while maintaining analogue transmission on VHF Channel 9. The analogue signal for TCN was shut off at 9.00amAEDST,Tuesday, 3 December 2013.

In 2014 and 2015, TCN produced bothInside StoryandThe Verdictfor the Nine Network, hosted byLeila McKinnonandKarl Stefanovicrespectively.The Verdictdid not build a solid audience and as expected the program was axed in 2016.[10]

In January 2017, following the affiliation formed between Nine and Southern Cross in 2016, the station became home to the newNine NewsCanberra and Southern NSW bulletins. The bulletins were anchored byVanessa O'Hanlon.[11]

In late 2018, It was announced that after 25 years on air, the Nine Network axed and retiredThe NRL Footy Show,bringing to an end 25 years of live primetime variety from the station.[12]

It was also announced to public and then staff, that after 64 years inWilloughby,TCN would move toNorth Sydney.This move occurred in stages throughout the second half of 2020. The final broadcast of Sydney’sNine Newsfrom Willoughby, took place on Friday 20 November 2020. The final broadcast from Willoughby wasWeekend Todayon Saturday 21 November 2020, withNine Newscommencing at North Sydney that evening.

Production

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Filmed at North Sydney

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Studio A: Lifestyle and Entertainment

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Studio B: 9News Sydney

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Studio C: Secondary/back-up news studio

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Studio D

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  • Nine DigitalandNine Publishingsegments (2020–present)

Studio E

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  • 9HoneySegments (2021–present)

Filmed at Willoughby

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Studio 1:9News Sydney

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Studio 2: Lifestyle and Entertainment

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Weekdays:

Weekends:

The

Studio 24: Secondary/back-up news studio

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Studio 3: National Newsroom

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TCN 9 Tower atWilloughby

Filmed at Fox Studios Australia

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Location

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Past

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News

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Further information:9News Sydneyand9News

9News Sydneyis TCN's flagship nightly news bulletin presented byPeter Overtonon Monday to Friday nights andGeorgie Gardneron Saturday & Sunday nights. Sports news is presented byJames Braceyon Sunday to Thursday nights and Roz Kelly on Friday and Saturday nights.Amber Sherlockpresents the weather on Sunday to Thursday nights and Belinda Russell on Friday and Saturday nights.Jayne Azzopardiand Mark Burrows are regular fill-in presenters.

Brian Hendersonwas Nine's Sydney news presenter for a record 45 years - including 38 years presenting on weeknights. Retiring in November 2002, Henderson was succeeded as weeknight presenter byJim Waley,who was at the time host of theSundayprogram and was one of Nine's most experienced presenters.

In January 2005, despite some considerable ratings success, Waley was replaced as weeknight presenter byMark Ferguson,who was previously the weekend presenter. Ferguson's successor as weekend presenterMike Munroresigned in 2008 and was replaced byMichael Usher.

In 2009, following a continuing run of poor ratings, Ferguson was demoted to his former role as weekend news presenter, withPeter Overtontaking over as news presenter on weeknights. Later in the year, Ferguson was removed from the presenting duties on the Sydney bulletins after announcing his decision to move to theSeven Network,but he didn't move to Seven until he trialled the hosting duties onNine's Afternoon Newsonly appearing on-air up until his departure on 25 September 2009.

Deborah Knightwas appointed as Friday & Saturday night presenter withPeter Overtonnow also presenting the Sunday night bulletin.

In 2011,Nine News Sydneyofficially overtookSeven News Sydneyin the ratings for the first time in seven years, winning 26 weeks to Seven's 14 weeks.[13]

Current presenters

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News presenters

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Sport presenters

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Weather presenters

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Fill-in presenters

Reporters

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  • Charles Croucher(Political editor)
  • Andrew Probyn(National affairs editor)
  • Chris Kohler (Finance editor)
  • Eliza Edwards (Federal politics reporter)
  • Claudia Vrdoljak (Federal politics reporter)
  • Amanda Copp (Federal politics reporter)
  • Brett McLeod(Europe correspondent)
  • Edward Godfrey (Europe correspondent)
  • Jessica Millward (Europe correspondent)
  • Alison Piotrowski (US correspondent)
  • Jonathan Kearsley (US correspondent)
  • Lauren Tomasi (US correspondent)
  • Mark Burrows(senior reporter)
  • Damian Ryan (senior reporter)
  • Eddy Meyer (senior reporter)
  • Liz Daniels (State political reporter)
  • Tiffiny Genders (Chief court reporter)
  • Emma Partridge (Senior crime editor)
  • Gabriella Rogers (Medical reporter)
  • Mike Dalton (Special features reporter)
  • Jayne Azzopardi(senior reporter)
  • Vicky Jardim(senior reporter)
  • Kate Creedon (senior reporter)
  • Sophie Walsh(senior reporter)
  • Airlie Walsh (senior reporter)
  • Ruth Wynn-Williams (senior reporter)
  • Hayley Francis (senior reporter)
  • Elizabeth Bryan (senior reporter)
  • Zara James (senior reporter)
  • Sophie Upcroft (senior reporter)
  • James Wilson (senior reporter)
  • Bianca Balzer (senior reporter)
  • Annalise Bolt (senior reporter)
  • Massilia Aili (senior reporter)
  • Maggie Raworth (senior reporter)
  • Alex Heinke (senior reporter)
  • Maddison Scott (senior reporter)
  • Erin Ramsey (senior reporter)
  • Danny Weidler(Chief rugby league reporter)
  • Danika Mason (Sport reporter)
  • Emma Lawrence (Sport reporter)
  • Zac Bailey (Sport reporter)
  • Samuel Djodan (Sport reporter)
  • Luke Dufficy (Sport reporter)
  • Tom Marriott (Sport reporter)
  • Simon Bouda (A Current Affair crime editor)
  • Lizzie Pearl (A Current AffairSydney reporter)
  • Steve Marshall (A Current AffairSydney reporter)
  • Nat Wallace (A Current AffairSydney reporter)
  • Hannah Sinclair (A Current AffairSydney reporter)
  • Gabrielle Boyle (TodaySydney reporter)
  • Lara Vella (TodaySydney reporter)
  • Sarah Stewart (TodaySydney reporter)
  • Bethan Yeoman (TodaySydney reporter)
  • Jack Hahn (TodaySydney reporter)

Past presenters

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See also

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References

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  1. ^HAATestimated fromhttp://www.itu.int/SRTM3/using EHAAT.
  2. ^"First test broadcast by TCN". The Daily Telegraph, 1956-14-07. p. 1.
  3. ^ 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 14 March 2008
  4. ^ 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 14 March 2008
  5. ^ 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 14 March 2008
  6. ^ 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 14 March 2008
  7. ^ 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 14 March 2008
  8. ^ "TCN's new tower is quite an Eiffel!" http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47808092 National Library of Australia 1964 Retrieved on 11 June 2013
  9. ^Walker, Vanessa (20 July 2006)."TV's original voice speaks up".The Australian.Retrieved20 July2006.
  10. ^"Axed in 2016".TV Tonight. 28 December 2016.Retrieved21 July2019.
  11. ^"Boost set for regional news".TV Tonight. 7 November 2016.Retrieved21 July2019.
  12. ^"NRL Footy Show axed by Channel Nine due to poor ratings after 25 years on air".ABC News. 2 October 2018.Retrieved21 July2019.
  13. ^9News Sydney takes ratings crown from Seven,Media Spy, 22 October 2011
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