GTV

Melbourne, Victoria Australia
Channels	Digital: 8 (VHF) Virtual: 9
Branding	Nine
Programming
Language	English
Affiliations	Nine(O&O)
Ownership
Owner	Nine Entertainment Co. (General Television Corporation Pty Ltd)
History
First air date	19 January 1957; 68 years ago (1957-01-19)
Former channel number	Analog: 9 (VHF) (1956–2013)
Former affiliations	National Television Network (1956–1963)
Call sign meaning	General Television Victoria
Technical information
Licensing authority	Australian Communications and Media Authority
ERP	200kW (analog) 50 kW (digital)
Transmitter coordinates	37°49′42″S145°21′12″E / 37.82833°S 145.35333°E /-37.82833; 145.35333
Links
Website	www.9now.com.au

GTV is a commercialtelevision station inMelbourne,Australia, owned by theNine Network. The station is currently based at studios at 717 Bourke Street,Docklands. GTV-9 is the home of theAustralian Open tennis coverage.

GTV-9 was amongst the first television stations to begin regular transmission inAustralia. Test transmissions began on 27 September 1956, introduced by former3DB radio announcerGeoff Corke, based at the Mount Dandenong transmitter, as the studios in Richmond were not yet ready. The station covered the1956 Summer Olympics whichMelbourne hosted.,^[1] the 1956Carols By Candlelight and theDavis Cup tennis as part of its test transmissions.

The station was officially opened on 19 January 1957^[2] by Victorian GovernorSir Dallas Brooks from the studios in Bendigo Street, Richmond. GTV-9 was the third television station to launch in Victoria afterHSV-7 andABV-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 nameTelevision City, had been converted from aHeinz tinned food factory, also occupied in the past by theWertheim Piano Company (from 1908 to 1935).^[3][4] 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 stationHSV-7. He held that position for almost twenty years.^{[citation needed]} In 1957, GTV-9's first large-scale production was the nightly variety showIn Melbourne Tonight ("IMT"), hosted byGraham Kennedy. Kennedy was a radio announcer at3UZ in Melbourne before being 'discovered' by GTV-9 producerNorm 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.^{[citation needed]}

Ownership has changed over the decades. The station was first licensed to theGeneral Television Corporation Ltd., a consortium of two newspapers,The Argus andThe Age, together with cinema chainsHoyts,Greater Union, Sir Arthur Warner's Electronic Industries, JC Williamson's Theatres, Cinesound Productions, and radio stations3XY,3UZ,3KZ. In early 1957 The Argus was acquired byThe 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 manufacturerPye, in 1960.^{[citation needed]} Because of the restriction on foreign ownership of television stations, GTV-9 was then sold toFrank Packer'sAustralian Consolidated Press, which already ownedTCN-9 inSydney, resulting in the formation of the country's first commercially owned television network.^{[citation needed]} Prior to this GTV-9 was affiliated withATN-7 in Sydney. SonClyde Packer ran the network for some time, until a falling out led to a handover to younger sonKerry Packer. In the 1980s the network was sold toAlan Bond, but later bought back at a much lower price.^[5]Following the death ofKerry Packer, his sonJames Packer progressively sold down his stake in the network. (See alsoPublishing and Broadcasting Limited.)

Along with most Australian TV stations, GTV-9 commencedcolour test transmissions in October 1974.^[6] The official changeover took place at 12.00am on Saturday 1 March 1975.^[7] In 1976, GTV-9 became the first Australian television station to commence permanent 24-hour transmission.^{[citation needed]} In 2001 the station commenceddigital television broadcasting, in line with most other metropolitan stations. GTV-9 continued broadcasting in analogue onVHF9, with a digital simulcast onVHF8.

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 newDocklands Studios Melbourne.^[8]

On 28 February 2011, GTV-9 broadcast its final live program – the 6pm edition ofNine News – from the RichmondTelevision City studios, and the following day began broadcasting news bulletins from 717 Bourke Street, Docklands. Also while their newfibre link to their transmission site was being completed, a temporaryDVB-S2 link was put up onOptus 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 moveA Current Affair and its hostTracy Grimshaw to TCN-9 in Sydney.

In May 2012, a lower powered permanent backupDVB-S2 link for their transmission site was re-established onOptus D1, which requires at least a two-metre solid receiving dish.

This section needs to beupdated. The reason given is: Unknown details for 9Gem HD, 9Rush and Extra. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(July 2021)

Locally produced programs by or with GTV-9 Melbourne.

• 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)

• Tipping Point Australia (2024–present)^[9][10]

• 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)

• Super Netball coverage (2017–present)
• NRL coverage:Melbourne Storm
• Australian Open coverage (2019–present)
• French Open andUS Open tennis coverage (2021–present and 2022–present, respectively)

2010s

• Millionaire Hot Seat (2009–2023) – previously filmed in Studio 9
• Nine News Victoria (March 2017 – June 2021, commissioned for affiliateGLV/BCV in regional Victoria, weeknights only) replaced byWIN News from July 2021.
• Weakest Link (2021)^[11]
• 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 toTCN Sydney)
• This Is Your Life (2011) (previous produced atTCN 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 theCentral City Studios atMelbourne 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 toSydney 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.

Nine News Melbourne is produced in, and presented from, the GTV-9 studios in Docklands byAlicia Loxley andTom Steinfort (weeknights) andPeter Hitchener (weekends) with sport presentersTony Jones (weeknights), Natalie Yoannidis and weather presenters TBA (Monday – Thursday) and Madeline Spark (Friday – Sunday).

The 6PM main bulletin is also simulcast on community radio stationLight FM and also streamed online.Nine News nationwide bulletins (Nine Early Morning News andNine Morning News) are produced in, and presented from, the studios ofTCN-9 in Sydney although late night news updates at the weekend are produced at GTV-9 and presented byPeter Hitchener.

In May 2017, the station launched its first local afternoon news bulletin,Nine Afternoon News Melbourne, putting it head-to-head with rival stationHSV-7's local afternoon news. The bulletin is presented byBrett McLeod.

• Natalie Yoannidis
• Trent Kniese
• Tom Morris (Chief AFL reporter)

Eric Pearce, who was knighted after his retirement, was GTV-9's chief news presenter from the late 1950s until 1974. After his first retirement, the subsequent American style"NewsCentre Nine" presented by Peter Hitchener did not rate well, so Pearce was persuaded to return in 1976, remaining until 1978.

In 1978, formerHSV-7 news presenterBrian Naylor joined as GTV-9's chief weeknight news presenter, with Hitchener on weekends. Naylor's association with Nine lasted 20 years – he retired at the end of 1998, with Naylor replaced by then deputy news presenterPeter Hitchener.Jo Hall took over on weekends, withTony Jones the main weekend fill-in.

Other main presenters ofNine News Melbourne includedTracy Grimshaw (1981–1993), andTracey Curro, who also worked on Nine's60 Minutes andJo Hall (1998–2011).

Past weekend sport presenters in recent years have includedLeith Mulligan (1999–2006),Heath O'Loughlin (2006–2008),Grant Hackett (2008–2009), Lisa Andrews (2009–2011) andClint Stanaway (2011–2025).Livinia Nixon was chief weather presenter for 21 years, from 2004 to 2025. She succeededRob Gell, who had held the role for 15 years between 1988 and 2004.

GTV 9 Football Club
Names
Full name	GTV 9 Football Club
Nickname	Gunners
1989 H Section season
Home-and-away season	10th
Club details
Founded	Early 1986; 39 years ago (1986)
Dissolved	Late 1989; 36 years ago (1989)
Competition	Victorian Amateur Football Association
Ground	Bill Woodfull Oval

TheGTV 9 Football Club, sometimes stylised asGTV-9 orGTV9 and nicknamed theGunners, was anAustralian rules football club that competed in theVictorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA).^[12] The club represented GTV and wore the nine dots that were used in the station's branding.^[13]

GTV 9 was formed in1986 and joined the VAFA the same year, competing in the newly created G Section.^[14] The club made finals in its first season, finishing fourth on the ladder before being defeated byParkside in the first semi-final.^[15]

The club struggled in its second season in1987, winning just three games and finishing 11th on the ladder, resulting in the club'srelegation to H Section for the1988 season.^[16]

GTV 9 significantly improved in 1988, winning 14 out of 16 games, however they were defeated in the preliminary final bySt Kevin's.^[17] GTV 9 player Tony Fox was awarded joint H Section best-and-fairest winner for the 1988 season.^[18]

The club won five out of 16 games in itsfinal season in 1989, finishing second last on the H Section ladder. GTV 9 subsequently folded before the1990 season.^[19]

• Television broadcasting in Australia

• Official website
• GTV-9 1956 – 1976 Archive Photos and Stories of the early days

• Television stations in Victoria (state)
• Nine Network
• Television stations in Melbourne
• Television channels and stations established in 1957

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