GTV-9

introduced GTV-9 s first test transmission.

Later in 1956, GTV-9, while still in test transmission mode, telecast the 1956 Summer Olympics in competition with HSV-7 and Australian_Broadcasting_Corporation.

Sir Dallas Brooks officially opened GTV-9 on 19 January 1957 from studios in Bendigo Street, Richmond where the building had been converted from a soup factory.

GTV-9 s first major production in 1957 was the variety show In Melbourne Tonight ( IMT ) hosted by Graham Kennedy. Kennedy was a radio announcer at 3UZ in Melbourne before being discovered by GTV-9 producer Norm Spencer when appearing on a GTV-9 telethon. IMT continued for thirteen years and dominated Melbourne s television scene for most of that time, and established a long tradition of live variety from GTV-9.

Initially managed by the consortium General Telecasters Victoria (GTV), which included The Argus (Australia) newspaper. In 1957 The Argus was acquired by The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd which sold its interests in GTV-9 to Sir Arthur Warner s Electronic Industries, later acquired by UK manufacturer Pye in 1960. The channel was subsequently sold to Frank Packer s Australian Consolidated Press group in 1961, which already owned TCN-9 and the two channels formed the foundation for what is now the Nine Network.

GTV-9 along with most Australian TV stations, commenced test transmissions in colour in October 1974 with the official changeover at 12.00am Saturday 1 March 1975. In 1976, GTV became the first Melbourne television station to commence 24 hour transmission.

In 1979, HSV-7 newsreader Brian Naylor (Australia) signed up with GTV-9 to begin an association that lasted 20 years. Retiring at the end of 1998, Naylor was replaced by deputy newsreader Peter Hitchener.

Digital television began officially on 1 January 2001 with GTV broadcasting on very high frequency channel 8 in simulcast with the analogue channel 9 signal.