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{{Short description|Australian television network}} |
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{{Infobox TV channel |
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{{About|the Australian television network|the New Zealand television channel formerly known as Prime|Sky Open (TV channel)|the Canadian television channel formerly known as Prime|DTour|other stations named Prime|Prime (disambiguation)#Television}} |
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| name = Prime Television |
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{{EngvarB|date=June 2014}} |
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| logofile = Prime television logo.png |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} |
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| logosize = 200px |
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{{Infobox television channel |
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| logoalt = Prime TV Logo |
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| name = Prime7 |
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| launch = [[March 17]], [[1962]] |
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| logo = Prime7.svg |
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| picture format = [[576i]] ([[Standard-definition television|SDTV]]), <br>[[1080i]] ([[High-definition television|HDTV]]) |
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| logo_size = 200px |
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| owner = [[Prime Television Limited]] |
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| logo_caption = |
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| slogan = ''Bringing It Home'' |
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| launch_date = {{start date|1962|3|17|df=y}} |
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| web = [http://www.primetv.com.au/ primetv.com.au] |
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| closed_date = {{start date|2022|6|30|df=y}} |
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| broadcast area = Regional [[New South Wales]],<br>Regional [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[Canberra]] |
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| picture_format = [[HDTV]] [[1080i]]<br />(downscaled to [[16:9]] [[576i]] for the SD feed) |
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| terr serv 1 = [[Analog television|Analogue]] |
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| network = [[Seven Network]] [[Owned-and-operated station|(O&O)]] |
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| terr chan 1 = ''Tuned to various frequencies'' |
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| owner = [[Seven West Media]] |
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| terr serv 2 = [[Standard-definition television|SD Digital]] |
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| country = Australia |
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| terr chan 2 = Channel 6 |
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| language = English |
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| terr serv 3 = [[High-definition television|HD Digital]] |
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| area = [[NEN (TV station)|Northern NSW & Gold Coast]], [[CBN (Australian TV station)|Southern NSW & ACT]], [[AMV (TV station)|Regional Victoria]], [[PTV (TV station)|Mildura]] |
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| terr chan 3 = Channel 60 |
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| headquarters = [[Watson, Australian Capital Territory|Watson, Canberra]] |
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| cable serv 1 = [[TransACT|TransTV Digital]] |
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| former_names = {{ubl|CBN/CWN (1965–1973)|RVN/AMV (1971–1985)|Television 6-8-9 (1973–1981)|[[Great Eastland Television]] (NEN) (1975–1987)|9-8 Television (NEN) (1981–1989)|Mid State Television (CBN) (1981–1988)|The Prime Network (AMV) (1985–1988)|Prime Television/Ten Prime/7 on Prime/7Prime (1988–2011)}} |
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| cable chan 1 = Channel 7 |
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| replaced_by = [[Seven Network]] |
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| sister_channels = {{ubl|[[Racing.com]]|[[ishop TV]]|[[7two]]|[[7mate]]|[[7flix]]}} |
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| terr_serv_1 = Freeview Prime7 owned ([[virtual channel|virtual]]) |
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| terr_chan_1 = 6/61 |
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| terr_serv_2 = Freeview Prime7 HD ([[virtual channel|virtual]]) |
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| terr_chan_2 = 60 |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Prime Television''' is an [[Australia]]n [[television network]] affiliated to the [[Seven Network]] in regional [[New South Wales]], the [[Australian Capital Territory|ACT]], and [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] and in [[Western Australia]] as [[Golden West Network]]. It also broadcasts to [[Griffith]] under license through [[WIN Television]]. It is owned by the listed company [[Prime Television Limited]]. |
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'''Prime7''', formerly '''Prime Television''' and other names, was an Australian [[Television broadcasting in Australia|television network]]. Prime Television launched on 17 March 1962 as ''[[CBN (Australian TV station)|CBN-8]]'' in [[Orange, New South Wales|Orange]], and later expanded to cover regional [[New South Wales]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] and the [[Australian Capital Territory]]. It was initially an independent affiliate owned by [[Prime Media Group]] before the network, and its sister [[GWN7]], were acquired by [[Seven West Media]] on 31 December 2021. |
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Prime7 along with [[Golden West Network|GWN7]] national broadcast facilities were based in [[Canberra]], with playout facilities (since 2021) shared with hybrid-funded broadcaster [[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS Television]] at a facility operated by Australian telecommunications provider [[Telstra]]. Seven West Media head office/administration is located in [[Pyrmont, New South Wales|Pyrmont, Sydney]].<ref name="report05">{{Cite web |title=2005 Annual Report |url=http://www.primetv.com.au/files/1/33/84/37/PrimeAnnualReportFinalWeb.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829054253/http://primetv.com.au/files/1/33/84/37/PrimeAnnualReportFinalWeb.pdf |archive-date=29 August 2007 |access-date=17 September 2007 |publisher=[[Prime Media Group]]}}</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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===Origins=== |
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The stations that combined to form Prime Television were: |
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Prime Television originally began as a group of separate stations and networks – Midstate Television in [[Orange, New South Wales|Orange]], [[Dubbo]] and [[Griffith, New South Wales|Griffith]]; RVN/AMV in [[Wagga Wagga]] and [[Albury]]; and 9-8 Television in [[Tamworth, New South Wales|Tamworth]] and [[Taree]].<ref name="atvh-60s">{{Cite web |title=Prime Television 1960s–1980s |url=http://www.austvhistory.com/prime/preaggregation.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081214161307/http://www.austvhistory.com/prime/preaggregation.htm |archive-date=14 December 2008 |access-date=17 September 2007 |website=AusTVHistory}}</ref> |
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*'''[[RVN-2/AMV-4|AMV-4]]''' [[Albury, New South Wales|Albury]]/[[Wodonga, Victoria|Wodonga]] |
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*'''[[RVN-2/AMV-4|RVN-2]]''' [[Wagga Wagga]] |
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*'''[[CBN-8/CWN-6|CBN-8]]''' [[Orange, New South Wales|Orange]]/Central Tablelands |
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*'''[[CBN-8/CWN-6|CWN-6]]''' [[Dubbo, New South Wales|Dubbo]]/Central Western Slopes |
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*'''[[NEN-9/ECN-8|NEN-9]]''' [[Tamworth, New South Wales|Tamworth]] |
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*'''[[NEN-9/ECN-8|ECN-8]]''' [[Taree]] |
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[[CBN (Australian TV station)|CBN-8]] Orange first aired on 17 March 1962, followed by [[CBN (Australian TV station)|CWN-6]] Dubbo on 1 December 1965,<ref name="atvh-60s" /> and [[MTN (TV station)|MTN-9]] Griffith began on 15 December 1965. CBN and CWN were both licensed to Country Television Services (also the owner of radio station [[2GZ]] in Orange). CWN was a full-time relay of CBN—the first Australian television station to relay another. The two stations thus formed the country's first regional television network.<ref name="atvh-60s" /> |
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One station has historically been part of the Prime network of stations, however is now owned by another group: |
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*'''[[MTN-9]]''' [[Griffith, New South Wales|Griffith]] (now part of [[WIN Television]]) |
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RVN-2 Wagga Wagga began broadcasting on 19 June 1964, while [[AMV (TV station)|AMV-4]] Albury launched on 7 September 1964. The two stations merged in 1971 as the Riverina and North East Victoria Television Service Pty Ltd with the callsign '''RVN/AMV''' on air.<ref name="atvh-60s" /> |
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===Northern New South Wales=== |
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In northern New South Wales, NEN-9 Tamworth began transmission on 27 September 1965, with a relay in [[Armidale]] (NEN-1, later NEN-10) on 15 July 1966.<ref name="atvh-60s" /> ECN-8 [[Taree]] started on 27 May 1966.<ref name="atvh-60s" /> At one stage, ECN-8 merged with NRN-11 [[Coffs Harbour]] (now owned by [[WIN Corporation]]), however the two stations eventually split. NEN later merged with ECN as 9-8 Television.<ref name="atvh-60s" /> |
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===Television 6-8-9=== |
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At one stage, ECN-8 was merged with NRN-11 [[Coffs Harbour, New South Wales|Coffs Harbour]] (now part of [[Southern Cross Ten#Northern NSW|Southern Cross Ten Northern NSW]]), but they broke away, later merging with NEN-9, forming [[NEN-9/ECN-8]]. Before [[1991]], their logo was a silhouette of an Aboriginal standing one-legged leaning on spears. |
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As a result of the financial difficulties that many independent stations faced, MTN-9 joined CWN-6 and CBN-8 to form '''Television 6-8-9''' in 1973.<ref name="atvh-60s" /> Relays were launched in [[Portland, New South Wales|Portland]], [[Lithgow, New South Wales|Lithgow]], [[Mudgee]], [[Cobar]], [[Kandos]] and [[Rylstone, New South Wales|Rylstone]] and [[Bathurst, New South Wales|Bathurst]]. In 1981, 6-8-9 changed its name to '''Midstate Television.'''<ref name="atvh-60s" /> |
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[[Colour television]] was introduced at the same time as the rest of the country, on 1 March 1975 – one of the single most expensive processes undertaken by CBN to date.<ref name="atvh-60s" /> The station was a prominent broadcaster of local sporting events including tennis and [[Rugby football|rugby]].<ref name="atvh-60s" /> In 1979, a documentary titled ''Goin' Down The Road'', about the 1978 National Rodeo Titles won the network a [[Logie award]] for an 'Outstanding Contribution by a Regional Station'.<ref name="atvh-60s" /> |
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Prime Television purchased the station, aligning it with the [[Seven Network]] (like its Southern NSW counterparts) and changing ECN-8's call sign to NEN-8. On [[31 December]] [[1991]], Prime Television became the Northern NSW affiliate of the [[Seven Network]], in competition with [[Southern Cross Ten|NRTV]] (now Southern Cross Ten) and [[NBN Television|NBN]]. |
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Midstate produced a number of local programs, including the ''Weekend Report'', ''Early Shift'', ''Rural Roundup'' and ''Around the Schools''.<ref name="atvh-60s" /> From 1968, CBN was able to access a [[Postmaster-General's Department]] microwave link for national news bulletins and major events.<ref name="atvh-60s" /> |
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===Southern New South Wales=== |
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===Aggregation=== |
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[[CBN-8/CWN-6|CBN-8]] [[Orange, New South Wales|Orange]] began on [[17 March]] [[1962]], and [[CBN-8/CWN-6|CWN-6]] [[Dubbo, New South Wales|Dubbo]] began on [[1 December]] [[1965]], becoming the first station to relay another station's programming completely, and the first regional television network. [[RVN-2/AMV-4|RVN-2]] [[Wagga Wagga, New South Wales|Wagga Wagga]] began on [[19 June]] [[1964]], [[MTN-9]] [[Griffith, New South Wales|Griffith]] began on [[15 December]] [[1965]]. |
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[[File:Prime, 2WG and Star FM broadcasting studios.jpg|thumb|Former RVN/AMV Television Centre at Lake Albert Road, [[Kooringal, New South Wales|Kooringal]] in 2008, now occupied by Generocity Church.]] |
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Midstate Television was bought out by media magnate [[Paul Ramsay]]'s Ramcorp in October 1987.<ref name="atvh-60s" /> It was soon merged with Ramcorp's other stations, RVN/AMV and NEN/ECN. In 1988, Midstate Television was renamed '''Prime Television''' and began to show increased [[Seven Network]] programming in readiness for [[Regional television in Australia#Aggregation|aggregation]].<ref name="atvh-60s" /> |
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When aggregation took place, Prime began broadcasting to both southern New South Wales and northern Victoria. Transmission problems meant that aggregation in southern New South Wales took place in two stages – first the Australian Capital Territory and [[South Coast (New South Wales)|NSW south coast]] on 31 March 1989, followed by [[Orange, New South Wales|Orange]], [[Dubbo]], and [[Wagga Wagga]] on 31 December 1989. These changes led to the de-merger of RVN-AMV, with RVN becoming CBN-2.<ref name="atvh-60s" /> |
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In the early [[1970s]], due to the financial difficulties many single-stations faced, MTN-9 joined CWN-6 and CBN-8, forming ''Television 6, 8, 9'', later on becoming ''Midstate 6, 8, 9''. Relays were launched in [[Portland, New South Wales|Portland]] (4), [[Lithgow, New South Wales|Lithgow]] (6), [[Mudgee, New South Wales|Mudgee]] (9), [[Cobar, New South Wales|Cobar]], [[Kandos, New South Wales|Kandos]] and [[Rylstone, New South Wales|Rylstone]] (10) and [[Bathurst, New South Wales|Bathurst]] (11). |
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[[Griffith, New South Wales|Griffith]] remained a one-station market, however instead of taking programming from Prime in line with the network's other stations, [[MTN (TV station)|MTN-9]] relayed programming mainly from [[WIN Television]] in southern New South Wales.<ref name="atvh-60s" /> A supplementary licence, AMN-31, was successfully bid for by MTN in 1996, providing a relay of Prime Television.<ref name="atvh-90s">{{Cite web |title=Prime Television 1990s |url=http://www.austvhistory.com/prime/90s.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102041440/http://www.austvhistory.com/prime/90s.htm |archive-date=2 January 2008 |access-date=17 September 2007 |website=AusTVHistory}}</ref> Soon after the station was purchased by [[WIN Television]], which undertook a number of minor changes – mainly changing the news service to [[WIN News]], and using entirely WIN branding. AMN-31 remains a relay of Prime. Similarly, the [[Mildura]] licence area remained separate from the remainder of Victoria, albeit with a single station, STV-8, later bought out by WIN Television in 1996.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Tanner |first=Stephen |year=1995 |title=The Rise and Fall of Edmund Rouse |url=http://eprint.uq.edu.au/archive/00000280/01/tanner95.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=Australian Studies in Journalism |publisher=[[University of Queensland]] |page=63 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829065945/http://eprint.uq.edu.au/archive/00000280/01/tanner95.pdf |archive-date=29 August 2007 |access-date=19 August 2007}}</ref> In 1997 Prime was successful in bidding for a new licence for the area at a cost of $3.2 million.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 October 1996 |title=New Commercial TV licences for Darwin and Mildura |url=http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/1001/pc=PC_90532 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221235436/http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/1001/pc=PC_90532 |archive-date=21 February 2008 |access-date=15 September 2007 |publisher=[[Australian Communications and Media Authority]]}}</ref> PTV-31 began broadcasting the following year.<ref name="atvh-90s" /> |
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In [[1986]], [[RVN-2/AMV-4|RVN/AMV]] and Midstate 6, 8, 9 merged to become ''The Prime Network'', later to become ''Prime Television'', in readiness for [[Regional television in Australia#Aggregation|aggregation]], and began an affiliation with the [[Seven Network]]. |
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Although advertising revenue increased post-aggregation, local programming declined as a result of the costs incurred by the network's expansion – an estimated $45 million had been spent by Ramcorp during and in the lead-up to aggregation.<ref name="atvh-90s" /> After losses of $50 million, it was not until 1993 that the renamed [[Prime Media Group|Prime Television]] posted a profit.<ref name="atvh-90s" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wynne |first=Michael |year=2005 |title=Ramsay Healthcare Early Years |url=http://www.uow.edu.au/arts/sts/bmartin/dissent/documents/health/ramsay_early.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070910103323/http://www.uow.edu.au/arts/sts/bmartin/dissent/documents/health/ramsay_early.html |archive-date=10 September 2007 |access-date=15 September 2007 |publisher=[[University of Wollongong]]}}</ref> |
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There were problems with aggregation, with transmission problems in the old Orange/Dubbo and Wagga areas. This caused the aggregation to be handled in two stages, the ACT and the South Coast on [[March 31]] [[1989]], and in the Orange/Dubbo and Wagga on [[December 31]] [[1989]]. It forced the de-merger of RVN-AMV, and RVN-2 became CBN-2. |
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In November 1996, Prime's parent company, [[Prime Media Group|Prime Television]], purchased the [[Golden West Network]], a merged group of four stations in regional Western Australia; BTW-3 [[Bunbury, Western Australia|Bunbury]], VEW-8 [[Kalgoorlie]], GTW-11 [[Geraldton]] and GSW-9 [[Albany, Western Australia|Albany]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kidman |first=Matthew |date=13 November 1996 |title=Prime buys Golden West |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AUNB&req_dat=2FC64405CDC9450D8CE0F660AE4E730F&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F11BCA31E0D81FE18 |access-date=19 February 2022 |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |publisher=[[Fairfax Media]] |location=[[Sydney]] |page=29 |via=[[Newsbank]] |id={{ProQuest|363364327}}}}</ref> Western Australia, similar to Griffith and Mildura, remained a one-station commercial market until 1999 when GWN became a [[Seven Network]] affiliate, after [[WIN Television]] began transmission as an affiliate of both the [[Nine Network]] and [[Network Ten]].<ref name="atvh-90s" /> |
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Griffith wasn't included in aggregation, and as a result, MTN-9 became an affiliate of the [[Nine Network]], the feed came from [[WIN Television]]. In 1996, MTN-9 successfully bid for a supplementary license, [[MTN-9|AMN-31]], which is a feed from Prime Television [[Canberra]]. In 1996, WIN Television brought MTN/AMN, MTN-9 becoming ''WIN Television Griffith''. AMN-31, though owned by WIN Television, is still branded as Prime Television. |
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The network began to expand into New Zealand in 1997, when a number of licences were purchased from [[United Christian Broadcasters]] for an estimated $3.6 million.<ref name="thepress">{{Cite news |date=22 December 2001 |title=Packer to boost Prime Television |newspaper=The Press |location=[[Christchurch]] |page=17 |id={{ProQuest|314457739}}}}</ref> [[Prime (New Zealand TV channel)|Prime Television New Zealand]] began broadcasting on 30 August 1998, with a nightly local news program in both [[Waikato]] and [[Christchurch]].<ref name="thepress" /> Prime also expanded into Argentina with the purchase of the [[Canal 9 (Argentina)|Canal 9]] network.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kidman |first=Matthew |date=16 December 1997 |title=Prime TV buys and sells in Argentina |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AUNB&req_dat=2FC64405CDC9450D8CE0F660AE4E730F&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F11BC9F62C0EDE270 |access-date=19 February 2022 |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |publisher=[[Fairfax Media]] |location=Sydney |page=27 |via=[[Newsbank]] |id={{ProQuest|363450289}}}}</ref> |
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===Victoria=== |
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===2000s=== |
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[[RVN-2/AMV-4|AMV-4]] [[Albury, New South Wales|Albury]]/[[Wodonga, Victoria|Wodonga]] began on [[7 September]] [[1964]]. In 1971, RVN-2 and AMV-4 merged to become the ''Riverina and North East Victoria Television Service'', known on air as ''RVN-AMV''. Five years later, RVN took over transmission of AMV from its Wagga studios. Relays in [[Young, New South Wales|Young]] (6) and a second Wagga channel (11) were started in this time. |
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[[File:Prime Television Broadcast Centre.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Prime Television Broadcast Centre in [[Watson, Australian Capital Territory]]]] |
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The renamed Argentine network Azul Televisión was sold for $108 million in early 2000 due to lower-than-expected performance.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schulze |first=Jane |date=17 March 2000 |title=Prime offloads Azul for $108m |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AUNB&req_dat=2FC64405CDC9450D8CE0F660AE4E730F&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F1053B8979CCED62A |access-date=19 February 2022 |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |publisher=[[Fairfax Media]] |location=Sydney |page=27 |via=[[Newsbank]] |id={{ProQuest|363678724}}}}</ref> During the same year, Prime benefited greatly from its affiliation with the [[Seven Network]] throughout its carriage of the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] in Sydney. The network's relationship with Seven was further developed throughout the early 2000s, leading to the introduction of ''7onPrime'' promotional branding for [[Seven Network]]-produced programs on 11 February 2001.<ref name="atvh-00s">{{Cite web |title=Prime Television 2000s |url=http://www.austvhistory.com/prime/00s.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102041439/http://www.austvhistory.com/prime/00s.htm |archive-date=2 January 2008 |access-date=17 September 2007 |website=AusTVHistory}}</ref><ref name="Sibley2001-02-10">{{Cite news |last=Sibley |first=David |date=10 February 2001 |title=New look for Prime TV in ratings chase |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |publisher=[[Rural Press]] |location=Canberra |page=7 |id={{ProQuest|1016133692}}}}</ref> |
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Local news bulletins for [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]], the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]], [[Canberra]], and [[Wollongong]] were axed on 9 June 2001 due to falling ratings and the anticipated costs of the switch to [[digital television]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Maguire |first=Tory |date=9 June 2001 |title=Regional TV news gets axe |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AUNB&req_dat=2FC64405CDC9450D8CE0F660AE4E730F&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0FD2EBE54526C247 |access-date=19 February 2022 |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]] |publisher=[[News Limited]] |location=Sydney |page=17 |via=[[Newsbank]] |id={{ProQuest|358703275}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sibley |first=David |date=9 June 2001 |title=Prime TV axes news bulletins |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |publisher=[[Rural Press]] |location=Canberra |page=1 |id={{ProQuest|1016088957}}}}</ref> This, and the closure of a number of news bulletins by [[Southern Cross Broadcasting]], prompted the [[Australian Broadcasting Authority]] to investigate the adequacy of regional news services<ref>{{Cite episode |title=ABA to hold investigation into adequacy of regional news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s423564.htm |access-date=1 September 2007 |series=PM |series-link=PM (Australian radio program) |last=White |first=Annie |network=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=21 September 2001 |archive-date=2 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102024430/http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s423564.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> The ABA later mandated that stations broadcast a minimum level of local content, based on a points system{{snd}}two points per minute for local news, and one point per minute for other local content, excluding paid advertisements.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 September 2004 |title=Regional television exceeds local content quotas |url=http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/1001/pc=PC_91497 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007165326/http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/1001/pc=PC_91497 |archive-date=7 October 2007 |access-date=1 September 2007 |publisher=[[Australian Communications and Media Authority]]}}</ref> |
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In 1983, [[daylight saving time]] caused problems for RVN-AMV, since NSW and Victoria ended their daylight saving periods at different times. To combat this, RVN's output was recorded, and shown an hour later on AMV for three weeks. Until [[aggregation]], RVN-AMV was in the unique situation of showing different programs in Wagga and in Albury, on what was effectively the one station. Wagga took news and sport (namely [[rugby league]]) from [[Sydney]], while [[Albury, New South Wales|Albury]] received news and sport ([[Australian rules football]]) from [[Melbourne]]. |
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Prime formed a partnership with the [[Nine Network]] (affiliated in Australia to competitor [[WIN Television]]), giving its owner, [[Nine Entertainment Co|PBL Media]] the option to purchase a 50% share of [[Prime (New Zealand TV channel)|Prime Television New Zealand]] in return for access to original programming, and cross-promotion in PBL's New Zealand magazine titles.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Nine Network Australia Formally Commences New Zealand Partnership with Prime Television Australia |date=18 February 2002 |publisher=[[Nine Entertainment Co|PBL Media]] |url=http://www.pbl.com.au/nine_network_australia_formally_commences_new_zealand_partnership_with_prime_television_australia.htm |access-date=2 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927213135/http://www.pbl.com.au/nine_network_australia_formally_commences_new_zealand_partnership_with_prime_television_australia.htm |archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref> Following this, Prime Television New Zealand began to take on branding and programming similar to that of the [[Nine Network]]. In November 2005, Prime Television New Zealand was purchased by [[subscription television]] provider [[Sky (New Zealand)|Sky Network Television]] for {{currency|30 million|NZD}}, completed after approval by New Zealand's [[Commerce Commission]] in February 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2006 |title=About Us |url=http://www.primetv.co.nz/default.asp?t=4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026151518/http://www.primetv.co.nz/default.asp?t=4 |archive-date=26 October 2007 |access-date=1 September 2007 |website=[[Prime (New Zealand TV channel)|Prime Television New Zealand]]}}</ref> |
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In 1986, RVN-AMV and Midstate 6, 8, 9 merged to become The Prime Network, later to become Prime Television, in readiness for aggregation, and began an affiliation with the Seven Network. In December 1989, RVN-AMV de-merged, and AMV became Prime Television Victoria. |
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[[Mildura Digital Television]], a digital-only station in [[Mildura]] began transmissions in 2006 as a joint venture between [[Prime Media Group|Prime Television]] and [[WIN Corporation]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 January 2006 |title=TEN Digital commences in Mildura |url=https://www.dba.org.au/index217f.html |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20060704011202/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/14239/20060704-0000/www.dba.org.au/index217f.html |archive-date=4 July 2006 |access-date=30 March 2024 |website=Digital Broadcasting Australia |language=en-AU |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> [[Section 38A|Section 38B]] of the ''Broadcasting Services Act'' allowed for the provision of a third station owned by either one or both existing networks.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=ABA media - NR4/2005: New digital commercial television service for Mildura/Sunraysia |date=28 January 2004 |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Authority]] |url=http://www.aba.gov.au/abanews/news_releases/2005/04nr05.htm |access-date=30 March 2024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050316020122/http:/www.aba.gov.au/abanews/news_releases/2005/04nr05.htm |archive-date=16 March 2005}}</ref> MDT is a direct relay of [[ATV (Australian TV station)|10 Melbourne]], albeit with local advertising. |
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Prime became the Seven Network affiliate in Victoria in 1992, competing with ''Southern Cross Network'' (later ''SCN'', ''Ten Victoria'', and now [[Southern Cross Ten#Victoria|Southern Cross Ten Victoria]]) and ''Television Victoria'' (otherwise known as ''VIC TV'', now [[WIN Television#Victoria|WIN Television Victoria]]). |
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Prime Television announced on 21 December 2009 that it would start broadcasting [[7two]] on 23 December 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=22 December 2009 |title=7TWO to launch on Prime |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2009/12/7two-to-launch-on-prime.html |access-date=30 March 2024 |website=[[TV Tonight]]}}</ref> |
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In 1997, Prime won the second license for [[Mildura]], which hadn't been aggregated, in competition with WIN Television. Its callsign is PTV-31. |
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=== |
===2010s=== |
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On 25 September 2010, Prime began transmission of the new HD digital channel [[7mate]] aimed at men 16–49. The first program to be broadcast was the drawn [[2010 AFL Grand Final]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=25 August 2010 |title=7mate on Prime |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2010/08/7mate-on-prime.html |access-date=30 March 2024 |website=[[TV Tonight]] |language=en-AU}}</ref> On 15 January 2011, Prime Media Group reported that Prime and [[Golden West Network|GWN]] were set to rebrand as Prime7 and GWN7 respectively. Their news bulletins had quickly changed their names to Prime7 News and GWN7 News, while 7two dropped the "Prime" logo on the multichannels. Prime and GWN relaunched on 16 January 2011 at 18:00 (6pm).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prime7 |url=http://www.prime7.com.au/ |access-date=24 January 2011}}̼ {{dead link|date=February 2022|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=15 January 2011 |title=Prime, GWN rebrand with 7 |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2011/01/prime-gwn-rebrand-with-7.html |access-date=30 March 2024 |website=[[TV Tonight]]}}</ref> Prime7 began broadcasting [[4ME]] (then Television 4) on 18 September 2011 on LCN 64.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cusack |first=Nicole |title=Television 4 is launching September 18th 2011 to ALL homes in Regional NSW, VIC, ACT and the Gold Coast |url=http://www.brandnewmedia.com.au/media1/television/television-4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008214903/http://www.brandnewmedia.com.au/media1/television/television-4 |archive-date=8 October 2011 |access-date=23 January 2012}}</ref> Prime7 began broadcasting [[ishop TV]] on 30 April 2013 on LCN 65. |
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{{main|Golden West Network}} |
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Golden West Network (GWN) began as four smaller stations; [[BTW-3]] [[Bunbury, Western Australia|Bunbury]], [[VEW-8]] [[Kalgoorlie, Western Australia|Kalgoorlie]], [[GSW-9]] [[Geraldton, Western Australia|Geraldton]] and [[GSW-9]] [[Albany, Western Australia|Albany]]. |
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Prime7 ceased to broadcast [[4ME]] on 30 April 2016, due to financial problems.<ref name="4MEclose">{{cite web |url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2016/04/datacasting-channel-4me-in-doubt-as-producers-enter-administration.html |title=Datacasting channel 4ME in doubt as producers enter administration |last=Knox |first=David |date=29 April 2016 |website=TV Tonight |access-date=30 April 2016}}</ref> |
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In the early 1980s, Jack Bendant purchased BTW/GSW and changed the name to ''Golden West Network''. In 1985, GWN was granted a license to broadcast to remote Western Australia via satellite. GWN acquired VEW-8 in 1985 and GTW-11 in 1987. Current Seven Network chairman Kerry Stokes purchased GWN in 1988. |
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In December 2016, Prime7 transferred its playout facilities to MediaHub Australia located within the Sydney suburb of Ingleburn. The facility is a joint venture between public broadcaster [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] and rival regional network [[WIN Television]]. Network officials noted that its existing Canberra facilities cannot be upgraded with technological advancements, causing Prime7 to be incapable of relaunching its HD simulcast as well as introducing [[7flix]] to its viewers.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Perry |first=Kevin |date=12 December 2016 |title=PRIME looks to 7flix and HD launch after completing transition to MediaHub |url=https://decidertv.com/page/2016/12/11/prime-looks-to-7flix-and-hd-launch-after-completing-transistion-to-mediahub |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221002846/https://decidertv.com/page/2016/12/11/prime-looks-to-7flix-and-hd-launch-after-completing-transistion-to-mediahub |archive-date=21 December 2016 |access-date=13 December 2016 |work=DeciderTV}}</ref> |
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Prime Television purchased GWN in November 1996 for [[Australian dollar|AU$]]71 million.<ref>{{cite news |
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| last = Kidman | first = Matthew |
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| title = Prime buys Golden West |
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| publisher = Sydney Morning Herald |
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| page = 29 |
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| date = [[1996-11-13]] }}</ref> GWN became the Seven affiliate in Western Australia in 1999 following the introduction of [[WIN Television WA]], who acquired the [[Nine Network]] and [[Network Ten]] affiliations. |
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On 3 August 2017, 18 months after launching in metropolitan areas, Prime7 announced that it would carry 7flix to its regional stations in [[NEN (TV station)|northern]] and [[CBN (Australian TV station)|southern New South Wales]], [[AMV (TV station)|regional Victoria]] and [[PTV (TV station)|Mildura]] from 3 September 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Samios |first=Zoe |date=3 August 2017 |title=Prime7 launches 7Flix across regional NSW, ACT, Victoria and Gold Coast |url=https://mumbrella.com.au/prime7-launches-7flix-across-regional-nsw-act-victoria-gold-coast-462563 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804053107/https://mumbrella.com.au/prime7-launches-7flix-across-regional-nsw-act-victoria-gold-coast-462563 |archive-date=4 August 2017 |access-date=4 August 2017 |website=[[Mumbrella]]}}</ref> The channel became available on digital channel 66 in MPEG-4 format.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 August 2017 |title=7flix — Prime7 |url=https://au.prime7.yahoo.com/a1/7flix |access-date=4 August 2017 |publisher=Prime Media Group}} {{Dead link|date=May 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> On 15 January 2018, Prime7 quietly relaunched its primary HD service, Prime7 HD, on digital channel 60 in MPEG-4 format. |
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==Programming== |
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[[Image:Primepossum.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Prime Television Mascot - Prime Possum]] |
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Prime's programming schedule is almost identical to the [[Seven Network]], aside from limited local programming. Currently, the only regular local programming is: |
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* ''Prime News'' (see below) |
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* ''The Saturday Club'', a children's program shown on Saturday mornings at 9.00am featuring network mascot Prime Possum |
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* ''X:Press'', a music program broadcast late Friday nights, repeated Saturday afternoons. |
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Prime also broadcast ''Prime InfoNet'', short updates listing local community events. |
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===2021: Merger with Seven=== |
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Prime's post-midnight television schedule also differs from the Seven Network feed, containing infomercials from Danoz Direct, Home Shopping, and a feed from pay television channel [[Expo channel|Expo]]. Prime rejoin the Seven Network feed at 6.00am for ''[[Sunrise (Australia)|Sunrise]]''. |
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On 1 November 2021, [[Seven West Media]] announced that it would acquire all the shares and subsidiaries of [[Prime Media Group]], including Prime7. This was Seven West Media's second attempt at purchasing Prime, after its previous attempt in 2019 was thwarted by [[Australian Community Media]] boss Antony Catalano and rival [[WIN Corporation]] owner [[Bruce Gordon (businessman)|Bruce Gordon]], who cited Seven's debt problems at the time and its poor ratings performance as their reason for their refusal. This development would mark an end to the Prime branding after 33 years in favour of the [[Seven Network]]'s branding, and would see all news bulletins carry the ''[[Seven News]]'' brand. Prior to this, Prime7 (and sister [[GWN7]] in regional and remote Western Australia), as well as [[Nine Network|Nine]] affiliate [[Imparja Television]] were the only networks not to fully use its metro affiliate branding despite carrying Seven (Nine for Imparja) branded promos, since WIN Television (except for WIN News) and Southern Cross Austereo use full [[Nine Network|Nine]], [[Network 10|Ten]] and [[Seven Network|Seven]] branding on their stations. It was also announced that Seven would look to expand its investment in local news following the merger.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=McGuire |first1=Amelia |last2=Samios |first2=Zoe |date=1 November 2021 |title=Seven West Media to buy regional affiliate Prime for $132m |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/seven-west-media-to-buy-regional-affiliate-prime-for-132m-20211101-p594v3.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102125226/https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/seven-west-media-to-buy-regional-affiliate-prime-for-132m-20211101-p594v3.html |archive-date=2 November 2021 |access-date=2 November 2021 |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |publisher=[[Nine Entertainment]] |location=Sydney}}</ref> The majority of Prime's shareholders voted in favour of the deal on 23 December, with the sale completed on 31 December.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 December 2021 |title=Prime Media shareholders give the green light for Seven West Media merger |url=https://7news.com.au/business/media/prime-media-share-holders-give-the-green-light-for-seven-west-media-merger-c-5062463 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223065431/https://7news.com.au/business/media/prime-media-share-holders-give-the-green-light-for-seven-west-media-merger-c-5062463 |archive-date=23 December 2021 |access-date=23 December 2021 |work=[[Seven News]] |publisher=[[Seven West Media]] |language=en |agency=[[Australian Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=Acquisition of Prime completed |date=31 December 2021 |publisher=Seven West Media |url=https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20211231/pdf/454nwfgyhl6dyh.pdf |via=[[Australian Securities Exchange]] |access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref> |
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On 23 May 2022, Seven West Media announced that the current branding of Prime7 and GWN7 would be unified into Seven Network branding across all stations including for Prime7 Local News, officially retiring the Prime7 name.<ref>{{cite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=23 May 2022 |title=Prime7 and GWN7 to unite under Seven banner |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2022/05/prime7-and-gwn7-to-unite-under-seven-banner.html |access-date=22 May 2022 |publisher=TV Tonight}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Samios |first=Zoe |date=29 May 2022 |title=Goodbye, Prime Possum? Seven eyes brand changes ahead of Commonwealth Games |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/goodbye-prime-possum-seven-eyes-brand-changes-ahead-of-commonwealth-games-20220527-p5ap3r.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=7 January 2023 |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |publisher=[[Nine Entertainment]] |location=Sydney |language=en-AU}}</ref> |
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Past programming from Prime Television has been recognised nationally, with some local productions winning [[Logie Award]]s for 'Outstanding Contribution by a Regional Television Station'. Logies were presented for: |
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* ''Goin' Down The Road'' (CBN-8, 1979) |
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* ''Naturally'' (NEN-9/ECN-8, 1984) |
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* ''Stranded'' (Prime Television, 1993) |
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* ''Rest in Peace'' (Prime Television, 1994) |
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* ''No Time For Frailty'' (Prime Television, 1996) |
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In June 2022 the Prime7 brand was retired.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Aaron |date=18 May 2022 |title=EXCLUSIVE {{!}} Prime7 and GWN7 set to rebrand as Seven unifies its network to one national identity |url=https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2022/05/18/exclusive-prime7-and-gwn7-set-to-rebrand-as-seven-unifies-its-network-to-one-national-identity/ |access-date=7 January 2023 |website=TV Blackbox |language=en-AU}}</ref> |
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==News== |
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[[Image:PrimeNews.png|250px|thumb|right|Prime News Logo]] |
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''Prime News'' is the title of Prime Television's local news service. Only some stations receive full news bulletins, others have short news updates. Markets with full news bulletins include: |
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* [[Albury, New South Wales|Albury]]/[[Wodonga, Victoria|Wodonga]] |
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:Presenters: [[Helen Ballard]] (news and weather), [[Aaron McGlynn]] (sport) |
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* [[Orange, New South Wales|Orange]]/[[Dubbo, New South Wales|Dubbo]] |
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:Presenter: [[Alison Reis]] (news, sport and weather). |
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* [[Tamworth, New South Wales|Tamworth]]/[[Taree, New South Wales|Taree]] |
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:Presenters: [[Fiona Ferguson]] (news and weather), [[John Hyde]] (sport), [[Reena Ganga]] (fill-in presenter) |
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* [[Wagga Wagga, New South Wales|Wagga Wagga]] |
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:Presenters: [[Doug Hogan]] (news, and weather), [[Joanne Mackey]] (sport). |
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* [[Western Australia]] (under the title ''[[Golden West Network#Golden West News|Golden West News]]'') |
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:Presenters: [[Noel Brunning]] (news), [[Troy Hynam]] (sport), [[Shauna Willis]]/[[Chris Mills (TV presenter)|Chris Mills]] (weather) |
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On 22 July 2022 the final retirement of the Prime7 branding took place with all local news bulletins becoming "7NEWS (region)" for example "7NEWS Border" as of Monday 25 July.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Perry |first=Kevin |date=20 July 2022 |title=End of an era for regional viewers as PRIME7 NEWS becomes 7NEWS LOCAL |url=https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2022/07/20/end-of-an-era-for-regional-viewers-as-prime7-news-becomes-7news-local/ |access-date=7 January 2023 |website=TV Blackbox |language=en-AU}}</ref> |
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Most bulletins are presented live from local studios. In Orange/Dubbo, Tamworth/Taree and Wagga Wagga, ''Prime News'' is broadcast weeknights at 6.00pm, followed by a delayed bulletin of ''Seven News''. In Albury/Wodonga and Western Australia, the bulletin airs at 5.30pm weeknights. |
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==Programming== |
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In 2000 Prime ceased local news broadcasts on the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]], and closed their [[Moree]] bureau which provided news for their [[Tamworth, New South Wales|Tamworth]] service, whilst in 2001 Prime stopped news services in [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]], [[Wollongong, New South Wales|Wollongong]] and [[Canberra]], citing poor ratings, and replaced it with ''Seven News'' and ''[[Today Tonight]]''.<ref> |
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Prime's programming schedule was almost identical to those of Seven Network metropolitan counterparts [[ATN]] in Sydney and [[HSV (TV station)|HSV]] in [[Melbourne]], with some differences. Since the Prime network's inception it featured a broad range of original local programming, which included children's program ''Possum's Club'' with Madelaine Collignon and station mascot ''Prime Possum'' as well as community service segment ''Prime7 InfoNet'', a series of short updates listing local community events. |
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{{cite news |
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| last = Macguire | first = Toby |
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| title = Regional TV news gets axe |
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| work = The Daily Telegraph |
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| page = 17 |
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| date = [[2001-06-09]] }}</ref> All other services were maintained. Later that year the [[Australian Broadcasting Authority]] launched an investigation into the axing of local news programs by Prime and rival Southern Cross Ten. The investigation found that not enough locally produced programs and so the ABA set out new rules forcing all stations in aggregated markets to produce at least 45 minutes of local programming per week. In early 2004, Prime recommenced local news in Newcastle, Wollongong and Canberra in the form of two minute updates. |
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Prime7's overnight schedule also differed from the Seven Network feed, containing infomercials from Danoz Direct, Home Shopping, and a feed from pay television channel [[Expo Channel|Expo]]. Past programming from Prime Television has been recognised nationally, with some local productions winning the [[Logie Award]] for 'Outstanding Contribution by a Regional Television Station'. The network has won Logies for ''Goin' Down The Road'' (CBN-8, 1979),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Australian Television: 1978–1981 Logie Awards |url=http://www.australiantelevision.net/awards/logie1978_81.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819015150/http://australiantelevision.net/awards/logie1978_81.html |archive-date=19 August 2019 |access-date=19 September 2007 |website=Australian Television Information Archive}}</ref> ''Naturally'' (NEN-9/ECN-8, 1984),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Australian Television: 1982–1985 Logie Awards |url=http://www.australiantelevision.net/awards/logie1982_85.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815110724/http://www.australiantelevision.net/awards/logie1982_85.html |archive-date=15 August 2019 |access-date=15 September 2007 |website=Australian Television Information Archive}}</ref> ''Stranded'' (Prime Television, 1993),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Australian Television: 1990–1993 Logie Awards |url=http://www.australiantelevision.net/awards/logie1990_93.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016050830/http://www.australiantelevision.net/awards/logie1990_93.html |archive-date=16 October 2014 |access-date=15 September 2007 |website=Australian Television Information Archive}}</ref> ''Rest in Peace'' (Prime Television, 1994),<ref name="atvia-logies94-97">{{Cite web |title=Australian Television: 1994–1997 Logie Awards |url=http://www.australiantelevision.net/awards/logie1994_97.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20141121130100/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/21124/20141122-0001/www.australiantelevision.net/awards/logie1994_97.html |archive-date=21 November 2014 |access-date=15 September 2007 |website=Australian Television Information Archive |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and ''No Time For Frailty'' (Prime Television, 1996).<ref name="atvia-logies94-97" /> |
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Many of its former news presenters and journalists read like a who's who of Australian Television and Radio, including [[Jessica Rowe]] (ex-Canberra News, now [[Nine Network]] Presenter), [[Kylie Gillies]] (ex- Tamworth News, now [[Seven Network]] Sports Presenter), [[Kerryn Johnston]] (ex- Wollongong News, now [[WIN Television]] Wollongong Newsreader) and [[Grant Denyer]] (ex- Wagga Wagga News, now [[Seven Network]] Presenter). |
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==Prime7 News== |
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* News Updates [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]], [[Canberra]], [[Wollongong]] and [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] (except Albury/Wodonga) |
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{{main|Prime7 News}} |
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: Presenters: [[Natalie Forrest]] (news and sport), [[Daniel Gibson (presenter)|Daniel Gibson]] (weather), [[Kara Douglas (presenter)|Kara Douglas]] (fill-in presenter), [[Madelaine Collignon (presenter)|Madelaine Collignon]] (fill-in weather) |
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''Seven News Regional'' (formerly known as ''Prime7 News'' and ''Prime News'') was the network's local news service. Full bulletins were produced for the towns and surrounding regions originally covered by the stations "Midstate 6,8,9 Television", [[Dubbo]]/[[Orange, New South Wales|Orange]], "RVN-2/AMV-4", [[Wagga Wagga]]/[[Albury]] and "9/8 Television" (NEN-9/ECN-8) [[Tamworth, New South Wales|Tamworth]]/[[Taree]], prior to the [[Regional television in Australia#Aggregation|aggregation]] of regional television services in New South Wales that occurred in the early 1990s.<ref name="atvh-60s" /> In other areas two-minute news updates were shown at various times of the day.<ref name="atvh-00s" /> |
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* Weekend Weather Updates |
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: Presenter: [[Craig Moore (television presenter)|Craig Moore]] |
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''Prime7 News'' bulletins were presented from Canberra weeknightly as Prime7 Local News at 18:00 (6pm) in the Albury and Wodonga Border, North West, North Coast, Central West and Wagga Wagga broadcast areas.<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 August 2010 |title=TV news decision ends an era |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/06/2975258.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010020246/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/06/2975258.htm |archive-date=10 October 2010 |access-date=17 August 2010 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=17 August 2010 |title=Prime airs its first Canberra bulletin |newspaper=[[The Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga)|The Daily Advertiser]] |publisher=[[Fairfax Media]] |location=Wagga Wagga |page=3}}</ref> ''Prime7 News at 6:30 (with Daniel Gibson)'' (at 18:30) also came from the Canberra news centre. |
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==Station identifiers== |
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From [[1991]] to [[1995]], Prime used local versions of Seven's IDs, and the ''"Your Local Station"''. From 1995 to [[2001]], Prime used IDs featuring local people and locations, and the slogan ''"This is Where We Live"''. |
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==Availability== |
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In [[2001]], Prime began using "7 on Prime" branded IDs, later dropped, and a new logo and slogan, "Bringing It Home to Me", based on music from the [[Go-Betweens]]. |
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Prime7 was available in [[Standard-definition television|standard definition]] [[Digital terrestrial television|digital]] format. Since June 2007 a [[1080i]] [[High-definition television|high definition]] simulcast had also been available, replacing the network's former [[576p]] service.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 June 2007 |title=Prime Television announces HD shift to 1080i format |url=http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=58&newsID=966&display=news |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928110110/http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=58&newsID=966&display=news |archive-date=28 September 2007 |access-date=29 June 2007 |website=Digital Broadcasting Australia}}</ref> Prime7 was viewed mainly through [[free-to-air]] [[Terrestrial television|terrestrial]] [[transmitter]]s, although [[Subscription television|subscription]] [[Cable television#Australia|cable]] also provided by [[TransACT]] and [[Neighbourhood Cable]] in the [[Australian Capital Territory]] and [[Ballarat, Victoria|Ballarat]], respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TransTV Channel Lineup |url=http://www.transact.com.au/television/channels.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070820012002/http://www.transact.com.au/television/channels.aspx |archive-date=20 August 2007 |access-date=19 August 2007 |publisher=[[TransACT]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Neighbourhood Cable Channel Lineup |url=http://www.ncable.net.au/_site/products.asp?cat=4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829081941/http://www.ncable.net.au/_site/products.asp?cat=4 |archive-date=29 August 2007 |access-date=19 August 2007 |website=[[Neighbourhood Cable]]}}</ref> |
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Prime7 broadcast to southern [[New South Wales]] through stations based in [[CBN (Australian TV station)|Orange]] and [[CBN (Australian TV station)|Dubbo]], northern New South Wales from stations in [[NEN (TV station)|Tamworth]] and [[NEN (TV station)|Taree]], Victoria from its [[Albury-Wodonga]]-based station [[AMV (TV station)|AMV]] and [[Mildura]] via [[PTV (TV station)|PTV]]. |
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In 2004, Prime finally began using new IDs and a new jingle from their 2001 slogan. |
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===Prime7 HD=== |
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In 2007, Prime revamped their IDs and dropped the "to Me" part of their slogan, settling with "Bringing It Home". |
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'''Prime7 HD''' originally launched on 15 October 2007 as a sister to the Seven Network's high definition simulcast, [[7HD|Seven HD]]. Then-known as ''Prime HD'', it broadcast in 1080i high definition on digital channel 60 on Prime's regional stations NEN Northern New South Wales, CBN Southern New South Wales, AMV Victoria and PTV Mildura. The channel broadcast breakaway programming from 10 December 2007 until 4 October 2009, when it was turned into a straight HD simulcast. Prime HD fully ceased broadcasting on 25 September 2010 with the launch of the HD channel 7mate.<ref name="Throng">{{Cite news |date=25 August 2010 |title=7mate on Prime to Launch same time as 7mate in the Cities |url=http://www.throng.com.au/seven/7mate-prime-launch-same-time-7mate-cities |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311102557/http://www.throng.com.au/seven/7mate-prime-launch-same-time-7mate-cities |archive-date=11 March 2012 |access-date=25 August 2010 |work=Throng}}</ref> Prime7 re-launched their HD simulcast service, now known as ''Prime7 HD'' on 15 January 2018. |
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== |
===PTV=== |
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'''PTV''' was an Australian [[television station]] licensed to, and serving the regions surrounding [[Mildura, Victoria]]. The station commenced transmissions in 1997, after [[Prime Television]] won the second television licence for [[Mildura]], a non-aggregated market, in competition with [[WIN Television]], for a cost of $3.2 million, in October 1996.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1996-10-29 |title=New Commercial TV licences for Darwin and Mildura |url=http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/1001/pc=PC_90532 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221235436/http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/1001/pc=PC_90532 |archive-date=2008-02-21 |access-date=2007-09-15 |website=[[Australian Communications and Media Authority]]}}</ref><ref name="atvh-90s"/> |
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Prime is simulcast in [[analog television|analogue]], [[Standard-definition television|standard definition]] and [[1080i]] [[High-definition television|high definition]]. On [[June 30]], [[2007]], simulcasts in [[1080i]] [[High-definition television|high definition]] commenced for all Prime Television [[owned-and-operated station]]s.<ref name="1080i"> {{cite web |
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Analogue transmission ceased on 30 June 2010 as part of the national conversion to digital television.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 June 2010 |title=Digital TV switch flicked in Mildura |language=en-AU |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-06-30/digital-tv-switch-flicked-in-mildura/886698 |access-date=2023-09-28}}</ref> |
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| url = http://www.dba.org.au/index.asp?sectionID=58&newsID=966&display=news |
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| title = Prime Television announces HD shift to 1080i format |
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In the Mildura regional market, short two-minute updates are presented by rotating presenters with weather forecasts presented by Karl Lijnders, [[Daniel Gibson (presenter)|Daniel Gibson]] or Craig Moore. Some of the reports aired in these updates are drawn on the resources of Mildura-based [[WIN News]] operation. |
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| accessdate = 2007-06-29 |
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| date = 2007-06-28 |
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| work = Prime Television |
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| publisher = dba.org.au |
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}} </ref> Prior to this, Prime Television provided a [[576p]] [[Enhanced-definition television|enhanced definition]] service. Prime is broadcast in [[Canberra]], southern [[New South Wales]], and regional [[Victoria]] via Prime Television [[owned-and-operated station]]s, these include [[MTN-9]], [[CBN-8/CWN-6|CBN-8]], [[CBN-8/CWN-6|CWN-6]], [[RVN-2/AMV-4|RVN-2]], and [[RVN-2/AMV-4|AMV-4]]. |
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==Logos== |
==Logos== |
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Prime Television became a network in May 1988, with shared logos produced and used across the regional stations, featuring the word ''Prime Television'' either above an outlined triangle or rectangle.<ref name="atvh-60s" /> Aggregation occurred across the network on 31 March 1989, along with the introduction of a green logo featuring the word ''Prime'' with the letter ''i'' dotted with a stylised globe, introduced in December 1988.<ref name="atvh-60s" /> This logo was used on its own across the network until 1996, when a new circular logo was introduced in 1990.<ref name="atvh-90s" /> Following a decade in use, 2001 saw the launch of a new simplified yellow logo, with the removal of the circle.<ref name="Sibley2001-02-10" /> This logo was launched concurrently with a similarly design logo on the [[Golden West Network]].<ref name="atvh-00s" /> Following the 2011 relaunch, a new red logo was introduced which incorporates the [[Seven Network#Logos|Seven Network logo]]. The relaunch logo featuring Seven Network was revised in 2012 from multi colour to be a single colour logo. |
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'''Prime''' has used many logos throughout its history. |
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{| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" style="border:1px solid #aaa" |
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<gallery> |
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|- align=center |
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File:Prime Television (1988).svg|1988–1990 |
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!height="150px" bgcolor="#F9F9F9" | [[Image:Prime1989.png|130px|Used from 1989 to 1991]] |
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File:Prime Television (1990).svg|1990–10 February 2001 |
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!height="150px" bgcolor="#F9F9F9" | [[Image:Prime_Logo_1999.png|120px|Used from 1991 to 2002]] |
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File:PrimeTelevision2001.svg|11 February 2001 – 16 January 2011 |
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!height="150px" bgcolor="#F9F9F9" | [[Image:Prime_television_logo.png|130px|Used from 2002 to the present]] |
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File:Prime7.svg|16 January 2011 – 25 July 2022 |
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|- |
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File:Seven Network logo.svg|PTV |
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!width="150px" colspan="1" bgcolor="#CCCCCC" | 1989 - 1991 |
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</gallery> |
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!width="150px" colspan="1" bgcolor="#CCCCCC" | 1991 - 2001 |
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!width="150px" colspan="1" bgcolor="#CCCCCC" | 2001 - Present |
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==See also== |
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|} |
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*[[Regional television in Australia]] |
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*[[Seven Network|Channel Seven]] |
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==Notes== |
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{{Notelist}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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<references /> |
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{{Seven West Media}} |
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{{good article}} |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.primetv.com.au Prime Television] |
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{{Prime Television Limited}} |
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{{Australian free-to-air television networks}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Prime Media Group]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Seven Network]] |
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[[Category:English-language television stations in Australia]] |
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[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1962]] |
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[[Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 2022]] |
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[[Category:1962 establishments in Australia]] |
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[[Category:2022 disestablishments in Australia]] |
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[[Category:Defunct television channels in Australia]] |
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Latest revision as of 20:02, 25 October 2024
 | |
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Northern NSW & Gold Coast, Southern NSW & ACT, Regional Victoria, Mildura |
| Network | Seven Network (O&O) |
| Headquarters | Watson, Canberra |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format | HDTV 1080i (downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SD feed) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Seven West Media |
| Sister channels | |
| History | |
| Launched | 17 March 1962 |
| Closed | 30 June 2022 |
| Replaced by | Seven Network |
| Former names |
|
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| Freeview Prime7 owned (virtual) | 6/61 |
| Freeview Prime7 HD (virtual) | 60 |
Prime7, formerly Prime Television and other names, was an Australian television network. Prime Television launched on 17 March 1962 as CBN-8 in Orange, and later expanded to cover regional New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory. It was initially an independent affiliate owned by Prime Media Group before the network, and its sister GWN7, were acquired by Seven West Media on 31 December 2021.
Prime7 along with GWN7 national broadcast facilities were based in Canberra, with playout facilities (since 2021) shared with hybrid-funded broadcaster SBS Television at a facility operated by Australian telecommunications provider Telstra. Seven West Media head office/administration is located in Pyrmont, Sydney.[1]
History
[edit]Origins
[edit]Prime Television originally began as a group of separate stations and networks – Midstate Television in Orange, Dubbo and Griffith; RVN/AMV in Wagga Wagga and Albury; and 9-8 Television in Tamworth and Taree.[2]
CBN-8 Orange first aired on 17 March 1962, followed by CWN-6 Dubbo on 1 December 1965,[2] and MTN-9 Griffith began on 15 December 1965. CBN and CWN were both licensed to Country Television Services (also the owner of radio station 2GZ in Orange). CWN was a full-time relay of CBN—the first Australian television station to relay another. The two stations thus formed the country's first regional television network.[2]
RVN-2 Wagga Wagga began broadcasting on 19 June 1964, while AMV-4 Albury launched on 7 September 1964. The two stations merged in 1971 as the Riverina and North East Victoria Television Service Pty Ltd with the callsign RVN/AMV on air.[2]
In northern New South Wales, NEN-9 Tamworth began transmission on 27 September 1965, with a relay in Armidale (NEN-1, later NEN-10) on 15 July 1966.[2] ECN-8 Taree started on 27 May 1966.[2] At one stage, ECN-8 merged with NRN-11 Coffs Harbour (now owned by WIN Corporation), however the two stations eventually split. NEN later merged with ECN as 9-8 Television.[2]
Television 6-8-9
[edit]As a result of the financial difficulties that many independent stations faced, MTN-9 joined CWN-6 and CBN-8 to form Television 6-8-9 in 1973.[2] Relays were launched in Portland, Lithgow, Mudgee, Cobar, Kandos and Rylstone and Bathurst. In 1981, 6-8-9 changed its name to Midstate Television.[2]
Colour television was introduced at the same time as the rest of the country, on 1 March 1975 – one of the single most expensive processes undertaken by CBN to date.[2] The station was a prominent broadcaster of local sporting events including tennis and rugby.[2] In 1979, a documentary titled Goin' Down The Road, about the 1978 National Rodeo Titles won the network a Logie award for an 'Outstanding Contribution by a Regional Station'.[2]
Midstate produced a number of local programs, including the Weekend Report, Early Shift, Rural Roundup and Around the Schools.[2] From 1968, CBN was able to access a Postmaster-General's Department microwave link for national news bulletins and major events.[2]
Aggregation
[edit]
Midstate Television was bought out by media magnate Paul Ramsay's Ramcorp in October 1987.[2] It was soon merged with Ramcorp's other stations, RVN/AMV and NEN/ECN. In 1988, Midstate Television was renamed Prime Television and began to show increased Seven Network programming in readiness for aggregation.[2]
When aggregation took place, Prime began broadcasting to both southern New South Wales and northern Victoria. Transmission problems meant that aggregation in southern New South Wales took place in two stages – first the Australian Capital Territory and NSW south coast on 31 March 1989, followed by Orange, Dubbo, and Wagga Wagga on 31 December 1989. These changes led to the de-merger of RVN-AMV, with RVN becoming CBN-2.[2]
Griffith remained a one-station market, however instead of taking programming from Prime in line with the network's other stations, MTN-9 relayed programming mainly from WIN Television in southern New South Wales.[2] A supplementary licence, AMN-31, was successfully bid for by MTN in 1996, providing a relay of Prime Television.[3] Soon after the station was purchased by WIN Television, which undertook a number of minor changes – mainly changing the news service to WIN News, and using entirely WIN branding. AMN-31 remains a relay of Prime. Similarly, the Mildura licence area remained separate from the remainder of Victoria, albeit with a single station, STV-8, later bought out by WIN Television in 1996.[4] In 1997 Prime was successful in bidding for a new licence for the area at a cost of $3.2 million.[5] PTV-31 began broadcasting the following year.[3]
Although advertising revenue increased post-aggregation, local programming declined as a result of the costs incurred by the network's expansion – an estimated $45 million had been spent by Ramcorp during and in the lead-up to aggregation.[3] After losses of $50 million, it was not until 1993 that the renamed Prime Television posted a profit.[3][6]
In November 1996, Prime's parent company, Prime Television, purchased the Golden West Network, a merged group of four stations in regional Western Australia; BTW-3 Bunbury, VEW-8 Kalgoorlie, GTW-11 Geraldton and GSW-9 Albany.[7] Western Australia, similar to Griffith and Mildura, remained a one-station commercial market until 1999 when GWN became a Seven Network affiliate, after WIN Television began transmission as an affiliate of both the Nine Network and Network Ten.[3]
The network began to expand into New Zealand in 1997, when a number of licences were purchased from United Christian Broadcasters for an estimated $3.6 million.[8] Prime Television New Zealand began broadcasting on 30 August 1998, with a nightly local news program in both Waikato and Christchurch.[8] Prime also expanded into Argentina with the purchase of the Canal 9 network.[9]
2000s
[edit]
The renamed Argentine network Azul Televisión was sold for $108 million in early 2000 due to lower-than-expected performance.[10] During the same year, Prime benefited greatly from its affiliation with the Seven Network throughout its carriage of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. The network's relationship with Seven was further developed throughout the early 2000s, leading to the introduction of 7onPrime promotional branding for Seven Network-produced programs on 11 February 2001.[11][12]
Local news bulletins for Newcastle, the Gold Coast, Canberra, and Wollongong were axed on 9 June 2001 due to falling ratings and the anticipated costs of the switch to digital television.[13][14] This, and the closure of a number of news bulletins by Southern Cross Broadcasting, prompted the Australian Broadcasting Authority to investigate the adequacy of regional news services[15] The ABA later mandated that stations broadcast a minimum level of local content, based on a points system – two points per minute for local news, and one point per minute for other local content, excluding paid advertisements.[16]
Prime formed a partnership with the Nine Network (affiliated in Australia to competitor WIN Television), giving its owner, PBL Media the option to purchase a 50% share of Prime Television New Zealand in return for access to original programming, and cross-promotion in PBL's New Zealand magazine titles.[17] Following this, Prime Television New Zealand began to take on branding and programming similar to that of the Nine Network. In November 2005, Prime Television New Zealand was purchased by subscription television provider Sky Network Television for NZ$30,000,000, completed after approval by New Zealand's Commerce Commission in February 2006.[18]
Mildura Digital Television, a digital-only station in Mildura began transmissions in 2006 as a joint venture between Prime Television and WIN Corporation.[19] Section 38B of the Broadcasting Services Act allowed for the provision of a third station owned by either one or both existing networks.[20] MDT is a direct relay of 10 Melbourne, albeit with local advertising.
Prime Television announced on 21 December 2009 that it would start broadcasting 7two on 23 December 2009.[21]
2010s
[edit]On 25 September 2010, Prime began transmission of the new HD digital channel 7mate aimed at men 16–49. The first program to be broadcast was the drawn 2010 AFL Grand Final.[22] On 15 January 2011, Prime Media Group reported that Prime and GWN were set to rebrand as Prime7 and GWN7 respectively. Their news bulletins had quickly changed their names to Prime7 News and GWN7 News, while 7two dropped the "Prime" logo on the multichannels. Prime and GWN relaunched on 16 January 2011 at 18:00 (6pm).[23][24] Prime7 began broadcasting 4ME (then Television 4) on 18 September 2011 on LCN 64.[25] Prime7 began broadcasting ishop TV on 30 April 2013 on LCN 65.
Prime7 ceased to broadcast 4ME on 30 April 2016, due to financial problems.[26]
In December 2016, Prime7 transferred its playout facilities to MediaHub Australia located within the Sydney suburb of Ingleburn. The facility is a joint venture between public broadcaster Australian Broadcasting Corporation and rival regional network WIN Television. Network officials noted that its existing Canberra facilities cannot be upgraded with technological advancements, causing Prime7 to be incapable of relaunching its HD simulcast as well as introducing 7flix to its viewers.[27]
On 3 August 2017, 18 months after launching in metropolitan areas, Prime7 announced that it would carry 7flix to its regional stations in northern and southern New South Wales, regional Victoria and Mildura from 3 September 2017.[28] The channel became available on digital channel 66 in MPEG-4 format.[29] On 15 January 2018, Prime7 quietly relaunched its primary HD service, Prime7 HD, on digital channel 60 in MPEG-4 format.
2021: Merger with Seven
[edit]On 1 November 2021, Seven West Media announced that it would acquire all the shares and subsidiaries of Prime Media Group, including Prime7. This was Seven West Media's second attempt at purchasing Prime, after its previous attempt in 2019 was thwarted by Australian Community Media boss Antony Catalano and rival WIN Corporation owner Bruce Gordon, who cited Seven's debt problems at the time and its poor ratings performance as their reason for their refusal. This development would mark an end to the Prime branding after 33 years in favour of the Seven Network's branding, and would see all news bulletins carry the Seven News brand. Prior to this, Prime7 (and sister GWN7 in regional and remote Western Australia), as well as Nine affiliate Imparja Television were the only networks not to fully use its metro affiliate branding despite carrying Seven (Nine for Imparja) branded promos, since WIN Television (except for WIN News) and Southern Cross Austereo use full Nine, Ten and Seven branding on their stations. It was also announced that Seven would look to expand its investment in local news following the merger.[30] The majority of Prime's shareholders voted in favour of the deal on 23 December, with the sale completed on 31 December.[31][32]
On 23 May 2022, Seven West Media announced that the current branding of Prime7 and GWN7 would be unified into Seven Network branding across all stations including for Prime7 Local News, officially retiring the Prime7 name.[33][34]
In June 2022 the Prime7 brand was retired.[35]
On 22 July 2022 the final retirement of the Prime7 branding took place with all local news bulletins becoming "7NEWS (region)" for example "7NEWS Border" as of Monday 25 July.[36]
Programming
[edit]Prime's programming schedule was almost identical to those of Seven Network metropolitan counterparts ATN in Sydney and HSV in Melbourne, with some differences. Since the Prime network's inception it featured a broad range of original local programming, which included children's program Possum's Club with Madelaine Collignon and station mascot Prime Possum as well as community service segment Prime7 InfoNet, a series of short updates listing local community events.
Prime7's overnight schedule also differed from the Seven Network feed, containing infomercials from Danoz Direct, Home Shopping, and a feed from pay television channel Expo. Past programming from Prime Television has been recognised nationally, with some local productions winning the Logie Award for 'Outstanding Contribution by a Regional Television Station'. The network has won Logies for Goin' Down The Road (CBN-8, 1979),[37] Naturally (NEN-9/ECN-8, 1984),[38] Stranded (Prime Television, 1993),[39] Rest in Peace (Prime Television, 1994),[40] and No Time For Frailty (Prime Television, 1996).[40]
Prime7 News
[edit]Seven News Regional (formerly known as Prime7 News and Prime News) was the network's local news service. Full bulletins were produced for the towns and surrounding regions originally covered by the stations "Midstate 6,8,9 Television", Dubbo/Orange, "RVN-2/AMV-4", Wagga Wagga/Albury and "9/8 Television" (NEN-9/ECN-8) Tamworth/Taree, prior to the aggregation of regional television services in New South Wales that occurred in the early 1990s.[2] In other areas two-minute news updates were shown at various times of the day.[11]
Prime7 News bulletins were presented from Canberra weeknightly as Prime7 Local News at 18:00 (6pm) in the Albury and Wodonga Border, North West, North Coast, Central West and Wagga Wagga broadcast areas.[41][42] Prime7 News at 6:30 (with Daniel Gibson) (at 18:30) also came from the Canberra news centre.
Availability
[edit]Prime7 was available in standard definition digital format. Since June 2007 a 1080i high definition simulcast had also been available, replacing the network's former 576p service.[43] Prime7 was viewed mainly through free-to-air terrestrial transmitters, although subscription cable also provided by TransACT and Neighbourhood Cable in the Australian Capital Territory and Ballarat, respectively.[44][45]
Prime7 broadcast to southern New South Wales through stations based in Orange and Dubbo, northern New South Wales from stations in Tamworth and Taree, Victoria from its Albury-Wodonga-based station AMV and Mildura via PTV.
Prime7 HD
[edit]Prime7 HD originally launched on 15 October 2007 as a sister to the Seven Network's high definition simulcast, Seven HD. Then-known as Prime HD, it broadcast in 1080i high definition on digital channel 60 on Prime's regional stations NEN Northern New South Wales, CBN Southern New South Wales, AMV Victoria and PTV Mildura. The channel broadcast breakaway programming from 10 December 2007 until 4 October 2009, when it was turned into a straight HD simulcast. Prime HD fully ceased broadcasting on 25 September 2010 with the launch of the HD channel 7mate.[46] Prime7 re-launched their HD simulcast service, now known as Prime7 HD on 15 January 2018.
PTV
[edit]PTV was an Australian television station licensed to, and serving the regions surrounding Mildura, Victoria. The station commenced transmissions in 1997, after Prime Television won the second television licence for Mildura, a non-aggregated market, in competition with WIN Television, for a cost of $3.2 million, in October 1996.[47][3] Analogue transmission ceased on 30 June 2010 as part of the national conversion to digital television.[48]
In the Mildura regional market, short two-minute updates are presented by rotating presenters with weather forecasts presented by Karl Lijnders, Daniel Gibson or Craig Moore. Some of the reports aired in these updates are drawn on the resources of Mildura-based WIN News operation.
Logos
[edit]Prime Television became a network in May 1988, with shared logos produced and used across the regional stations, featuring the word Prime Television either above an outlined triangle or rectangle.[2] Aggregation occurred across the network on 31 March 1989, along with the introduction of a green logo featuring the word Prime with the letter i dotted with a stylised globe, introduced in December 1988.[2] This logo was used on its own across the network until 1996, when a new circular logo was introduced in 1990.[3] Following a decade in use, 2001 saw the launch of a new simplified yellow logo, with the removal of the circle.[12] This logo was launched concurrently with a similarly design logo on the Golden West Network.[11] Following the 2011 relaunch, a new red logo was introduced which incorporates the Seven Network logo. The relaunch logo featuring Seven Network was revised in 2012 from multi colour to be a single colour logo.
-
1988–1990 -
1990–10 February 2001 -
11 February 2001 – 16 January 2011 -
16 January 2011 – 25 July 2022 -
PTV
.svg)
.svg)
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "2005 Annual Report" (PDF). Prime Media Group. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 17 September 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Prime Television 1960s–1980s". AusTVHistory. Archived from the original on 14 December 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Prime Television 1990s". AusTVHistory. Archived from the original on 2 January 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2007.
- ^ Tanner, Stephen (1995). "The Rise and Fall of Edmund Rouse" (PDF). Australian Studies in Journalism. University of Queensland: 63. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 19 August 2007.
- ^ "New Commercial TV licences for Darwin and Mildura". Australian Communications and Media Authority. 29 October 1996. Archived from the original on 21 February 2008. Retrieved 15 September 2007.
- ^ Wynne, Michael (2005). "Ramsay Healthcare Early Years". University of Wollongong. Archived from the original on 10 September 2007. Retrieved 15 September 2007.
- ^ Kidman, Matthew (13 November 1996). "Prime buys Golden West". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 29. ProQuest 363364327. Retrieved 19 February 2022 – via Newsbank.
- ^ a b "Packer to boost Prime Television". The Press. Christchurch. 22 December 2001. p. 17. ProQuest 314457739.
- ^ Kidman, Matthew (16 December 1997). "Prime TV buys and sells in Argentina". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 27. ProQuest 363450289. Retrieved 19 February 2022 – via Newsbank.
- ^ Schulze, Jane (17 March 2000). "Prime offloads Azul for $108m". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 27. ProQuest 363678724. Retrieved 19 February 2022 – via Newsbank.
- ^ a b c "Prime Television 2000s". AusTVHistory. Archived from the original on 2 January 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2007.
- ^ a b Sibley, David (10 February 2001). "New look for Prime TV in ratings chase". The Canberra Times. Canberra: Rural Press. p. 7. ProQuest 1016133692.
- ^ Maguire, Tory (9 June 2001). "Regional TV news gets axe". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney: News Limited. p. 17. ProQuest 358703275. Retrieved 19 February 2022 – via Newsbank.
- ^ Sibley, David (9 June 2001). "Prime TV axes news bulletins". The Canberra Times. Canberra: Rural Press. p. 1. ProQuest 1016088957.
- ^ White, Annie (21 September 2001). "ABA to hold investigation into adequacy of regional news". PM. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 2 January 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2007.
- ^ "Regional television exceeds local content quotas". Australian Communications and Media Authority. 7 September 2004. Archived from the original on 7 October 2007. Retrieved 1 September 2007.
- ^ "Nine Network Australia Formally Commences New Zealand Partnership with Prime Television Australia" (Press release). PBL Media. 18 February 2002. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2007.
- ^ "About Us". Prime Television New Zealand. 2006. Archived from the original on 26 October 2007. Retrieved 1 September 2007.
- ^ "TEN Digital commences in Mildura". Digital Broadcasting Australia. 1 January 2006. Archived from the original on 4 July 2006. Retrieved 30 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "ABA media - NR4/2005: New digital commercial television service for Mildura/Sunraysia" (Press release). Australian Broadcasting Authority. 28 January 2004. Archived from the original on 16 March 2005. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ Knox, David (22 December 2009). "7TWO to launch on Prime". TV Tonight. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ Knox, David (25 August 2010). "7mate on Prime". TV Tonight. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ "Prime7". Retrieved 24 January 2011.̼ [permanent dead link]
- ^ Knox, David (15 January 2011). "Prime, GWN rebrand with 7". TV Tonight. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ Cusack, Nicole. "Television 4 is launching September 18th 2011 to ALL homes in Regional NSW, VIC, ACT and the Gold Coast". Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ Knox, David (29 April 2016). "Datacasting channel 4ME in doubt as producers enter administration". TV Tonight. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
- ^ Perry, Kevin (12 December 2016). "PRIME looks to 7flix and HD launch after completing transition to MediaHub". DeciderTV. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- ^ Samios, Zoe (3 August 2017). "Prime7 launches 7Flix across regional NSW, ACT, Victoria and Gold Coast". Mumbrella. Archived from the original on 4 August 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
- ^ "7flix — Prime7". Prime Media Group. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017. [permanent dead link]
- ^ McGuire, Amelia; Samios, Zoe (1 November 2021). "Seven West Media to buy regional affiliate Prime for $132m". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Nine Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ "Prime Media shareholders give the green light for Seven West Media merger". Seven News. Seven West Media. Australian Associated Press. 23 December 2021. Archived from the original on 23 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
- ^ "Acquisition of Prime completed" (PDF) (Press release). Seven West Media. 31 December 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2024 – via Australian Securities Exchange.
- ^ Knox, David (23 May 2022). "Prime7 and GWN7 to unite under Seven banner". TV Tonight. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ Samios, Zoe (29 May 2022). "Goodbye, Prime Possum? Seven eyes brand changes ahead of Commonwealth Games". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Nine Entertainment. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
- ^ Ryan, Aaron (18 May 2022). "EXCLUSIVE | Prime7 and GWN7 set to rebrand as Seven unifies its network to one national identity". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
- ^ Perry, Kevin (20 July 2022). "End of an era for regional viewers as PRIME7 NEWS becomes 7NEWS LOCAL". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
- ^ "Australian Television: 1978–1981 Logie Awards". Australian Television Information Archive. Archived from the original on 19 August 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
- ^ "Australian Television: 1982–1985 Logie Awards". Australian Television Information Archive. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2007.
- ^ "Australian Television: 1990–1993 Logie Awards". Australian Television Information Archive. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2007.
- ^ a b "Australian Television: 1994–1997 Logie Awards". Australian Television Information Archive. Archived from the original on 21 November 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2007 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "TV news decision ends an era". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 6 August 2010. Archived from the original on 10 October 2010. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
- ^ "Prime airs its first Canberra bulletin". The Daily Advertiser. Wagga Wagga: Fairfax Media. 17 August 2010. p. 3.
- ^ "Prime Television announces HD shift to 1080i format". Digital Broadcasting Australia. 28 June 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 29 June 2007.
- ^ "TransTV Channel Lineup". TransACT. Archived from the original on 20 August 2007. Retrieved 19 August 2007.
- ^ "Neighbourhood Cable Channel Lineup". Neighbourhood Cable. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 19 August 2007.
- ^ "7mate on Prime to Launch same time as 7mate in the Cities". Throng. 25 August 2010. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
- ^ "New Commercial TV licences for Darwin and Mildura". Australian Communications and Media Authority. 29 October 1996. Archived from the original on 21 February 2008. Retrieved 15 September 2007.
- ^ "Digital TV switch flicked in Mildura". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 30 June 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
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