TCN

{{Infobox broadcast}} may refer to:

• Template:Infobox broadcasting network
• Template:Infobox television channel
• Template:Infobox television station

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

TCN is the Sydney flagship television station of the Nine Network in Australia and is located at Willoughby. The license, issued to a company named Television Corporation Ltd headed by Frank Packer, was one of the first four licenses (two in Sydney, two in Melbourne) to be issued for commercial television stations in Australia.

History

TCN began broadcasting on 16 September 1956, and became the first station in Australia to begin regular transmissions. The first tv tower was built there in 1956 , but was replaced by a taller one which is the tallest lattice tower in Australia at 233 metres and is now operated by TXA Australia which operates another tower nearby at Artarmon.

The first words spoken on the station were by John Godson, who introduced the station audio-only, shortly before the first program, This Is Television, was introduced by Bruce Gyngell, the first person to appear on Australian television, however original footage of this program does not exist. Gyngell again said this passage in 1959 for archival purposes. Other early programming included the 1958 variety music program Bandstand which was launched by Brian Henderson. It lasted for 14 years on the station and launched the careers of many Australians.

In 1957, the station formed an affiliation with Melbourne station HSV-7, allowing them to share programming. In 1963, station affiliations changed; TCN-9 formed part of the National Television Network with GTV-9 in Melbourne, QTQ-9 in Brisbane and NWS-9 in Adelaide. These stations formed the basis of what is now the Nine Network, although only the Sydney and Melbourne stations have been owned by Packer's company.

On Frank Packer's death in 1974, station ownership was passed to his son Kerry Packer.

Bruce Gyngell welcoming television broadcasting in Australia via TCN-9.

In December 1987, Kerry Packer sold the Sydney and Melbourne stations to Alan Bond's Bond Media for $1055 million, including $200 million in shares of Bond Media. Bond already owned the Perth and Brisbane Nine affiliate stations (among others). In 1990, Bond Media's inability to pay out preference shares to Packer forced Nine into receivership. In July 1990, Packer bought back the expanded Nine network (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth stations) for only $200 million, one-fifth of what he sold it for.

On 1 October 1997, TCN-9 performed the first on-air trial of digital broadcasting in the southern hemisphere.

Production

Drama

• Sea Patrol (2007-present)
• Chatswood Neighbours (in production 2008)

News

• 60 Minutes (1979-present)
• A Current Affair (1988-2005, 2006-present)
• National Nine News
• National Nine News 4:30 Edition
• National Nine News Morning Edition
• Business Success (2004-present)
• Nightline
• Sunday (1981-present)
• Today (1982-present)

TCN 9 Tower at Willoughby

Entertainment

• Australia's Funniest Home Videos (1990-1999, 2005-present)
• Comedy Inc. (parts) (2003-present)
• The Footy Show (NRL) (1994-present)
• The Sunday Footy Show
• The Chopping Block (2008-present)
• Hi-5 (1999-present)
• Mornings with Kerri-Anne (2002-present)
• Nine Presents (2003-present)
• The Music Jungle (2007-present)
• Things To Try Before You Die (2007-present)
• The Sunday Roast (2004-present)
• Fresh Cooking with The Australian Women's Weekly
• Wide World of Sports

Past

• Body Work (2005)
• Boots N' All (2001-2005)
• Burgo's Catch Phrase (2002-2003)
• Burke's Backyard (1987-2004)
• The Midday Show (1973-1998)
• My Two Wives (1993)
• Outback Jack (2004/05)
• The Block (2003-2004)
• The Sullivans (1976-1983)
• This Is Your Life (1995-2005)
• Torvill and Dean's Dancing on Ice (2006)
• Skating on Thin Ice (2005)
• So Fresh (2003-2006)
• Water Rats (1996-2001)
• Wide World of Sports (1981-1999)
• The Young Doctors (1976-1983)
• The Paul Hogan Show (1973-1984)

News

Further information: [[:National Nine News]]

File:9newsopenersydmf.jpg

National Nine News with Mark Ferguson

National Nine News Sydney is anchored by Mark Ferguson, with Ken Sutcliffe presenting sport Mondays to Fridays and Stephanie Brantz presenting sport on Fridays, and Majella Wiemers presenting the weather, filling in for normal presenter Jaynie Seal, who is on maternity leave.

Mark Ferguson succeeded Jim Waley when he retired in Early 2005 as the bulletin's main presenter. Waley had been the longest serving presenter at the time, following the retirement of Brian Henderson way back in 2002.

Mike Munro presents on weekends in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane & Darwin, alongside sport presenters Stephanie Brantz on Saturdays and Ken Sutcliffe on Sundays. Mike Munro and Michael Usher are regular fill-in presenters for public holidays.

See also

• Television broadcasting in Australia