Because when ATV started, the Independent Television System (which is now Network Ten) was already formed between the stations, so ATV’s launch was effectively the start date of the network. Whereas with Nine and Seven, the stations launched before the networks were formed.
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Understand, so what would be the official dates that formed both Networks? for (GTV9/TCN9) and (HSV7/ATN7). I suppose this could be the date Packer took ownership of GTV9 in 1960?
1 July 1962 was the set date that the station affiliations swapped over, so from that date TCN and GTV were aligned, and ATN with HSV, and I guess with that the networks were now essentially formed. But from a viewers’ perspective, as mentioned earlier, there were not a lot of major changes until months later as existing shows had to see out their sponsorship contracts with their respective channels before they could swap to match their interstate partners.
I realise that Nine and Seven have to some extent used those 1956 dates as the beginning of the networks we have now, and that has re-written history to some extent. And I suppose it makes sense but the pedant in me says it’s not technically true.
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Thanks for that. Good read.
The Seven Network was originally known as Network 7 before changing its name in 1963 to the Australian Television Network (a name they would resurrect in 1987).
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7 November 1978: The 0-10 Network, through host broadcaster ATV0, presents its first exclusive coverage of the Melbourne Cup. It is also the first time the race is allowed to be telecast live in Victoria. Up until then only radio could broadcast live calls of the race and TV coverage was restricted to delayed broadcasts later in the afternoon or evening, although interstate viewers could watch the race live to air.
Source: TV Week
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10 was the first broadcast of the Cup until 2001 before returning in 2019 until today
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January 12 2007: Club [V] was rebranded as Channel [V]2 and Channel [V] began broadcasting in widescreen
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8 November 1976: The Nine Network debuts its new soap The Young Doctors from the Reg Grundy Organisation. Despite being axed during its initial 13-week run, it went on to earn a reprieve and ran for six years and 1396 episodes. At the time it became the longest running soap on Australian television.
Source: TV Week
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It’s interesting to see that it was axed and reprieved. I did not know that. I only remember it being quite successful. That used to happen a lot in those days. Blue Heelers is another show that was almost axed after its low rating first season and then became the number one show every week for years.
It’s a shame the networks are so quick to axe or bump shows these days if they are not an immediate success. We’re probably missing out on some good shows because of this knee-jerk reaction these days
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I may be corrected but I believe that Nine launched both The Young Doctors and The Sullivans to run over the summer of 1976-77 as a trial run and would pick one to be renewed. It appeared that The Sullivans won out of the two, but then when Nine realised the growing popularity of The Young Doctors then it also got renewed.
60 Minutes was another one almost axed in its early days as it was a ratings dud. It went on to become one of Nine’s strongest performers in the 1980s and still going 40 years later.
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7 axed neighbors as well - it was than brought by 10 and became the staple it is
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11 November 1971: Darwin’s first commercial station, NTD8, is officially opened. Its launch came three months after the opening of ABD6. It eventually became owned by Kerry Packer who later integrated it into the Nine Network. On New Year’s Day, 2003, it changed its branding to Channel Nine.
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*live. Previously was non-exclusive across all channels most years since the 50s.
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15 November 1981: The Nine Network launches its weekly current affairs/discussion program, Sunday, adding a different approach to commercial TV current affairs.
15 November 1976: The Sullivans begins a six-year run on Nine.
Source: TV Week
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Pretty much Nine’s take on CBS News Sunday Morning with everything from the set, sun logo and orchestral music sounding super similar.
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When the show aired for the last time in August 2008, then-PM Kevin Rudd was a guest and expressed disappointment of the show’s axing.
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18 November 1981: A Country Practice debuts on ATN7, Sydney. (Melbourne followed a few days later). The concept for the show was originally proposed in 1980 to Ten, as an entry to a scriptwriting contest. Ten knocked it back so producer James Davern then offered it to Seven.
The series went on for 12 years at Seven, plus a further year at Network Ten, and won 29 TV Week Logie Awards.
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Any reason why they launched the show at the end of the year?
Was it shown throughout the summer months?
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I think just a tactic to have the show debut during the quiet non-ratings season and give it time to build up a following without much competition and to start the ratings year with an established audience. Similar tactic has been applied to various other soaps over the years, sometimes with success, others less so. In ACP’s case it worked, as it did also with Sons And Daughters which debuted in January 1982.
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