7 October 1974: Australian TV channels begin colour test pattern transmissions ahead of C-Day in March 1975.
A few weeks later, selected sporting telecasts are allowed to broadcast in colour
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My apologies everyone.
16 October 1959 - The launch of TVW-7 Perth marked a new era in WA history with the arrival of television for the first time in Western Australia
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16 October 2013 - Hillal Kara-Ali wins the sixth and final season of The Mole, winning $180,000 in prize money after unmasking Erin Dooley as the traitor. Aisha Jefcoate finishes runner-up.
16 October 1975 - The “Balibo Five” were killed. 
16 October 1994 - Vic TV and Tas TV become WIN Television after a takeover by the Wollongong-based network of ENT Limited, the stations’ Launceston-based owners.
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Which is better - Vic TV or WIN Victoria?
I would have stuck with Vic TV for the local branding. I would say Vic TV and Tas TV would have retained the Nine affiliation, like NBN did, if they hadn’t been taken over by WIN, but money talks as they say, and it is what it is.
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20 October 1958: ATN7 Sydney debuts Australia’s first ‘breakfast session’, which would become known as Today, including news and weather updates, music and cartoons, and at 8.45am Australia’s first soapie, Autumn Affair.
20 October 1964: HSV7 Melbourne debuts the new Crawfords police drama, Homicide. The series would create an entire industry of Australian television drama production. It ran for 510 episodes over 12 years. The series debuted in Sydney in January, 1965.
20 October 1973: The Sydney Opera House is opened by Queen Elizabeth II. ABC was the host broadcaster of the official opening and its coverage was also simulcast through the commercial networks. The coverage was produced in colour but broadcast in Australia in black and white. It was one of the first colour programs on New Zealand television.
ABC also broadcast the opening night concert that evening, and the 0-10 Network presented a special Mike Walsh At The Sydney Opera House. (Not sure if the MW special was live or a pre-record?)
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October 20, 2008 - Nine News drops the “National” from its title and relaunches with new graphics, which would last until November 29 or 30, 2009.
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Those graphics were a huge improvement over the shocking graphics launched with the We<3TV on-air presentation and the the reinstatement of the dots (except for the then-WIN O&O’ed NWS and STW Perth stations)
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Agree. Personally I wasn’t a fan of the 2008 NNN graphics; it was a downgrade from the previous package (2006-07).
The November 2009-January 2012 graphics package wasn’t too bad, either.
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October 22, 2009 - New York-born entertainer Don Lane dies from a dementia-related illness caused by Alzheimer’s Disease. Lane is best known for his variety shows on Nine - Tonight with Don Lane (1965-1969) and The Don Lane Show (1975-1983), as well as his hosting of NFL, college football and basketball on ABC in the 1990s.
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October 22, 2009 - a large seagull appears behind Peter Hitchener during a story about a 27-year gangland trial on Nine News Melbourne.
Very sad news. Don Lane was a larger than life character who has appeared on many TV shows including Don Lane Show and sporting events. As well with this, he also hosted a morning radio program with Bert Newton on 3UZ in Melbourne.
A monumental day in the history of National Nine News. 
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A news film of the opening would be colorised digitally 45 years later, as part of SBS documentary Australia in Colour.
One of the most memorable news broadcasts in this country
Many 90’s fans will remember Don Lane’s appearance on the last episode of The Late Show with the D-Gen.
And here’s the video. Also note a pregnant Livinia Nixon in the weather preview.
The original, uncut version:
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