I appreciate your point and if it was a short term arrangement eg until 1996 like what was meant to be planned, it could be a fair call and might have actually worked. However, I could have seen some (if not all) regionals seeking an extension (in some cases indefinite - which would have been the case for small regions like Griffith/MIA, regional SA and potentially Mildura and regional WA).
Even in NSW, 3 channels when they were introduced was too much too soon. I think, although it may have added complexities and change the model we have now. I would have had 3 regions initially, which potentially would have been fought by incumbents. Newcastle (NBN), Wollongong (WIN) and Canberra (CTC) could have formed outer metro (region 1), Tamworth (NEN) and Coffs Harbour (NRN) could have been Nothern NSW (region 2) and Wagga (RVN) and Orange (CBN) could have been Southern and Western NSW (region 3). In the long term, region 3 could have been spilt with CBN joining region 2 and RVN joining region 1.
Yes the above proposal was more complex and would have altered the ownership of some of the TV assets, but population wise it would have made more sense, but less geographically, but in reality its no more ridiculous as TNQ broadcasting right across regional QLD in old licence areas of MVQ, RTQ, SEQ and DDQ
My thoughts above wouldnt be population based, it would have been based on the more densely populated regions becoming aggregated first. I watched an interview online with the TNQ General Manager had mentioned about the imbalance for RTQ and TNQ by having been aggregated with MVQ. Nothing was said about those markets available below Rockhampton. The impression I got was either:
They were playing the victim; OR
They didnt even know the full extent of their broadcast area.
This is true, in late 1988 I believe it was purchased by Paul Ramsey. However, I would have thought by the time that then Prime Minister, Bob Hawke made an announcement on NEN in 1986 or 1987 that regions would be aggregated, and it showed which stations would be linked. Presumably a similar announcement with a map of each region and the viewing area each channel would be incorporated in
Depending on the date of the interview, possibly they were commenting on earlier proposals that might have delivered smaller aggregated areas than what were settled on. I don’t recall anything specific, but it’s possible that the original plan for QLD might have 2 separate markets: Townsville+Cairns+Mackay (possibly Mt Isa, as well) and Rockhampton+Maryborough+Toowoomba. Whereas the approved market that eventuated was the combination of six regions and excluding Mt Isa.
Another idea that some stations advocated was to have all the extra channels on VHF. So, for example, Ballarat’s BTV6 (I think they proposed this) would be joined by a channel on on 8 and 11, Bendigo’s BCV8 would be joined by a channel on 6 & 11, etc.
The problem is that this wouldn’t have worked, as there would have been interference between neighbouring channels e.g. Ballarat and Bendigo, Bendigo and Shepparton, etc.
However, the other issue i was that Chairman Jack Gleeson said they would be affiliated with Seven or Ten. It was quite obvious he was clueless to the fact Sunshine Television had already been aligned with Seven months before hand, with the Sunshine schedule being similar from Seven from 1988. CBN (Orange), NEN (Tamworth) and RVN (Wagga) had a similar programming structure from the same point in time which included Eleven AM replacing National Nine News in the morning, Seven Nightly News replacing National Nine News in the evening and adding Wheel Of Fortune, Home and Away to the schedule and later that year, Hinch
In a second report in the same broadcast, it was stated Seven had already aligned with another partner and confirmed a Ten affiliation.
Satellite TV was being suggested as a means of delivering a metro level choice of TV to regional viewers at least as far back as 1978 (according to this Newcastle Herald article of 16 Mar 78).
Mildura has always been classed as an independent licence area & still is the company name is WIN Television Mildura PTY LTD where other stations In Victoria are just plain WIN Television Victoria.
Yes Northern Star Holdings, owners of NRN11/RTN8 also owned DDQ0/SDQ4. The YouTube video below is from 1990 (I believe it was on or around 9 December 1990). From my understanding, Bruce Gordon’s WIN Corporation ( I believe under Birketu Pty Ltd assets) finalised the deal on or around Christmas Eve 1990 and operational matters where handled by NRN until playout and transmission of DDQ0/SDQ4 transferred to WIN Television, I’m unsure of the exact date, but for operational purposes, Nine programming commenced on 31 December 1990.
That was an 11th Hour turn of events if ever there was. DDQ spent a year or so broadcasting mainly Ch. 10 content then all of sudden it’s Ch. 9! And QTV Townsville got lumped with Ch.10.
