MTN (TV station)

MTN is a television station licensed to serve Griffith and the surrounding Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (M.I.A.). The station is owned and operated by WIN Corporation as a Seven Network affiliate.

MTN
Griffith and the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area
Australia
ChannelsDigital: MTN: 29 (UHF)
MDN: 32 (UHF)
Virtual: MTN: 6
MDN: 5
BrandingSeven, Nine
Programming
SubchannelsSee Channels below
AffiliationsMTN: Seven Network
MDN: Nine Network
Ownership
OwnerWIN Corporation Pty Ltd
(WIN Television Griffith Pty. Ltd.[1])
History
First air dateMTN: 15 December 1965 (1965-12-15)
MDN: 13 January 2012 (2012-01-13)
Former channel number(s)Analogue:
MTN: 9
Digital:
MTN: 6
Former affiliationsSee table below
Call sign meaningMurrumbidgee
Television
New South Wales

Albury
Murray
New South Wales
Technical information
ERPSee table below
HAAT418 m[2]
Transmitter coordinatesSee table below
Links
Websitewww.wintv.com.au

As WIN is the sole commercial television broadcaster in the area, they also supply the stations AMN, a Network Ten affiliate, and the supplementary station MDN, a Nine Network affiliate. This twinstick operation was permitted due to the broadcasting authorities considering Griffith and the M.I.A. too small for three television companies, but large enough for a single company running two stations. The broadcast region covers approximately 39,700 square kilometres, encompassing 20 urban centres which include Leeton, Narrandera, Hay, Hillston and Lake Cargellico.[3][4] According to 2006 Census data, it is estimated the region has a population of 64,200.[4]

History

MTN began transmission on 15 December 1965 on channel 9.[5] At its launch, MTN was owned by Murrumbidgee Television Limited, a publicly listed company, whose shareholders at the time included local radio station 2RG.[5]

The costs of operating a television station in such a small market led MTN to join with CWN–6 Dubbo and CBN–8 Orange in forming the Television 6–8–9 network, in 1973.[6] While the majority of the programming and identification came from the network, MTN did run its own news service as well as some programs of local interest and popularity, separate to the rest of the network.[6] In March 1981, the network was rebranded as MidState Television.[6] Rancorp, who were the existing owners of stations RVN/AMV in Wagga Wagga and Albury, acquired MidState Television in October 1987, and thus adding additional stations to the network.[6] In November 1988, MidState Television rebranded as Prime Television.[6] During this time, regional areas were serviced by one commercial station and the ABC, and as a result, the regional commercial network hand-picked titles from the three metropolitan commercial networks to air in their region.[7] Unfortunately, this meant that regional viewers were not able to watch all of the same shows as their metropolitan counterparts.[7] As a result, the Hawke government introduced aggregation, whereby regional stations would be grouped together and become sole-affiliates for one metropolitan station, and additional stations would launch in regional areas so that regional viewers had access to the same amount of channels as metropolitan viewers.[7] However, the government deemed Griffith and the M.I.A. to be too small a market for aggregation, and as a result, MTN was abandoned by Prime Television in 1989 and remained independently owned.[3][6] MTN then took up an affiliation with WIN Television, who in turn was a Nine Network affiliate in southern New South Wales.[8] While the majority of the programming was the same as WIN's, it retained its news service and aired some Seven Network programming, such as its coverage of the Australian Football League, in preference to Nine's rugby league.[8]

In 1979, MTN was purchased from Murrumbidgee Television Limited by Henry Jones Limited.[9] Other owners since have included The Linter Group, Broadcast Operations Group, Broadcast and Communications Limited, Lochfield Consultants,[10] MTN Television,[11][12] and Associated Media Investments.[13]

The Australian Broadcasting Authority relaxed the rules regarding station ownership in solus markets in the mid-1990s.[8] The changes allowed for one company to operate two stations without competition, provided the Authority did not have reason to believe another company would be interested.[14] MTN applied for a Section 38A licence in 1995, and after being refused once, challenged the Authority, and was successful on appeal – ultimately being granted the second license on 18 July 1996.[14] The second channel launched on 5 October 1997, on UHF channel 31 using the callsign AMN (a variation of Victorian station AMV). It was a direct feed of Prime Television Orange, with the exception of its local news, which AMN replaced with an alternative Network Ten program.[6][8][15] Since then, AMN has changed from being a direct feed of Prime7 to being a feed of Seven Network Sydney.

WIN Corporation brought MTN and AMN from then-owner Associated Media Investments on 6 July 1998.[13] Following the sale of the station, minor changes occurred, including MTN changing its on-air branding from MTN Television to WIN Television, and the news service rebranded as WIN News.[8]

In 2000, the government introduced changes to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 which allowed for two-station markets such as the M.I.A. to be granted a third license to be broadcast in digital-only.[16] This change in the Act became Section 38B, and saw the region allocated a third license on 14 June 2011.[17] This third station, using the call sign MDN and broadcasting on channel 32, launched on 13 January 2012.[18][19]

In 2012, MTN and AMN switched their affiliates, with AMN becoming a Nine affiliate and MTN a Seven affiliate.

On 1 July 2016, to reflect WIN's new affiliation agreement with Network Ten, AMN and MDN swapped affiliates – with AMN becoming a Ten affiliate while MDN became a Nine affiliate.[20][21][22]

Digital television

In 2000, the government introduced changes to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 which sought for all broadcasters to transmit in digital by 1 January 2004.[16] To assist solus markets such as the M.I.A., the government allowed networks to multichannel the digital broadcasts, whereby the two stations are transmitted on the one channel or frequency.[16] Digital television transmission began in the region in 2003, with both WIN and Prime broadcasting on the one channel (channel 6).[4]

On 1 December 2010, Network Ten began broadcast into the area for the first time.[23]

In May 2011, WIN announced that it would broadcast the multichannels of the Nine, Seven and Ten networks, including high-definition channels, by December 2011.[24] However, WIN did not meet the deadline, despite the Minister for Communications setting a deadline of 4 December 2011 for the full suite of channels.[25] WIN commented in December 2011 that Go!, Eleven, One and Gem would launch by the third week of January 2012.[25] 9Go!, 9Gem, Eleven and One began broadcasting on 13 January 2012.[19]

At first, interference from the analogue signals caused issues with some channels, mainly Network Ten channels, which meant a duplicate service of Ten and WIN was provided (on LCN 51 and 81 respectively) and ceased on the day of the switch over.[26] Ultimately, the duplicate channels were replaced by the Seven Network's multi-channels 7TWO and 7mate. 7mate launched on 20 April 2012, replacing WIN's duplication on LCN 81; and 7TWO launched on 5 June 2012, the day of the analogue switchoff, replacing the TEN duplication on LCN 51.[27]

Gold, a datacasting channel, began broadcasting in the region on 8 May 2012.

As part of Australia's digital transition, MTN and AMN ceased broadcasting in analogue on 5 June 2012.[28] As part of the transition, MTN changed from broadcasting on channel 6 to channel 29.[18]

On 13 July 2013, WIN launched datacasting channel Gold 2 – a five-hour timeshift of existing datacasting channel Gold – on channel 82.[29]

On 2 March 2016 (one day later than planned), WIN began broadcasting WIN HD and 9Life in the region. However, unlike existing digital channels, these two channels are broadcast in MPEG-4 as opposed to MPEG-2.[30][31][32]

On 21 January 2016, WIN replaced datacasting channel Gold 2 with the Nine Network owned datacasting channel Extra.

As a result of the 2016 affiliate changes, WIN – in addition to its high definition simulcast – swapped its stations from airing Nine Network programming to Network Ten programming. WIN remained in the 8/80's channel range, but as the new Ten affiliate. Meanwhile, WIN's former affiliate, Nine, had its primary channel, 9Go!, and 9Gem moved to the 5/50's channel range. But as a consequence, 9Life ceased to be available in the region, and Extra was replaced with Network Ten datacasting channel TVSN.[22][33]

Programming

AMN carries programming from Network Ten, which includes the 10 News First Sydney bulletin as well as the amalgamated Wagga Wagga and M.I.A. WIN News bulletin. The station also carries the Sydney feeds of One and Eleven. MTN carries programming from Seven Network, which includes the Seven News Sydney bulletin. The station also carries the Sydney feeds of 7TWO and 7mate. MDN carries programming from Nine Network, which includes the Nine News Sydney bulletin. The station also carries the Sydney feeds of 9Go! and 9Gem.

Station details

The following transmitter details are correct as of January 2016.[34]

Call sign First air date Current affiliate Former affiliate(s) Channel ERP Transmitter Coordinates Transmitter Location
MTN 15 December 1965 (1965-12-15) Seven Network Prime Television (1973-1989)
Network 10 (1977-1982) (secondary)
Nine Network (1989-2012)		 29 (UHF) 200 kW 34°7′23″S 146°14′1″E Mount Bingar
AMN 5 October 1997 (1997-10-05) Network Ten Seven Network (1997-2012)
Nine Network (2012-2016)		 30 (UHF) 200 kW
MDN 13 January 2012 (2012-01-13) Nine Network Network Ten (2012-2016) 32 (UHF) 200 kW

Channels
See also: List of digital television channels in Australia

The following is a list of channels broadcast on MTN and MDN respectively.

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See also

References
  1. "Register of Radiocommunications Licences". Australian Communications and Media Authority. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  2. HAAT estimated from http://www.itu.int/SRTM3/ using EHAAT.
  3. Ly, Maikha (2008). "RVN2: The Riverina's Own Television Service" (PDF). Charles Sturt University. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  4. "New South Wales – Griffith/Murrumbidgee Irrigation switchover area – Switchover window 1 January – 30 June 2012". Australian Communications and Media Authority. June 2011. Archived from the original on 27 April 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2016. ...all commercial digital television services from the Hay and Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area transmitters are currently broadcast by WIN on a single multi-channel...
  5. "Australian Broadcasting Control Board: Twentieth Annual Report for Year Ended 30 June 1968" (PDF). Australian Policy Online. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  6. "Prime Television 1960s–1980s". AusTVHistory. Archived from the original on 14 December 2008.
  7. "Aggregation". Television.AU. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  8. "MTN9 Griffith". Australian TV Archive. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
  9. "Australian Broadcasting Tribunal: Annual Report 1979-1980" (PDF). Australian Policy Online. 1981. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  10. "Media Ownership Update" (PDF). Communications Law Centre. February 1994. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  11. "Media Ownership Update" (PDF). Communications Law Centre. February 1995. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  12. "Media Ownership Update 1998" (PDF). Communications Law Centre. February 1998. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  13. "Australian Broadcasting Authority: Annual Report 1998–1999" (PDF). Australian Broadcasting Authority. 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  14. "Australian Broadcasting Authority: Annual Report 1995–1996" (PDF). Australian Policy Online. 1996. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  15. "Company Profile". Prime TV. Archived from the original on 13 February 2002. Prime also broadcasts in Griffith NSW, under licence to another operator.
  16. "Commonwealth of Australia – Broadcasting Services Act 1992 – Regional Equalisation Plan". Commonwealth Government of Australia. 22 September 2000. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  17. "Section 38B register". Australian Communications and Media Authority. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  18. "Engineering Report – Restack Channel Planning – Regional Victoria, Mildura/Sunraysia, and Griffith and the MIA" (PDF). Australian Communications and Media Authority. December 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 February 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  19. "Declaration of Primary Commercial Television Broadcasting Services for section 38B licences: Griffith and Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area TV1 licence area". Australian Communications and Media Authority. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. WIN Television Griffith commenced broadcasting under this licence on 13 January 2012.
  20. Knox, David (23 May 2016). "WIN / TEN deal nears; appeal due in 9Now streaming case". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  21. Knox, David (23 May 2016). "WIN and TEN confirm five year affiliate deal". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  22. Knox, David (30 June 2016). "Nine, Southern Cross, TEN, WIN: affiliate changes". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  23. Pattison, Tanya (1 December 2010). "Griffith set to tune into Ten". The Area News. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012.
  24. "Digital By December: WIN". The Area News. 18 May 2011. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012.
  25. "WIN TV lost for words". The Area News. 11 January 2012. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012.
  26. "New digital multichannel TV services for Griffith and the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area" (PDF) (Press release). Australian Government Digital Switchover Taskforce. January 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 March 2012.
  27. "Digital delay almost over as viewers get a new mate". The Area News. 22 April 2012. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015.
  28. Fung, Derek (29 May 2013). "When will analog TV be turned off in my area?". CNET. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  29. Knox, David (13 July 2013). "WIN launches GOLD2". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  30. Knox, David (26 February 2016). "WIN HD, 9Life launch for regional viewers March 1st". TV Tonight. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  31. "WIN HD and 9LIFE". WIN Television. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  32. @WIN_TV (1 March 2016). "To our Tas, Griffith & S.A viewers, the roll-out of #WINHD & @9LIFE will be delayed until tomorrow, we apologies for the inconvenience" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  33. "New Channels from 1 July 2016". Nine on 5. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  34. "Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations" (PDF). Australian Communication and Media Authority. January 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
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