South Pacific Television

South Pacific Television was a television channel in New Zealand, which operated between 1976 and 1980.

South Pacific Television
TypePublic
IndustryTelevision channel
FateRenamed as Television New Zealand
PredecessorNew Zealand Broadcasting Corporation
SuccessorTelevision New Zealand
Founded1976
Defunct1980
HeadquartersAuckland, New Zealand
Number of locations
New Zealand

History

The channel, then known as TV 2, first went to air on 30 June 1975. It was the second national government television channel to be established in the country that year, after Television One went to air on 1 April, replacing the former New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation's TV service.

In its first week, the network held New Zealand's first Telethon in aid of the St John Ambulance. It raised $593,878.

The channel could only be picked up in Auckland and Christchurch when it first went to air, but it was limited in Christchurch due to a faulty transmitter. It was another three months before the Waikato and Bay Of Plenty got coverage and by late November, the channel was available in Wellington before spreading throughout the rest of the country.

In 1977, broadcasting hours were cut on both channels and as a result South Pacific Television lost sixteen hours of broadcast time a week, forcing the channel to begin its broadcasting day at 3pm.

Channel funding was cut for Television One and handed over to South Pacific in a move that bewildered some over at Television One. The effects of the cuts saw programme output on South Pacific increase.

Fate

It was decided in 1979 by the National Government that the channels would be amalgamated under an administration which would end the competition that reared its head in 1975.

South Pacific Television ended transmission on 14 February 1980 with a two-hour farewell special.

The next day, 15 February 1980, Television One and South Pacific Television were dissolved and became Television One and Television Two, under the newly formed Television New Zealand (TVNZ). A number of South Pacific's programmes moved across to the new networks.

List of programmes

Children's

Comedy

Drama

Entertainment

News and Current Affairs
  • Eye Witness
  • News at Six
  • News at Ten
  • Two Network News

Children's

Comedy

Drama

References
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.