TCN

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title: "TCN" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["nine-network", "television-stations-in-new-south-wales", "television-stations-in-sydney", "television-channels-and-stations-established-in-1956", "1956-establishments-in-australia"] topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TCN" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox television station"]

FieldValue
callsignTCN
logoNine Network logo (2008).svg
logo_size140px
image1 Denison Street North Sydney.jpg
image_altNine Entertainment's current headquarters
citySydney
brandingNine
digital8 (VHF)
virtual9
networkNine
airdate
locationSydney, New South Wales
countryAustralia
languageEnglish
callsign_meaningTelevision Corporation New South Wales
former_channel_numbersAnalog: 9 (VHF) (1956–2013)
ownerNine Entertainment
licenseeTCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd
former_affiliationsIndependent Television System (September 1956 – November 1956)
Australian Television Network (1956–1963)
erp200 kW (analog)
50 kW (digital)
haat259 m (analog)
260 m (digital)
licensing_authorityAustralian Communications and Media Authority
coordinates
website9now.com.au
::

::callout[type=note] the Australian television station ::

| callsign = TCN | logo = Nine Network logo (2008).svg | logo_size = 140px | image = 1 Denison Street North Sydney.jpg | image_alt = Nine Entertainment's current headquarters | city = Sydney | branding = Nine | analog = | digital = 8 (VHF) | virtual = 9 | translators = | network = Nine | founded = | airdate = | location = Sydney, New South Wales | country = Australia | language = English | callsign_meaning = Television Corporation New South Wales | former_callsigns = | former_channel_numbers = Analog: 9 (VHF) (1956–2013) | owner = Nine Entertainment | licensee = TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd | former_affiliations = Independent Television System (September 1956 – November 1956) Australian Television Network (1956–1963) | erp = 200 kW (analog) 50 kW (digital) | haat = 259 m (analog) 260 m (digital) | class = | facility_id = | licensing_authority = Australian Communications and Media Authority | coordinates = | website = 9now.com.au TCN is the flagship television station of the Nine Network in Australia. The station is currently located at 1 Denison Street, North Sydney. The licence, issued to a company named Television Corporation Ltd headed by Frank Packer, was one of the first four licences (two in Sydney, two in Melbourne) to be issued for commercial television stations in Australia. TCN-9 is the home of the NRL coverage and national-level Nine News bulletins.

History

TCN began broadcasting on 16 September 1956, and became the first television station in Australia to begin regular transmissions. Test broadcasts, initially consisting of a test slide and later documentaries and dramas, had commenced two months earlier on 13 July 1956. The first TV tower was built there at 24 Artarmon Road, Willoughby, in 1956 and rose 171 m (561 ft) in height, Communications – TV – the mast of Australia's first television transmitter, TCN rises 561 feet from the site of a former dairy at Willoughby, near Sydney https://naa16.naa.gov.au/rs_images/ShowImage.php?B=7654355&S=1&T=P National Archives of Australia 1956 Retrieved on 14 March 2008 Communications – TV – the 75-foot antenna of Australia's first television transmitter, TCN Channel 9 at Willoughby, five miles from Sydney, NSW http://naa16.naa.gov.au/rs_images/ShowImage.php?B=7654345&S=1&T=P National Archives of Australia 1956 Retrieved on 14 March 2008 Communications – TV – view southwards from the top of the 486-foot tower which carries the antenna of TCN Australia's first television transmitter – Municipality of Willoughby, NSW http://naa16.naa.gov.au/rs_images/ShowImage.php?B=7654358&S=1&T=P National Archives of Australia 1956 Retrieved on 14 March 2008 Communications – TV – view southwards from the top of the 486-foot tower which carries the antenna of TCN Australia's first television transmitter – Municipality of Willoughby, NSW http://naa16.naa.gov.au/rs_images/ShowImage.php?B=7654357&S=1&T=P National Archives of Australia 1956 Retrieved on 14 March 2008 Communications – TV – suburban homes in Willoughby, near Sydney, NSW from the top of TCN's television tower http://naa16.naa.gov.au/rs_images/ShowImage.php?B=7654356&S=1&T=P National Archives of Australia 1956 Retrieved on 14 March 2008 but was replaced by a taller one in 1965 which is the tallest lattice tower in Australia at 233 m (764 ft), "TCN's new tower is quite an Eiffel!" http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47808092 National Library of Australia 1964 Retrieved on 11 June 2013 and is now operated by TXA Australia which operates another tower nearby at Artarmon.

The first words spoken on the station were by John Godson, who introduced the station audio-only,{{cite news |first = Vanessa |last = Walker |url = http://www.knowfirst.info/forums/archive/index.php/t-18983.html |title = TV's original voice speaks up |publisher = The Australian |date = 20 July 2006 |access-date = 20 July 2006

In 1957, the station formed an affiliation with Melbourne station HSV-7, allowing them to share programming. In 1963, station affiliations changed; TCN-9 formed part of the National Television Network with GTV-9 in Melbourne, QTQ-9 in Brisbane and NWS-9 in Adelaide. These stations formed the basis of what is now the Nine Network, although only the Sydney and Melbourne stations were owned by the Packer-controlled company Nine Network Limited.

On Sir Frank Packer's death in 1974 ownership of Nine Network passed to his younger son Kerry Packer. Kerry's older brother Clyde Packer had been groomed to take over from their father but after a bitter split with his father ca. 1972 he relinquished his role in the company and subsequently moved to the USA.

On 2 March 1981 https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-ABCB/abt_-annual_report-_1980-1981.pdf, the station began broadcasting at the Kingsgate Hyatt Tower (now Elan Building) on UHF channel 49, later moving to UHF channel 52 in February 1983 https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-ABCB/abt_-annual_report-_1983-1984.pdf to allow for ABC and SBS to set up transmitters there. This transmitter was installed to cover areas of central Sydney where reception is affected by the ghosting caused by the high-rise buildings in Sydney's central business district.

In January 1987, Kerry Packer sold the Sydney and Melbourne stations to Alan Bond's Bond Media for $1.055 billion, including $200 million in shares of Bond Media. Bond already owned the Perth and Brisbane Nine affiliate stations (among others). In 1990, Bond Media's inability to pay out preference shares to Packer forced Nine into receivership. In July 1990, Packer bought back the expanded Nine Network (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) for only $200 million, one-fifth of what he sold it for. Perth was not included due to Bond selling it to Sunraysia Television before Packer buying back the company.

In 1994, Packer's print operations (owned by Australian Consolidated Press) and the Nine Network were merged into one new company, Publishing and Broadcasting Limited (PBL). On 1 October 1997, TCN-9 performed the first on-air trial of digital broadcasting in the southern hemisphere.

TCN commenced digital television transmission on 1 January 2001, broadcasting on VHF Channel 8 while maintaining analogue transmission on VHF Channel 9. The analogue signal for TCN was shut off at 9.00am AEDST, Tuesday, 3 December 2013.

In 2014 and 2015, TCN produced both Inside Story and The Verdict for the Nine Network, hosted by Leila McKinnon and Karl Stefanovic respectively. The Verdict did not build a solid audience and as expected the program was axed in 2016.

In January 2017, following the affiliation formed between Nine and Southern Cross in 2016, the station became home to the new Nine News Canberra and Southern NSW bulletins. The bulletins were anchored by Vanessa O'Hanlon.

In late 2018, It was announced that after 25 years on air, the Nine Network axed and retired The NRL Footy Show, bringing to an end 25 years of live primetime variety from the station.

It was also announced to public and then staff, that after 64 years in Willoughby, TCN would move to North Sydney. This move occurred in stages throughout the second half of 2020. The final broadcast of Sydney’s Nine News from Willoughby, took place on Friday 20 November 2020. The final broadcast from Willoughby was Weekend Today on Saturday 21 November 2020, with Nine News commencing at North Sydney that evening.

Production

Filmed at North Sydney

Studio A: Lifestyle and Entertainment

Studio B: 9News Sydney

Studio C: Secondary/back-up news studio

Studio D

  • Nine Digital and Nine Publishing segments (2020–present)

Studio E

  • 9Honey Segments (2021–present)

Filmed at Willoughby

Studio 1:9News Sydney

Studio 2: Lifestyle and Entertainment

Weekdays:

Weekends:

Studio 24: Secondary/back-up news studio

Studio 3: National Newsroom

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Willoughby_Tower.JPG" caption="Willoughby"] ::

Filmed at Fox Studios Australia

Location

Past

News

9News Sydney is TCN's flagship nightly news bulletin presented by Peter Overton from Sunday to Thursday and Georgie Gardner on Friday and Saturday. Sport is presented by James Bracey from Sunday to Thursday and Emma Lawrence on Friday and Saturday. Weather is presented by TBA from Sunday to Thursday and Belinda Russell on Friday and Saturday.

Jayne Azzopardi and Mark Burrows are the fill-in news presenters, with Emma Lawrence, Danika Mason, Matt Burke and Zac Bailey are the fill-in sport presenters, and Airlie Walsh, Kate Creedon, Sophie Walsh and Zara James are the fill-in weather presenters.

Brian Henderson was Nine's Sydney news presenter for a record 45 years - including 38 years presenting on weeknights. Retiring in November 2002, Henderson was succeeded as weeknight presenter by Jim Waley, who was at the time host of the Sunday program and was one of Nine's most experienced presenters.

In January 2005, despite some considerable ratings success, Waley was replaced as weeknight presenter by Mark Ferguson, who was previously the weekend presenter. Ferguson's successor as weekend presenter Mike Munro resigned in 2008 and was replaced by Michael Usher.

In 2009, following a continuing run of poor ratings, Ferguson was demoted to his former role as weekend news presenter, with Peter Overton taking over as news presenter on weeknights. Later in the year, Ferguson was removed from the presenting duties on the Sydney bulletins after announcing his decision to move to the Seven Network, but he didn't move to Seven until he trialled the hosting duties on Nine's Afternoon News only appearing on-air up until his departure on 25 September 2009.

Deborah Knight was appointed as Friday and Saturday presenter with Peter Overton now also presenting the Sunday bulletin.

In 2011, Nine News Sydney officially overtook Seven News Sydney in the ratings for the first time in seven years, winning 26 weeks to Seven's 14 weeks.

In November 2025, it was announced that Amber Sherlock, Nine News weather presenter, had been made redundant, one of several on air faces impacted by job cuts across Broadcast and Streaming Divisions.

Current presenters

News presenters

Sport presenters

  • James Bracey (Sunday – Thursday)
  • Emma Lawrence (Friday and Saturday)

Weather presenters

Fill-in presenters

Reporters

  • Charles Croucher (Political editor)
  • Andrew Probyn (National affairs editor)
  • Chris Kohler (Finance editor)
  • Effie Zahos (Money editor)
  • Liz Daniels (State political reporter)
  • Claudia Vrdoljak (Federal politics reporter)
  • Amanda Copp (Federal politics reporter)
  • Edward Godfrey (Europe correspondent)
  • Hannah Sinclair (Europe correspondent)
  • Lauren Tomasi (US correspondent)
  • Reid Butler (US correspondent)
  • Mark Burrows (senior reporter)
  • Damian Ryan (senior reporter)
  • Eddy Meyer (senior reporter)
  • Airlie Walsh (senior reporter)
  • Sophie Upcroft (State political reporter)
  • Tiffiny Genders (Chief court reporter)
  • Annalise Bolt (court reporter)
  • Emma Partridge (Senior crime editor)
  • Gabriella Rogers (Medical reporter)
  • Mike Dalton (Special features reporter)
  • Jayne Azzopardi (senior reporter)
  • Vicky Jardim (senior reporter)
  • Kate Creedon (reporter)
  • Sophie Walsh (reporter)
  • Ruth Wynn-Williams (reporter)
  • Hayley Francis (reporter)
  • Elizabeth Bryan (reporter)
  • Zara James (reporter)
  • James Wilson (reporter)
  • Massilia Aili (reporter)
  • Alex Heinke (reporter)
  • Maddison Scott (reporter)
  • Erin Ramsey (reporter)
  • Danny Weidler (Chief rugby league reporter)
  • Danika Mason (Sport reporter)
  • Emma Lawrence (Sport reporter)
  • Zac Bailey (Sport reporter)
  • Samuel Djodan (Cricket reporter)
  • Luke Dufficy (Sport reporter)
  • Tom Marriott (Sport reporter)
  • Simon Bouda (A Current Affair crime editor)
  • Lizzie Pearl (A Current Affair Sydney reporter)
  • Steve Marshall (A Current Affair Sydney reporter)
  • Nat Wallace (A Current Affair Sydney reporter)
  • Maggie Raworth (A Current Affair Sydney reporter)
  • Gabrielle Boyle (Today Sydney reporter)
  • Lara Vella (Today Sydney reporter)
  • Sarah Stewart (Today Sydney reporter)
  • Bethan Yeoman (Today Sydney reporter)
  • Jack Hahn (Today Sydney reporter)

Past presenters

References

References

  1. [[height above average terrain. HAAT]] estimated from http://www.itu.int/SRTM3/ using EHAAT.
  2. "First test broadcast by TCN". The Daily Telegraph, 1956-14-07. p. 1.
  3. (28 December 2016). "Axed in 2016". TV Tonight.
  4. (7 November 2016). "Boost set for regional news". TV Tonight.
  5. (2 October 2018). "NRL Footy Show axed by Channel Nine due to poor ratings after 25 years on air.". ABC News.
  6. [http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2011/10/22/nine-news-sydney-takes-ratings-crown-from-seven/ 9News Sydney takes ratings crown from Seven] {{Webarchive. link. (12 December 2013 , Media Spy, 22 October 2011)
  7. (2025-11-13). ""Valued member of the News team": Nine thanks outgoing talent {{!}} TV Tonight".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

nine-networktelevision-stations-in-new-south-walestelevision-stations-in-sydneytelevision-channels-and-stations-established-in-19561956-establishments-in-australia