Prime Television Limited
Encyclopedia
Prime Media Group Limited (formerly Prime Television Limited) is an Australia
n-based media corporation, owner of regional television network Prime7 in eastern Australia, the GWN7 in regional Western Australia
, and a number of radio stations in Queensland
.
Prime Media Group's primary source of revenue is television advertising revenue, driven by its metropolitan sales teams "Seven Affiliate Sales" servicing major national advertisers.
Altarama Minerals was incorporated and listed on the Australian Stock Exchange
. Following its movement into the automotive industry, the business changed its name to Altarama Ltd in 1973.
Paul Ramsay gained control of Altarama in 1985, subsequently renaming it once again to Ramcorp Ltd. As part of a diversification into television, advertising, and healthcare, Ramcorp bought regional television stations CBN-8 Orange
, CWN-6 Dubbo, AMV-4 Albury
, and RVN-2 Wagga Wagga in 1987. Soon after, the stations began to be known collectively as The Prime Network
.
In the lead-up to television aggregation, Ramcorp signed a 10-year programming affiliation agreement with the Seven Network
– the start of a close relationship between the two networks. In 1991 the business changed its name to Prime Television Limited, reflecting its new nature as a television broadcaster in regional Victoria
and New South Wales
.
Throughout the early 1990s, Ramcorp had incurred significant debts as a result of loans taken out throughout the 1980s in order to expand the company – Ramcorp's healthcare and media interests in Australia
and the United States
failed to turn a proft, resulting in falling share prices for the business. By 1993, Prime Television made a $7.4 million profit following accumulated losses of $47 million between 1989 and 1991, as well as a further $200 million expanding Prime Television's audience reach to 17%, as part of aggregation.
Prime expanded into Western Australia
when it purchased the Golden West Network
from current Seven Network
owner Kerry Stokes
in 1996. At the time, GWN was the monopoly commercial television network in the regional Western Australia license area, however WIN Television
, Prime's competitor in parts of New South Wales and Victoria was granted a license by the Australian Broadcasting Authority
a year later in 1997.
In the same year, Prime Television expanded internationally with the purchase of the Canal 9
television network in Argentina
. Prime paid A$
224 million for the network, later renamed Azul Televisión, before selling half of its share to local media group Torneos and Competencias
for an undisclosed amount. Azul Televisión performed below expectations, largely due to a global economic crisis, and the Argentine network did not make a profit. Prime Television pulled out of Argentina in 2000, selling their stake for A$
108 million.
The network expanded further into New Zealand
, with Prime Television New Zealand
on 30 August 1998. In 2002, Prime New Zealand went into a joint venture with Australian company Publishing and Broadcasting Limited
, owners of the Nine Network
. Under the agreement, Prime Television was given access to Nine Network programs, expertise and money. In return, PBL was given the option to acquire 50% of Prime Television New Zealand in 2008. As a result, Prime Television New Zealand's ratings and profits increased significantly. Sky Television
purchased Prime NZ for NZ$
30 million in November 2005.
For the 2007 Australian federal election, Prime's online division iPrime
launched federalelection.com.au, produced from Prime Television
's Canberra headquarters in partnership with Roy Morgan.
The Seven Network
purchased 14.9% of Prime Media Group and rumours emerge of an increased stake. Recently, Lachlan Murdoch realised the potential and domainance of the Prime Media Group, taking up a 8% stake.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n-based media corporation, owner of regional television network Prime7 in eastern Australia, the GWN7 in regional Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, and a number of radio stations in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
.
Prime Media Group's primary source of revenue is television advertising revenue, driven by its metropolitan sales teams "Seven Affiliate Sales" servicing major national advertisers.
History
Prime Television Limited began life in 1970, when mineral explorerMineral exploration
Mineral exploration is the process of finding ore to mine. Mineral exploration is a much more intensive, organized and professional form of mineral prospecting and, though it frequently uses the services of prospecting, the process of mineral exploration on the whole is much more involved.-Stages...
Altarama Minerals was incorporated and listed on the Australian Stock Exchange
Australian Stock Exchange
The Australian Securities Exchange was created by the merger of the Australian Stock Exchange and the Sydney Futures Exchange in July 2006. It is the primary stock exchange group in Australia....
. Following its movement into the automotive industry, the business changed its name to Altarama Ltd in 1973.
Paul Ramsay gained control of Altarama in 1985, subsequently renaming it once again to Ramcorp Ltd. As part of a diversification into television, advertising, and healthcare, Ramcorp bought regional television stations CBN-8 Orange
Orange, New South Wales
Orange is a city in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is west of the state capital, Sydney, at an altitude of . Orange has an estimated population of 39,329 and the city is a major provincial centre....
, CWN-6 Dubbo, AMV-4 Albury
Albury, New South Wales
Albury is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia, located on the Hume Highway on the northern side of the Murray River. It is located wholly within the boundaries of the City of Albury Local Government Area...
, and RVN-2 Wagga Wagga in 1987. Soon after, the stations began to be known collectively as The Prime Network
Prime Television
PRIME7 is an Australian television network owned by Prime Media Group Limited. Prime Television launched on 17 March 1962 as CBN/CWN in Orange and Dubbo, New South Wales, and has since expanded to cover regional New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory as a Seven Network...
.
In the lead-up to television aggregation, Ramcorp signed a 10-year programming affiliation agreement with the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
– the start of a close relationship between the two networks. In 1991 the business changed its name to Prime Television Limited, reflecting its new nature as a television broadcaster in regional Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
.
Throughout the early 1990s, Ramcorp had incurred significant debts as a result of loans taken out throughout the 1980s in order to expand the company – Ramcorp's healthcare and media interests in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
failed to turn a proft, resulting in falling share prices for the business. By 1993, Prime Television made a $7.4 million profit following accumulated losses of $47 million between 1989 and 1991, as well as a further $200 million expanding Prime Television's audience reach to 17%, as part of aggregation.
Prime expanded into Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
when it purchased the Golden West Network
Golden West Network
GWN7 is an Australian television network owned by the Prime Media Group that is based in Bunbury, Western Australia. The Golden West Network launched on 10 March 1967 as BTW-3 in Bunbury, and has since expanded to cover regional and remote Western Australia, servicing all areas except metropolitan...
from current Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
owner Kerry Stokes
Kerry Stokes
Kerry Matthew Stokes AC is an Australian businessman. He holds business interests in a diverse range of industries including electronic and print media, property, mining, and construction equipment. He is most widely known as the chairman of the Seven Network, one of the largest broadcasting...
in 1996. At the time, GWN was the monopoly commercial television network in the regional Western Australia license area, however WIN Television
WIN Television
WIN Television is an Australian television network owned by the WIN Corporation that is based in Wollongong, New South Wales. WIN commenced transmissions on 18 March 1962 as a single Wollongong-only station, and has since expanded to 24 owned-and-operated stations with transmissions covering a...
, Prime's competitor in parts of New South Wales and Victoria was granted a license by the Australian Broadcasting Authority
Australian Broadcasting Authority
The Australian Broadcasting Authority was an Australian government agency whose main roles were to regulate broadcasting, radiocommunications and telecommunications....
a year later in 1997.
In the same year, Prime Television expanded internationally with the purchase of the Canal 9
Canal 9 (Argentina)
Canal 9 is an Argentine television network based in Buenos Aires. It is a general entertainment station which offers news, soap operas, talk shows, and movies.-History:...
television network in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. Prime paid A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
224 million for the network, later renamed Azul Televisión, before selling half of its share to local media group Torneos and Competencias
Torneos y Competencias
Torneos y Competencias is an Argentine sports communications firm created by businessman Carlos Ávila, who has left the company...
for an undisclosed amount. Azul Televisión performed below expectations, largely due to a global economic crisis, and the Argentine network did not make a profit. Prime Television pulled out of Argentina in 2000, selling their stake for A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
108 million.
The network expanded further into New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, with Prime Television New Zealand
Prime Television New Zealand
Prime is the seventh national free-to-air television station in New Zealand. The station airs a mixed group of programmes, largely imported from Australia, the UK and the United States, as well as free-to-air rugby union, cricket and rugby league matches....
on 30 August 1998. In 2002, Prime New Zealand went into a joint venture with Australian company Publishing and Broadcasting Limited
Publishing and Broadcasting Limited
Publishing and Broadcasting Limited was one of Australia's largest companies, with interests primarily in media and gaming. The company demerged in late 2007, spinning out its gaming interests into Crown Limited...
, owners of the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
. Under the agreement, Prime Television was given access to Nine Network programs, expertise and money. In return, PBL was given the option to acquire 50% of Prime Television New Zealand in 2008. As a result, Prime Television New Zealand's ratings and profits increased significantly. Sky Television
SKY Network Television
Sky Network Television Limited , , is a New Zealand pay television service. On 30 June 2011, Sky had 829,421 subscribers, which comprises:*808,617 digital subscribers*20,840 other subscribers...
purchased Prime NZ for NZ$
New Zealand dollar
The New Zealand dollar is the currency of New Zealand. It also circulates in the Cook Islands , Niue, Tokelau, and the Pitcairn Islands. It is divided into 100 cents....
30 million in November 2005.
For the 2007 Australian federal election, Prime's online division iPrime
IPrime
iPrime is an Australian internet portal produced by Prime Media Group Limited. The portal was deployed across regions in which Prime7 or the GWN7 currently broadcast television transmissions, which include the Australian Capital Territory, regional New South Wales, regional Victoria and regional...
launched federalelection.com.au, produced from Prime Television
Prime Television
PRIME7 is an Australian television network owned by Prime Media Group Limited. Prime Television launched on 17 March 1962 as CBN/CWN in Orange and Dubbo, New South Wales, and has since expanded to cover regional New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory as a Seven Network...
's Canberra headquarters in partnership with Roy Morgan.
The Seven Network
Seven Network Limited
The Seven Network is an Australian television network. In April, 2011, Seven Network, Pacific Magazines and Yahoo7! http://www.yahoo.com.au were acquired by West Australian Newspapers Ltd http://info.thewest.com.au/ratecard// to create Seven West Media Ltd http://www.sevenwestmedia.com.au/...
purchased 14.9% of Prime Media Group and rumours emerge of an increased stake. Recently, Lachlan Murdoch realised the potential and domainance of the Prime Media Group, taking up a 8% stake.
Television
- Prime7
- GWN7
- Mildura Digital TelevisionMildura Digital TelevisionTen Mildura is a joint venture television station between Prime Media Group and Win Television. Based in Mildura, Victoria, Australia, it is a digital-only Network Ten affiliate, and began broadcasting on 1 January 2006....
(50% share with WIN CorporationWIN CorporationThe WIN Corporation is a Wollongong based media company, that owns the WIN Television network, NWS, and STW in Australia.It began broadcasting in Wollongong with one station in 1963. Bruce Gordon acquired control of the company in 1979 and initiated a period of growth which has seen the Network...
) - TEN West (50% share with WIN CorporationWIN CorporationThe WIN Corporation is a Wollongong based media company, that owns the WIN Television network, NWS, and STW in Australia.It began broadcasting in Wollongong with one station in 1963. Bruce Gordon acquired control of the company in 1979 and initiated a period of growth which has seen the Network...
)
Radio
- Zinc 102.7 and 4CA Cairns
- Zinc 100.7 and 106.3Mix-FMMix FM is a commercial Australian station based in Townsville, Queensland owned by Prime Media Group Limited.-Programming:...
Townsville - Zinc 101.9 and 4MK MackayMackay, QueenslandMackay is a city on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia, about north of Brisbane, on the Pioneer River. Mackay is nicknamed the sugar capital of Australia because its region produces more than a third of Australia's cane sugar....
- Zinc 1584 and 4RO4RO-AM4RO is an Australian radio station in Rockhampton, Queensland, broadcasting since 1932.-History:The station was launched on 2 July 1932. The opening of 4RO resulted in Rockhampton being the first regional town in Queensland, to have two stations....
RockhamptonRockhamptonRockhampton can refer to:* Rockhampton, Queensland is a city in Queensland, Australia* Rockhampton City, Queensland, a suburb of Rockhampton, Queensland* Electoral district of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia... - Zinc 927 GladstoneGladstone, Queensland- Education :Gladstone has several primary schools, three high schools, and one university campus, Central Queensland University. It is also home to CQIT Gladstone Campus.- Recreation :...
- Hot 91 Maroochydore
- Zinc96 Noosa