South Pacific Television
Encyclopedia
South Pacific Television was a television channel in New Zealand
, which operated between 1976 and 1980.
, first went to air on June 30, 1975. It was the second television network to be established in the country that year, after Television One went to air on April 1, 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 network could only be picked up in Auckland and Christchurch when the channel 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.
Network 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.
South Pacific Television ended transmission on February 14, 1980 with a two hour farewell special.
The next day, February 15, 1980, Television One and South Pacific Television were dissolved and became Television One and Television Two, under the newly formed Television 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...
, which operated between 1976 and 1980.
The Early Days
The channel, then known as TV 2TV 2 (New Zealand)
TV2 is a national television network in New Zealand, which is owned and operated by the state-owned broadcaster TVNZ. It targets a younger audience than its sister network, TV One...
, first went to air on June 30, 1975. It was the second television network to be established in the country that year, after Television One went to air on April 1, replacing the former New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation
New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation
The New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation was established by the New Zealand government in 1962. It was dissolved on 1 April 1975, and replaced by three separate organisations: Radio New Zealand, Television One, and Television Two, later known as South Pacific Television....
'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 network could only be picked up in Auckland and Christchurch when the channel 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.
The Second Year
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.Network 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.
The End Is Near
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 February 14, 1980 with a two hour farewell special.
The next day, February 15, 1980, Television One and South Pacific Television were dissolved and became Television One and Television Two, under the newly formed Television New Zealand
Television New Zealand
Television New Zealand, more commonly referred to, and stylized as TVNZ, is a government-owned corporation television network broadcasting in New Zealand and parts of the Pacific. It operates TV1, TV2, TVNZ7, TVNZ Heartland, TVNZ U and new media services....
.