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STW is an Australian
television station A television station is a set of equipment managed by a business, organisation or other entity, such as an amateur television (ATV) operator, that transmits video content and audio content via radio waves directly from a transmitter on the earth ...
owned by the
Nine Network The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...
that is based in
Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...
, Western Australia. ''STW'' broadcasts from a shared facility transmitter mast located in
Carmel Carmel may refer to: * Carmel (biblical settlement), an ancient Israelite town in Judea * Mount Carmel, a coastal mountain range in Israel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea * Carmelites, a Roman Catholic mendicant religious order Carmel may also ...
. The station callsign, ''STW'', is an acronym of Swan Television, Western Australia.


History


Origins

In February 1964, Swan Television was awarded a licence to operate Perth's second commercial television station. The company's shareholders at the time included Ansett Transport Industries, which was also preparing to launch ATV-0, the third commercial station in Melbourne, in October that year. STW-9 began broadcasting at 5.30pm on Saturday 12 June 1965. Broadcasting from a purpose-built studio complex in the
Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...
suburb of Dianella, the station employed around a hundred staff. The station was officially opened by the
Premier of Western Australia The premier of Western Australia is the head of government of the state of Western Australia. The role of premier at a state level is similar to the role of the prime minister of Australia at a federal level. The premier leads the executive bra ...
,
David Brand Sir David Brand KCMG (1 August 1912 – 15 April 1979) was an Australian politician. A member of the Liberal Party, he was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1945 to 1975, and also the 19th and longest-serving Premi ...
, following a documentary film entitled ''Montage of Perth''. Its first night programming included the film ''
Guys and Dolls ''Guys and Dolls'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" (1933) and "Blood Pressure", which are two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also bo ...
'', an MGM-produced tribute to
Cecil B. DeMille Cecil Blount DeMille (; August 12, 1881January 21, 1959) was an American film director, producer and actor. Between 1914 and 1958, he made 70 features, both silent and sound films. He is acknowledged as a founding father of the American cine ...
called ''The World's Greatest Showman'' and a replay of ''TV Spells Magic'', a variety show produced for the opening of TEN-10 in Sydney the preceding April. Upon launch, both STW and rival station
TVW-7 TVW is a television station broadcasting in Perth, Western Australia, wholly owned by Seven West Media. It was the first television station in Western Australia, commencing broadcasting on 16 October 1959. It broadcasts a modulated 64-QAM signa ...
launched a joint company entitled TV Facilities to allow the two commercial channels in Perth to share access to networked programs from the east coast.


1970s and 1980s

Among the station's key achievements, it produced a major drama series in 1973 - '' The Drifter'', starring
Alan Cassell Alan Louis Cassell (16 February 1932 – 30 August 2017) was an English Australian actor, on stage, film and television. Personal life Alan Cassell was born in Manchester, England but grew up in Birmingham. Cassell was of a young age when his m ...
. In the run up to the launch of colour broadcasting, STW produced the first full colour TV news bulletin in November 1974. The station won its first
Logie Award The Logie Awards (officially the TV Week Logie Awards; colloquially known as The Logies) is an annual gathering to celebrate Australian television, sponsored and organised by the magazine ''TV Week''. The first ceremony was held in 1959 as the ...
in 1971 for locally produced variety show ''Spotlight''. STW remained independently owned until 1978, when it became affiliated with the
Nine Network The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...
, allowing direct access to its programming. In 1984, the station was bought by businessman
Alan Bond Alan Bond (22 April 1938 – 5 June 2015) was an English-born Australian businessman noted for his high-profile and often corrupt business dealings. These included his central role in the WA Inc scandals of the 1980s, and what was at the time ...
for just under $50 million, becoming part of Bond Media. It became a network
owned and operated station In the broadcasting industry, an owned-and-operated station (frequently abbreviated as an O&O) usually refers to a television or radio station owned by the network with which it is associated. This distinguishes such a station from an affiliate ...
when Bond purchased the Nine Network from
Kerry Packer Kerry Francis Bullmore Packer (17 December 1937 – 26 December 2005) was an Australian media tycoon, and was considered one of Australia's most powerful media proprietors of the twentieth century. The Packer family company owned a controlling ...
. In April 1984, STW9 became the first station in Perth to commence 24-hour broadcasting. The station also claimed the first hour-long news program in the city, beating TVW, and mirroring Ten's in SA and eastern Australia (Ten did not have a station in the city until NEW-10 launched in 1988). In 1989, Bond Media sold STW to
Sunraysia Television Sunraysia Television was a publicly listed company which owned Channel Nine Perth's parent company ''Swan Television and Radio Broadcasters'' from 1989 to 2007. Although listed on the ASX, Sunraysia had been majority owned by Eva Presser's Sabte ...
for A$95 million. The deal also involved Bond Media purchasing the Sunraysia owned
STV-8 STV is an Australian television station licensed to and serving the regions surrounding Mildura, Victoria, owned and operated by the WIN Corporation and part of the WIN Television network. The station commenced transmissions on 27 November ...
for A$18 million. Bond Media was forced to sell due to the Federal cross-media ownership laws, which restricted the level of national reach for media owners.


2000s

In January 2007, Sunraysia Television posted a profit warning, from an expected 12% drop in revenue over the previous six months, citing a weak local advertising market and low ratings, despite a strong state economy. The profit warning led to speculation of a potential takeover of STW-9, with PBL and regional network
WIN Television WIN Television is an Australian television network owned by WIN Corporation that is based in Wollongong, New South Wales. WIN commenced transmissions on 18 March 1962 as a single television station covering the Wollongong region. The WIN Netwo ...
indicated as potential bidders.
PBL Media Nine Entertainment (registered as Nine Entertainment Co. Pty Ltd) is an Australian publicly listed media company with holdings in radio and television broadcasting, newspaper publications and digital media. It uses Nine as its corporate brandi ...
announced in February 2007 that it would purchase STW-9 for A$136.4 million, with the deal to be completed in late March or early April subject to shareholder approval. However, major long-term shareholder, WIN, was also interested in the station. In June 2007, shareholders approved a revised bid from WIN.


2010s

On 1 May 2012, STW launched
Gold Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile met ...
, a
datacasting Datacasting (data broadcasting) is the broadcasting of data over a wide area via radio waves. It most often refers to supplemental information sent by television stations along with digital terrestrial television (DTT), but may also be applied ...
channel owned by WIN. In 2013, Nine Entertainment Co. purchased the station from WIN. With control from 30 September, the station returned once again as an owned-and-operated station, although Nine Network now owned all five of its flagship metropolitan stations. On 19 September 2016, STW began broadcasting from new studios located at 253–267
St Georges Terrace St Georges Terrace (colloquially known as "The Terrace") is the main street in the city of Perth, Western Australia. It runs parallel to the Swan River and forms the major arterial road through the central business district. Its western e ...
in Perth's CBD, after 51 years at its original location in
Dianella Dianella may refer to: * ''Dianella'' (beetle), a species and genus of beetle in the family Carabidae now known as ''Diamella'' * ''Dianella'' (gastropod), a genus of freshwater snails in the family Hydrobiidae * ''Dianella'' (plant), a genus of ...
.


Programming


News and current affairs

Nine News national services broadcast on STW include ''
Today Today (archaically to-day) may refer to: * Day of the present, the time that is perceived directly, often called ''now'' * Current era, present * The current calendar date Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Today'' (1930 film), a 1930 A ...
'', ''
Weekend Today ''Weekend Today'' is currently the branding of the weekend editions of ''Today'', an American morning news and talk program that airs daily on NBC. Weekend editions of ''Today'', began with the launch of the Sunday edition of the program on Sep ...
'', '' Nine News: Early Edition'', '' Nine Morning News'', ''Nine News: First at 5'', ''
A Current Affair ''A Current Affair'' may refer to: * ''A Current Affair'' (Australian TV program), 1971–present Australian current affairs program that airs on Nine Network * ''A Current Affair'' (American TV program), a 1986–1998 American television news ...
'' and ''
60 Minutes ''60 Minutes'' is an American television news magazine broadcast on the CBS television network. Debuting in 1968, the program was created by Don Hewitt and Bill Leonard, who chose to set it apart from other news programs by using a unique styl ...
''. Since May 2020, ''Nine News Late'' has been broadcast from STW on Mondays – Thursdays, presented by Michael Thomson.


Nine News Perth

''
Nine News ''Nine News'' (stylised ''9News'') is the national news service of the Nine Network in Australia. Its flagship program is the hour-long 6:00 pm state bulletin, produced by Nine's owned-and-operated stations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, ...
Perth'' is produced and broadcast live from STW's studios in
Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...
. ''Nine News at Five'' is presented by
Monika Kos Monika Kos (born 2 December 1967, Perth, Western Australia) is an Australian journalist and television presenter.Tate, Lee (5 November 2017Monika Kos celebrates 20 years at the helm of Channel 7 Perth's Today Tonight ''Have a Go News''. Retrieve ...
and the flagship newscast every night at 6pm by Michael Thomson on weeknights and
Tracy Vo Tracy Vo (born 4 November 1983) is an Australian journalist, radio and television news presenter and reporter and author.
on weekends, with sport presenters
Matthew Pavlich Matthew Pavlich (born 31 December 1981) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A versatile player, Pavlich is widely regarded as one of the premi ...
(Monday – Thursday) and Paddy Sweeney (Friday – Sunday) and weather presenters
Scherri-Lee Biggs Scherri-Lee Biggs is a South African-Australian TV host, dancer, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Australia 2011 and represented Australia at Miss Universe 2011 and placed Top 10. Biggs currently presents th ...
(weeknights) and Elizabeth Creasy (weekends) from across Perth and regional Western Australia.
Tracy Vo Tracy Vo (born 4 November 1983) is an Australian journalist, radio and television news presenter and reporter and author.
is the main fill-in presenter for Michael Thomson on weeknights while Jerrie Demasi is the main fill-in presenter for
Tracy Vo Tracy Vo (born 4 November 1983) is an Australian journalist, radio and television news presenter and reporter and author.
on weekends. Paddy Sweeney is the main fill-in sport presenter for
Matthew Pavlich Matthew Pavlich (born 31 December 1981) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A versatile player, Pavlich is widely regarded as one of the premi ...
on weeknights while Joshua Dawe is the main fill-in presenter for Paddy Sweeney on weekends. Elizabeth Creasy is main fill-in weather presenter for
Scherri-Lee Biggs Scherri-Lee Biggs is a South African-Australian TV host, dancer, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Australia 2011 and represented Australia at Miss Universe 2011 and placed Top 10. Biggs currently presents th ...
Despite the national dominance of ''Nine News'' for many years, the Perth bulletin has failed to match the ratings success seen in
Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
,
Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
and
Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...
, and remains the lowest-rating news program in its market, often trailing rival '' Seven News Perth'' by over 100,000 viewers. This is reflected in the frequent position changes that have taken place at STW over the past thirty years since it last won the local ratings in 1990.


=Presenters

= Weeknights * Michael Thomson (News) (2018–present) *
Matthew Pavlich Matthew Pavlich (born 31 December 1981) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A versatile player, Pavlich is widely regarded as one of the premi ...
(Sport) (Monday – Thursday, 2018–present) *Paddy Sweeney (Sport) (Friday – Sunday) *
Scherri-Lee Biggs Scherri-Lee Biggs is a South African-Australian TV host, dancer, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Australia 2011 and represented Australia at Miss Universe 2011 and placed Top 10. Biggs currently presents th ...
(Weather) (Monday – Thursday) *Elizabeth Creasy (Weather) (Friday & Saturday) Weekends *
Tracy Vo Tracy Vo (born 4 November 1983) is an Australian journalist, radio and television news presenter and reporter and author.
(2020–present) Nine News at 5 *
Monika Kos Monika Kos (born 2 December 1967, Perth, Western Australia) is an Australian journalist and television presenter.Tate, Lee (5 November 2017Monika Kos celebrates 20 years at the helm of Channel 7 Perth's Today Tonight ''Have a Go News''. Retrieve ...
(2020–present) Reporters *Gary Adshead (political editor) *Jerrie Demasi (chief crime editor) *Michael Stamp *Renae Henry * Natalia Cooper *Elizabeth Creasy *Jacquelin Robson *Tegan Sapwell *Louise Rennie (court reporter) *Olivia Donaldson *Venine Palm *Kelly Haywood *Kamin Gock *Lucy McLeod (''Today'' Perth reporter) *Darius Winterfield *Mia Egerton-Warburton *Michael Genovese *Tania Armstrong (sports editor) *Joshua Dawe (sports reporter) *Jimmy Williams (sports reporter) Source
/small> ''Notable former newsreaders'' *Russell Goodrick – died in 2021 ''Notable former reporters'' *
Tim Arvier Tim Arvier is an Australian journalist. He is currently the state political and investigative reporter, and a fill-in presenter, for ''Nine News Queensland''. He was previously North American and European correspondent for ''Nine News'', a repo ...
– now with ''
Nine News Queensland ''Nine News Queensland'' is the flagship state-based news bulletin of the Nine Network in Brisbane. It is screened across Queensland on weeknights, while on weekends it is also screened on a half-hour delay in the Northern Territory. Like all '' ...
'' *Grace Fitzgibbon – now with ''
Nine News Sydney ''Nine News Sydney'' is the local news bulletin for the Nine Network station in Sydney, airing across New South Wales each night. Like all ''Nine News'' bulletins, the Sydney bulletin runs for one hour. from 6pm every day. It covers the day's ...
'' *Hannah Sinclair – now with ''A Current Affair'' *Lee Steele – now with '' 10 News First Perth''


Local programming

In recent years, STW-9 has also produced and broadcast local news, current affairs & feature programming including a Western Australia edition of ''
A Current Affair ''A Current Affair'' may refer to: * ''A Current Affair'' (Australian TV program), 1971–present Australian current affairs program that airs on Nine Network * ''A Current Affair'' (American TV program), a 1986–1998 American television news ...
'', a localised 4.30pm afternoon news bulletin, gardening series ''Garden Gurus'' (which continues to air on Nine Network stations), lifestyle series ''Just Add Water'' and travel series '' Postcards WA''.


Appealathon

In its 30 years, Channel Nine Perth's Appealathon has raised in excess of $53.5 million. Since 1975, Appealathon has supported four specific charities with Appealathon funds: the Activ Foundation, Civilian Maimed & Limbless Association, Paraplegic/Quadriplegic Association and Rocky Bay. Many other organisations are helped as well on a yearly basis. The Appealathon is involved in over 50 fundraising events and projects across Perth each year.


Broadcasting details

Analogue main channel frequency (to 25 June 2013): VHF-9 @ 196.25 MHz (bandwidth: 7 MHz
PAL Phase Alternating Line (PAL) is a colour encoding system for analogue television. It was one of three major analogue colour television standards, the others being NTSC and SECAM. In most countries it was broadcast at 625 lines, 50 fields (25 ...
)
Digital transport stream frequency (as of 25 June 2013): VHF-8 @ 191.5 MHz (bandwidth: 7 MHz
64-QAM Quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) is the name of a family of digital modulation methods and a related family of analog modulation methods widely used in modern telecommunications to transmit information. It conveys two analog message signal ...


References


External links


Official Site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stw Nine Network Television stations in Perth, Western Australia Television channels and stations established in 1965