South Pacific Television

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

South Pacific Television
Company typePublic
IndustryTelevision channel
PredecessorNew Zealand Broadcasting Corporation
FoundedDecember 1976
Defunct15 February 1980
FateRenamed as Television New Zealand
SuccessorTelevision New Zealand
HeadquartersAuckland, New Zealand
Number of locations
New Zealand

History

edit

The channel, then known as TV2, 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 December 1976, TV2 was rebranded as South Pacific Television (SPTV) to distinguish itself from the former NZBC channel. It also reduced confusion in Auckland and Dunedin where Television One broadcast on channel 2 (TV2 broadcast on channel 4 in both centres).[1]

In 1977, broadcasting hours were cut on both channels [why?] and as a result SPTV lost 16 hours of broadcast time a week, forcing the channel to begin its daily broadcasts at 3pm (except weekends, where SPTV opened transmission at midday).

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

Fate

edit

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.

SPTV's final day of transmissions was 15 February 1980. The final programme was a two-hour farewell special, and the channel closed down at 12:15am on the morning of 16 February.[2]

The next day, 16 February 1980, Television One and SPTV were dissolved and became Television One and Television Two, under the newly formed Television New Zealand (TVNZ). A number of SPTV's programmes moved across to the new networks.

List of programmes

edit

Domestic

edit

Children's

edit

Comedy

edit

Drama

edit

Entertainment

edit
  •   The Club Show
  •   Opportunity Knocks
  •   Top of the World
  •   Telethon

Factual & Lifestyle

edit
  •   Access
  •   Book Review
  •   Butcher's Hook
  •   Child Health
  •   Church in Action
  •   Farming Today
  •   Kaleidoscope
  •   Looking Your Best
  •   Pacific Viewpoint
  •   Pet Life
  •   Police Five
  •   Sew Easy
  •   Stars on Sunday
  •   Sunday's Child
  •   Talk Cars
  •   A Taste of the Orient
  •   That's Entertainment
  •   You and the Law
  •   Yours for the Asking

News and Current Affairs

edit
  •   Eye Witness
  •   Forum
  •   News at Six
  •   News at Ten
  •   News Stand
  •   Weekend Edition News
  •   World Watch

Sport

edit

Overseas

edit

Children's

edit

Comedy

edit

Drama

edit

Entertainment

edit

Factual

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "TV2 likes 'South Pacific'". The Press. 19 August 1976. p. 11.
  2. ^ "Farewell to SPTV". The Press. 15 February 1980. p. 11.
edit