GTS/BKN

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = GTS / BKN
city =
station_
station_slogan = Show Me Southern Cross
station_branding = Southern Cross
analog =
GTS: 4 (VHF)
BKN: 7 (VHF)
digital =
GTS: 44 (UHF)
BKN: 9 (VHF)
other_chs =
affiliations = Seven, Nine
network = Southern Cross
founded =
airdate = GTS: March 1, 1968
BKN: August 16, 1968
location = GTS: Spencer Gulf North, South Australia
BKN: Broken Hill, New South Wales
callsign_meaning = GTS:
Spencer Gulf
Telecasters
South Australia
BKN:
BroKen Hill New South Wales
former_callsigns =
former_channel_numbers =
owner = Macquarie Media Group
licensee = GTS: Spencer Gulf Telecasters Ltd)
(BKN: Broken Hill Television Ltd
sister_stations = SGS/SCN
former_affiliations = independent (1968-2006)
effective_radiated_power = GTS:
200 kW (analog)
240 kW (digital)
BKN:
15 kW (analog)
4 kW (digital)
HAAT = GTS:
610 m (analog)
627 m (digital)
BKN:
104 m (both) [HAAT estimated from http://www.itu.int/SRTM3/ using EHAAT.]
class =
facility_id =
coordinates = GTS:
coord|33|6|14|S|138|9|51|E|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=GTS
BKN:
coord|31|57|5|S|141|26|25|E|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=BKN
homepage =

GTS/BKN, known on-air as Southern Cross Television, is an Australian television station based in Port Pirie. It broadcasts throughout South Australia's Spencer Gulf and in Broken Hill. The station's name originates from the original Port Pirie & Broken Hill stations callsigns, GTS in Port Pirie and BKN in Broken Hill, New South Wales.

History

In 1974, the stations (and their repeaters) joined to become Spencer Gulf Telecasters and broadcast under the name "Central GTS/BKN". The company has since been bought by Southern Cross Broadcasting (SCB), though it retained the Central name until the end of 2005. In 2003, Spencer Gulf Telecasters won the right to broadcast a second station in the same area, and in January 2004 started broadcasting Southern Cross Ten. In January 2006 Central GTS/BKN was renamed "Southern Cross GTS/BKN", changing its logo to the same one currently used by Southern Cross Tasmania and Southern Cross Darwin. The Southern Cross Ten logo was also updated to the current logo used by SC 10 stations elsewhere.

Programming

Southern Cross GTS/BKN primarily broadcasts Seven Network programming plus some Nine Network content, mainly AFL, Cricket and other Sporting and Major events, with Channel 9 content often delayed to make way for Seven programming.

Some consider this unusual, as SCB also owned the Adelaide station of the Nine Network (NWS-9) before WIN Television purchased it in 2007. However, its Seven focus existed many years before its current ownership situation, and also meshes neatly with SCB's Southern Cross Central service (unrelated to the original Central GTS/BKN) available via satellite throughout the broadcasting area, and via terrestrial transmission in some adjacent areas.

News

In line with the name change, GTS/BKN's local news bulletin, "Central News", was revamped and renamed "Southern Cross News". This bulletin is broadcast on Southern Cross GTS/BKN at 6.30pm, after "Seven News". The current newsreader (as of June 2008) is Justin Northey.

ee also

*Southern Cross Television

References