South Pacific Television

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

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

History

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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

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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

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Domestic

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Children's

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Comedy

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Drama

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Entertainment

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  • New Zealand The Club Show
  • New Zealand Opportunity Knocks
  • New Zealand Top of the World
  • New Zealand Telethon

Factual & Lifestyle

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

News and Current Affairs

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

Sport

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Overseas

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Children's

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Comedy

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Drama

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Entertainment

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Factual

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References

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