CBN8 Orange in 1960s
From Wenlock's OzVintage TV

The 119-metre transmitter mast atop Mt Canobolas was completed in February 1962, and on the 16th the first transmission - a black and white test pattern - was beamed from the tower. A month later, on Saturday March 17, 1962, CBN-8 (the CB for Country Broadcasting, the N for New South Wales) was officially opened and on-the-air.

The Dubbo station didn't start until December 1, 1965, and was a direct relay of CBN. CWN-6, transmitting from the Warrumbungles, was the first station in Australia to relay another completely, and made CBN/CWN the first regional television network. An independent station in Griffith, MTN-9, began later that month on December 15.

CBN constructed translator stations to improve picture quality in the surrounding area, beginning with Channel 6 Lithgow (1965), Ch 9 Mudgee (1968), Ch 10 Cobar/Kandos/Rylstone (1969), Ch 4 Portland/Wallerawang (1972), Ch 11 Bathurst (1977) and Ch 5A Hay. Access to the PMG microwave link in 1968 allowed CBN to broadcast the National News and other major events live and direct for the first time.

By the early seventies many stand-alone regional stations were in financial difficulties due to high programming costs outstripping advertising revenue; CBN-8/CWN-6 and MTN-9 Griffith no exceptions. So in 1973 the 3 stations joined in a strategic alliance to share programming and reduce costs, calling themselves Television 6-8-9.

In 1975 6-8-9 joined the rest of the nation in switching on colour transmission from March 1. The transfer of all operations and equipment to colour had been the most expensive process undertaken by CBN so far.

Local sport telecasts, especially tennis and rugby, were prominent on the station in the late 70s/early 80s. From 1979 CBN-8 was a sponsor and broadcaster of the United Permanent Tennis Tournament, the only tournament of its kind in Australia. The National Rodeo Titles in 1978 led to a 30-minute documentary called Goin' Down The Road, which went on to win the 'Outstanding Contribution by a Regional Station' Logie Award in 1979.

The network adopted a new identity in March 1981, changing the name to MidState Television.

The largest ever crew for a CBN-8 broadcast, 27 people, were directly involved in the live telecast of the Royal Visit to Bathurst in 1982, sending the footage throughout western NSW and major metropolitan stations.

Ramcorp Ltd, largely owned by health and media mogul Paul Ramsay, bought CBN-8 and CWN-6 for $55 million on 8 October 1987. The company already owned regional stations AMV/RVN in Albury and Wagga Wagga, and had also just purchased NEN/ECN in Tamworth and Taree, preparing for the government's television equalisation scheme - aggregation. By purchasing these solus stations now, the company would soon have complete access to 3 of the major regional television markets in Australia: Southern NSW, Northern NSW and Victoria.

Local television production was promised to be maintained, if not increased, by Ramcorp Ltd at the time of the purchase. However, local programming like Focus, Rural Roundup, Early Shift, Weekend Report, Time to Live, Around the Schools and local special event coverage soon dwindled away to nothing. The staff numbers in Orange were almost halved in 2 years, and leading to aggregation the morale throughout the station was reported as being 'at an all time low'.

MidState changed its name to that of Ramcorp's other TV stations, Prime Television, in November 1988, and began screening more Channel Seven programs in preparation for complete affiliation to the Sydney network. Work began on new studios in Canberra and Wollongong to expand network coverage, as did that of competitor broadcasters in Orange and Dubbo. The launch date for aggregation in the Orange area was put back due to technical problems, but eventually the region saw the addition of its 2 new UHF TV stations, WIN and 10 Capital, on December 31, 1989. In 1991 the Wagga and Orange Prime TV licences were consolidated, with all RVN stations renamed CBN.

Due to the relatively small market, the government deemed Griffith unable to support 3 commercial television stations and left MTN-9 out of aggregation. It was then abandoned by the evolving MidState/Prime Network, and became an affiliate of the Nine Network. In 1996 MTN successfully bid for a second licence, AMN31, with a programming feed again from Prime Television in Orange. Both MTN stations were eventually sold to WIN TV in 1998.

RVN2 Wagga Wagga began on 19 June 1964, while AMV4 Albury began on the 7 September later that year.

By the early seventies many stand alone regional stations were in financial
difficulties due to high programming costs outstripping advertising revenue. RVN2 and AMV4 merged in 1971 to form the Riverina and North East Victoria Television Service Pty Ltd, known as RVN/AMV. However it wasn't until 1976 that RVN2 began taking over the transmission of AMV4 from the Wagga studios. Relays included Channel 11 in Wagga and 6 in Young.

In 1983 RVN/AMV was faced with the problem of New South Wales and Victoria ending daylight saving at different times. For three weeks the RVN output was recorded and played to AMV on a 1 hour delay. Until their de-merger RVN/AMV was unique in often playing different programmes on RVN to those playing on AMV, especially, news programmes (AMV taking Melbourne broadcasts, RVN from Sydney) and sport (RVN showing Rugby League, AMV showing Australian Rules).

1986

1989-1991

In 1986 RVN/AMV and Midstate 6,8,9 (Dubbo, Orange and Griffith) in NSW merged to form 'The Prime Network'. The name changed to Prime Television in 1988, and work began on the new studios in Canberra and Wollongong in readyness for aggregation.

AMV finally de-merged from RVN in December 1989, to become the hub of Prime Television in the Victorian aggregated market. RVN2 Wagga Wagga joint up with the aggregated Prime Television in NSW to become CBN2.

When Victoria was aggregated in 1992 Prime became the affiliate of the Seven Network.

In 1996, Prime bought a licence to broadcast in Mildura, which had not been aggregated, and on the 1 July 1997 Prime began broadcasting.

NEN9 Upper Namoi (Tamworth) started on the 27 September 1965. ECN8 Taree started on May 27 1966. NEN1 Armidale began on the 15 July 1966.

ECN8 later merged with NRN11 Coffs Harbour, then broke of and merged with NEN9 Tamworth to create NEN9-ECN8. ECN8 later became NEN8. Their logo before aggregation was the silhuette of an aboringinal standing one legged leaning on spears.

It joined the Prime Television group and became the affiliate of the Seven Network in Northern NSW and the Gold Coast after aggregation on the 31 December 1991.

Continue to the 1990s »

c. 1987

1989-1991