South Pacific Television logo, 1976

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

The Early Days

South Pacific Television, then known as TV2, first went to air on June 30, 1975. It was the second television network to be established in the country that year, after Television One went to air on April 1, replacing the former New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation (NZBC)'s TV service.

In its first week as TV2, the network held New Zealand's first Telethon in aid of the St John's Ambulance. It raised $593,878.

The network could only be picked up in Auckland and Christchurch when the channel 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.

A year later, in 1976, TV2 was renamed South Pacific Television.

The Second Year

In 1977, broadcasting hours were cut on both channels and as a result South Pacific Television lost sixteen hours of broadcast time a week, forcing the channel to begin its broadcasting day at 3pm.

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

The End Is Near

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.

On February 15, 1980, Television One and South Pacific Televison were bought under the newly formed Television New Zealand with TV One remaining and South Pacific Television returning to its former name.

External Links

• TVNZ (http://www.tvnz.co.nz)

• TVNZ - History of Television in NZ (http://corporate.tvnz.co.nz/tvnz_detail/0,2406,111544-247-252,00.html)

• Aus.TV.History NZ - New Zealand TV History (http://www.angeltowns.com/members/austvhistory/nz/index.htm)