STW

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = STW
city =
station_
station_slogan = We Heart TV
station_branding = Nine
analog = 9 (VHF)
digital = 8 (VHF)
other_chs =
affiliations = Nine
network = Nine
founded =
airdate = June 12, 1965
location = Perth, Western Australia
callsign_meaning = Swan
Television
Western Australia
former_callsigns =
former_channel_numbers =
owner = WIN Corporation Pty Ltd
licensee = Swan Television & Radio Broadcasters Pty Ltd
sister_stations =
former_affiliations = independent (1965-1988)
effective_radiated_power = 200 kW (analog)
50 kW (digital)
HAAT = 321 m (analog)
327 m (digital) [HAAT estimated from http://www.itu.int/SRTM3/ using EHAAT.]
class =
facility_id =
coordinates = coord|31|59|53|S|116|4|20|E|type:landmark_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.9perth.com.au/ www.9perth.com.au]

STW is an Australian television station owned by the WIN Corporation that is based in Perth, Australia.Based in Dianella, Western Australia, "STW" broadcasts with a transmitter mast located in Walliston. The station's name, "STW" is an acronym of Swan Television, Western Australia.

History

Origins

STW-9 commenced broadcasting on 12 June1965 and was the second commercial television station in Perth. It became the first station in Perth to broadcast 24 hours a day on 17 April1984. In the late 1980s, the station came under the ownership of Bond Media, owned by infamous businessman Alan Bond, and became a Nine Network owned and operated station when Bond purchased the network. In 1989 Bond Media sold the station to Sunraysia Television for AUD$95 million. The deal also involved Bond Media purchasing the Sunraysia owned STV-8 for AUD$18 million. Bond Media was forced to sell due to the Federal cross-media ownership laws, which restricted the level of national reach for media owners. [cite news | author = Webb, Richard | title = Sunraysia settles STW-9 purchase | work = Australian Financial Review | date = 1989-04-20]

2000s

In January 2007, Sunraysia Television posted a profit warning, with an expected 12% drop in revenue over the past six months. The company cited a weak local advertising market and low ratings for the reduced revenue, despite a strong WA economy. [cite news | author = Canning, Simon | title = STW profits hit by ad drop | work = The Australian | date = 2007-10-01 | url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21016898-7582,00.html | accessdate = 2007-10-01 ] The profit warning lead to speculation of a potential takeover of STW-9, with PBL and regional network WIN Television indicated as potential bidders. [cite news
author = Murray, Lisa
title = WIN, Packer seen as rival bidders for Perth Channel 9
work = Sydney Morning Herald
date = 2007-01-10
url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/articles/2007/01/09/1168104982234.html
accessdate = 2007-01-10 ] PBL Media announced in February 2007 that it would purchase STW-9 for AUD$136.4 million, with the deal to be completed in late March or early April subject to shareholder approval. [cite news
title = PBL Media buys Channel Nine Perth
work = The Age
date = 2007-02-21
url = http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/02/21/1171733813368.html
accessdate = 2007-02-21 ] After PBL Media bid for the station, 45% shareholder WIN Corporation wanted to buy out the station itself, it lodged two bids and in June 2007 shareholders approved the sale of the station to WIN.

Programming

Nine Perth's local productions [http://www.9perth.com.au/LocalProductions.aspx www.9perth.com.au] have a strong focus on WA-centric lifestyle, with most of it also shown on regional affiliate WIN Television WA. Programs include:
* "Garden Gurus" (Lifestyle - Gardening) - Saturdays 5:00 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.
* "Golfing WA" (Golfing) - Sunday afternoon
* "Just Add Water" (Perth summer lifestyle) - Sundays 7:30 p.m. (Summer specials only)
* "Postcards WA" (Travel) - Sundays 5:30 p.m.
* "The Real Estate, Lifestyle and Investments Program" (Real estate) - Saturday morning/afternoon
* "Drivetime TV" (Motoring) - Saturday afternoon

News & Current Affairs

"National Nine News" is produced at STW's news studios in Dianella, Perth. It is broadcast live each night at 6pm across Perth and regional Western Australia. The bulletin is presented by Dixie Marshall and Greg Pearce, alongside sports presenter Michael Thomson and weather presenter Angela Tsun. Weekend bulletins are presented by Sharlyn Sarac and Matt Tinney, with Mark Readings presenting sport.

The Perth bulletin is currently the most poorly performing National Nine News bulletin in Australia, typically holding third or fourth place. This is commonly attributed to the popularity of rival station TVW-7's "Seven News Perth", which regularly attracts over 100,000 viewers more than "National Nine News Perth". Fact|date=July 2007

Perth's "National Nine News" bulletin was the first and only Australian news bulletin to have two female anchors, Dixie Marshall and Sonia Vinci. They were also the faces of Nine Perth's general operations and promotions, until Sonia Vinci was appointed to host an imported version of A Current Affair and former Network Ten newsreader Greg Pearce appointed in her place, in early 2008, but she quit after the announcement when the imported version is to be added by Louise Momber.

The station also broadcasts Nine Network produced Sydney-based news content, including "Today", "Nine Morning News", "Nine's Afternoon News", "Nightline" and in Melbourne-based, "A Current Affair" until the launch of the Perth Edition. STW will soon broadcast a local version of "A Current Affair", hosted by Louise Momber.

Appealathon

In its 30 years, Channel Nine Perth's Appealathon has raised in excess of $53.5 million. Since 1975, Appealathon has supported four specific charities with Appealathon funds: the Activ Foundation, Civilian Maimed & Limbless Association, Paraplegic/Quadriplegic Association and Rocky Bay. Many other organisations are helped as well on a yearly basis. The Appealathon is involved in over 50 fundraising events and projects across Perth each year.

Broadcasting details

Analogue frequency: VHF 9
Digital frequency: VHF 8

References

External links

* [http://www.9perth.com.au Official Site]
* [http://www.wintv.com.au/about.php Corporate Site]