DNTV2

{{Short description|Local TV station in Dunedin, New Zealand}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox television channel | name = DNTV2 | logo = | logo_size = | logo_caption = | logo_alt = | image = | established = | airdate = | launch_date = {{Start date|1962|07|31|df=y}} | closed_date = {{End date|1975|03|31|df=y}} | picture_format = 576i black & white (1962–73)<br />576i PAL colour (1973–75) | network = NZBC TV (1969–75) | owner = New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation | parent = | motto = | country = New Zealand | language = English | area = South Island south of the Waitaki River | affiliates = | headquarters = | former_names = | replaced = | replaced_by = TV One | sister_channels = AKTV2, WNTV1, CHTV3 | timeshift_service = | website =  | terr_serv_1 = Analogue | terr_chan_1 = Channel 2 (Dunedin) <br /> Channel 1 (Southland) }}

'''DNTV2''' was a television station in Dunedin, New Zealand established by the then New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation in 1962.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/milestones-in-television-3573992 |title=Milestones in television | ENTERTAINMENT News |publisher=Tvnz.co.nz |date=31 May 2010 |accessdate=10 February 2012}}</ref> Its base, and studio complex operated from the historic Garrison Hall in Dowling Street. Until 2010 Garrison Hall was occupied by NHNZ which has since moved to a larger facility in Melville Street. Garrison Hall remains a television production hub to this day, it is now home to Animation Research, Taylormade Media, The Video Factory and Kahawai Productions.

thumb|Garrison Hall, Dunedin in 2011

==History== Broadcasting to Dunedin began on 31 July 1962. This followed successful start ups in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Initially there was no networking between the four stations, imported programmes and news footage needed to be physically sent between the different centres meaning differing transmission dates. The first programme seen at 6:30pm on launch day was a pair of children's features, ''Crusader Rabbit'' followed by ''Torchy the Battery Boy'' and ended at 10:30pm after the late news bulletin, with a final appearance from continuity announcer Beveley Pollock for the night and then the national anthem, which at the time was the British one.<ref name="channellingthesouth">{{cite web |title=Channelling the south |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/magazine/channelling-south |access-date=2 February 2026 |publisher=Otago Daily Times |date=28 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260202195951/https://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/magazine/channelling-south |archive-date=2 February 2026 }}</ref> The first network news was read by Dougal Stevenson on 5 November 1969.

Initially, DNTV2 was broadcast from a transmitter at Highcliff. Coverage was extended to South Otago and Southland in 1964 with the commissioning of relay stations at Kuriwao and Mount Hedgehope. The Mount Cargill transmitter was commissioned in 1970 to replace the Highcliff transmitter.<ref>{{cite news|date=28 June 1967|title=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)|publisher=New Zealand Parliament|volume=351|page=1394}}</ref>

Following expansion in the 1960s, news, administration and production staff moved to other locations nearby including Orbell Chambers and the Methodist Central Mission, both in Stuart Street. The set construction unit moved to Fryatt Street in the city's wharf area. This left the Garrison Hall facility as studios, transmission control, wardrobe, make-up and dressing rooms until June 1988, when a Dunedin newsroom was officially opened at the facility.

On 1 April 1975, DNTV2 was folded, along with Wellington-based WNTV1 into Television One. The newly created network would have two production facilities, those being Garrison Hall and the newly opened Avalon Television Centre. Although the Avalon facility was larger and purpose built, at times the production output from the Dunedin operation exceeded that of Avalon.<ref>{{cite web|last=Smith |first=Charmian |url=http://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/magazine/76360/130-years-a-centre-distraction |title=130 years a centre of distraction (page 1) | Otago Daily Times Online News : Otago, South Island, New Zealand & International News |publisher=Odt.co.nz |date=3 October 2009 |accessdate=10 February 2012}}</ref>

In 1980 Television One was combined with South Pacific Television to create a combined Television New Zealand. The Dunedin operation becoming one of four TVNZ production sites along with Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch. Although it was the smallest of the production centres, its share of output to the national networks stood at around 30% before TVNZ began cutbacks in the late 1980s and early 1990s.<ref>{{cite news|author=Alan Wood |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/new-year-honours-2011/6203521/Dunedin-turned-rock-n-roller-into-TV-entrepreneur |title=Ian Taylor | Dunedin turned rock'n'roller into TV... |work=Stuff.co.nz |date=31 December 2011 |accessdate=10 February 2012}}</ref> In effort to stave off competition from the soon to launch TV3, TVNZ production was scaled back nationwide and centralised in a new facility in Auckland.

While TVNZ was scaling back production, one exception was the Natural History Unit, which continued to thrive and was eventually sold off by TVNZ as a going concern as NHNZ. Other offshoot production companies were born out of TVNZ's retreat from Dunedin. Notable companies being Animation Research, Taylormade Productions, and Kids TV.

thumb|Studio recording of University Challenge thumb|Mr Lewis Calling – Studio Set thumb|TVNZ Dunedin Refurbished Post Production Suite (1986) thumb|Television One News Dunedin Studio - 1970's

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.arl.co.nz/ Animation Research Limited] * [http://www.taylormade.co.nz/ Taylormade Media Limited] * [http://www.nhnz.co.nz/ NHNZ] * [http://www.tvnz.co.nz/ Television New Zealand]

Category:Television stations in New Zealand Category:History of Dunedin Category:Mass media in Dunedin Category:Television channels and stations established in 1962