The date regarded as the opening day for Australian television, as Sydney’s TCN9 becomes the first station to commence daily program transmission. The new station broadcast for around three hours a night for its first six weeks, ahead of the official opening which took place on 27 October.
Opening night began with a voice-over station identification by John Godson, before host Bruce Gyngell introduced the first program, This Is Television, and greeted viewers: “Good evening, and welcome to television.”
The rest of the night included segments of upcoming shows plus the first episode of game show What’s My Line and imported programs I Love Lucy, Father Knows Best and Robin Hood. The Air Force Show featured news director Mike Ramsden’s interview with an Air Vice-Marshall on what was the last day of Air Force Week, and the night ended with filmed highlights of a ballet performance from the Tivoli Theatre.
The first commercial, aired at 7.29pm, was for Rothman’s cigarettes followed by a 10-second advertisement for Pepsi Cola.
TCN9: Australia’s first channel [2016]
Source: Sunday Telegraph, 16 September 1956
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| 6PM | 6.45pm Test Pattern | |
| 7PM | 7pm This Is Television 7.30 The Johnny O’Connor Show 7.45 The Patti Page Show |
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| 8PM | 8pm What’s My Line? 8.30 Douglas Fairbanks Presents |
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| 9PM | 9pm The Air Force Show 9.15 Accent On Strings 9.30 I Love Lucy |
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| 10PM | 10pm Father Knows Best 10.30 Robin Hood 10.50 Katherine Dunham Dancers |
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| 11PM | 11pm Close | |
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