The article is divided into the following sections:

Founding Stations RVN2/AMV4 NEN9/ECN8 Midstate 6-8-9 Golden West Network (GWN) Other Services Prime Mildura Prime New Zealand Azul Television Argentina Prime Radio Related links

Founding Stations

RVN2/AMV4

Prime Television originated with RVN2, based in Wagga Wagga and AMV4, based in Albury, both stations commencing transmission in 1964 (RVN on the 19th of June, AMV on the 7th of September). These two stations merged as the Riverina & North East Victoria Television Service in 1972. In 1976, AMV took over transmission for RVN. RVN/AMV merged with the Midstate 6-8-9 Network in 1986 to form "The Prime Network", eventually becoming Prime Television 2 years later. In 1989, RVN and AMV separated, with AMV becoming Prime's regional Victoria station and RVN becoming a relay of CBN as part of Prime Southern NSW. After aggregation, both AMV and RVN/CBN became Seven affiliate stations.

In the early 1990s, AMV switched its primary signal in Albury from VHF channel 4 to channel 11, as part of the national clearance of TV services from VHF Band II (Channels 3, 4, 5, 5A) which overlapped the FM radio band.

NEN9/ECN8

In Northern NSW and the Gold Coast of Queensland, Prime was formed from NEN9 Tamworth (started 27 September 1965) and ECN8 Taree (started 27 May 1966). When ECN8 was considering closing up (sometime in 1968-69), they originally approached NBN3 to take over ECN8, but the then Australian Broadcasting Control Board rejected that plan. ECN8 then approached NRN11 to take ECN8 over, but neither station could come to a deal on the take over. ECN8 finally approached NEN9 with the plan of NEN using ECN as a relay station. This plan was agreed to, and ECN started to relay NEN's signal at the end of March 1969. ECN8 amalgamated with NEN9 on 21 November 1971. In 1973 NEN9 started a programme called "Countryside". It was picked up by 16 TV stations around Australia.

The station callsign ECN8 was still being used in some capacity as late as 1985, indicating that whilst ECN8 did become NEN8, the callsign change may not have occured until the mid-late 1980s.

Between the 9/8 merger and the sale of the channels to Prime Television, NEN9/ECN8 joined with NRN11 (Coffs Harbour) to create Great Eastland Television. NEN9 was brought by Prime Television In 1988/1989. Their Logo Before being brought by Prime was a Aboriginal leaning against a spear.

Prime became the Northern NSW/Gold Coast Seven affiliate upon aggregation on the 31st of December 1991.

Midstate 6-8-9

In Southern NSW, Prime came into being through CBN8 Orange (on-air since 17th March, 1962), CWN6 Dubbo (1965) and MTN9 Griffith (15th of December, 1965). After 8 years as a separate station, MTN9 joined forces with CBN/CWN in 1973. The combined stations used the Television 6-8-9 banner, later changing to Midstate 6-8-9. During the "Television 6-8-9" days, CBN/CWN used the "Television 8-6" branding when MTN9 aired separate programming. The stations joined up with RVN-AMV in 1986 to form the "Prime Network", changing to "Prime Television" in 1988. On March 31, 1989, Southern NSW and the Canberra area were aggregated with Prime joining the Seven Network in these markets. CBN and RVN's licences were merged in 1991, with RVN adopting CBN's call letters.

MTN broke away from the Prime Network following aggregation, and instead joined an affiliation with Nine and WIN. It is now owned by WIN Television, however a second service broadcasting Prime - taking a feed intended for one of its former Midstate partners - operates under the callsign AMN. For more information please see the MTN9 Griffith page.

Golden West Network (GWN)

Prime Television also owns the Golden West Network (GWN), which is the Seven Network affiliate for regional Western Australia. Prime acquired GWN in 1996.

Other Services

Prime Mildura

On the 1st of July, 1997, Prime Television also launched PTV32, providing a second commercial television service to Mildura, and breaking the long-standing STV8 (WIN) monopoly.

Prime and WIN Television are the joint licence holders of the digital channel Ten Mildura (MDV-33) to begin broadcast in January 2006, providing Mildura with a full-scale Ten affiliate signal.

Prime New Zealand

Prime also launched Prime Television New Zealand in 1998, which became a psuedo-Nine Network affilate in 2001 following PBL (owners of the Nine Network) purchasing 50% of the business. Prime NZ is broadcasting primarily on the UHF band, and also via the SKY Television service.

In 2005, Prime sold its share of the NZ operation to SKY Television for approximately $A28.4 million.

Azul Television Argentina

In the mid-late 1990's, Prime made a foray into Argentina, purchasing Azul Television. That country's finances took a turn for the worse, as did the station's fortunes, and a few years later Prime sold the station off to investors.

Prime Radio

In 2005, Prime made its first expansion into non-television media outlets with the purchase of six radio stations in regional Queensland (4CA-FM Cairns, 4MK-FM Mackay, SEA-FM and MIX-FM Townsville, 4RO and 4CC Rockhampton) from the Macquarie Regional Radioworks group.

Related links

Official:
http://www.primetv.com.au - Prime Television Australia
http://www.gwn.com.au - Golden West Network
http://www.primetv.co.nz - Prime Television New Zealand

Other:
http://www.xroyvision.com.au/ecv/rvn/index.html - RVN2 history