Channel 39

Channel 39 was a regional television station based in Dunedin, New Zealand, and a division of Allied Press, the publisher of the Otago Daily Times. The station developed from a tourism-oriented service launched in 1995 into a local television outlet focused on news, community affairs, entertainment, tourism, sport, and live events. During its life it operated under several names, including Channel 9, Dunedin Television, Southern Television, and Channel 39. The station began transmission in 1995 as a tourism channel. In 1997 it broadened its role by becoming a local station carrying news and other locally relevant programming under the Channel 9 name. In 2003, Allied Press assumed a more central role in the station and redirected its strategy toward local news. This gave Channel 39 a close relationship with the Otago Daily Times and positioned the broadcaster as a regional media service rather than solely a visitor-information channel. A major transition occurred in March 2013, when New Zealand completed its move to digital television. Channel 9 was rebranded as Dunedin Television and moved to Freeview HD channel 39. The number preserved an association with the station's earlier Channel 9 identity while establishing a new digital-era brand. The broadcaster also worked with local institutions, including the Dunedin City Council, and maintained production capabilities for commercials, short programmes, local events, and outside broadcasts. In September 2016, the service expanded its transmission coverage to Invercargill and adopted the Southern Television name. Its programming schedule combined locally produced material with programming supplied by national and international partners. Local output included The South Today, a daily half-hour news bulletin; Southern Newsweek, a weekly news compilation; Dunedin Diary, a current affairs, lifestyle, and arts programme; Scarfie Land, a student-focused show; Southern Attractions, a tourism programme; Story Time, a preschool programme; and coverage of local sport and public events. The station's outside-broadcast capability was an important part of its regional identity. Its purpose-built mobile unit, first used for a live broadcast of the Dunedin Santa Parade in December 2005, functioned as a portable production studio with video mixing, graphics, sound, editing, and multi-camera facilities. It supported live coverage from locations across Dunedin and Invercargill, including sporting and community events. By 2023, the station faced declining audience levels, reduced advertiser support, rising operating costs, and lower funding from New Zealand On Air. Reporting also identified weak online viewing figures for The South Today. In December 2023, Allied Press announced a proposal to close the television service by Christmas. The Invercargill transmission had already ceased earlier that month, and the station was expected to stop broadcasting by 22 December 2023. Allied Press said that The South Today name would continue through the Otago Daily Times website and YouTube, although the daily half-hour television bulletins would end. Channel 39 therefore became a defunct regional television brand, while some of its journalism and programme identity continued in digital form.

Channel 39 originated in 1995 as a tourism television station in Dunedin. Two years later, it expanded into a local station carrying news and adopted the Channel 9 identity. The service's role changed again in 2003, when it was reoriented toward local news and became a division of Allied Press, the Dunedin-based publisher of the Otago Daily Times. The station entered a new phase during New Zealand's transition to digital television. In March 2013, Channel 9 was renamed Dunedin Television and moved to Freeview HD channel 39. The new name connected the broadcaster with its home city, while the channel number retained a link to the heritage of Channel 9. Under Allied Press, the station also developed partnerships with local organisations, including the Dunedin City Council, and operated production facilities capable of creating commercials, short programmes, and locally focused television. In September 2016, the broadcaster extended coverage to Invercargill and changed its public identity to Southern Television. It operated from Allied Press's Stuart Street headquarters in Dunedin and maintained a branch office in Invercargill. Its output included a continuous schedule with locally focused prime-time programming, supplemented by content from national and international partners. The South Today became the station's principal local news programme. The live half-hour bulletin aired daily at 5:30 p.m., with repeat broadcasts at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., and received funding from New Zealand On Air. Other programmes included Southern Newsweek, a weekly compilation of local news; Dunedin Diary, a current-affairs, lifestyle, and arts programme hosted by Dougal Stevenson; Scarfie Land, a programme about student life in Dunedin; Southern Attractions, a tourism-oriented programme; Story Time, a preschool show; and local sports coverage spanning rugby, football, ice hockey, cricket, motorsport, and other activities. The broadcaster also invested in outside broadcasting. Its purpose-built mobile unit was first used for live coverage of the Dunedin Santa Parade on 4 December 2005. The unit functioned as a portable studio with digital video mixing, graphics, sound, editing, and capacity for up to six cameras. It could operate from mains electricity or its own power supply, allowing the station to cover community and sporting events from different locations. By late 2023, Channel 39's television model had become difficult to sustain. Declining public funding, low audience figures, increasing costs, and reduced advertising support were cited in reports about the proposed closure. The Invercargill service ended in early December, and Allied Press announced that the remaining television operation would close by Christmas, with 22 December identified as the proposed final date. The South Today was to continue as an Otago Daily Times digital property, but its daily television bulletins would stop. The Channel 39/Southern Television broadcast brand consequently became defunct at the end of 2023.

• 2023

  Television service closes

  [2]Stuff report on Channel 39 closurestuff.co.nz

  Allied Press announced the closure of Channel 39 by Christmas, while The South Today continued in a modified digital form.

• 2016

  Southern Television launches across Otago and Southland

  [1]Channel 39 (New Zealand)en.wikipedia.org

  Coverage expanded to Invercargill and the service adopted the Southern Television identity.

• 2013

  Rebrand as Dunedin Television and move to Freeview channel 39

  [1]Channel 39 (New Zealand)en.wikipedia.org

  During New Zealand's digital television transition, Channel 9 became Dunedin Television and moved to Freeview HD channel 39.

• 2005

  Outside-broadcast unit used for Dunedin Santa Parade

  [1]Channel 39 (New Zealand)en.wikipedia.org

  The station's purpose-built outside-broadcast vehicle was first used to televise the Dunedin Santa Parade live.

• 2003

  Allied Press assumes divisional control

  [1]Channel 39 (New Zealand)en.wikipedia.org

  The station was reoriented toward local news and became a division of Allied Press.

• 1997

  Expansion into local television

  [1]Channel 39 (New Zealand)en.wikipedia.org

  The station expanded into a local news-carrying service operating under the Channel 9 name.

• 1995

  Tourism station begins transmission

  [1]Channel 39 (New Zealand)en.wikipedia.org

  The service began broadcasting in Dunedin as a tourism-oriented television station.

A locally focused regional broadcaster serving communities in Otago and Southland, combining community news, regional affairs, tourism content, local sport, and event coverage.

• Local television news

  The South Today

  The South Today was Channel 39's flagship local news programme. It was broadcast live each day as a half-hour bulletin at 5:30 p.m., with repeat transmissions later in the evening. The programme covered news and events from the southern region and received funding from New Zealand On Air. After the television station's closure, Allied Press retained the brand for digital publication through the Otago Daily Times website and YouTube, although the daily television format ended.

• Weekly news programme

  Southern Newsweek

  Southern Newsweek presented a weekly roundup of news from Dunedin and the surrounding region. It drew on stories produced for the station's regular news coverage and provided a consolidated view of the week's local developments.

• Current affairs, lifestyle, and arts

  Dunedin Diary

  Dunedin Diary was a weekly magazine-style programme covering current affairs, lifestyle, and arts topics. It was hosted by veteran TVNZ 1 broadcaster Dougal Stevenson and reflected the station's emphasis on locally relevant cultural and community content.

• Student-oriented local programming

  Scarfie Land

  Scarfie Land showcased student life in Dunedin. Its roots lay in COW TV, or Campus Otago Weekly TV. The programme was associated with broadcaster Clarke Gayford, who pitched COW TV to the station after graduating from the New Zealand Graduate School. From 2015, the television format was replaced by a Facebook updates page.

• Tourism programming

  Southern Attractions

  Southern Attractions was a tourism programme aimed at visitors to Dunedin and the wider southern region. It was scheduled repeatedly during weekdays and at various weekend times, supporting the station's original tourism orientation while also promoting regional places and activities.

• Children's programming

  Story Time

  Story Time was a half-hour programme for preschool children and young viewers. It was hosted by Anita Cumming alongside the character Merlin the Mouse.

• Live and recorded regional broadcasting

  Local sports and event coverage

  The station covered a broad range of southern New Zealand sports, including rugby, football, ice hockey, cricket, motorsport cars, and bikes. Its outside-broadcast facilities also supported live coverage of community events and local sporting occasions in Dunedin and Invercargill.

• 2023

  Closure of the television operationStrategy

  Background

  Declining New Zealand On Air funding, low audience levels, higher operating costs, and reduced advertiser support made the regional television service difficult to sustain.

  Action taken

  Allied Press proposed closing Channel 39 by 22 December 2023. The Invercargill transmission ended earlier in December, while The South Today was retained for digital distribution.

  Aftermath

  The broadcast service became defunct, and the daily half-hour television news bulletin ended. The South Today continued online through the Otago Daily Times website and YouTube in a revised format.

  Source

• 2016

  Expansion into Invercargill and adoption of Southern Television nameStrategy

  Background

  The station sought to broaden its regional footprint beyond Dunedin.

  Action taken

  Coverage was extended to Invercargill and the broadcaster adopted the Southern Television identity.

  Aftermath

  The service presented itself as a broadcaster for the wider southern region, covering both Otago and Southland.

  Source

• 2013

  Digital-era rebrand and channel moveStrategy

  Background

  New Zealand's transition to digital television required the station to establish a new Freeview identity after operating as Channel 9.

  Action taken

  The service was renamed Dunedin Television and moved to Freeview HD channel 39, preserving the association with its former channel number.

  Aftermath

  The Channel 39 identity became the basis for the station's later branding, even though it subsequently operated publicly as Southern Television.

  Source

1. 1Channel 39 (New Zealand)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Stuff report on Channel 39 closurestuff.co.nz
3. 3Otago Daily Times report on proposed closureodt.co.nz