Canterbury Television

The Ground & First Floors.

Stella Cheersmith

Canterbury Television was an independent television station that launched in 1991 and occupied Level 1 and 2 of the CTV building as its main tenant. Only one employee of the 17 that were in the building survived the earthquake on 22 February 2011, and their studios were completely destroyed. Despite this huge loss of staff and equipment, the company found temporary studios in the Mainland Press building and began broadcasting again in Aprill of 2011, returning to air fully by May.

History:

• Christchurch Press 26 February 2011: Section A, Page 20 | "Channel finds itself the news." - This article reports on the missing employees of Canterbury Television in the immediate aftermath of the February 22 earthquake. It includes a brief history of the broadcasting company as well as statements from people who worked with the channel previously and people who knew those killed in the building.
• Christchurch Press 29 September 2011: Section C, Page 8 | "Culture of can-do prevails at CTV despite adversity." - Provides a good overview of the timeline for Canterbury Television following the building’s collapse on February 22 and up to its full return to air in May 2011.
• Christchurch Press 25 January 2014: Section C, Page 2 | "CTV rises again." - Two-page article that gives a detailed account on the impact of the earthquake on CTV as well as its road back to the air. Includes interviews with staff members and presenters, and a photo of their CTV memorial with the names of those staff members who died. Continued on Page 3.

Credit: Paul Corliss. Source: https://quakestudies.canterbury.ac.nz/store/object/203607

Resources:

• CTV journalist who survived Christchurch quake | RNZ - This audio file from Radio New Zealand National was recorded and broadcast on 24 February 2011, when the number of those killed in the CTV collapse was unknown and rescue efforts were still underway. This report contains an interview with Emily Cooper, a Canterbury Television journalist who was covering a story in Hagley Park when the earthquake hit. Cooper talks about the aftermath and her time near the CTV site, waiting for any news of her colleagues.
• Christchurch Press 19 March 2011: Section C, Page 15 | "Regional TV 'deprived of its lifeblood'." - This is the obituary for Murray Wood, who was killed when the CTV building collapsed. Wood was the Managing Director for Canterbury Television, as well as a classically trained pianist and a father of six.
• Christchurch Press 4 April 2011: Section A, Page 15 | "Why we need our regional TV." - Article written by Grant Mangin, one of the original presenters at CTV. Mangin talks about the history of Canterbury Television and how the broadcaster helped bring publicity to local communities and small businesses.
• Christchurch Press 7 April 2011: Section A, Page 3 | "CTV back on air soon." - Details the company’s temporary relocation to the Mainland Press building, and their plan to partially return to air on 18 April 2011. The first broadcast would include a tribute to the 16 staff members who died in the earthquake, and their ongoing coverage would focus on Christchurch’s recovery.
• CTV back on air | RNZ - This audio file from Checkpoint includes an interview with the Chairperson of Canterbury Television, Nick Smith. Smith reflects on how those working for the broadcaster have coped in the aftermath of the earthquake, and discusses their temporary premises in the Mainland Press Building as well as their plans to begin broadcasting news again.
• Christchurch Press 26 April 2011: The Box, Page 2 | New CTV lineup on air." - Outlines some of the programmes returning to CTV, as well as new or revamped shows (like City Life and Susan Sells) and returning presenters (like Sue Wells).
• Christchurch Press 3 May 2011: Section A, Page 4 | "CTV makes do and programmes return to air." - Article covers CTV’s full return to air with all programmes back. The company had a temporary agreement with Māori Television to air certain broadcasts the following day – from 8am to 10am and 1pm to 3pm on weekdays, and 8am to 2pm on weekends. This was the first time CTV broadcasts were aired nationwide and the arrangement was set to continue until the end of July 2011.

Credit: The Press, Fairfax Media New Zealand. Source: https://quakestudies.canterbury.ac.nz/store/object/246043

• Christchurch Press 7 May 2011: Section A, Page 13 | "Offers of help from around the world for CTV." - Article covers the news that television studios from around the world have given CTV access to their back catalogues. New Zealand companies had offered approximately 200 hours of free programming, and some companies had offered programmes that had not been broadcast in New Zealand before.
• Fairfax Video, April 2011 - Video on the CTV’s return to air, including an interview with Rob Cope-Williams, presenter.

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