Lights to be turned off for Channel 39
As the year winds up for the production team this year is something quite different indeed for Channel 39. It looks like the lights will be turned...
www.odt.co.nzShort answer: Channel 39 in Dunedin, New Zealand, operated by Allied Press, has been reported as closing in late 2023 with the main 20-minute South Today bulletin ending, though the South Today brand continued online; latest widely cited coverage indicates the broadcast ceased by Christmas 2023. [web citations: related reporting from Otago Daily Times and Stuff notes, see sources below]
Details and context:
- What Channel 39 is/was: A regional television station serving Dunedin and the Otago/Southland area, owned by Allied Press, with the flagship local news program The South Today.[4][5]
- Timeline of closure: In December 2023, reports indicated Allied Press was considering closing Channel 39 due to funding reductions and changing viewer habits; sources note the lights turning off and the daily 20-minute news bulletin ceasing by late 2023. The South Today brand would continue online via the Otago Daily Times site and YouTube with some format changes.[1][3][4]
- Aftermath: Channel 39 ceased over-the-air broadcasting in the Dunedin region; Allied Productions (the production arm) would continue to operate, producing regional content and services.[3][5]
Current status note:
- As of the most recent detailed updates, Channel 39 is no longer broadcasting as a traditional TV channel in the Otago/Southland area, with its online presence (The South Today) continuing in hosted form on local media platforms. If you need, I can pull the latest local coverage or provide archived broadcast schedules and where to find remaining content online.
Sources you can check for the latest details:
- Otago Daily Times: Uncertainty for Channel 39 (Dec 2023) and follow-up articles about closure plans.[1]
- Stuff/NZ News coverage on Channel 39 closure and the continuation of The South Today online.[4]
- Channel 39 historical overview and status summaries on Wikipedia pages about Channel 39 (New Zealand) and its closure timeline.[2][6]
Would you like me to gather the most recent online availability of The South Today content or provide a short map of where to find remaining Channel 39-related material online?