Channel 39: Your local channel
Welcome to Dunedin's own, and only, local television channel jwplayer("videoContainer").setup({ file: "/files/page_content/55_CH9PRES2007.flv", height: 260,
www.channel39.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?