TNQ is a regional Australian television station serving Queensland and operating as part of Network 10.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
TNQ is the television-station identity associated with Network 10 broadcasting in regional Queensland, particularly North Queensland. Its history is rooted in two earlier regional services: TNQ-7 in Townsville, which began broadcasting in 1962, and FNQ-10 in Cairns, which launched in 1966. These services formed the basis of North Queensland Television, or NQTV, in 1978. The station’s identity and affiliation changed several times as Australia reorganised its regional television markets and introduced aggregation. During the 1980s, NQTV developed a recognisable local presence through station branding, regional news, and current-affairs programming. It used locally adapted promotional material and the slogan “The Place to Be” for much of the period from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. Its news and public-affairs output was especially significant in North Queensland. Newsweek, a weekly current-affairs programme created under news director Rick Anderton, ran for more than a decade and received more than sixteen national Thorn EMI awards according to the station’s historical account. State Focus also presented regional political and public-interest issues, including a live North Queensland television debate described as a first of its kind in the area. In preparation for regional aggregation, NQTV initially planned to become the Nine Network affiliate for regional Queensland. A viewer competition selected the name QTV, and the station temporarily adopted a Nine-inspired visual identity. That plan changed after WIN Television acquired Star Television and moved the Nine affiliation to its own regional Queensland operations. QTV therefore became the regional Ten affiliate when aggregation took effect in 1990. Its news identity shifted from QTV News to QTV Eyewitness News, and later to Ten North Queensland News. The station became part of the Ten Group Consortium in 1992–1993, prompting the transition from QTV to Ten Queensland and the adoption of generic Network Ten branding. Southern Cross acquired Telecasters in 2001, and the service was subsequently branded Southern Cross Ten from 2002. The Southern Cross ownership period included major changes to local news. In 2001, the North Queensland Ten Local News bulletin was discontinued as part of cost reductions, with viewers receiving Ten News Brisbane instead. The decision, alongside the cancellation of Ten Capital News in Canberra, contributed to wider scrutiny by the Australian Broadcasting Authority. Short local news updates returned in 2004 under Southern Cross News branding. TNQ changed affiliations twice in the twenty-first century. On 1 July 2016, Southern Cross moved its regional Queensland television services from Network Ten to the Nine Network, replacing Southern Cross Ten branding with generic Nine branding. The service carried Nine programming and regional news arrangements, and from 2017 to 2020 it also co-produced weekday Brisbane-based editions of Nine News Darwin before production returned to NTD. On 1 July 2021, Southern Cross switched the regional Queensland affiliation back to Network 10 and introduced generic 10 branding. Southern Cross Austereo announced in December 2024 that it would sell its regional television licences in Queensland, Southern New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, and regional Victoria, to its affiliate Network 10. The transaction was completed on 1 March 2025. TNQ consequently became directly owned and operated by Network 10. The station remains a regional broadcast service rather than a conventional consumer product brand, delivering Network 10 programming together with whatever localised news, information, and transmission services are provided for regional Queensland.
History
TNQ’s history begins with the development of commercial television in northern Queensland. The Townsville service TNQ-7 launched on 1 November 1962, followed by the Cairns service FNQ-10 on 7 September 1966. In 1978, the two regional operations were brought together in the North Queensland Television partnership, commonly known as NQTV. The combined service created a broader regional television operation across North Queensland while retaining the importance of Townsville and Cairns as local production and transmission centres. NQTV built its public identity through local station promotions, news, and current affairs. In 1984 it adopted a localised version of NBC’s “Just Watch Us Now” promotional theme and used “The Place to Be” as a slogan from the middle of the decade until 1993. Its news operation included a half-hour local bulletin at 5:30 p.m. and later a one-hour 6 p.m. bulletin. From the late 1970s, the station also produced Newsweek and State Focus. Newsweek ran for more than ten years and was credited with more than sixteen national Thorn EMI awards. State Focus addressed state and regional issues and included a live television debate in North Queensland. The introduction of television aggregation in regional Queensland produced a major branding and affiliation crisis. NQTV expected to become the Nine Network affiliate and ran a competition that selected QTV as its new name. The station briefly used a Nine-dot logo and a Nine-oriented presentation package. Before aggregation, however, WIN Television acquired Star Television, which operated in Toowoomba and Rockhampton, and shifted the Nine affiliation to its own regional network. QTV was left to take the vacant Ten affiliation. Its news presentation consequently changed from the Nine-influenced QTV News format to QTV Eyewitness News, aligned more closely with Ten’s news identity. Following its participation in the Ten Group Consortium in 1992–1993, QTV adopted the name Ten Queensland and increasingly used standardised Ten branding. The news service became Ten North Queensland News. In January 2000, the format was changed in response to demand for local coverage: the six o’clock bulletin was reduced to thirty minutes and renamed Ten Local News, while Ten News Brisbane was provided for broader state and national coverage. After Telecasters was acquired by Southern Cross in 2001, Southern Cross cancelled Ten Local News in North Queensland later that year. The decision attracted criticism and became part of the context for an Australian Broadcasting Authority inquiry into local television news. Local coverage returned in 2004 through short Southern Cross News updates. Southern Cross rebranded the service Southern Cross Ten in 2002. This identity lasted until the major affiliation change of 1 July 2016, when Southern Cross moved regional Queensland from Network Ten to Nine. The station then carried Nine programming, including national and state news arrangements, A Current Affair, and 60 Minutes, and local updates were known as Local News Headlines. From 2017 to 2020, the operation also helped produce weekday Brisbane-based editions of Nine News Darwin for viewers in the Northern Territory. On 1 July 2021, Southern Cross returned the service to Network 10. Generic 10 branding replaced the Nine presentation. In December 2024, Southern Cross Austereo announced an agreement to sell the relevant regional television licences to Network 10. Completion on 1 March 2025 transferred ownership and operation of TNQ to Network 10. The service’s identity therefore reflects several phases: independent regional broadcasting, Ten-affiliated QTV and Ten Queensland operations, Southern Cross ownership, a temporary Nine affiliation, and its present direct relationship with Network 10.
- 2025
Network 10 completes the regional licence acquisition
[1]Network 10 completes the purchase of the regional Queensland television licences from Southern Cross Austereo on 1 March.
- 2021
TNQ returns to Network 10
[1]The primary affiliation changes back from Nine to Network 10 on 1 July.
- 2016
TNQ moves to the Nine Network
[1]Southern Cross changes the primary affiliation in regional Queensland from Network Ten to Nine on 1 July.
- 2011
Analogue television transmissions cease
[1]Analogue transmissions associated with the service end on 6 December as part of Australia’s national analogue shutdown.
- 2004
Local news returns as short updates
[1]Southern Cross reintroduces local coverage through brief news updates broadcast at various times.
- 2002
Southern Cross Ten branding begins
[1]The service is rebranded Southern Cross Ten along with other Southern Cross-owned Ten affiliates.
- 2001
Southern Cross acquires Telecasters
[1]Southern Cross purchases Telecasters, bringing the regional Queensland Ten affiliate under Southern Cross ownership.
- 1992
Telecasters joins the Ten Group Consortium
[1]The ownership group associated with the service becomes part of the Ten Group Consortium during 1992–1993, leading to the Ten Queensland identity.
- 1990
QTV becomes the regional Ten affiliate
[1]After the planned Nine affiliation falls through, QTV takes the Network Ten affiliation when regional Queensland television is aggregated.
- 1984
NQTV adopts new promotional branding
[1]NQTV introduces a localised version of the “Just Watch Us Now” promotional theme.
Products and positioning
A regional free-to-air television service connecting Queensland audiences with national Network 10 programming and locally relevant news and information.
Free-to-air television broadcasting · 1978
Regional Queensland television service
TNQ is primarily a broadcast service rather than a packaged consumer product. It distributes Network 10 programming to viewers in regional Queensland, particularly across the North Queensland market, through the terrestrial television infrastructure associated with the service.
Television news · 1978
Regional news and local updates
Across different ownership periods, TNQ has provided local bulletins, regional news segments, and short updates for Queensland communities. The scale and format of this output have changed over time, including the cancellation of a dedicated North Queensland bulletin in 2001 and the later return of brief local updates.
Current affairs · 1970
Newsweek
Newsweek was a weekly thirty-minute current-affairs programme produced from Townsville from the late 1970s. It ran for more than a decade and focused on issues relevant to North Queensland. The programme was associated with more than sixteen national Thorn EMI awards for Australian current-affairs journalism.
Public affairs · 1970
State Focus
State Focus was a public-affairs programme covering issues across Queensland. The historical service is also associated with the first live television debate of its kind in North Queensland. It is no longer identified as a current TNQ offering.
Brand decisions
2025
Transfer ownership of regional television licences to Network 10M&ABackground
Southern Cross Austereo announced the sale of regional television licences in Regional Queensland and other Australian regions to its affiliate Network 10 in December 2024.
Action taken
The transaction was completed on 1 March 2025, transferring ownership and operation of the TNQ service to Network 10.
Aftermath
TNQ became a directly Network 10-owned regional television service rather than a Southern Cross-operated affiliate.
2021
Return the service to Network 10StrategyBackground
Southern Cross changed its regional network relationship five years after moving the Queensland service to Nine.
Action taken
On 1 July, Nine branding was retired and generic 10 branding was introduced.
Aftermath
The service resumed its Network 10 affiliation and later became directly owned by Network 10 after the 2025 licence transaction.
2016
Switch the regional Queensland affiliation to NineStrategyBackground
Southern Cross altered its national network arrangements for regional television markets.
Action taken
On 1 July, the service moved from Network Ten to the Nine Network and retired Southern Cross Ten branding.
Aftermath
TNQ carried Nine programming and regional news arrangements until the affiliation moved back to Network 10 in 2021.
2001
Cancel Ten Local News in North QueenslandStrategyBackground
After Southern Cross acquired Telecasters, the new owner reviewed regional news operations as part of cost reductions.
Action taken
The dedicated North Queensland Ten Local News bulletin was discontinued and Ten News Brisbane was supplied instead.
Aftermath
The decision, together with the cancellation of Ten Capital News, contributed to an Australian Broadcasting Authority inquiry into local television news. Local news later returned in short-update form.
1990
Adopt the Network Ten affiliation after aggregationStrategyBackground
NQTV had prepared to become the Nine affiliate for regional Queensland, but WIN Television’s acquisition of Star Television changed the regional affiliation landscape before aggregation.
Action taken
QTV abandoned its planned Nine relationship and took the vacant Network Ten affiliation, changing its news presentation to reflect Ten branding.
Aftermath
The change established the service’s long association with Network Ten and led to the QTV Eyewitness News identity.
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