The first television test signals transmitted from the mast on top of 3YA were broadcast on 14 April 1961 consisting of an electronically made cross with wide vertical bar and a narrower horizontal one.
The first person to appear on Channel 3. the Christchurch television station, was Mr O. Paterson, a broadcasting announcer. When test signals were being sent out on May 2 he made two brief appearances, making the closing down announcement on the second.
Another broadcasting announcer, Mr Graeme Edwin, was the second to appear on Channel 3 when he announced a film, "The Quiet Frontier” on a Friday night—May 5, 1961 —and in preparation for the official opening of the station and the beginning of regular programmes, CHTV3 was on the air for about an hour and a half. Shoppers jammed footpaths to watch the sets in shops. Reception, it was reported, was “clear and uninterrupted.” The programme consisted of some stills of the Avon, three films, and an interview with the American singer, Todd Duncan, by Airini Grennell.
Transmission began at 7.20p.m.. when the camera was focused on a retma resolution chart to allow viewers to adjust their sets. The chart showed shades from, black to white, and lines radiating from a central circle. Next, the station’s official identification chart was shown. This is a photograph of Cathedral square from the entrance of Worcester street west, with the name of the station across the front.
The “live” transmissions were made from a studio on the ground floor of the 3YA building in Gloucester street. Those who took part sat on low chairs with a vase of flowers on a small table as a background. Above them, out of view, were lights and a microphone suspended from a long boom.
The camera used in the "live” part of the programme was a Marconi Mark IV—the latest produced in England by the Marconi firm It has four lenses that are moved into position by the turn of a handle. The camera was worth about £l5OO. said the regional engineer of the New Zealand Broadcasting Service (Mr R. G. Tulloch), who was in charge of the transmission He said part of the camera—the image orthicon —was worth £6OO and had a life of about 300 hours. The cameraman (Mr D. Lane) received his instructions through headphones from the control room next door.
This room is separated from the studio by a glass panel. Men sit behind panels studded with knobs, switches and dials, and control sound and vision. The acting-director of last evening's programme was Mr C. Greenwood. Mr W. Lambie controlled vision. Mr W Pearson controlled sound, and Mr G. Boyes controlled the camera. Assisting Mr Tulloch was the assistant engineer (Mr E. J. Atkins). In another room, Mr B Norton and his assistant, Mr P Butcher, controlled the transmission of the films. In this room, projectors beamed the films into a special camera.
Official television programmes began on Thursday 1st June. The programme comprised the story of William Tell; a comedy programme; a dramatised story from the casebook of a British barrister, and a Western.
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