WIN to cut Seven programming in regional markets
The WIN Network will stop broadcasting Seven’s free-to-air channels in a number of regional markets, meaning that areas of NSW and SA will not receive live AFL or cricket coverage.
From July 1, Mt Gambier and Loxton in South Australia and Griffith in NSW will no longer receive the 7, 7mate, and 7two channels, which means AFL, Test cricket, and Twenty20 matches will no longer be available on free-to-air signals in the regions.
This comes after Seven West decided not to renew its longstanding broadcast agreement with WIN.
WIN Network CEO Andrew Lancaster said in a media release he was “disappointed” with Seven West Media’s decision, but “respect[s] their right to pursue their own commercial strategies.”
Free-to-air AFL will be lost in regions across NSW and SA.
A spokesperson from Seven told Mumbrella, the network is also “disappointed it has not been able to reach an agreement with WIN to broadcast Seven’s content in the Riverland and Griffith”, pointing out the content will be available to stream via its digital 7plus platform.
Mumbrella understands that Seven’s sporting deals will not be impacted by this decision.
WIN has confirmed no jobs will be lost, as its local staff remain in place to support the network’s other broadcasts in the region, which includes both the Ten and Nine stations.
Lancaster said WIN “remains committed to serving our regional audiences with a strong local presence and programming.
“WIN continues to evolve as Australia’s largest regional television network,” Lancaster said. “We remain focused on delivering high-quality content, regional news, and regional advertising solutions across our footprint.”
The WIN Network is also currently reviewing its Network 10 channel broadcasts in regional Western Australia and Tasmania, as “part of a broader strategic review.”
The regional TV landscape has seen a number of changes of late.
Last December, Ten bought SCA’s Queensland, southern NSW, and Victorian television licences.
In February, Network 10 acquired WIN’s Northern NSW television licences, covering Newcastle, Taree, Tamworth, Port Macquarie, Lismore, Coffs Harbour and the Gold Coast. At the time of the sale, Lancaster said “WIN’s strategic focus is on Nine, and it no longer makes sense for us to own the 10 Northern NSW business.”
Last year, WIN stopped broadcasting Network 10 in Mildura, Victoria, and was set to shut the station’s broadcast across most of regional WA, an area that services 500,000 people, before the Federal Government stepped in with a rescue plan.
Seven recently struck a deal with Southern Cross Austereo to acquire its regional licences in Tasmania, Darwin, Spencer Gulf, Broken Hill, Mt Isa and Remote, Central and Eastern Australia, with the deal set to close to June 30.
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Nathan Jolly is the Features Editor at Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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