Regional audiences to lose Network 10, as licensee warns of TV's future
Viewers in parts of regional South Australia, and parts of the Riverina in New South Wales, will lose access to Network 10's terrestrial channels, after the network and license holder, WIN Network, failed to reach an agreement.
WIN has announced it will stop broadcasting 10, 10 Drama and 10 Comedy in the Mount Gambier, Riverland, Griffith and Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, with the final broadcasts to be on Friday, October 9.
The network had flagged its agreement with Network 10 would expire in July, and that the channels would be pulled.
However, local audiences were given a three-month reprieve, with Network 10 saying it would provide its feed "free of charge" to WIN while the parties worked on a deal that has not eventuated.
WIN Network says the decision reflects the economics of regional broadcasting. (ABC Riverland: Amelia Walters)
High costs of regional TV
In a statement, a WIN Network spokesperson said providing Network 10 services to the impacted markets was "no longer viable".
"This is a business decision that reflects the realities of regional broadcasting," they said.
"Regional markets carry high transmission and infrastructure costs, while digital disruption continues to erode audiences and advertising revenue.
"These economics will continue to make it challenging to maintain services across regional Australia.
"WIN recognises this will be disappointing for viewers and thanks them for their understanding."
The move follows a similar loss of Seven Network channels to the same markets, after Seven and WIN failed to reach an agreement before Seven's deal expired last year.
The channels were eventually restored after a multi-day shutdown that saw the channels replaced with red screens advising they were "no longer available".
Audiences in Mount Gambier, the Riverland and Griffith temporarily lost Seven Network channels last year. (ABC South East SA: Eugene Boisvert)
Country audiences missing out
A Network 10 spokesperson said audiences could continue to access the network's channels online and via its app.
"WIN holds the broadcast licences in the Riverland, Mount Gambier and Griffith regions and although Network 10 has worked closely with WIN to explore options to maintain local access to its content, WIN has advised that continuing to operate them is no longer commercially viable," they said.
"Network 10 remains committed to serving regional Australian audiences."
The WIN Network holds the broadcast licenses in Mount Gambier, the Riverland and Griffith. (ABC South East SA: Eugene Boisvert)
It is not the first time a regional market has lost Network 10 channels due to the financial challenges of regional broadcasting.
In 2024, audiences in Mildura, Victoria, lost their Network 10 channels when Mildura Digital Television (MDT), which carried 10's signal to the market, was closed by co-owners Seven and WIN.
The networks said "it did not make commercial sense" to keep MDT going, as it had been unprofitable throughout its existence.
Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells has been contacted for comment.
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