WIN Corporation has announced that it will be shutting down the relay of Network Ten channels in the regional markets of Griffith in New South Wales, and Riverland and Mount Gambier in South Australia.
WIN, which has a commercial monopoly in the impacted areas, presently relays all three commercial networks but has decided to withdraw from its arrangement with Ten’s parent company, Paramount.
WIN claims that relaying the Ten signal is no longer financially viable, given the ongoing challenge “that reflects the realities of regional broadcasting.” The market is increasingly competitive and fragmented, and regional markets in particular are battling declining advertising revenues.
The decision, which impacts the local free-to-air broadcast of channels 10, 10 Drama and 10 Comedy, will take effect from Friday 9 October.
After that date, viewers in the impacted areas will only be able to access Network Ten channels and programs from Ten’s streaming platform, 10.com.au.
The closure of the Ten relays from these regional markets follows a similar move two years ago to axe Mildura Digital Television, which WIN owned in a joint venture with the Seven Network to broadcast Ten to the Mildura market.
Source: Mediaweek
