In just 11 days, Channel 7 and its affiliate stations will no longer be broadcast across the South.
Australian Riverland, Loxton and Mount Gambier communities and parts of the New South Wales Riverina.
WIN holds the solus licences for these areas and wants to continue broadcasting Channel 7 content for its audiences free-to-air.
The networks have failed to reach a deal that will ensure these communities continue to receive these television stations.
Shadow Minister for Communications, Melissa McIntosh MP said, “broadcasters should come back to the negotiating table to ensure all stations continue being broadcast to regional NSW and South Australia.”
“Regional communities want and deserve free-to-air access to live sport and engaging programs that Channel 7 offers across the country.”
“Broadcasters cannot simply offer these communities access to their streaming services given the internet access issues regional Australia faces.”
Shadow Minister for Regional Communications, Dr Anne Webster MP highlighted the dire challenges faced not only by commercial media but for communities to see local news.
“The Media Reform Green Paper highlighted the dire challenges for regional commercial media including declining advertising revenues, the impact of digital platforms and the need for sustainable local news services.”
“As the Member for Mallee my northwestern Victorian community has experienced the dismay at Ten channels being switched off in Sunraysia a year ago. Once signal is turned off, the fear is they won’t return.”
