No Nine Network programming in regional WA

July 1 2016, 7:49 am | BY Martin Trevaskis | 1 Comment

REGIONALTV_BLOG.jpgAs a result of the Nine Network severing ties with WIN Television for regional programming distribution, and WIN’s subsequent deal with Network TEN, Nine Network programmes ceased to be broadcast in WA regional areas from midnight last night.

It has prompted an immediate backlash from regional viewers and a war of words from the various parties.

A joint statement from WIN and Prime Media Group released last night said:

PRIME Media Group and WIN Corporation have, over the past couple of weeks, worked in good faith with the Nine Entertainment Company to negotiate the terms of a program affiliation agreement for the joint venture, West Digital Television, from 1st July 2016 onwards.

Unfortunately, the parties were not able to reach an agreement by the deadline. As a result all Nine, GEM and GO programming will cease to be broadcast in regional Western Australia from midnight tonight (WST).

PRIME Media Group and WIN Corporation will endeavour to work with Nine Entertainment

Company over the coming days to reach an agreement to resume the broadcast of Nine, GEM and GO as soon as possible for the viewers of regional Western Australia.

Nine issued a statement which said:

Nine is disappointed that audiences in regional WA will be unable to receive our programming after the licence holders in that region, WIN and Prime, rejected all offers to find a reasonable negotiated agreement despite Nine concluding new program supply agreements for all other regional licence areas across the country.

 

Viewers can access our content by downloading the 9Now App to watch our programs live or on catch up.

 

The only beneficiaries of this situation are Prime and WIN, who will now broadcast their signals in Regional WA with no real competition from West Digital Television (their joint venture and the holder of the third commercial television broadcasting licence in Regional WA). This is at odds with the purpose of the licence which West Digital Television has been granted and a terrible disservice to their audience.

There will also be less options for advertisers in the region and no ability for local advertisers seeking to reach consumers in Regional WA in association with Nine’s top ratings programs such as The Voice, Love Child, the Today Show and Nine’s nightly news.