Member for Murray Helen Dalton is calling on the WIN and Seven networks to return to the table to reverse the loss of Seven programming in the area. Photo: Helen Dalton MP/Parliament of NSW.
UPDATE 4 July 2:05 pm: After meeting with heads of both the Seven and WIN networks, Member for Murray Helen Dalton has been able to secure a new deal between the networks.
The new deal has already come into effect, with Seven programming already back on Griffith airwaves.
“I managed to broker a deal between WIN TV and Channel 7, returning programming to air last night,” she said.
“I met with the executives from WIN TV and Seven West Media to help resolve the dispute.”
While details on the new deal have not been revealed, both the Seven and WIN networks combined to release a joint statement, thanking Griffith and South Australian residents for their patience.
“Both Seven and WIN acknowledge the significant impact of free-to-air television in regional communities and the importance of providing news, sport, entertainment and a voice to regional Australians,” the statement said.
“We thank the people of the Riverland, Mount Gambier and Griffith communities for their patience while we worked through this matter.”
3 July 12:50 pm: Griffith’s political leaders are calling on WIN and Seven Network leaders to reverse the loss of Channel 7 programming in the region.
Independent Member for Murray Helen Dalton has asked for an urgent meeting with WIN Television CEO Andrew Lancaster to discuss WIN’s sudden loss of free-to-air access to Seven Network programming that went into effect on 1 July.
Griffith lost a number of Seven Network programs, including Seven’s afternoon and evening news services, Home & Away, Sunrise and AFL and cricket broadcasts.
“At this stage, it’s hard to say why the agreement between Seven and WIN has broken down, but the people in my electorate should not lose access to the Seven shows on WIN,” Ms Dalton said.
Ms Dalton is also calling on the new Federal Minister for Communications, Anika Wells, to immediately investigate whether WIN TV is in breach of its broadcasting licence as a result of the reduced services.
“WIN’s licences give the company a free-to-air broadcasting monopoly in some parts of regional Australia, which is why WIN has traditionally screened programming from networks Seven and Ten.
“Earlier this year, WIN also stopped screening programming that was sourced from Sky News.
“People need to understand how important free-to-air TV is to the lives of people in regional Australia. Our internet and mobile coverage is patchy at best, so we can’t use streaming services, including 7Plus.
“We don’t have easy access to information out here, like they do in the cities, and wholesale changes to broadcasting schedules have a devastating impact on our communities.
“The breakdown of the broadcast agreement between Seven West Media and WIN Television should never have been allowed to happen.
“This situation must be reversed immediately.”
Ms Dalton said she understood why local businesses were considering a boycott of advertising on WIN until the Seven programming was restored.
“Perhaps WIN thought they could make this change, and people wouldn’t get angry. If so, that demonstrates a complete misunderstanding of their audience and contempt for advertisers.
“The fact is that people in regional areas don’t see free-to-air TV as a luxury or as outdated technology. They see free-to-air TV as a lifeline, and that lifeline must be restored immediately.
“These changes represent further regional inequality and cultural disconnection, and that’s simply not acceptable.”
