Griffith and surrounding towns won’t be able to watch the A-League on TV from July. Photo: FastCube/Wikimedia Commons.
Griffith, Leeton and Narrandera residents will no longer be able to watch MasterChef, Survivor, Deal or No Deal or A-League soccer on free-to-air television, with Channel 10 coverage in the western Riverina set to end on 1 July.
The WIN Network has broadcast Channel 10, 10 Drama, 10 Comedy and Nickelodeon to audiences in Griffith and surrounding towns for several years.
“As of 30 June 2026, WIN Network’s Program Supply Agreement with Network 10 for the Riverland, Mount Gambier and Griffith markets will end,” a WIN spokesperson said.
“WIN has made the Communications Minister and the Department of Communications aware of this.”
The change means viewers will no longer be able to access any of the 10 network stations through traditional free-to-air television channels from 1 July.
Those with internet-connected smart TVs or mobile devices will still be able to watch programs through the 10 app.
Region understands WIN made the decision because it was no longer financially viable to continue broadcasting the stations amid declining advertising revenue.
Griffith mayor Doug Curran said he was blindsided by the move.
“There was no consultation or communication at all beforehand, I only found out when informed by media. We’d like some more information on the rationale behind this decision, so we can try and see how we can lobby to reverse it,” he said.
He described the loss of Channel 10 as another “kick in the guts” for the Griffith community, noting that not everyone in the town could afford to access TV coverage through Apps.
“It’s just another example of our communities being cut off from essential services that other people take for granted,” Griffith councillor Shari Blumer said.
“When there was a transition to digital we were told we wouldn’t be losing any of our free-to-air services, and that has been proven to be incorrect.”
Cr Blumer likened the situation to banks promising customers they would not lose tellers after internet banking was introduced.
“The Federal Government should be intervening or at least making sure that they’re holding television stations to account and if they haven’t done that they need to look at how they negotiated these licences.”
Wagga residents will not be affected by this change, as their Channel 10 comes directly from the network itself.
A Network 10 spokesperson described WIN’s decision as “unfair”.
“We know this change is a real and unfair disruption for many regional viewers, especially those with limited internet access or less familiarity with streaming technology,” a Network 10 spokesperson said.
“We are disappointed by WIN’s decision to stop broadcasting Network 10 in the Riverland, Mount Gambier and Griffith markets. As more advertising shifts to digital platforms, it is important for the government to support regional broadcasters so essential local services communities rely on can be maintained.
“While aerial transmission in these areas is outside our control, viewers who can access streaming can still find us on the 10 app on connected TVs and mobile devices, or at 10.com.au.”
The move follows another major television disruption in Griffith last year, when WIN and Channel 7 became embroiled in a commercial dispute that temporarily knocked Seven programming off local screens.
The standoff left viewers without AFL, cricket and popular Channel 7 programs after the two broadcasters failed to agree on a new rebroadcast deal. Murray MP Helen Dalton campaigned against the decision and services were eventually restored after a fresh agreement was reached, but the dispute highlighted the fragility of free-to-air television services in regional Australia.
But Cr Blumer said apps were no substitute for television.
“I find the apps really difficult to use and to find shows, especially news and current affairs. People like to watch the news at a certain time and at the same time as the rest of the country,” she said.
