2016 Australian regional television realignment
The 2016 Australian regional television realignment occurred on 1 July 2016, when a major series of affiliation changes occurred in
Nine's decision not to renew its affiliation with WIN stemmed from a lawsuit the broadcaster filed in February 2016, in which WIN alleged that Nine was violating its affiliation agreement by broadcasting into regional areas via internet streams on its catch-up service 9Now. The lawsuit was dismissed after a judge ruled that the definition of "broadcasting" in the affiliation agreement only gave WIN exclusive rights to carry Nine Network programming on free-to-air terrestrial television in its designated regions, and did not account for digital streaming.
Background
Under Australian law, commercial free-to-air television broadcasters are subject to an ownership cap known as the "reach rule", dictating that a single broadcaster's stations may not serve more than 75% of the population. As a result, the major Australian television networks only have owned-and-operated stations in the major metropolitan centres of the country, and rely on affiliates to distribute their programming in the "regional" areas of Australia.[1][2][3]
Developments
In February 2016, Nine Network launched
On 29 April 2016, Nine Network announced that it had reached a new, five-year affiliation deal with
Southern Cross's switch led to reports that
Changes
Affected areas
Market | Station | Affiliation before switch (branding) |
Affiliation after switch (branding) |
Current affiliation (branding) |
---|---|---|---|---|
New South Wales/ACT | ||||
Northern New South Wales | NRN | Network Ten (Southern Cross Ten) |
Network Ten (Channel Ten) |
Network Ten (Channel 10) |
Southern New South Wales and ACT |
CTC | Network Ten (Southern Cross Ten) |
Nine Network (Channel 9) |
same |
WIN | Nine Network (WIN) |
Network Ten (WIN) |
same | |
Griffith and MIA | AMN | Nine Network (WIN) |
Network Ten (WIN) |
same |
MDN | Network Ten (WIN Ten) |
Nine Network (Channel 9) |
same | |
Victoria
| ||||
Regional Victoria | GLV BCV |
Network Ten (Southern Cross Ten) |
Nine Network (Channel 9) |
same |
VTV |
Nine Network (WIN) |
Network Ten (WIN) |
same | |
Mildura and Sunraysia | MDV | Network Ten (Ten Mildura) |
Nine Network (Channel 9) |
same |
STV | Nine Network (WIN) |
Network Ten (WIN) |
same | |
Queensland | ||||
Regional Queensland | RTQ | Nine Network (WIN) |
Network Ten (WIN) |
same |
TNQ | Network Ten (Southern Cross Ten) |
Nine Network (Channel 9) |
same | |
South Australia | ||||
Mount Gambier and Riverland
|
MGS LRS |
Network Ten (WIN Ten) |
Network Ten (WIN) |
same |
SDS RDS |
Nine Network (WIN) |
Nine Network (Channel 9) |
same | |
Tasmania | ||||
Tasmania | TDT | Network Ten (TDT Ten) |
Nine Network (Channel 9) |
same |
TVT | Nine Network (WIN) |
Network Ten (WIN) |
same | |
Western Australia | ||||
Regional and Remote Western Australia |
SDW VDW GDW WDW |
Network Ten (WDT Ten) |
Nine Network (Channel 9) |
same |
WOW | Nine Network (WIN) |
Network Ten (WIN) |
same |
In the markets where WIN co-owned Section 38B
West Digital Television (co-owned by WIN and Prime) was unable to reach an affiliation deal with Nine in time for the switchover, with the co-owners stating that Nine had been actively rejecting offers. On 1 July 2016, WDT halted its programming and began broadcasting a loop of scenic video with a scrolling message stating that programming was unavailable.[14][15] On the evening of 2 July 2016, Nine reached an affiliation deal with WDT; at around 7:30 p.m. WST, WDT began broadcasting Nine Network programming by joining its federal election coverage already in progress.[16]
Southern Cross-owned
Aftermath
The affiliation swap was reversed on 1 July 2021, when the Nine Network reached a seven-year affiliation deal with WIN, and Southern Cross subsequently reached a two-year deal with 10.[22][23]
References
- ^ a b "Regional TV ownership shake-up on cards as backbenchers push to scrap 'reach rule'". ABC News. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
- ^ "Statutory control rules". ACMA. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
- ^ "Coalition approves media law shake-up". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
- ^ a b "Extra markets up for grabs in WIN-Ten negotiations". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "Nine and Southern Cross in multi-year affiliation deal". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
- ^ a b Mason, Max (10 February 2016). "Bruce Gordon's WIN takes Nine to court over streaming". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- ^ McDonald, Philippa (28 April 2016). "Regional broadcaster WIN loses bid to stop Channel Nine streaming programs". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- ^ Knot, David (28 April 2016). "Nine victory in 9NOW streaming lawsuit filed by WIN TV". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- ^ a b "Ten and WIN confirm new affiliate deal". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
- ^ "Variation to Digital Channel Plan - Explanatory Paper" (PDF). Australian Communications and Media Authority. June 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
- ^ "WIN free-to-air TV shake-up 'a big deal' for regions, Tasmanian manager says". ABC News. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
- ^ "Dead air one day away in Tasmania as Nine Network and TDT TV deal remains in limbo". The Mercury. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
- ^ Mitchell, Jake (28 June 2016). "Nine reaches affiliate deal to run signal into regional Victoria". The Australian. Retrieved 28 June 2016.(subscription required)
- ^ Diss, Kathryn (1 July 2016). "Channel 9 goes off air in regional WA after a programming stoush on the eve of election day". ABC News. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
- ^ Knox, David (1 July 2016). "Tassie on the air, but no deal for WA". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
- ^ Knox, David. "Nine reaches regional WA agreement with WIN / Prime". TV Tonight. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
- ^ Burrowes, Tim (28 March 2017). "SCA sells northern NSW television assets to WIN for $55m". Mumbrella. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
- ^ Bingemann, Mitchell (28 March 2017). "Southern Cross Media sells northern NSW TV operations to WIN". The Australian. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
- ^ Mason, Max (28 March 2017). "Southern Cross to sell northern NSW TV business to WIN". The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
- ^ "Southern Cross Austereo: Agreement of Sale of NNSW TV Operations and Trading Update" (PDF). Australian Securities Exchange. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
- ^ Knox, David (20 May 2017). "WIN completes deal for Southern Cross Northern NSW". TV Tonight. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
- ^ Samios, Zoe (25 June 2021). "Ten and Southern Cross sign short broadcast affiliate deal". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ Mediaweek (11 March 2021). "Nine changes regional TV partners and signs deal with WIN". Mediaweek. Retrieved 16 May 2021.