A recent report has eased fears that fans will lose free-to-air access to Channel 10 shows in large areas of Tasmania and Western Australia.
The struggling commercial network made headlines last week after its signal was shut down in the Mildura region of Victoria on July 1, an area with a TV audience of over 60,000 people.
The decision was not made by Network 10 but a joint venture operated by WIN TV and Seven known as Mildura Digital TV.
Network 10 does not own its regional stations and relies on distribution from joint-venture operations in WA, Tasmania and other states.
Industry journalist David Knox reported in TV Tonight on Sunday that Network 10 content will continue to be seen free-to-air in Western Australia despite recent reports to the contrary.
Pulse Tasmania this month reported on fears the ‘entire state’ of Tasmania could lose access to Channel 10, while AFR last week called WA residents’ free-to-air content salvation a ‘last-minute lifeline’.
Ten supplies shows for the region via West Digital TV, which is also owned by WIN and Seven.
The region was at risk of losing its signal before the Albanese government stepped in with an extra $500,000 worth of funding a year for a satellite contract, reported the outlet.
A recent report has eased fears that fans will lose free-to-air access to Channel 10 shows in large areas of Tasmania and Western Australia. Pictured: Robert Irwin in Network 10’s hot reality show I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here
The agreement is for seven years and is worth a total of $32million.
Still, TV Tonight said that viewers in the region which takes in Kalgoorlie, Broome, Esperance, and Carnarvon could lose free-to-air access if any one of the partners in the joint ventures decide to bail out of operations in the next few years.
In Tasmania, Network 10 supplies hit shows like I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here to Tasmanian Digital Television which is owned by Southern Cross Austereo and WIN TV.
According to an official statement from SCA, which was made after the Mildura shutdown, TDT is ‘profitable’.
Network 10 does not own its regional stations and relies on distribution from joint-venture operations in WA, Tasmania and other states. Industry journalist David Knox reported in TV Tonight on Sunday that Network 10 content will continue to be seen free-to-air in Western Australia. Pictured: Broome, WA, population 14,660
‘There are no plans for TDT to shut down in the next three years,’ the spokesperson continued.
‘SCA is focused on audio and has considered various options for sale of its television assets in recent years.’
Meanwhile, Free TV, an industry lobby group, is campaigning the federal government to ensure television access in regional areas continues to survive when costs are rising and revenues are falling.
Network 10 supplies hit shows like MasterChef (pictured) to Tasmanian Digital Television which is owned by Southern Cross Austereo and WIN TV. A statement from a spokesperson last week said that TDT is profitable.
Free TV have proposed a plan that includes less tax, and stronger federal funding for remote markets as well as changes to ownership regulation.
It comes after Network 10 last month called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for ‘urgent’ assistance to help prevent the switch off and threw their support behind Free TV’s proposals.
In May, Mildura Digital Television, a Network 10 affiliate owned by Seven West Media and WIN Corporation announced they were shutting down on June 30.
Industry lobby group Free TV have proposed a plan that includes less tax, and stronger federal funding for remote markets as well as changes to ownership regulation to ensure the survival of free-to-air in regional areas of Australia
We remain bitterly disappointed that the people of Mildura won’t have the same access to all free-to-air broadcast channels as people living in cities,’ a Network 10 spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on Friday.
‘This is grossly unfair for those people but also for all regional Australians,’ they continued.
‘We continue to call on the Federal Government to intervene and ensure that every Australian, no matter where they live or how much they earn, has the same access to all local free to air TV broadcast channels and the local content they love and enjoy such as vital news and emergency information, epic sports, comedies and entertainment.
‘It’s also a reality check for the Federal Government who must listen and act now to update the impending prominence laws to ensure every connected TV in Australian homes today and in the future, has local free to air apps like 10 Play automatically downloaded and easily accessible on screens.’
