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General News

12 March, 2021

Nine and WIN to marry at first sight

Local television news services could be impacted upon with the announcement today that Nine Entertainment Co and WIN Television have signed a 7-year regional television affiliation agreement, ending the five year deal with Southern Cross Austereo (SCA).

By Peter McCullagh

Nine and WIN to marry at first sight - feature photo

SCA outbid WIN Television in 2016 to link with the Nine Network offering a reported 50% of television revenues in exchange for program rights to 9, 9GO, 9GEM and 9LIFE in their regional markets Australia-wide.

The deal announced today will see WIN carry exclusive rights to Channel 9 programming for 7 years commencing July 1, 2021. This affiliation covers Tasmania, regional Western Australia, Victoria, Southern NSW and Regional Queensland.

It is believed WIN have offered around 50% of all regional television revenues for program access.

It has been reported this morning that Chief Executive Officer of Nine Hugh Marks said, “While our relationship with Southern Cross has been strong over the last five years, the opportunities presented by the WIN Network to both extend the reach of Nine’s premium content into more regional markets under one agreement, and to work co-operatively with them on a national and local news operation, mean this is the right time for us to return to WIN.

“The terms of this new affiliation agreement should be positive to Nine’s EBITDA from FY22 through the broader reach of Nine’s channels and by enabling incremental efficiencies across both sales and news.”

For viewers in Far North Queensland access to local television news will continue.

WIN will provide a local news bulletin in regional areas at 5.30pm before taking Nine’s 6pm state bulletin in each state.

Cairns Local News has requested comment regarding the future of local news with SCA, but are currently awaiting a response.

Prior to signing with the Nine Network in 2016, SCA did not run a local news service in their regional centres, preferring to run an short news update format from Canberra news room.

SCA informed the ASX this morning of the change to program affiliation, advising they will enter into talks with Network Ten in the coming week.


More to follow

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