As Nine News is shortened to 30 min bulletins in ACT, Southern NSW, Queensland and Victoria regional areas, is NBN news likely to follow suit?
No
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I agree, they HATE Nine News.
But what’s not to say they won’t do it? I’m being a devil’s advocate here, but if you can save more money by having one or two regional bulletins out of Sydney, AND still have that monopoly in a large regional sub-market, AND still comply with local content guidelines, why wouldn’t you do it?
I could see them do it, pack of bean counting a 
holes. They shouldn’t but they will.
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Welcome Prime7 News Newcastle at 6 
I’d love to see a 6pm Prime7 Local News back on air here in Newcastle.
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So would I. But given Prime’s current financial state, I can’t see them do it. And WIN? Forget about it!
You’d think it’s 1962, not 2020. Maybe the ABC should be compelled to do local news again?
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Prime rates around 30-40k in Newcastle to Nine’s 80-90.
They would be probably 50k max if they went local, maybe less. It would be a loss maker for them.
There’s less local news in most markets so I can’t see a commercial operation adding a service - and especially in these times.
Online is where the opportunities lie these days.
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Yes, that’s closer than it used to be when Prime Local News was on back in the 1990s.
Then it was more like 120k on NBN vs 20k on Prime.
Off topic I know, but I think Prime’s watermark had a lot to do with that.
Hard to build loyalty when do you something like that to piss viewers off.
Chase often beats Hot Seat in Newcastle but it’s very close. So lead in probably doesn’t count. There’s a huge switch over to Nine and a slight switch off some nights on Prime.
Figures vary wildly across the other regions. North Coast and here on the mid north coast it’s mostly neck and neck and in Tamworth Nine has been getting wins here and there. I watch Nine most nights but don’t mind Prime. Both serve the market well.
I’ve tried (as have others) working out why the figures fluctuate but there’s no real clear reason.
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Probably due to the fairly small sample size.
And I always thought Prime7 generally has a decent lead over Nine in Tamworth and Taree/Port Macquarie…
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The issue is that I am not seeing independent sources coming out of Newcastle. Heck, I’m seeing more for Scone (although the editor/owner isn’t well liked and has put content behind a paywall, much to everyone’s disgust), Singleton and Muswellbrook (Hunter River Times IIRC).
Prime7 and WIN rip and read, the Herald is dependent on how long ACM can exist, the ABC needs more funding, 102.9/106.9 depends on if SCA survives, 2HD/NEWFM is dependent on a tightarse.
I’d love to see an independent source, if one can point me that would be good. But one isn’t apparent.
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Here’s a question you may or may not be able to answer: Has the rating gap between Prime7 and NBN/Nine in the markets where both have local news services tightened in recent years?
When I was doing my first North Coast trips back in 2012-13, I could definitely understand if Prime7 was winning the battle against NBN up there and in the North West. Fiona at 6pm & Bathie (most weeknights anyway) at 6.30pm, what a combo! 
But since the introduction of Prime7 News at 6.30pm, centralisation of production/presentation to Canberra and more presenter changes than I can be bothered to count, I probably started to prefer NBN News from a North Coast perspective although in fairness there were still some good reporters at Prime7 on the North Coast in 2015/16/17 - most if not all of whom have since moved onto other things.
Of course with everything happening at the moment it’s unlikely that I’ll be in Northern NSW anytime soon. But hopefully one of these days when conditions permit, another trip will be made up there! 
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SCA will survive. It will have issues for the next little while but it’s not in huge danger. It may have a buyer from hedge funds which would be an issue. But it will survive.
I’ve heard ads on 2NM for The Hunter App which is a local news app.
I think Prime and NBN could easily sell advertising for their online news presence and monetise it that way.
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It’s very tight on the north coast but Prime wins New England. But Nine are getting more wins there than they used to.
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And that’s the next issue - if SCA is purchased by private equity/hedge funds, how much will they shave off a near dry bone?
I’m giving it a go. I thought it was a Grant-owned app but it has one for Orange where they don’t own anything.
Quite possibly. But Prime needs to actually improve their overall presence in the area. Both on-air and online. I think there could be a bigger audience that is sick of NBN and could ache for an alternative.
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hey stranger. Nup, not Grant. Independent. I’m one of the journos there 
We work our arses off and put out a quality product, so thanks for giving us a try!
It’s in Orange and coming soon to another region that I can’t mention yet.
Hope you’re well!
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I’m OK, health not withstanding.
The app looks pretty good. I’ll give it much more of a go tomorrow since I’m stuck at home. I knew Grant did a few apps, thought it was one of theirs but the Orange app gave it away.
That’s all well and good, but UoN is about to do a Slash and Burn to get budgets back in black. I can see 2NUR getting a bit of a haircut. I hope it continues but 2NUR will never take on the likes of NBN, Newcastle Herald, ABC et al. Like CSU, these guys would be doing the stories as part of their degrees, so it could cost them zero.
That’s the problem - there isn’t much in the way of truly independent local journos in the Hunter region, aside from The Hunter App, Hunter River Times and, scone.com.au. 2NUR’s problem is that it’s attached to UoN, which requires government funding and international students. You could get corporate donors but if you write something to piss them off, goodbye corporate support.
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Too risky.
NNSW is the 4th largest TV market in the country. A 1% ratings share loss across the market would be a few million a year in ad revenue. Not worth risking. We all know a strong local news elevates a whole station
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