Ten (Mildura Digital Television)

I don’t think so. I think it was irresponsible for the federal government, 10 or the joint venture owners to leave Mildura/Sunraysia residents in this situation, forcing them to pay extra (either through internet connection or a VAST satellite receiver) to keep watching 10.

You did point this out in the TVTonight article about costs etc and really Ten will lose viewership. I wonder how a Ten closure would go down in a larger viewing area such as Northern NSW. Obviously it is making some money, but that doesn’t guarantee anything in the long term as many a business has closed less profitable operations.

A recent example if Godfrey’s in Australia or in an international sense, the changes in operations with Three in New Zealand

WIN are all about putting minimal in for maximum return, that’s why WIN ended up with the Ten affiliation in 2016, they wanted to pay less and Southern Cross ended up with the Nine affiliation, really the same as how QTV lost the Nine affiliation in 1990, enough said there as really it’s on the line of belonging in TV History, which this MDT closure will inevitably end up in - being the first JV closure due to losses

2 Likes

It’s not a big deal. 96.2 percent of Australians have the internet (therefore can access 10Play). Even if the 3.8 percent that don’t all lived in Mildura how many of those people watch FTA let alone 10?

It’s just the beginning. All of FTA will be switched off eventually.

3 Likes

You sure, because I heard that Seven are currently updating this ‘great work of art’ to be shown tonight :wink:

Credit: @TV.Cynic

2 Likes

I take it that the signal is still online?

2 Likes

10 Mildura is continuing broadcasting a relay of ATV10 (10 Melbourne) until 11:59:59pm tonight. What they broadcast after that is TBC, however, it won’t be on air for long as they are handing back the licence to ACMA.

2 Likes

The article on WIN TV says:

A: The Channel 10 signal broadcast by MDT will shut down on June 30, 2024 at midnight.

@Casper last reported it was still online at 12:05AM.
Or is the article incorrect and its 1st July at midnight?

1 Like

I think it means tonight - would make sense given it is a new financial year tomorrow, and a new week.

A recent article from TV Tonight also used the words “After Sunday”.

@Casper is MDT still on air this morning?

3 Likes

Just to let everyone know MDT is still on air & I’ve just had a friend round who is going to record the shutdown for me they are out at Walpeup & their reception can be a bit dodgy but they are still going to try & transfer It to USB for me.

7 Likes

You may have a point here as the actual transmitter would have well passed any tax depreciation for the JV partners. If anything, most likely an on-going liability which costs money.

1 Like

Then you have transmitters at Ouyen, Robinvale & Underbool which are maintained by RBA Holdings so It will be Interesting to see what happens to those transmitters.

2 Likes

Always a pleasure I’ll record it with my phone tonight & upload as soon as it’s done & hopefully I’ll be able to get a better copy from my friend tomorrow who lives at Walpeup & can record it from their TV.

6 Likes

they’ll keep the gear there for spares, I imagine

2 Likes

Last night, 10 News First had reporters on the ground covering the loss of their Mildura affiliate, interviewing locals and asking them if the Fed Govt’s announcement was enough.

Just kidding, it was a 50 second VO with footage from a YouTube travel channel.

12 Likes

Surprised (or, maybe not) that ABC in Mildura appears to have been silent about the removal of Ten from the local airwaves. It’s not an insignificant local story and it’s strange if ABC’s local news is all but ignoring it.

5 Likes

Very strange. ABC are usually quick to report on the failings of their commercial competitors.

2 Likes

Interesting to hear 10 News try to make it sound like it wasn’t their choice… I’m sure it would have confused a lot of non media savvy viewers as to why WIN and 7 were kicking Channel 10 off in Mildura. Also interesting that 10 News didn’t mention VAST at all.

1 Like

probably more beneficial (for Ten) to refer people to 10 Play where Ten can play targetted advertising to them

1 Like

I was doing work experience at ABC back in the early 2000s & when WIN decided to stop locally presenting news In Mildura they actually ran that story the media release came through Thursday & the last local broadcast was on a Friday.

2 Likes