Not that unusual for a regional network. 7 Tasmania have been using their current metro knockoff package since their 2018 makeover.
A full new graphics package is no doubt expensive, and we’ve seen what can happen when they try to go budget (cough, cough Prime/GWN’s final package before the Seven takeover…)
If WIN did merge with Nine then would they still have to abide by local content rules.
Correct, depending on how the merge/takeover occurred their content requirements would likely increase due the change of ownership trigger.
If by some chance it was WIN taking over Nine, then it would be a different story.
Media release
The WIN Network today announced that it will cease broadcasting Seven Network signals in the South Australian television markets of Mt Gambier and Loxton and Griffith television market in NSW effective 1 July 2025.
The decision follows Seven West Media’s choice not to renew the current broadcast agreement with WIN, which has seen programs from 7, 7mate, and 7two — including coverage of the AFL, Test cricket, and Twenty20 matches — delivered into these regional areas.
WIN Network CEO Andrew Lancaster said:
“While we are disappointed with Seven West Media’s decision, we respect their right to pursue their own commercial strategies.”
“WIN remains committed to serving our regional audiences with a strong local presence and programming.”
The WIN Network is also currently reviewing its involvement with non-core broadcast signals, including the Network 10 channel broadcasts in regional Western Australia and Tasmania, as part of a broader strategic review.
Importantly, no jobs are expected to be lost as a result of the changes in South Australia and Griffith, with local operations and staff remaining in place to support WIN’s ongoing regional broadcast commitments.
“WIN continues to evolve as Australia’s largest regional television network,” said Lancaster.
“We remain focused on delivering high-quality content, regional news, and regional advertising solutions across our footprint.”
Going out on a limb, guessing WIN wants to pay less than the current agreement and Seven wants them to pay more (again)? And now they’re left trying to call each other’s bluff.
I don’t think it’s just that. The explosion of the internet and streaming has had a huge impact too.
…
And i think there will still be some sort of deal for WIN and Seven. Not having AFL on free to air there will create a huge uproar,
I reckon if WIN carries this out, launch the ultimate nuclear bomb for FTA.
Scrap the anti-siphpning list.
WIN doesnt want to broadcast sports on the list in certain markets and warns its going to make further cuts. Punish the lot of them. Let Bruce and co cop the blame.
They’ll be fucked and they know it.
would be nice to see you voice an opinion without every single time resorting to foul language
Would be nice if WIN would negotiate to show AFL/cricket separately like in the past, the government should really support this. Although I don’t know if current agreement with 9 would allow breakaway programming plus Win seem so disinterested in doing anything that takes effort for these small markets
I’d be very surprised if a last minute deal didn’t happen here. This is probably just a public pissing contest waiting for one side to cave. We see it in the U.S all the time with cable operators and content providers. I doubt this is much different.
That’d be interesting, given regional South Australia and Seven airing the AFL. Perhaps outside of that, also considering Nine/WIN are the main signal, Seven’s content doesn’t do as well.
Didn’t they used to broadcast those as “Seven SA” and “WIN Ten”?
It’s more complicated than that. The federal government should change the rules to make regional SA, Broken hill, Mildura, Griffith, regional WA, remote, Tasmania and Darwin a 3 TV station market just like all other areas
strange they are ceasing Seven and not Ten, given Seven’s higher ratings, Seven has AFL and test cricket, and remember the original SES/RTS signals were Seven affiliated (as a result of the disagreement between Nine and WIN in 2006) when analogue was switched off in these regions. There are going to be a lot of pi55ed off people in these regions complaining about having to pay money for Kayo to watch the footy and cricket. Ten will be next, then it would be back to the bad old days of SES/RTS with just one commercial network.
I guess those viewers in Keith who have tall CA16s to receive Adelaide channels would be pleased that these antennas are no longer obsolete and they can be used again.
Also, isn’t SES/RTS (Seven) the primary licence in that area, with the Nine (SDS/RDS) and Ten (MGS/LRS) stations being the supplementary ones?
How would a Seven switch-off affect the three stations?
SES/RTS broadcasts Nine programming, SDS/RDS has Seven and Ten plus it’s multichannels, MGS/LRS no longer transmits anything.
Coming soon to channel 84 maybe?
Maybe they could show the AFL on WIN Gold.. in all of it’s 1.5 Mbps SD glory! 
Ah thank you, according to the ACMA register, SES/RTS does indeed show Nine while SDS/RDS shows Seven. I wonder when the swap happened?
MGS/LRS are still active and show 10.
If you live in Mount Gambier, here come those massive and very tall Western VIC (Mount Dundas) VHF antenna installs.
A lot of people who don’t use the internet to watch the footy will call their local antenna installers now and get new VHF antennas aiming for Western VIC (carrying the Ballarat channels).