Fears for Channel Ten’s future in TWO Australian states in another huge blow to network – after shutdown in Mildura prompted outrage
Concerns have been raised over the future of Channel 10 in two major Australian states after the network was shut down in a major city over the weekend.
Ten stopped broadcasting live in Mildura, Victoria at midnight on Sunday, in a huge blow to media network Network 10 and sparking outrage among locals.
Network 10 does not own the regional channels and relies on distribution through joint venture operations. Mildura Digital Television has ceased broadcasting due to rising costs.
Now concerns have been raised over Ten’s future in Tasmania and the Northern Territory as companies are forced to make “difficult decisions” due to the challenging climate.
Following the shocking news from Mildura, Ten’s talk show The Project raised concerns that similar closures could happen across Australia, with a shocking domino effect.
The Northern Territory and Tasmania could be next targets, along with areas in regional Western Australia, according to the program.
“There are fears that Mildura is just the tip of the iceberg, and that similar signal outages could happen across Australia, putting jobs and access to local content, news and sport at risk,” the long-running panel program said. Hurrah!.
‘And the next in the firing line? Regional WA, the NT and all of Tasmania.’
Concerns have been raised over the future of Channel 10 in two major Australian states after the network was shut down in a major city over the weekend (Pictured: The Project presenters)
In Tasmania, Network 10 operates as Tasmanian Digital Television (TDT), a joint venture between Southern Cross Austereo and WIN Network.
However, TDT acknowledges that all regional broadcasters are currently struggling and have to make ‘difficult’ decisions to protect their businesses.
āLike MDT, there are a number of joint ventures in Australia that are on the brink of collapse and TDT is no exception,ā they said. Pulse Tasmania.
‘While SCA and WIN have no plan for closure, all current arrangements are very short term. There is a constant review, not only for TDT, but for the future of all regional broadcasting services.’
SCA, which owns 7 Tasmania and 50 per cent of TDT, said there had been “no discussions” about a shutdown but stressed the government must step in to help.
“TDT is profitable. There are no plans to close TDT in the next three years,” an SCA spokesperson told the publication.
Network 10 was forced to switch off its free-to-air signal from Mildura after asking the government for help, calling the decision “grossly unfair” to the area’s 60,000 residents.
The network unit MDT, a joint project between Seven and WIN Network, was forced to cease broadcasting after 18 years due to declining advertising revenue and rising costs.
Local viewers have the losing some of Ten’s hugely popular shows such as MasterChef, Australian survivor and Have you been paying attention?
Another 500,000 residents in Western Australia narrowly escaped the same fate thanks to Western Digital Television, a subsidiary of Ten, owned by WIN and Seven West Media.
The operator has abandoned plans for the July 1 shutdown thanks to last-minute funding from the federal government in a $32.9 million lifeline over the next seven years, it said. AFR.
Mildura’s 60,000 residents were furious at the decision to switch off the free-to-air signal in the area, leaving them with only the option to watch the channel online via 10Play.
Residents will no longer have access to Ten or the BOLD and Peach channels, with viewers complaining that the decision isolates fans who don’t have smart TVs or aren’t tech-savvy.
āI feel sad for the region, not just myself,ā Elizabeth, a resident of the Mildura region, told TV Tonight about the shutdown.
Another local, named Nikki, added: ‘On a social level, it mainly affects those who cannot afford smart TV and internet connections.
Local residents in the Mildura region on the NSW-Victoria border have spoken out about Network 10’s decision to switch off its Free-to-Air signal to the area. Pictured: Jonathan LaPaglia, presenter of Network 10’s Australian Survivor
‘And those who are not digitally skilled. It reinforces both the social and geographical disadvantage in our region.’
Resident Cindy called the decision a “disgrace” and pointed out that Channel Nine was the only commercial station in the region for years.
āAnd it wasn’t until I was in my early 20s that we even got Channel Seven,ā she told TV Tonight.
From Sunday, fans living in the regional city of Mildura (pictured) and surrounding areas will no longer have access to Channel 10 or the BOLD and Peach channels. Viewers in the area have complained that the decision will isolate fans who donāt have a smart TV and canāt afford internet, as Network 10 content will only be available via 10Play
While they still have access to 10Play, some residents say internet speeds around Mildura, which is 541km from Melbourne, are not always reliable and that watching live is the best option.
Last month, Network 10 made an urgent appeal to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for āurgentā help to prevent the shutdown.
In May, Mildura Digital Television announced that it would cease operations on 30 June. Network 10 expressed disappointment that it would no longer be able to broadcast in the region.
Fans living in the region told TV Tonight on Friday they will be saddened by the loss of Network 10 hits such as MasterChef (pictured), Australian Survivor and Have You Been Paying Attention?.
TV Tonight reports that for years Channel Nine was the only commercial station available in the area, which has a population of 60,000. Pictured: Network 10 hit Have You Been Paying Attention?
“We remain very disappointed that Mildura residents do not have the same access to all free-to-air channels as people living in cities,” a Network 10 spokesperson told Ny Breaking Australia on Friday.
‘This is extremely unfair for those people, but also for all residents of the region.
‘We continue to call on the Federal Government to step in and ensure that every Australian, regardless of where they live or how much they earn, has equal access to all the local free-to-air TV channels and local content they love and enjoy, such as important news and emergency information, great sporting events, comedy and entertainment.
‘It’s also a reality check for the federal government, which needs to listen now and take action to amend upcoming legislation to ensure that every connected TV in Australian homes, now and in the future, can automatically download free local apps like 10 Play and make them easily accessible on screens.’
Residents in the region have access to Network 10 content such as MasterChef via 10Play (pictured). But some locals say internet speeds around Mildura, which is 541km from Melbourne, are not always reliable
Chris Halios-Lewis, chairman of Mildura Digital Television and WIN’s finance director, explained that the decision to close was taken for commercial reasons.
“The state of the regional advertising market means that MDT cannot justify the cross-subsidy of delivering ten programmes to the Mildura television market,” the Australian Financial Overview reported in May.
He added: ‘Without the subsidy from the joint venture owners, MDT will be bankrupt and no longer a viable business.’
The future of the troubled Network 10 is uncertain as it continues to lose TV shows, ratings decline and ad revenue crunch.
In May, presenters Dave Hughes and Osher GĆ¼nsberg publicly confirmed that two of Channel Ten’s biggest reality shows, The Masked Singer and The Bachelor, would be leaving the network.