The Town With No Survivor: Channel 10 broadcast to cease in major Australian region – and locals aren’t happy about it

Channel 10 will no longer broadcast in the Mildura region after Sunday.

And locals in the area, located on the NSW-Victoria border, have spoken out about the decision to switch off the free-to-air signal to the area.

From next week, fans living in the regional city and surrounding area will no longer have access to Channel 10 or the BOLD and Peach channels after Mildura Digital TV’s joint licensees WIN TV and Seven opted to ax the channel after 18 years .

Local viewers have complained that the decision will isolate fans who do not have smart TVs or are not tech savvy, as Network 10 content will only be available online through 10Play.

Meanwhile, other fans are mourning the loss of some of Network 10’s top shows, including MasterChef, Australian Survivor and Have You Been Paying Attention?

“I feel sad for the region, not just myself,” said Elizabeth, a resident of the Mildura area who spoke TV Tonight about turning it off.

Nikki, a local resident, was also interviewed for the publication. She said Network 10’s loss was “negative.”

She added: ‘On a social level, it mainly affects those who cannot afford smart TV and internet access.

“And those who are not digitally literate. It reinforces both the social and geographical disadvantage in our region.”

TV Tonight also spoke to resident Cindy, who said 10’s decision was “a disgrace” and pointed out that Channel Nine was the only commercial broadcaster in the area of ​​60,000 people for many years.

“And it wasn’t until I was in my early 20s that we even got Channel Seven,” she added.

Network 10’s most popular shows with locals include Have You Been Paying Attention?, Australian Survivor, The Cheap Seats, Thank God You Are Here and Gogglebox.

From Sunday, fans living in the regional town of Mildura (pictured) and surrounding areas will no longer have access to Channel 10 or the BOLD and Peach channels. Area viewers have complained that the decision will isolate fans who don’t have a smart TV and can’t afford internet, as Network 10 content will only be available through 10Play

Residents of the region will have access to Network 10 content through 10Play.

Some residents, like Nikki, say internet speed around Mildura, which is 541km from Melbourne, is not always reliable.

“Watching live is by far the best choice,” she said.

It comes after Network 10 last month called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for “urgent” assistance to help avert the shutdown.

In May, Mildura Digital Television, a subsidiary of Network 10 and owned by Seven West Media and WIN Corporation, announced that they would be shutting down on June 30.

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 show that for years Channel Nine was the only commercial broadcaster in the area, home to 60,000 people. 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 deeply unfair to those people, but also to all regional Australians,” they continued.

‘We continue to call on the Federal Government to intervene and ensure that every Australian, no matter where they live or how much they earn, has the same access to all the local free-to-air TV channels and the local content they love and enjoy enjoy, such as important news and emergency information, great sports, comedies 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 can access Network 10 content such as MasterChef (photo) via 10Play. But some locals say internet speeds around Mildura, 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 to supply ten programs to the Mildura television market,” the statement said. Australian Financial Overview May reported.

He added: ‘Without the subsidy from the joint venture owners, MDT will be bankrupt and no longer a surviving company.’

Ny Breaking Australia has contacted WIN and Network 10 for comment.

The troubled 10 Network’s bigger future is uncertain as it continues to lose television programming amid falling ratings and an advertising revenue crisis, reports news.com.au.

Also in May, on-air talent Dave Hughes and Osher Günsberg publicly confirmed that two of Channel Ten’s biggest reality TV shows, The Masked Singer and The Bachelor, have been axed from the network.

Günsberg confirmed on Tuesday morning in the program Hughesy, Ed & Erin on 2DAY FM that his two programs will not appear on television again for the time being.