Nine Entertainment and WIN Corporation today announced a new regional television affiliation agreement, replacing the current deal with regional broadcaster SCA.
SCA says it was informed this morning that Nine would not be renewing its agreement.
The regional broadcaster now "looks forward to discussions in coming weeks with Network Ten" to establish a new affiliation in regional Queensland, Southern NSW and regional Victoria.
Under Nine's minimum seven-year deal, WIN will broadcast Nine’s metropolitan free-to-air television content from channels 9, 9Go, 9Gem and 9Life into markets including Tasmania, regional Western Australia, Victoria, Queensland and Southern NSW.
WIN will pay an affiliation fee of around 50% of its regional advertising revenue to Nine and provide airtime to Nine to allow promotion of Nine’s assets across WIN’s television and radio network.
The agreement, starting July 1, replaces Nine's five-year deal with SCA which ends this year. That deal had been struck after Nine and WIN fell out over streaming content.
Nine CEO Hugh Marks told staff in an email: "We have enjoyed our five-year relationship with Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) and I wish to thank them for a mutually beneficial relationship and partnership over this time."
WIN will also provide a sales representation service for Nine in Northern NSW and Darwin.
The change in affiliate partner will impact regional news services Nine provides on behalf of SCA. Some jobs are expected to be lost.
Marks: "While our relationship with Southern Cross has been strong over the last five years, the opportunities presented by the WIN Network to both extend the reach of Nine’s premium content into more regional markets under one agreement, and to work co-operatively with them on a national and local news operation, mean this is the right time for us to return to WIN."
He says the terms of this new affiliation agreement should be positive to Nine’s earnings from the 2022 financial year.
WIN CEO Andrew Lancaster: "We are pleased to be furthering our already strong relationship with Nine, through this affiliation agreement.
"Nine has clearly established itself as Australia’s leading media business and we are excited to be returning to carriage of the Nine broadcast content to our regional viewers."
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