Photo by Alicia Christin Gerald on Unsplash.
Seven West Media and WIN Network have reached an agreement, restoring free-to-air broadcasts of Seven’s channels to regional communities in SA and NSW.
The deal ends a week-long blackout that began on July 1, when WIN ceased airing Seven’s programming, including AFL and cricket.
Seven’s programming resumed at 5pm on Wednesday afternoon after a fresh deal was struck.
“The Seven Network and WIN Network have reached a new content agreement which has seen Seven’s channels return to the Riverland, Griffith and Mount Gambier via aerial transmission,” the networks said in a joint statement.
“Both Seven and WIN acknowledge the significant impact of free-to-air television in regional communities and the importance of providing news, sport, entertainment, and a voice to regional Australians.
“We thank the people of the Riverland, Mount Gambier and Griffith communities for their patience while we worked through this matter.”
The agreement comes after federal Tony Pasin MP gathered more than 1,700 signatures on an online petition calling on Seven to continue its contractual agreement with WIN this week.
Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie also called for stronger intervention.
“This is our cultural practice, particularly in the regions – it’s our bread-and-butter,” she said.
“These are commercial entities having to make commercial decisions because the environment they’re operating in isn’t financially sustainable.”
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