After a dramatic split in 2016 the two networks are back together.
WIN TV and Nine have inked a deal which will see more changes in regional television as WIN transfers back to an affiliation agreement its former partner from 1 July 2021.
In 2016 Nine shocked the market by doing a deal with Southern Cross, forcing WIN into a deal with 10. The arrangement hasn’t worked out for WIN as it continues to lose market share with a weaker programming slate.
TV Blackbox understands there will be changes to Nine’s regional news offerings, but the network will seek to redeploy those employees it can within Nine.
A Nine spokesman confirmed not all staff will be redeployed as the three regional bulletins Nine are currently producing will be axed. Any staff remaining with Nine in the transition would have to relocate to metro newsrooms.
This new agreement between Nine and WIN is for seven years and includes provisions for a potential extension of the agreement.
Details are yet to be revealed regarding the specifics of the deal. Negotiations in 2016 had Nine chasing 50% of WIN TV’s advertising revenue as a return for the partnership, which ultimately saw the demise of the deal and the change in partnerships.
Nine’s channels will continue to carry the Nine branding in regional markets (Channel 9, 9Go, 9Gem etc.) WIN Television will however maintain some of its own branding in promos by utilising slogans such as, “Your watching Channel 9 on WIN Wagga”
TV Blackbox understands the multichannel 9Life will not be available in regional markets when the new deal commences, but plans are in place for channel to be added soon after.
WIN Television’s existing agreement to broadcast the Sky News On WIN channel is set to expire in August and WIN are yet to confirm if the Sky News deal will be renewed.
The new affiliate agreement does not include the 9Rush multichannel which will continue to only be available in regional markets via streaming platform 9Now.
Current CEO Hugh Marks has just sent out a note to staff, saying in part:
This decision has been made strategically on the basis of WIN’s larger broadcast footprint, particularly in Western Australia and in Tasmania, and will ensure our quality broadcast content from Channel 9 and the multichannels reaches the largest number of Australians possible under a single agreement.
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.
One of the impacts of the change in affiliate partner will be an impact to our regional news services which we currently provide on behalf of SCA.
We are aware that there will be some roles impacted as a result of this change but those impacted can be assured that Director of News and Current Affairs Darren Wick and his team are actively looking at options for redeployment for as many employees as possible.
Under the changes WIN will do its local news bulletin in regional areas at 5.30pm before taking the 6pm state bulletin in each state. WIN will also take over sales representation for NBN from SCA.
In response to the new deal, the CEO and managing director of SCA, Grant Blackley indicated that business would now seek to re-establish a partnership with Network 10.
For more than 20 years before entering the Nine affiliation in 2016, SCA was affiliated with Network 10 in SCA’s licence areas. SCA looks forward to discussions in coming weeks with Network 10 to establish a new affiliation in regional Queensland, Southern NSW and regional Victoria from 1 July 2021.
Additional reporting by Kevin Perry & Steve Molk.
Why should they have to move to metro newsrooms? the pandemic has taught us not everything has to be done in capital cities and tv production is the same. Channel 9 and Win should open larger better facilities in cities like Townsville and produce new content out of it.
Why Can’t NBN Television sign a deal with Network 10? Then win tv can broadcast 9 network programs in the Northern NSW Area.
Hi Ethan, NBN is owned by Nine, and so it is very unlikely to sign a deal with its competitors. WIN have just re-signed with Nine, and from July they will start showing Nine product again.
On the Central, North & Gold Coasts SCA should stick with 10 Network ,this should stop a 9/Prime duopoly from forming in these markets.
Hi Martin – that’s what will be returning when this agreement takes place.
SCA is not in Northern Nsw area. It is. Win.
So what happens with those with WIN in the NSW Central West – do we loose C10 Sydney news and The Project..and get two lots of C9 news and Current Affair on two stations ??
Thanks TVBlack Box for the information on the Regional NSW changes to television programming. It’s 1.00am July 1 and while I was aware of the pending changes, I didn’t know 9Life would be removed from the channel list. After retuning the TV, still no 9Life. A search of both Regional 9 & 10 sites didn’t offer any explanation, but a search revealed this article and the reason for the missing channel. Thanks again!
The first night of the NEW !!! WIN Ch 9 regional Riverina news failed to show a weather report for Tumut N.S.W. 2720. Tumut is a town which has a population of 7K plus.. The Tumut region is the western gate way to the Snowy Mountains Scheme & houses over 100 workers currently employed on Snowy 2.0. The region also produces more than 70% of the states softwood, a large portion of which was destroyed in the 2020 Burns Rd bush fire. Tourists travelling to ski resorts & visiting the Snowy Scheme rely heavily on information regarding the weather in this area. I noticed towns of less geographical significance mentioned in your report & I’m sure the community & tourists alike would appreciate you including Tumut in future reports.
I suppose I should say thanks ’cause 9Life was really the only daytime tv I would watch while taking a break from housework etc. At least now I know not to bother turning on the TV at all.
I concur Karen, 9Life was the only daytime show worth watching and for background. I’ve tried the new 9 setup, what a hassle it was to setup. Ease of use non existent, waiting for the channel to load up, all time wasting..
Not user friendly + where is the tv guide?.