Regional broadcaster WIN will tonight reinstate dedicated local news services in two regional markets, marking a return to locally focused coverage in communities that have been without bespoke bulletins for years.
WIN will introduce the new bulletins at 5:30pm from Monday 24 November, broadcasting to viewers in Victoria’s Sunraysia–Mildura region and the Griffith–MIA area in NSW via its Channel 9 affiliate stations.
A spokesperson for WIN confirmed the decision, telling TV Blackbox:
“WIN News is providing these areas with a platform for local news content, despite challenging economic conditions and a long-running effort with both sides of politics, to ensure the sustainability of regional broadcasting.”
While the move restores a degree of locally oriented news to both markets, WIN has acknowledged it will not maintain full-time journalists permanently based in either region. Instead, the broadcaster intends to rely on different production methods, drawing more material from within the community. A spokesperson for WIN told TV Blackbox:
“WIN News will be working closely with the local community, government and business, to create opportunities for coverage of local news and events.
The bulletin will be presented by Bruce Roberts, a face familiar to viewers along with Sports Presenter Jared Constable.
We know weather is very important to people in the area and a comprehensive weather report will be part of the news bulletin each weeknight.”
The return follows a long absence. Mildura last received a dedicated WIN News bulletin in May 2015, when the network closed its Mildura newsroom, ending more than six decades of local reporting. The Griffith bulletin ended earlier, on 18 August 2006, when production was merged with coverage from Wagga Wagga as part of cost-cutting and restructuring efforts.
The launch of the new bulletins comes at a time when free-to-air services across regional Australia are under intense pressure to survive. Mildura has been without free-to-air access to Channel 10 services since they were withdrawn in 2024 due to insufficient advertiser support.
1 Mildura Reporter? This is great news for the Mildura community
This was not the move I was expecting from WIN. After many years of doing little but cutting and consolidating bulletins, through good economic times and bad, they are now suddenly adding bulletins again, with the economy in the state it is currently in? I must say I am impressed. While its clear these new bulletins are being done as cheaply as possible (no dedicated reporters in the newly covered regions), perhaps more resources will be devoted to them if viewers give them a chance. Its a tough sell, but one that might just work.
great news team how do i get a wintv badge please
ditto