Network 10 is preparing to outsource its metropolitan playout operations, with broadcast services provider NPC expected to assume responsibility for the function in the coming weeks.
TV Blackbox understands the transition will mark the end of Network 10’s long-running in-house metropolitan playout operation. It is also expected to result in changes across the broadcaster’s presentation department, with a number of roles likely to be affected.
The full extent of those staffing changes has not been confirmed, and Paramount Australia declined to comment when approached by this website.
Playout is the behind-the-scenes broadcast operation responsible for delivering scheduled programming, commercial breaks, promotions and live events to air. It also manages the continuity and technical presentation of a network’s television services, ensuring content is broadcast at the correct time and in the correct sequence.
TV Blackbox understands preparations for the transition are well underway, with responsibility for the operation expected to transfer to NPC once the new arrangement is implemented.
The transition will end Network 10’s long-running in-house metropolitan playout operation. Australia’s other major commercial broadcasters have progressively outsourced similar functions over the past decade, with NPC providing playout and transmission services for a number of Australian television and media organisations.
Those familiar with the transition say the migration is a complex process requiring extensive testing before responsibility can be handed to NPC, with some privately expressing concern about the timeframe for the changeover. If the transition proceeds as planned, however, viewers are unlikely to notice any change to Network 10’s on-air presentation.
The transition is also expected to affect staff working within Network 10’s presentation operations.
While the precise number of affected roles remains unclear, TV Blackbox understands several positions are expected to become redundant as the new operating model is introduced.
Internal communications obtained by this website show staff have been invited to express interest in voluntary redundancy as part of the consultation process, with some employees understood to be transitioning into other operational roles.
The communications state the proposed changes follow “changing business requirements” and the outcome of an operational review.
The outsourcing follows a series of operational changes across Paramount Australia’s local business in recent years as the company continues to review costs amid ongoing pressures facing the commercial television sector.
… the last real television station bites the dust …
Maybe with this new out fit they will get programs too start at the advertised times and not start 10 sometimes 15 mins late.
and if a timer is set to record a particular program have to over run a set time by 30 mins or so so the whole program can be recorded.
Thtas what i do and fast forward through all the commercials that seem to getting longer an more of them
WHY ??
HOW the fcuk does that work ??
Matthew Carden the same way it has worked for every other broadcaster in this country. 10 were the last remaining broadcaster to manage and operate their own playout. Everyone else has been using playout centres for years now.
Ten has been the outlier here as both 9 and 7 plus the ABC all utilize the Frenchs Forrest facility.
Lee Anderson presentation for the ABC is with MediaHub. Never been associated with NPC Media at Frenchs Forest.
Bradley Clarke thanks. I stand corrected.
ABC does have DR playout at NPC. Has since middle of last year.
Lee Anderson I thought WIN and ABC were at MediaHub
So they are moving in with 7 and 9.. I hope they have a backup DR site in case their servers get hacked, like what happened to 9.
…
… the server hack at 9 was North Sydney, not NPC …
The cyber attack which affected 9, if I recall correctly was when 9 was in Wiloughby, my memory is fuzzy on this, though.
I can confirm that the network at NPC was affected. The playout systems weren’t affected directly, but since NPC requires channel 9 to send playlists throughout the day there was a LOT of manual intervention that was required in the first day or two of the cyberattack.
1. It’s a miracle the whole place didn’t go black.
2. It’s another miracle some of the people in charge weren’t fired for that, they were very unable to control themselves during a crisis.
Bring Tim Bailey and the Daily Bailey Weather Wall back. I miss “drips and drops on rooftops and crops!”
Peter Longworth Bring back Mike Bailey for a ‘real’ weather report!. 😉
Seriously, that won’t work. R.I.P. Mike.
Mark Avis I only found out last month he died years ago. Poor Mike. He did such a good job and was so energetic, I nicknamed him ‘Battery Operated Mike!” when he was presenting the weather.
Mark Avis I remember hearing him do weather on 2GB. One morning he had a small problem. Mike Carlton crossed to him for the weather…silence….”what? No Bails?” Then you heard the studio door bash open….”ah there you are Bails, where were you?”…”I was in that little room you don’t talk about on air!”
Loved Tim Bailey’s weather also. Always entertaining, not boring.
Selling out to an American company an now their literally running 10s Australian operations. What a load of f wits 10 are.
All the networks are F-wits, outsourcing their most fundamental functions. TV Networks are now just a piece of paper, no studios, no in house production, no training of production staff, no pride or loyalty. Seven network even outsourced scheduling overseas to a Philippine company.
Utterly disgusting.
The quality control will be in the toilet.
You’ll notice much more black to air and many more mistakes.
Ten had far more superior Pres Coords than NPC.
For idiots like me, what’s a playout? Jargon like this doesn’t help us average Facebook reel watchers
Will Seaton Linked article should help clear that up, or Google is your friend here 😉 -Kyle
Will Seaton it’s the main centre where all the computer and broadcast equipment send program to the transmission sites
Will Seaton Thanks I was hoping someone would ask so I didn’t have to interpret it from the article.
Will Seaton it’s the system that plays the programs and commercials. The network’s upload the material into the system, the channels production and traffic departments have to make sure the scheduling is uploaded correctly. In this case the system is external. Other channels also use it, so costs can be shared between channels. Like with shared transmission facilities.
We are pleased to see the transition of Network 10’s in-house metropolitan playout services as the company expands its broadcast operations. Under the new long-term agreements, Network 10’s in-house playout services will be outsourced to NPC Media, while Network 10 Regional playout operations will also transition under the new arrangements involving both NPC Media and WIN’s MediaHub facilities.
The transition is expected to cover the playout operations for Network 10’s digital television channels, including 10, 10 Drama and 10 Comedy, across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Southern NSW/ACT, Griffith, Northern NSW/Gold Coast, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, Spencer Gulf/Broken Hill, Mount Gambier/Riverland, Darwin, Remote Central and Eastern Australia, and Western Australia. It also includes 10 Central on the Imparja network in Remote Central and Eastern Australia, the new 10+1 timeshift service launching in August 2026, the free-to-air Nickelodeon channel across selected markets, News24 Regional (formerly Sky News Regional) from 27 July 2026, SBN, WIN Television’s Gold infomercial channel, the you.tv and Gecko infomercial channels, as well as the live streams of Network 10 channels, Pluto TV FAST channels, and a range of Paramount’s international channels, including MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and other Paramount media networks.
An additional future development is the transition of the Network 10 affiliate, Mildura Digital Television. Following the end of its terrestrial transmission in July 2024, the service is expected to transition to a new VAST satellite service during the 2026–27 financial year as part of the future redevelopment and expansion of WIN Network’s television services in the Mildura/Sunraysia region.
The VAST service is expected to broadcast Network 10 channels is relaying the direct dirty feed of Melbourne TV station, including 10 on LCN 5 and 50, 10 Drama on LCN 51, and 10 Comedy on LCN 52, providing viewers in the Mildura/Sunraysia region with continued access to these services through the new satellite platform.
Finally, Network 10 has confirmed the closure of its in-house metropolitan playout operations in Pyrmont, NSW. As part of this transition, the network will move its metropolitan playout operations to the expanded broadcast facilities operated by NPC Media and MediaHub, supporting the delivery of Paramount’s national Network 10 television services.
This transition is expected to strengthen Network 10’s broadcast operations and help ensure reliable television services for viewers across metropolitan, regional and remote Australia through its various broadcast platforms, over the coming weeks in time.
This marks a significant development for Network 10’s broadcast operations, and I wish NPC Media and MediaHub every success in delivering reliable playout and transmission services under these new arrangements. Looking forward to seeing the next stage of Network 10’s broadcasting operations. Cheers!
Not difficult to see why all FTA channels are going bellyup, whdn you look at the crap they dish up as entertainment. Reality tv is total crap, attracting only those retards who are easily fooled into believing it is real.
I would like to know why we have not received nickelodeon here in nnsw.
Me too
It seems to be a a toss up between the three commercial networks for the converted race to the bottom trophy.
I still believe 10 are dying a very slow death. 
Presentation playout at TEN (9 and SBS before that) was my job 40 or so years ago. We switched manually, partially aided by automation). The facilities at TEN North Ryde were a cut above 9. And SBS (0-28) was the cleanest and friendliest of them all albeit being quasi public service at the time.
Pres control was where two of media stars started their job, it was the starting point before anything else at ten.
Sad😞
10 Northern NSW Playout appears to have moved from Mediahub to NPC. Channel Lineup is still the same as before with the only exception GOLD is gone from the 10 Multiplex. WIN is still providing Local News Updates for 10 Northern NSW.