Joint media release - McIntosh and Webster - Networks should come back to the table to ensure continued broadcasting

Melissa McIntosh MP
Shadow Minister for Communications
Shadow Minister for Women
Federal Member for Lindsay

Dr Anne Webster MP
Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories
Shadow Minister for Regional Communications
Federal Member for Mallee

18 June 2025

Networks should come back to the table to ensure continued broadcasting

In just 12 days, Channel 7 and its affiliate stations will no longer be broadcast across the South Australian Riverland, Loxton and Mount Gambier communities and parts of the New South Wales Riverina. 

WIN holds the solus licences for these areas and wants to continue broadcasting Channel 7 content for its audiences free-to-air. The networks have failed to reach a deal that will ensure these communities continue to receive these television stations.

Shadow Minister for Communications, Melissa McIntosh MP said, “broadcasters should come back to the negotiating table to ensure all stations continue being broadcast to regional NSW and South Australia.”

“Regional communities want and deserve free-to-air access to live sport and engaging programs that Channel 7 offers across the country.

“Broadcasters cannot simply offer these communities access to their streaming services given the internet access issues regional Australia faces.”

Shadow Minister for Regional Communications, Dr Anne Webster MP highlighted the dire challenges faced not only by commercial media but for communities to see local news.

“The Media Reform Green Paper highlighted the dire challenges for regional commercial media including declining advertising revenues, the impact of digital platforms and the need for sustainable local news services.

“As the Member for Mallee my northwestern Victorian community has experienced the dismay at Ten channels being switched off in Sunraysia a year ago. Once signal is turned off, the fear is they won’t return.

“During this cost-of-living crisis, on Labor’s watch regional Australians will have to pay more to access better internet for streaming services to keep watching their favourite footy team or the Test cricket. Sport is the pulse of regional communities and regional media are on life support.”

The regulatory and tax environment is not favourable for regional media sustainability, and the Coalition calls upon the Albanese Labor Government to explain what it is doing to ensure signals remain switched on, and local news gathering improves.