PASIN SLAMS GOVERNMENT OVER REGIONAL TV SHUTDOWN

By Jessica Dempster

Federal Member for Barker Tony Pasin has criticised the Albanese Government for failing to act as regional Australians face the loss of Network 10 from free-to-air television.

Viewers across the Limestone Coast and Riverland in South Australia, as well as Griffith and the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area in southern New South Wales, will lose access to Channel 10, 10 Drama and 10 Comedy following their final broadcasts on Friday, October 9.

The shutdown follows months of uncertainty, with WIN and Network 10 unable to reach a longer-term agreement after a temporary arrangement kept the channels on air for an additional three months.

WIN says continuing the services is no longer commercially viable, citing high transmission and infrastructure costs, along with declining audiences and advertising revenue.

Mr Pasin says regional broadcasters have repeatedly warned about the pressures facing their services, and the Federal Government should have acted before another regional service was lost.

He says switching to streaming is not an adequate solution for regional communities dealing with unreliable internet and mobile coverage.

Network 10 will remain available online and through its app, while Mr Pasin is calling for a sustainable solution for regional free-to-air television.