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Relief for regional race fans

Garth Tander and Ryan Wood on Supercars TV

By Thomas Miles

A new deal between Channel Seven and WIN Network ensures all fans have access to Supercars on TV.

On Monday, Channel Seven, 7Mate and 7Two vanished from TVs in the Limestone Coast, Riverland and Griffith regions of Australia.

This left around 132,350 people without any free-to-air access to Supercars, cricket and AFL coverage on free-to-air TV, after WIN TV and Seven West Media failed to reach an agreement on a new content supply deal.

As a result, these fans faced the very real possibility of missing out on seeing the Townsville, Bathurst, Gold Coast and Adelaide rounds live in addition to the others as highlights packages.

But thankfully, after three days of seeing the “Channel 7 programming no longer available” message on their screens, things have changed for the better.

Channel 7 switch off

The bleak message that had greeted viewers. Image: SE Voice

On Thursday afternoon, the Seven Network and WIN Network have reached a new content agreement which has seen Seven’s channels return to the Riverland, Griffith and Mount Gambier via aerial transmission just hours before the Thursday night footy game between North Melbourne and Western Bulldogs.

“The Seven Network and WIN Network have reached a new content agreement which has seen Seven’s channels return to the Riverland, Griffith and Mount Gambier via aerial transmission this afternoon,” a joint Win/Seven statement said.

“Both Seven and WIN acknowledge the significant impact of free-to-air television in regional communities and the importance of providing news, sport, entertainment, and a voice to regional Australians.

“We thank the people of the Riverland, Mount Gambier and Griffith communities for their patience while we worked through this matter.”

Member for Barker Tony Pasin, told the SE Voice he was delighted for the Limestone Coast region.

“This is a powerful reminder that when we stand together as a community, there is almost nothing we can’t achieve,” he said.

“This is a great win, I was pleased to spearhead the effort, but I couldn’t have done it without the support of the community and I am pleased WIN TV and Channel 7 have come to terms of agreement so the people of the Limestone Coast can enjoy the same programming as in metropolitan cities across the country.

“That is very least that we should expect from the likes of WIN TV and Channel 7.

“It is no surprise that this agreement was reached against the background of community leaders like myself calling on ACMA to cancel WIN TV’s broadcasting licence under the Broadcasting Act.”

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