WIN Network will cease airing Seven Network programming in Mt. Gambier, Loxton, and Griffith from July 1, marking the end of a key regional partnership after Seven declined to renew its broadcast agreement.
The breakdown impacts access to flagship channels 7, 7mate, and 7two across parts of South Australia and southern New South Wales. Sports content takes a direct hit—AFL, Test cricket, and major Twenty20 fixtures will no longer be available through WIN in those areas, affecting thousands of regional viewers mid-season.
The move stems from a strategic pivot by Seven West Media, which opted not to extend its carriage deal with WIN. The decision leaves households in the affected regions without a direct feed to some of the country’s most-watched programming, and accelerates the reshaping of Australia’s regional broadcast landscape.
For WIN CEO Andrew Lancaster, the decision is disappointing but not unexpected. While expressing regret, he confirmed there would be no job losses in the impacted areas, with local news teams and station infrastructure remaining in place. WIN’s broader focus, he said, continues to be on delivering regional news, Australian content, and advertiser value across its footprint.
Behind the scenes, WIN is also reviewing its exposure in other marginal broadcast zones, including non-core operations in regional Western Australia and Tasmania where it carries Network 10 content. That signals a deeper reassessment of carriage deals that no longer align with long-term strategic returns.
This exit further narrows the number of markets where Seven’s linear signals are delivered via affiliate partnership. It follows a wider industry shift where metro networks increasingly consolidate distribution through owned stations or direct digital platforms.
For now, no replacement feed has been announced in the affected zones, and viewers in Mt. Gambier, Loxton, and Griffith are left dealing with the fallout with just two weeks’ notice.
