Prime Media chief executive Ian Audsley.Credit:Rob Homer
Bermuda-based media mogul Bruce Gordon's WIN Networklast week informed about 40 staff members in NSW regional centres Albury,Wagga Wagga and Orange/Dubbo,and Queensland's Wide Bay,that the broadcaster would later this month cease to produce local news bulletins from those locations.
The decision was"based on the commercial viability of funding news in these areas,"said a spokeswoman at the time.
Regional television broadcasters have faced growing pressure for years to balance producing costly journalism as viewing habits change with rising network expenses and revenue declines as advertisers spend more of their budgets online.
Mr Audsley said he was"not surprised by WIN's decision,or the reaction from various parts of the community".
After WIN announced the closure,the decisionwas criticised by the NSW Nationals who warned they would pull all advertising from the broadcaster unless the decision was reversed. The party spent $3 million on the network in the last six months,during which there was a Federal Election and a state election that increased the spend.
Loading
"I know the WIN guys well – this would have been a torturous decision for them,"Mr Audsley said."They’ve been tremendous supporters of local news”.