The new affiliation between Network Ten and WIN is “not upheaval, it’s change” according to WIN boss Andrew Lancaster, who expected viewers to quickly overcome any confusion as TV shows change channels across regional Australia on Friday.
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Joining Ten CEO Paul Anderson at a launch function in WIN’s hometown of Wollongong on Wednesday night, Mr Lancaster said the changeover day – this Friday – was not ideal as viewers wondering where to watch their favourite shows would not be able to call in for advice.
“It isn’t ideal, but I think people will adapt relatively quickly and find the programming they want to find.”
While the switch from Nine to Ten didn’t occur until July 1, it had already happened within the WIN offices, where posters of MasterChef, The Project, Neighbours and Offspring adorned the entryway and corridors.
Ten CEO Paul Anderson said the partnership between the two channels, which came after the April revelation Nine would break its 30-year affiliation with WIN in favour of a deal with Southern Cross, had been a natural fit despite the way it came together.
“I would never say we were the last two partners left, but that’s effectively the way the cards fell,” Mr Anderson said. “From our point of view, we’re actually really happy, because we’ve got an affiliate now that is focused on regional Australia and regional news and the owner [Bruce Gordon] is our largest shareholder.”
He also highlighted WIN’s news coverage as a strong gain for Network Ten.
“The fact that WIN is the biggest regional player in terms of their reach, the fact that they have a voice in their local markets is extremely important and we can collaborate with them in terms of our news resources,” he said. “Ten Eyewitness News now has the resources of the WIN network in regional Australia and vice versa.”
Mr Lancaster echoed these sentiments, dismissing any suggestions there may be a fallout from shifting from being part of Nine’s second rating national news.
“I think as a CEO of a media company, you’re constantly reviewing your business, but we’re committed to running the 16 half-hour bulletins that we run across Australia,” he said.
“We think it will be interesting to see what happens from an audience perspective between Ten’s Eyewitness News and The Project, which has probably the fastest growing audience in any of the news content in Australia.”
He said he was anticipating further cooperation between Ten’s news and the WIN broadcasts, with regional and metropolitan newsrooms sharing content.
“We’re introducing Ten to regional Australia like it’s never been before,” he said.