Regional households across the Riverland and Mount Gambier in South Australia can once again tune in to Channel 7 and WIN TV, (including watching the footy this weekend) after a surprise broadcast blackout sparked political backlash and widespread community concern.
The outage, which began on July 1 due to a failed supply agreement between WIN Network and Seven, left thousands without access to free-to-air news, sport and entertainment for several days before a last-minute deal was reached to restore services.
The move blindsided many viewers, cutting them off from nightly news updates, prime-time entertainment and live sport, including the AFL.
Understandably, the reaction from affected communities was swift and vocal. With metro areas still enjoying full access, questions were raised about the fairness of regional audiences being left behind due to commercial disagreements.
“I’ve heard loud and clear from locals that this caused a great deal of concern,” said one federal MP, who worked with Shadow Communications Ministers Melissa McIntosh and Anne Webster to push for a quick resolution.
“This sort of disruption wouldn’t be tolerated in the cities, and it shouldn’t be in regional areas either.”
After several days of behind-the-scenes negotiations and growing political pressure, a new agreement was reached between the two networks. Broadcasting was restored late Thursday, 3 July, bringing back the familiar lineup of programs and live sports to regional screens.
In a joint statement, Seven and WIN acknowledged the vital role television plays in regional communities and expressed gratitude to viewers for their patience.
The incident has reignited broader conversations about how essential services like free-to-air TV are managed in regional Australia. For many, especially those in remote areas, television remains a key link to news, events and a shared national conversation. When that access is suddenly cut off, the impact is immediate.
While the screens are glowing once again, the episode has highlighted the fragility of these commercial arrangements and sparked calls for more robust protections to ensure regional communities are not left in the dark again.
For now, though, locals can settle back into their viewing routines, with Channel 7 back in action just in time for the weekend.
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