Australian free-to-air (FTA) broadcaster WIN Corporation has confirmed a five-year affiliate agreement to broadcast programming from Ten Network Holdings in regional areas.
Ten becomes Bruce Gordon-owned WIN’s major affiliate partner through the deal, which will cover areas in South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Miludra and Griffith.
Gordon, who also owns 14.9% of Ten, said: “As the largest and one of the longest standing shareholders in Ten, I am absolutely delighted to formally partner with Ten in WIN Networks’ markets throughout regional Australia.
“I am very confident in Ten’s strategy and resulting audience growth and look forward to working with Ten’s management and Board to continue to grow both businesses.”
The deal will come into force on 1 July 2016, a day after WIN’s current arrangement with the Nine Network expires. Nine has already forged an allegiance with Southern Cross Media Group, which will begin on the same date.
In this year’s ratings season, the Nine Network has earned a 26.3% audience share compared to Ten's 18.1%, according to measurement company OzTAM. However, any loss in viewers suffered by WIN is reportedly to be offset by the reduction in affiliate fees paid to Ten, compared to the 50% WIN currently pays Nine. Southern Cross Media Group has been paying Ten an affiliate fee equating to 34% of its revenue.
WIN, which broadcasts to over six million viewers across 23 markets in Australia, will carry popular Ten programmes such as I’m A Celebrity, The Bachelor and Masterchef. New shows Brock, The Wrong Girl and Australian Survivor will also be added to the schedule, along with some Formula One motor racing.
“We’re genuinely delighted and we think we've got a partner that's heavily invested in regional Australia and we think that relationship will be beneficial to both of us,” Paul Anderson, CEO, Ten told Fairfax Media.
The new deal also includes digital streaming rights for WIN to broadcast Ten content in southern NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania.
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