Nine secures WA deal after 48-hour blackout
Nine's blackout in regional Western Australia ended on Saturday evening after nearly two days. The signal returned just in time for Nine's election day coverage, after a deal was finalised with West Digital Television (a joint venture between Prime Media Group and WIN Network). In a brief media statement, West Digital Television said the agreement covered Nine's main channel, GEM and GO.
The Australian reports the blackout was the culmination of years of frustration from regional TV network executives who believe Australia's media laws allowed them to be bullied by metropolitan partners.
Nine secured last-minute deals across regional areas where its new affiliate partner Southern Cross Austereo either doesn't have a licence to broadcast or is bound by existing deals with other networks. These include Mildura in Victoria, regional South Australia, Tasmania and Griffith in south-west NSW.
Network chiefs seek new Presto strategy
Network executives at Foxtel and Seven West Media are considering their options over the direction of SVOD player Presto as shareholders negotiate a 2017 budget for the service, The Australian reports.
In terms of paid subscriber numbers, Presto (112,000) lags behind US juggernaut Netflix (1.14 million) and Australian rival Stan (500,000), according to research firm Telsyte.
Options being mooted include folding the service into Foxtel Play, a service that allows digital streaming without a set top box, or merging the service with the catch-up service Foxtel Anytime.
Presto recently secured a deal to allow its content to be accessed via internet TV company Fetch TV.
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