The arrival of a new regional news service by the Nine Network in the Illawarra and South Coast at 6pm on Monday won’t change WIN Television’s commitment to a dedicated 30 minute completely local news service.
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Speaking at his Mount St Thomas headquarters on Tuesday WIN Corporation owner Bruce Gordon said WIN Television would continue to do what it has done for so long by providing a comprehensive coverage of local and regional news every week day at 6pm.
The Nine Network is starting its own hour long Illawarra and South Coast regional service, including a mix of local, national and international news, sport and weather, on Monday.
Southern Cross Austereo decided to introduce 15 regional news bulletins after signing a deal with Nine that resulted in it running their programs and WIN Television beginning an affiliation with Ten and its content.
Mr Gordon said a half-hour bulletin completely dedicated to local news was something WIN had done for a long time, even when others ceased providing such a comprehensive local news service.
“The time when others cancelled their local news to do three minute updates my Board said “what are you going to do,” he said.
“I said we are going to stay with local news. We have a television licence and in my opinion the obligation of having a television licence is that you must provide a service to the community in news. I have always said the way we interpret it is we have an obligation to supply a service to the public”.
Regional news anchor Geoff Phillips said Mr Gordon was solely responsible for the Illawarra and many parts of NSW continuing to have a completely dedicated local 30 minutes news service.
Mr Gordon said because of that news presenters such as Mr Phillips became an integral part of their community.
“He is an ambassador for WIN around the place. I don’t do anything for myself. Everything I have done is for WIN and its audience”.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
