Channel 7-WIN TV dispute leaves station off air in South Australia and NSW
This follows WIN and Seven West Media failing to reach an agreement for 7, 7mate and 7two to broadcast into South Australia's South East and Riverland, as well as Griffith in the Riverina, New South Wales, from July 1.
The WIN TV free-to-air channel now says "Channel 7 programming is no longer available" for thousands of residents across these regions.
Federal MP Tony Pasin has gathered more than 1,700 signatures on an online petition calling on Seven West Media to "continue their contractual agreement with WIN TV" to broadcast free-to-air within his electorate.
Mr Pasin, the Liberal member for Barker in SA's South East, said anti-siphoning legislation required TV channel owners to broadcast sporting events like AFL finals, the Bathurst 1000 Supercars race and Test cricket free-to-air.
They could be in breach of their licence conditions and have their licence removed if the events were not shown on TV, Mr Pasin said.
"Specifically, that legislation said streaming services, even free streaming services, don't amount to free-to-air because the Commonwealth government understands, of course, that we don't have universal internet coverage across the country," he said.
"There's nothing free-to-air about having to go and buy a smart television at $2,000 or maintain an internet connection and, of course, that doesn't take into account the consideration some people don't have that capability."
A spokesperson for the WIN Network said it did "not own rights to any listed events, therefore there is no obligation to the WIN Network to broadcast them".
Seven has placed advertisements in local newspapers advising viewers that they can instead watch programs on the company's 7plus streaming platform.
It did not respond to a request for comment on Monday.
A Seven spokesperson has previously said people would "continue to have access to all of our content, including the AFL and cricket, via our live and free streaming platform 7plus".
Berri Senior Citizens Club president John Fewster, whose members are aged from 70 to 95, said many would miss Channel 7 content.
"Unless they're really up with that sort of thing [streaming], they mostly wouldn't even try. It would be just too hard for them," he said.
Riverland Crows Supporters Group president Peter Marks said watching AFL on free-to-air was good for members' mental health.
"I just think that [WIN Network and Channel 7] have to be aware that they're providing a big service to us and, if that's suddenly gone, where do we go?"
He is calling on the AFL to step in.
"I'd like to see what their stance is on it and that they understand what the issue is and the pain people are going through," Mr Marks said.
"They are the ones that have signed the contract with the TV people and if it's not getting through to where it's supposed to, then definitely they have a big role in it."
The AFL has been contacted for comment.
Jobe Stewart lives in Mount Gambier and competes in the Super2 series (just below Supercars level), as well as co-driving in the Bathurst 1000 for Erebus Motorsport.
While acknowledging many fans watched on paid streaming services, the 21-year-old said free-to-air broadcasts were important for children to gain an interest in the sport.
"I think that's very important," he said.
"Whatever a kid wants to do — whether it's football, motorsport, whatever — I think the passion is going to come from a very young age, so it's very important to build profiles for the drivers so young kids can look on the TV or whatever and find out about the drivers and what they might want to be when they grow up."
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