Nine has added WIN News Bendigo to 9Now after bushfire damage at the Mt Alexander transmission site left large parts of the Bendigo market without free to air television services.
The local bulletin is now available to viewers in the Bendigo TV market on demand via 9Now, while WIN News Bendigo continues to stream live on WIN’s local Facebook pages at 5.30pm, providing ongoing access to local updates.
WIN says the fire event caused significant damage to broadcast infrastructure shared by commercial networks, with partial restoration expected to take one to three weeks depending on damage assessments and site access.
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WIN confirmed on its social media pages yesterday that WIN News Bendigo is available on 9Now following the transmission outage (image – Facebook)
While the joint announcement says the bulletin is available from tonight, TV Blackbox understands WIN News Bendigo has been on 9Now since last night, offering a stopgap for viewers seeking local updates during the outage.
WIN Corporation Chief Executive Officer Andrew Lancaster said the collaboration was focused on keeping regional audiences informed during emergencies.
“Local news matters especially during emergencies like we see now.”
Nine’s Executive Director of the 9Network and 9NOW, Hamish Turner, said the priority was ensuring communities can still access essential information while recovery work continues.
“This is about supporting regional communities when they need it most.”
The below map shows the Bendigo television market and the areas currently without reception due to bushfire damage at the Mt Alexander transmission site, which normally distributes signals across the region.
Map showing the Bendigo television area impacted by bushfire damage at the Mt Alexander transmission site, with affected reception zones highlighted (image – supplied)
The streaming arrangement is described as temporary, but it also puts a spotlight on how regional bulletins could be made more accessible on major platforms beyond crisis periods, particularly for audiences who are already watching via connected TVs and devices.
For now, WIN News Bendigo remains accessible via Facebook and 9Now while transmission services are restored, ensuring viewers can continue to receive local news and emergency information.
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