Bendigo viewers impacted by the catastrophic bushfire-related television outage will be able to access their local news, with WIN Network and Nine partnering to make WIN News Bendigo available via 9Now.
From tonight and until normal transmission resumes, the Bendigo bulletin will be available as video on demand on 9Now each weekday from 6.30 pm, ensuring the local community can continue to access trusted news coverage at a critical time.
Bushfire damage disrupts free-to-air services
The move follows catastrophic bushfire damage to transmission infrastructure at Mt Alexander, leaving free-to-air television services unavailable across large parts of the Bendigo TV market.
Restoration work is expected to take time, and access and safety considerations will continue to affect repair efforts.
The streaming arrangement provides an interim solution, allowing viewers to stay informed about local news, weather and bushfire updates while transmission services are restored.
Broadcasters collaborate to support regional audiences
WIN Corporation chief executive officer Andrew Lancaster said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to regional communities.
“Local news matters especially during emergencies, as we see now. In the last week, WIN News bulletins across our network have been covering bushfires in Victoria and NSW as well as floods and a cyclone in Queensland,” Lancaster said.
“By working closely with Nine to make WIN News Bendigo available on 9Now, we’re ensuring our viewers in the impacted Bendigo area can continue to access the information they rely on, despite the transmission challenges caused by the bushfires.”
Nine’s executive director of the 9Network and 9Now, Hamish Turner, said supporting regional audiences was a priority.
“This is about supporting regional communities when they need it most. Partnering with WIN to deliver Bendigo’s local news through 9Now ensures people remain connected to essential local updates while infrastructure recovery is underway,” Turner said.
How viewers can access WIN News Bendigo
In the meantime, Bendigo viewers are encouraged to watch WIN News Bendigo on 9Now, available on smart TVs, mobile devices, tablets and computers, with no aerial required.
The blue border indicates Bendigo television area. The grey pinpoint is the transmission site. The areas without television transmission are the highlighted green, orange, and grey-shaded areas, which receive TV signals from the grey pinpoint.
Regional broadcasters continue to work with transmission partners and emergency authorities to assess damage at the Mt Alexander site and progress solutions to restore free-to-air services as safely and quickly as possible.