News battle heats up in the bush

It’s war out there in regional news.

Since Nine News began launching new bulletins in NSW, with Victoria and Queensland to follow, it’s set off a bout of press releases boasting about victories. And fair enough too.

It happens all the time in the city, why should the bush be any different?

But there are already claims made based upon different criteria.

Prime7 has claimed a win in Canberra based on the 6-7 news hour. WIN claimed its own victory just on the first half hour.

Canberra:

Prime:

The numbers are in and Canberran’s have again voted Seven News with Mark Ferguson as their first choice for news in the 6.00pm weeknight news hour.

PRIME7 was No.1 in the 6.00pm – 7.00pm Monday to Friday timeslot, with Seven News attracting an average audience of 17,647 viewers and a 40.3% commercial audience share.

Nine News recorded 11,182 viewers, while WIN averaged 14,918 viewers across the same timeslot.

Seven News with Mark Ferguson.  6.00pm Weeknights on PRIME7
Source: Regional TAM – Free-to-Air, Canberra, 13.02.17 – 17.02.17, Total People, 6.00pm – 7.00pm, Average Audience, Commercial Primary Channel Share, Overnight Data

WIN:

For the second consecutive week, WIN News won the week in the nation’s capital and grown its viewership. WIN News was once again the most watched news program of the week at 6pm on commercial television in the ACT.

Throughout the week, WIN’s purely local news bulletin in the pivotal 6pm – 6.30pm timeslot delivered 17,198 viewers (average audience) across five nights in the ACT and achieved a five-night commercial share of 31.5% in its timeslot.

WIN News increased its viewers when compared to last week when its viewing average was 17,002.

Nine’s new format and presenter which mixes local, national and international news remained the third most watched news program of the week, with an average weekly audience of 12,268 from 6pm – 6.30pm and a commercial share of 22.5% trailing Prime7’s 6pm offering which held 16,990 viewers.

WIN Network News Director Stella Lauri said, “The ratings result comes as no surprise. As it often does, the local news has made national headlines this week and WIN News was at the forefront delivering a comprehensive news, sport and weather bulletin every weeknight.

“It’s not just about the issues, it’s about the people, and viewers turn to WIN because there’s a strong sense of trust between us built over decades of reporting purely local news,” Ms Lauri said.

Illawarra:

Prime:

Carve the numbers anyway you like, PRIME7 is the BIG winner in the news showdown across the Illawarra this week.

Seven News with Mark Ferguson was the most watched weeknight news service inthe Wollongong market with an average audience of 30,866 between 6.00pm – 7.00pm Monday to Friday.

Southern Cross’ much publicised rebranding of Nine News only attracted 18,970 viewers in its first week placing it in third position. WIN News recorded 27,364 viewers.

Not only was PRIME7 No.1 in the 6.00pm – 7.00pm weeknight timeslot with a 41.3% commercial audience share, it was No.1 between 6.00pm – 6.30pm (43.3%) and 6.30pm – 7.00pm (39.2%).

Seven News with Mark Ferguson, 6.00pm Weeknights on PRIME7
Source: Regional TAM – Free-to-Air, Wollongong, 13.02.17 – 17.02.17, Total People, Average Audience, 6.00pm – 6.30pm, 6.30pm – 7.00pm, 6.00pm – 7.00pm, Commercial Primary Channel Share, Overnight Data

Nine:

Mike Dalton, Director of Regional News for the Nine Network said: “Introducing anything new is always a slow burn. We’re happy with the initial reception, but we’re here for the long haul, providing a customised bulletin where viewers can get the full picture with a unique mixture of local, national and foreign news. We are confident viewers will switch on and stay with us as they find us over time. Nine News and Southern Cross are investing in local news and creating jobs in regional centres while our competition is stripping local news resources and closing local newsrooms. While we are opening newsrooms and employing staff, WIN has closed its Mackay and Mildura newsrooms. Who knows which is next on the chopping block?”