expanded into southern New South Wales, where it had an affiliation with Nine Network, and purchased new offices in Orange, Wagga and Canberra, where additional stations were also launched. In 1990, WIN acquired Star TV in Queensland and created a Network Nine affiliate. In 1994, Vic Television and TasTV, both divisions of ENT Limited, a Launceston-based company, were incorporated into WIN’s network and ultimately renamed WIN Television. In 1998, WIN made another purchase to further its expansion, of MTN-9 Griffith and its AMN-31 station. On March 26, 1999, WIN Television became Western Australia’s second commercial television network with a combination of Nine Network and Network Ten programming. Golden West Network (GWN), a Seven Network affiliate, had previously held a monopoly in the area and remains the area’s most watched network with approximately 65 percent of the prime time audience. Also in 1999, WIN purchased SES-8 in Mount Gambier and RTS-5a in Riverland, both in South Australia. Known as WIN South Australia and featuring news bulletins, supplementary licenses were granted under Section 38A of the Broadcasting Services Act to allow the network to launch additional channels in 2002: MGS (Mount Gambier) and LRS (Riverland), known as WIN Ten. At the turn of the millennium, WIN Television introduced digital television to its affiliates, including its partnerships with Tasmanian Digital Television and Mildura Digital Television. On May 30, 2007, Southern Cross Broadcasting sold its NWS station to the WIN Corporation for AU$105 million. Two weeks later, on June 8, 2007, Sunraysia Television sold WIN Corporation its STW Perth (a Nine Network affiliate) for AU$163.1 million. Originally, STW Perth was going to be sold to PBL Media, owner of Nine Network, for AU$136.4 million, but Sunraysia’s directors and shareholders favored WIN because they owned 48.34 percent of Sunraysia. As part of Australia’s switch from analog to digital television, WIN Television is a founding member of Freeview Australia, the not-for-profit organization supporting free-to-air digital television service launched in 2008 and comprised of all channels from Australia’s free-to-view broadcasters, including ABC, SBS, Seven, Nine, Ten, Prime, and Southern Cross. More than half of Australian homes now watch digital TV with better picture and sound and more channels, including the new Freeview channels and WIN Television’s new GO! Channel. The digital television switch over is to be completed by the end of 2013, and Freeview is helping educate consumers by explaining the process that consumers will need to follow in order to continue receiving free commercial television. In addition, Freeview is working with the Digital Switchover Taskforce to advise Government on policy settings, implementation and issues connected with the digital switchover. V I D E O • A G E SE P T E M B E R/ OC T O B E R 2 0 0 9 52 WINNERS TO CELEBRATE There were two celebration dinners, one in Wollongong for 300 people and one in Sydney for 60, including business and media guests and clients. Esteemed guests included David Gyngell and Leila McKinnon, Lachlan Murdoch, Len Sampson, Jeffrey Browne, Glen Kinging, Harry Miller, David Aspinall, John Atanascovic with wife Felicity, and Andrew Loveridge with wife Alex. From theWIN board, Max Cowley and his wife Robin, and from the Dragons, chairmanWarren Lockwood, CEO Peter Doust, coachWayne Bennett and player Wendall Sailor. It was a heartfelt thank you to all clients and business colleagues from theWIN family and key staff, so all major businesses and media were represented. WIN’s news anchors Geoff Phillips and Kerryn Johnston and sports presenter AmyTaylor hosted the evenings, and theWINWollongong Orchestra played throughout with Sarah Moir on solo violin. Bruce Gordon is the chief sponsor for the orchestra and it is one of his passions to support the local arts. The Gordons are also fond of their rugby league team, the St.George Illawarra Dragons, which won this year’s Minor Premiership Shield and Club Championship. (Continued on Page 54) (Continued from Page 50) WIN Stadium, Wollongong Bruce Gordon with HSH Prince Albert of Monaco
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI4OTA5