At least four jobs have been lost with Channel Nine closing its Central West television newsroom this week.
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The Nine News Central West newsroom, which is currently based in Orange but services Dubbo, will stop producing bulletins on June 30.
The changes come as part of a deal between Nine and the WIN Network that will result in Nine's programs being shown on WIN, instead of Southern Cross Austereo, for the next seven years from July 1.
But as WIN already has its own news operation, Nine News Central West will be closed along with other regional Nine newsrooms across Australia.
It is understood at least four roles in Orange have been made redundant.
In a statement issued last Friday, Nine's chief executive officer Hugh Marks said the new arrangement was the "right time for us to return to WIN".
"The opportunities presented by the WIN Network to both extend the reach of Nine's premium content into more regional markets under one agreement ... and work with them co-operatively on a national and local news operation," he said.
It will mean WIN will gain popular Nine sports feeds such as the NRL as well as popular programs including The Block, Married at First Sight, A Current Affair and 60 Minutes.
Bruce Gordon, who owns WIN and is Nine's largest shareholder through another company Birketu, described it as "great to have Nine's content back on WIN screens in these regional markets".
One of WIN's largest regional rivals is Prime Media, which is 19.99 per cent owned by Thorney Investments, owners of Australian Community Media, the Daily LIberal and the Canberra Times.
Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said the closure of 9 News Central West was another blow to regional media.
"[It's] extremely disappointing not only for the staff who will lose their jobs, and their families, but for the whole region which relies on 9 News Central West to keep up-to-date with what's happening in the community," he said.
"Although local media outlets have suffered over recent years, they still play a vital role in the communities they serve, ensuring people in the bush have access to the news and information that's important to them."
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