{{Short description|Television network in Western Australia}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}} {{Infobox television channel | name = Seven Regional WA | logo = Seven Network logo.svg | logo_size = 120px | logo_caption = | launch_date = {{start date|1967|3|10|df=y}} | closed_date = | picture_format = [[1080i]] [[HDTV]] [[MPEG-4]] | network = | parent = [[Southern Cross Media Group]] | country = Australia | language = English | area = Remote and Regional [[Western Australia]] | affiliates = [[Seven Network|Seven]] [[Owned-and-operated station|(O&O)]] | headquarters = | former_names = South West Telecasters (1967–1979)<br />Golden West Network (GWN) (1979–2011)<br />GWN7 (2011–2022) | replaced = | replaced_by = | sister_channels = [[7two]]<br />[[7mate]]<br />[[TVSN]]<br />[[Racing.com]] | timeshift_service = | website = | terr_serv_1 = Freeview ([[virtual channel|virtual]]) | terr_chan_1 = 6 }}
'''Seven Regional WA''' is an Australian [[Television broadcasting in Australia|television network]] serving all of [[Western Australia]] outside metropolitan [[Perth]]. It launched on 10 March 1967 as BTW-3 in [[Bunbury, Western Australia|Bunbury]],<ref>Jenkins, Tom (17 November 1981). The South West's own TV station. -Golden West Network in Western-. In West Australian. (17 Nov 1981), supp.34.</ref> and became known as the '''Golden West Network''' ('''GWN''', and later '''GWN7''') in 1979. It serves one of the largest geographic television markets in the world—almost one-third of the continent.
In 2021, [[Prime Media Group]] merged with Seven and its independent branding was retired in 2022.
==History== ===Origins=== Seven Regional WA began life as a group of smaller, independent stations: {{colbegin}} *10 March 1967: BTW–3 [[Bunbury, Western Australia|Bunbury]] **23 August 1968: GSW–9 [[Mount Barker, Western Australia|Mount Barker]] – relay **29 August 1974: GSW–10 [[Albany, Western Australia|Albany]] – relay *18 June 1971: VEW–8 [[Kalgoorlie]] **29 November 1971: VEW–3 [[Kambalda]] – relay *21 January 1977: GTW–11 [[Geraldton]] {{colend}}
Prior to these stations signing on, remote Western Australia had been one of the few areas of Australia without local television; the only television outlets in the area were relays of [[ABC Television (Australian TV network)|ABC Television]] out of [[Perth]].
[[Jack Bendat]] purchased South West Telecasters (owner of BTW/GSW) in 1979, and changed the company's name to Golden West Network (GWN).<ref>Golden West Network. (2011).[From South Western Telecasters Ltd] In Trove. Retrieved 13 July 2011, from https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-631450</ref> [[File:DoopaDogGWN.jpg|thumb|250px|GWN's mascot, Doopa Dog.]] GWN applied to broadcast an additional service on 31 October 1984, when the [[Australian Communications & Media Authority|Australian Broadcasting Tribunal]] called for applications to broadcast to [[Christmas Island]] and the [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands]] via [[satellite television|satellite]] as part of the Remote Commercial Television License (RCTS) scheme. GWN was granted the Remote Commercial Television License (RCTS) in June 1985<ref>{{cite news | last = Earl | first = Greg | title = Golden West wins licence for remote TV by satellite | date = 13 June 1985 | work = [[Australian Financial Review]] | page = 5 }}</ref> and the service went to air on 18 October 1986 using the call-sign ''WAW''.
Not long after, GWN continued to expand within Western Australia, acquiring Mid-Western Television (owner of VEW-8 Kalgoorlie) in December 1985 for {{A$}}7 million,<ref>{{cite news | last = Lawson | first = Mark | title = Media portfolio sells 86pc stake in Mid-Western | date = 28 November 1985 | work = Australian Financial Review | page = 24 }}</ref> and Geraldton Telecasters (owner of GTW-11) in March 1987 for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{cite news | last = Earl | first = Greg | title = Bendats buy fourth TV station | work = Australian Financial Review | page = 5 | date = 17 March 1987 }}</ref> The takeovers gave GWN a monopoly over all commercial television services in regional Western Australia. In 1987, Bendat and [[Kerry Stokes]] merged their media interests into joint company BDC Investments.<ref>{{cite news | last = Power | first = Julie | title = This week... The market | work = Australian Financial Review | page = 25 | date = 21 April 1987 }}</ref> Later that year, Northern Star Holdings purchased BDC for {{A$}}206 million.<ref>{{cite news | last = Peers | first = Martin | title = Stokes makes a loss on TV deal | work = Australian Financial Review | page = 1 | date = 10 August 1987 }}</ref> Northern Star were forced to sell GWN to satisfy existing media regulations. GWN was sold back to Stokes in December 1988 for {{A$}}54 million,<ref>{{cite news | last = Frith | first = Damon | title = Northern Star finalises re-sale of Golden West | work = Australian Financial Review | page = 11 | date = 30 December 1987 }}</ref> who upgraded equipment across GWN. In April 1990, the callsigns BTW and GSW were merged, to become ''SSW''. During the late 1980s, GWN was promoted as ''GWN Satellite Television'' and aired programs from mostly the Nine Network plus a few from Seven and Ten with STW's Channel Nine (later National Nine) News (from Perth) providing the national news link.
===1990s to the 2000s=== Kerry Stokes gained control of the [[Seven Network]] in 1995, and attempted to sell GWN to Seven in return for more shares. Seven Network shareholders agreed to the trade in April 1996 – a deal which would have seen Seven acquire GWN for {{A$}}72.8 million<ref>{{cite news | last = Jones | first = Megan | title = Seven yes to Golden West deal | work = [[The Age]] | page = 3 | date = 17 April 1996 }}</ref> thus becoming the regional network affiliate for Western Australia. The arrangement was called off when the [[Australian Competition & Consumer Commission]] found that a 15-year exclusive programming deal GWN made with the [[Nine Network]] was anti competitive and opposed the acquisition. The Seven Network subsequently dropped their plans to purchase GWN.<ref>{{cite news | last = Anderson | first = Simon | title = Seven drops plan to buy Golden West | work = Australian Financial Review | page = 19 | date = 5 June 1996 }}</ref> And as a result, GWN soon ended its programming deal with Nine for exclusive broadcast of its shows in regional areas of the state.
[[Prime Television]] purchased GWN in November 1996 from Stokes for {{A$}}71 million.<ref>{{cite news | last = Kidman | first = Matthew | title = Prime buys Golden West | work = [[Sydney Morning Herald]] | page = 29 | date = 13 November 1996 }}</ref> Remote Western Australia was one of the few areas of regional Australia that was not aggregated, given its small population. This ended in 1997, when [[WIN Television]] was granted the rights to a second television license in regional Western Australia, ending GWN's monopoly of all three Australian commercial channels. In March 1999, GWN opted to become a sole Seven Network affiliate, in-line with its eastern sister, Prime Television. As a result, [[WOW (TV station)|WIN Television WA]] picked up both the [[Nine Network]] and [[Network 10]] affiliations.<ref>{{cite news | last = Schulze | first = Jane | title = Prime signs with Seven so WIN joins Nine, Ten | work = The Age | page = 2 | date = 12 January 1999 }}</ref>
GWN's transmission operations were moved from Bunbury to [[Prime Media Group]]'s digital broadcast facility in [[Canberra]] in April 2005. Programming was delivered to regional Western Australia via a satellite feed.
A proposal for a third television station – a joint venture between GWN's parent company Prime Media Group and WIN Corporation – was submitted to the [[Australian Communications & Media Authority]] in 2006. Similar to [[Mildura Digital Television]], the new channel will operate under a [[Regional television in Australia|Section 38B]] licence,<ref>{{cite news | last = Cairns | first = Samantha | title = Joint TV service | work = [[Kalgoorlie Miner]] | page = 1 | date = 14 November 2006 }}</ref> as a [[Network 10]] affiliate named [[West Digital Television|Ten West]].
===2010 and beyond=== The new decade saw the introduction of digital television, with the [[Wheatbelt (Western Australia)#Eastern wheatbelt|Central Wheatbelt]], [[Kalgoorlie]], [[Karratha]] and [[Mingenew]] digital transmitters launching on 10 June 2010. The broadcasters shared a single digital transmitter for GWN, WIN WA and the new Ten West in standard definition.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper = [[The West Australian]] | title = Digital signal for viewers in Kalgoorlie | first = Pam | last = Brown | department = Today | page = 5 | date = 11 June 2010 | access-date = 8 July 2010 | url = http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/entertainment/a/-/entertainment/7383328/digital-signal-for-viewers-in-kalgoorlie/ | archive-date = 16 September 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120916195811/http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/entertainment/a/-/entertainment/7383328/digital-signal-for-viewers-in-kalgoorlie/ | url-status = dead }}</ref>
On 15 January 2011, Prime Media Group reported that GWN and Prime were to rebrand to GWN7 and [[Prime7]] respectively, in connection to their strong relations with the metropolitan stations of the Seven Network. Their news bulletins were quickly renamed as ''GWN7 News'' and ''Prime7 News''. These bulletins were relaunched on 16 January 2011 at 5:57pm.<ref>{{cite web | first = David | last = Knox | title = Prime, GWN rebrand with 7 | publisher = [[TV Tonight]] | date = 15 January 2011 | url = http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2011/01/prime-gwn-rebrand-with-7.html | access-date = 4 April 2013 | archive-date = 20 October 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121020121826/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2011/01/prime-gwn-rebrand-with-7.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
Digital transmitter upgrades continued on 28 July 2011, with [[Bunbury, Western Australia|Bunbury]] and surrounds being introduced to the full suite of digital channels for the first time, including [[7two]] and [[7mate]].<ref>{{cite web | first = David | last = Knox | title = 7TWO and 7mate join VAST in the West | publisher = [[TV Tonight]] | date = 19 July 2011 | url = http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2011/07/7two-and-7mate-join-vast-in-the-west.html | access-date = 4 April 2013 | archive-date = 1 April 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120401192123/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2011/07/7two-and-7mate-join-vast-in-the-west.html | url-status = live }}</ref> On 30 July 2011, the regional networks began broadcasting on the [[Viewer Access Satellite Television]] platform.<ref name="vastwasource">{{cite web | title = Viewer Access Satellite Television service for Western Australia | publisher = [[Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy|Digital Ready Taskforce (DBCDE)]] | date = March 2013 | url = http://www.digitalready.gov.au/getattachment/815ad2c5-71c4-4dc5-b01c-dd7d9d9dd9e7/Viewer-Access-Satellite-Television-service-for-reg.pdf | access-date = 4 April 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131215222344/http://www.digitalready.gov.au/getattachment/815ad2c5-71c4-4dc5-b01c-dd7d9d9dd9e7/Viewer-Access-Satellite-Television-service-for-reg.pdf | archive-date = 15 December 2013 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
On 12 February 2018, GWN7's master control facilities (transmission and technical operations) were transferred to Prime Media's national playout centre in [[Canberra]], with the WA facilities beamed through satellite and microwave links. Playout of GWN7's programming was later transferred to Mediahub located in the [[Sydney]] suburb of [[Ingleburn, New South Wales|Ingleburn]] (which houses playout for [[ABC Television (Australian TV network)|ABC Television]] and [[WIN Television]]), before once again transferred to a facility operated by Australia's telco provider [[Telstra]] (shared with hybrid-funded broadcaster [[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS Television]]).
=== 2021: Merger with Seven === On 1 November 2021, [[Seven West Media]] announced that it would acquire all the shares and subsidiaries of Prime Media Group. This was SWM's second attempt at purchasing Prime Media, after its previous attempt in 2019 was thwarted by [[Australian Community Media]] boss Antony Catalano and rival [[WIN Corporation]] owner [[Bruce Gordon (businessman)|Bruce Gordon]], citing Seven's debt problems at the time and its poor ratings performance as the reason for their refusal. Prime shareholders approved the deal on 23 December, with the sale completed on 31 December.<ref>[https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20211231/pdf/454nwfgyhl6dyh.pdf Acquisition of Prime completed] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518055859/https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20211231/pdf/454nwfgyhl6dyh.pdf |date=18 May 2022 }} Seven West Media 31 December 2021</ref> Prior to Seven’s ownership, GWN7 (alongside its sister Prime7 stations) was the only commercial affiliate not carrying full metro network branding on-air, in contrast to WOW's owner WIN which carried Nine Network branding full-time since its return to carrying Nine's programming in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/seven-west-media-to-buy-regional-affiliate-prime-for-132m-20211101-p594v3.html|title=Seven West Media to buy regional affiliate Prime for $132m|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=1 November 2021|access-date=2 November 2021|archive-date=2 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102125226/https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/seven-west-media-to-buy-regional-affiliate-prime-for-132m-20211101-p594v3.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=23 December 2021|title=Prime Media shareholders give the green light for Seven West Media merger|url=https://7news.com.au/business/media/prime-media-share-holders-give-the-green-light-for-seven-west-media-merger-c-5062463|access-date=|website=7News|language=en|archive-date=23 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223065431/https://7news.com.au/business/media/prime-media-share-holders-give-the-green-light-for-seven-west-media-merger-c-5062463|url-status=live}}</ref> On 23 May 2022, Seven West Media announced that the on-air branding would be unified under Seven Network branding; the GWN7 name was retired on 25 July 2022.<ref name=goodbye>[https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/goodbye-prime-possum-seven-eyes-brand-changes-ahead-of-commonwealth-games-20220527-p5ap3r.html Goodbye Prime Possum? Seven eyes brand changes ahead of Commonwealth Games] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220529082802/https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/goodbye-prime-possum-seven-eyes-brand-changes-ahead-of-commonwealth-games-20220527-p5ap3r.html |date=29 May 2022 }} ''Sydney Morning Herald'' 29 May 2022</ref>
==Programming== Since becoming a full Seven affiliate, its on-air schedule had become almost identical to that of its metropolitan counterpart, [[TVW]] in Perth, including ''[[Seven News#Perth|Seven News Perth]]'' which airs live across the network. It also produces a weeknight local news service, live at 5:30pm.<ref name="primetvinfo">{{cite web|title=Prime Media Group: Prime7 Television |publisher=[[Prime Media Group]] |url=http://www.primemedia.com.au/index.php/our-businesses?id=89 |access-date=4 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410051315/http://primemedia.com.au/index.php/our-businesses?id=89 |archive-date=10 April 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref> Since the network's inception, it has featured a broad range of original regional programming, including the children's program ''Doopa's Club'' featuring the station mascot ''Doopa Dog'';<ref>{{cite web | title = Doopa's Club – GWN7 – Yahoo!7 | publisher = [[Yahoo!7|GWN7 on Yahoo!7]] | url = http://au.gwn7.yahoo.com/w1/kids | access-date = 4 April 2013 | archive-date = 25 September 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110925133829/http://au.gwn7.yahoo.com/w1/kids | url-status = live }}</ref> as well as community service strand ''GWN7 InfoNet'', a series of short updates listing local community events.<ref>{{cite web | title = InfoNet – GWN7 – Yahoo!7 | publisher = [[Yahoo!7|GWN7 on Yahoo!7]] | url = http://au.gwn7.yahoo.com/w1/lifestyle/infonet/infonet-events | access-date = 4 April 2013 | archive-date = 22 March 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130322093943/http://au.gwn7.yahoo.com/w1/lifestyle/infonet/infonet-events | url-status = live }}</ref>
===Seven News Regional WA=== [[File:GWN7 Local News 2018.png|thumb|The GWN7 Local News logo used until 2022.]] [[File:GWN7news.png|thumb|right|The GWN7 News logo used between 2011 and 2018.]] ''Seven News Regional WA'' (previously known as ''Golden West News'', ''GWN News'', ''GWN7 News'' and ''GWN7 Local News'') is the network's regional news service.<ref name="primetvinfo" /> Its main 30-minute program, airing live at 5:30pm on weeknights before ''[[Seven News#Perth|Seven News Perth]]'', deals primarily with local news and current affairs. As of March 2012, they produced the only dedicated local news program for regional Western Australia, following WIN's axing of its Western Australian news service.<ref>{{cite web | first = Paige | last = Taylor | title = WIN WA regional TV news bulletins axed on poor ratings | publisher = [[The Australian]] | date = 13 March 2012 | url = http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/win-wa-regional-tv-news-bulletins-axed-on-poor-ratings/story-e6frg996-1226297548275 | access-date = 4 April 2013 | archive-date = 15 March 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120315032158/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/win-wa-regional-tv-news-bulletins-axed-on-poor-ratings/story-e6frg996-1226297548275 | url-status = live }}</ref>
The bulletin is presented from Seven's Spencer Street newsroom in [[Bunbury, Western Australia|Bunbury CBD]] by [[Noel Brunning]] (news and sport), with weather presented by rotating Bunbury-based reporters (Campbell Greaves, Charlotte Italiano, Josiah McMeekin and Liz Robbins). Weather had previously been presented by [[Shauna Willis]] until her departure in October 2022 with no permanent replacement.
The bulletin also has reporters and camera crews based at newsrooms in [[Albany, Western Australia|Albany]], [[Kalgoorlie]], [[Karratha]], [[Geraldton]] and [[Broome, Western Australia|Broome]].
Since the closure of the Roberts Crescent studios in 2018, production control of the bulletin is done at Seven's regional headquarters in the [[Canberra]] suburb of [[Watson, Australian Capital Territory|Watson]], with news reports and Bunbury studio presentation received through satellite and microwave before transmission.
In July 2022, the ''GWN7 Local News'' brand was retired and now falls under the ''Seven News'' brand.
==Availability== [[File:GWN licence areas.svg|thumb|150px|Seven Regional WA broadcast areas: SSW (green), VEW (blue), GTW (purple), WAW (yellow)]] The network is available statewide in digital terrestrial and digital satellite format. The full suite of digital services, including 7two, 7mate, TVSN and Racing.com, are available in all areas with digital transmissions.
Below is a table showing the [[logical channel number]]s (LCN) for the full suite of digital services.
{| class="wikitable" |- ! LCN !! Service |- | 6 || Seven Regional WA |- | 62 || 7two |- | 63 || 7mate |- | 65 || TVSN |- | 68 || Racing.com |}
===Terrestrial=== Seven Regional WA operates four television station licences in regional and remote areas of [[Western Australia]] – SSW in the South West, VEW in the Goldfields, GTW in the Mid West and WAW covering remaining remote areas of the state. Terrestrial transmissions are available in many regional cities and towns, including Albany, [[Broome, Western Australia|Broome]], Bunbury, [[Carnarvon, Western Australia|Carnarvon]], Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, [[Karratha]], [[Merredin]], as well as others.<ref name="TerrLicence1" />
Digital terrestrial transmissions were available in all populated cities and major towns of regional Western Australia. Analog terrestrial services ceased transmission statewide on 25 June 2013.
===Satellite=== Digital satellite transmissions were available direct-to-home on the [[Viewer Access Satellite Television]] platform in areas that were not covered by adequate terrestrial transmissions.<ref name="vastwasource" />
==Logos== The Golden West Network became a network in 1986, with a shared logo produced and used across the regional stations, featuring the letters ''GWN'' inside an outlined oval surrounded by an orbiting ring.<ref name="atvh-gwn">{{cite web |url= http://www.austvhistory.com/gwn/index.htm |title= Golden West Network History |access-date= 9 March 2008 |author= Brooklyn Ross-Hulands |publisher= AusTVHistory |archive-date= 10 March 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080310184029/http://www.austvhistory.com/gwn/index.htm |url-status= live }}</ref> This logo was used across the network until 1995, when a new logo was introduced with the removal of outlined oval surrounding the letters ''GWN''.<ref name="atvh-gwn" /> Following this, 2001 saw the launch of a new simplified yellow logo, with the removal of the orbiting ring. This logo was launched concurrently with a similarly design logo on [[Prime Television]].<ref name="atvh-gwn" /> Following the 2011 relaunch, a new logo was introduced which features the [[Seven Network]] logo. The relaunch logo featuring [[Seven Network]] was revised in 2013 from multi colour to be a single colour logo.
<gallery> File:Gwn Logo 1993.jpg|1986–1995 File:GWN Logo 1997.png|1995–2001 File:GWN2001.svg|2001 – 16 January 2011 File:GWN7 logo.svg|16 January 2011 – 30 June 2022 </gallery>
==See also== {{Portal|Television|Australia}} * [[Television broadcasting in Australia]] * [[Regional television in Australia]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.gwn7.com.au GWN7]
{{Seven Network}} {{Viewer Access Satellite Television}} {{Western Australia TV}} {{Free-to-air television channels in Australia}}
[[Category:English-language television stations in Australia]] [[Category:Mass media in Western Australia]] [[Category:Prime Media Group]] [[Category:Seven Network]] [[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1967]] [[Category:television networks in Australia]] [[Category:1967 establishments in Australia]]