The Town With No Survivor: Channel 10 broadcast to cease in major Australian region - and locals aren't happy about it

Channel 10 will cease to be broadcast to the Mildura region after Sunday.

And locals around the area, situated on the NSW and Victoria border, have spoken out about the decision to switch off the free-to-air signal to the area.

From next week, fans who live in the regional city and its environs will no longer have access to Channel 10 or its BOLD and Peach channels after Mildura Digital TV joint licence holders WIN TV and Seven opted to discontinue the station after 18 years.

Local viewers have complained that the decision will isolate fans who don't have smart TVs or aren't tech-savvy since Network 10 content will only be available online via 10Play.

Meanwhile, other fans are mourning the loss of some of Network 10's top shows like MasterChef, Australian Survivor and Have You Been Paying Attention?

'I feel sad for the region not just myself,' said Elizabeth a resident in the Mildura area who spoke to TV Tonight about the switch off.

Also interviewed for the publication was Nikki, another local, who said losing Network 10 was a 'negative'.

She added: 'On a social scale, it affects those who can't afford smart TVs and internet connections the most.

Locals around the Mildura region on the NSW and Victoria border have spoken out about the decision by Network 10 to switch off its Free-to-Air signal to the area. Pictured: Jonathan LaPaglia, host of Network 10's Australian Survivor

'And those who aren't digitally savvy. It reinforces both social and geographic disadvantage in our region.'

TV Tonight also spoke to resident Cindy who said 10's decision was a 'shame' and pointed out that for years Channel Nine was the only commercial station available in the area which is home to 60,000 people.

'And it was only in my early 20s that we even got Channel Seven,' she added.

Among the most popular Network 10 shows for locals have been Have You Been Paying Attention?, Australian Survivor, The Cheap Seats, Thank God You Are Here and Gogglebox.

From Sunday fans who live in the regional city of Mildura (pictured) and its environs will no longer have access to Channel 10 or its BOLD and Peach channels. Viewers in the area have complained that the decision will isolate fans who don't have smart TVs and can't afford the internet since Network 10 content will only be available via 10Play

Residents in the region will have access to Network 10 content via 10Play.

But some locals like Nikki say that internet speeds around Mildura, which is 541kms from Melbourne, are not always reliable.

'Watching live is by far the best choice,' she said.

It comes after Network 10 last month called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for 'urgent' assistance to help prevent the switch off.

In May, Mildura Digital Television, a Network 10 affiliate owned by Seven West Media and WIN Corporation announced they were shutting down on June 30.

Fans who live in the region told TV Tonight on Friday that they will mourn the loss of Network 10's hits like MasterChef (pictured), Australian Survivor and Have You Been Paying Attention?

TV Tonight's reports reveals that for years Channel Nine was the only commercial station available in the area which is home to 60,000 people. Pictured: Network 10 hit Have you Been Paying Attention?

'We're bitterly disappointed that regional TV operators are being put in a position that they need to take this action,' a Network 10 spokesperson told TV Tonight.

'The Federal Government must act urgently to ensure the Network 10 affiliated channels can continue to be available via broadcast transmission,' they continued.

'Regional Australians, including residents around Mildura, love our iconic and award-winning Australian shows such as MasterChef Australia, Have You Been Paying Attention?, Gogglebox and The Cheap Seats to name just a few.'

Residents in the region will have access to Network 10 content like MasterChef via 10Play (pictured). But some locals say that internet speeds around Mildura, which is 541kms from Melbourne, are not always reliable

'We urge the Prime Minister to urgently intervene and save these regional TV broadcasts,' they added.

Chris Halios-Lewis, Mildura Digital Television’s chairman and WIN’s chief financial officer explained that the decision to switch off was down to commercial reasons.

'The state of the regional advertising market means MDT is unable to justify the cross subsidy of delivering Ten programs to the Mildura television market,' the Australian Financial Review reported in May.

He added: 'Without the subsidy provided by the joint venture owners, MDT will be insolvent and no longer a going concern.'

Daily Mail Australia has approached WIN and Network 10 for comment.

The larger future of the embattled 10 Network is uncertain as it continues to bleed television shows, amid sliding ratings and an ad revenue crisis, reports news.com.au.

Also in May on-air talent Dave Hughes and Osher Günsberg publicly confirmed two of Channel Ten's biggest reality TV shows, The Masked Singer and The Bachelor, have been axed from the network.

Günsberg confirmed on 2DAY FM's Hughesy, Ed & Erin on Tuesday morning that his two programs have no plans to return to screens anytime soon.

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