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Seven Regional WA

Seven Regional WA is an Australian commercial television network that serves regional and remote areas of outside the Perth metropolitan area, broadcasting a mix of national programming, local news, sport, and entertainment content to approximately 700,000 people across one of the country's largest geographic markets. Launched on 10 1967 as BTW-3 by South Western Telecasters from studios in Bunbury, it initially provided local programming before expanding through satellite technology in the . In 1979, businessman Jack Bendat acquired the station and rebranded it as the Golden West Network (GWN), establishing it as a key regional broadcaster with affiliations to major networks. The network became an affiliate of the Seven Network in 1999, following the introduction of competing services in the , which shifted its programming focus while retaining local content production. In 2011, it adopted the GWN7 branding to align more closely with Seven's identity. Seven West Media acquired Prime Media Group, GWN7's parent company, in December 2021 for $131.9 million, integrating it fully into the national Seven fold and enabling expanded local news resources. This led to a on 25 July 2022, retiring the GWN7 name in favor of Seven Regional WA to unify regional services under the Seven banner. Today, Seven Regional WA operates from a primary news hub in Bunbury, with additional bureaus in and , producing a half-hour 7NEWS bulletin weeknights at 5:30 pm presented by Noel Brunning, formerly co-hosted for over 30 years with Shauna Willis until her retirement in 2022, with by rotating presenters. The bulletin averaged 35,800 viewers with a 68.1% share in , emphasizing local stories alongside national and international coverage, , , and . As Australia's leading regional , it delivers content via broadcast, streaming, and digital platforms, fostering community connections in diverse areas from the South West to the . As of November 2025, is involved in a proposed merger with Southern Cross Media, approved by the ACCC, which could further consolidate its regional assets pending completion.

History

Origins and Launch

South Western Telecasters Ltd was established in the mid-1960s to operate a commercial television service in Western Australia's South West region, following the granting of licenses by the Australian Broadcasting Control Board (ABCB), the regulatory authority overseeing commercial broadcasting under the Broadcasting and Television Act 1942-1960. The ABCB awarded two five-year licenses to the company on 1 March 1967: one for the Bunbury area and another for the Southern Agricultural area, enabling the rollout of VHF television to regional audiences beyond Perth, where commercial services had launched a decade earlier. This marked BTW-3 as Western Australia's first commercial regional station, following the ABC's regional broadcasts starting in May 1965, and reflected the ABCB's policy to expand television access while promoting local content quotas, including at least 40% Australian programming in prime time. The station, callsign BTW-3 (standing for Bunbury Television Western), officially launched on 10 March 1967 from studios at 13-19 Pickersgill Street in Bunbury, at a construction cost of approximately $500,000. The opening ceremony was officiated by Western Australia's , Sir Douglas Kendrew, with key figures including H. R. Goldings, Chairman of Directors for South Western Telecasters, Federal Minister for the Interior , ABCB representative J. , and station manager B. Hopwood. Early shareholders included and Insurances Ltd, and Insurances Ltd, and Harris Scarfe & Sandovers Ltd, alongside other investors who expanded the company's issued capital to 1,000,000 shares to fund operations. The transmitter was sited at Mount Lennard, co-located with the facility, operating on VHF channel 3 with 86.24 MHz vision and 91.74 MHz sound frequencies at 50 kW , initially serving about 126,000 people across 39,624 homes in the South West. With a starting of —the youngest team among regional stations—the setup emphasized self-sufficient operations from Bunbury to elevate the area's status as a regional hub. Programming at launch focused primarily on local content to serve the South West community, with an initial schedule of around 33 hours per week, including district news bulletins and community-focused shows that highlighted regional events, , and daily life. Early broadcasts featured about 18.8% Australian-produced material in (7:00-9:30 p.m.), averaging 49 minutes weekly, supplemented by limited relays of national content due to the station's independent regional status and logistical challenges in sourcing from metropolitan networks. This local emphasis, supported by the ABCB's quotas, aimed to foster while gradually integrating broader programming as infrastructure expanded to other regions in subsequent years.

Expansion in the 1970s and 1980s

In 1979, businessman Jack Bendat acquired South Western Telecasters, the owner of stations BTW-3 in Bunbury and GSW-9 in , and rebranded the operation as the Golden West Network (GWN). This move marked a significant consolidation of regional in 's south-west and great southern areas, allowing for unified programming and under a single entity. The network continued its expansion through strategic acquisitions in the mid-1980s. In 1985, GWN took over VEW-8, the station serving and the Goldfields-Esperance region, which extended its footprint to eastern and enhanced coverage for mining communities and remote outback areas. By March 1987, GWN further solidified its mid-west presence by purchasing GTW-11 from Geraldton Telecasters, integrating the station and consolidating services across the region's coastal and inland populations. These acquisitions effectively positioned GWN as the dominant regional broadcaster outside , controlling all four key analog stations in . A pivotal technological advancement came in 1986 with the introduction of GWN's service, utilizing the newly operational Aussat system to deliver programming to remote areas previously underserved by terrestrial signals. Launched as part of Australia's Remote Commercial Television Service (RCTS) initiative, this service achieved near-statewide coverage for beyond the metropolitan area, relying on the Aussat A-series satellites positioned in to relay signals to isolated communities, pastoral stations, and indigenous populations. Full implementation followed the granting of licenses in 1985, transforming GWN into a comprehensive statewide .

Ownership Shifts in the 1990s and 2000s

In the late 1980s, acquired the Golden West Network (GWN) from Northern Star Holdings for approximately A$56 million, marking a significant shift as he integrated the regional broadcaster into his expanding portfolio. This purchase allowed Stokes to consolidate control over GWN's operations across , upgrading transmission equipment and aligning it with his broader business interests in . Prior to this, GWN had been under local regional since its origins, but Stokes' involvement began transitioning it toward national-scale management. By 1996, Stokes sold GWN to Prime Television for A$71 million, enabling Prime to expand its national affiliate model into and establishing GWN as part of a larger network of regional stations. This transaction shifted GWN from independent regional control to with a multi-market operator, facilitating greater access to syndicated content and operational synergies across Prime's holdings in , , and now . The sale reflected growing consolidation in the Australian media sector, where regional broadcasters increasingly relied on national partnerships for viability. Under Prime's ownership in the , GWN underwent operational changes emphasizing cost efficiencies and shared programming resources, including centralized of non-local to reduce expenses while maintaining regional output. These adjustments were part of Prime's broader to modernize broadcast and adapt to competitive pressures, such as the introduction of services. A key event influencing this period was the aggregation of regional markets under reforms, which introduced WIN Television as a second commercial service in , ending GWN's monopoly and prompting it to become a sole affiliate of for enhanced programming alignment. This reform, implemented via satellite distribution, increased competition but also drove efficiencies in sharing among affiliates like Prime.

Digital Era and Merger with Seven Network

The digital era for Seven Regional WA began with the rollout of digital terrestrial television in 2010, initially focusing on the primary GWN7 channel across selected areas of . This transition provided improved picture and sound quality for viewers in regional markets, aligning with the national push toward . In 2011, the network expanded its offerings by launching multi-channel services, including on 1 November 2009 (delayed regionally) and on 25 September 2010, with full availability in areas like South West WA starting from 28 July 2011. These channels, carried on the 's digital multiplex, brought additional programming such as content on and sports-focused shows on to regional audiences, enhancing content diversity without additional spectrum use. Prior to this integration, Seven Regional WA operated under Prime Media Group's ownership, which facilitated the affiliate relationship with the . The culmination of the analog-to-digital shift occurred on 25 June 2013, when analog transmissions were switched off statewide outside , completing the transition to digital-only broadcasting using the standard with video encoding. This move freed up spectrum for future uses and ensured all households relied on digital receivers or set-top boxes for access to services. A pivotal corporate development came on 1 November 2021, when announced its acquisition of Prime Media Group's regional television assets, including Seven Regional (formerly GWN7), for A$132 million. The deal, approved by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, was completed on 31 December 2021, integrating the network fully into 's portfolio. Post-merger, operational synergies emerged, notably in news production; on 18 May 2022, Seven announced the unification of regional branding, retiring the GWN7 identity on 25 July 2022 and relaunching as 7NEWS Regional with centralized production elements to streamline content delivery across the Seven ecosystem.

Ownership and Corporate Structure

Early Ownership by Regional Groups

South West Telecasters Ltd. was established in 1967 as a consortium comprising nine prominent Bunbury businessmen and four major Western Australian companies, aimed at launching the first regional commercial television service in Western Australia. This local initiative secured a license from the Australian Broadcasting Control Board on March 1, 1967, enabling the station—identified as BTW-3—to commence broadcasting from Bunbury on March 10, 1967, serving the South West and Southern Agricultural areas. The company's funding was derived primarily from share subscriptions by its members, with issued capital totaling 1,000,000 shares at 50 cents each. Key shareholders included Australian and International Insurances Ltd. (46,000 shares), Underwriting and Insurances Ltd. (46,000 shares), and & Sandovers Ltd. (41,000 shares), alongside smaller holdings from local investors totaling 867,000 shares. This structure reflected a community-driven effort to operations through regional capital, adhering to the and Television Act 1942-1967, which imposed strict ownership limits to prevent metropolitan dominance in regional . Under Section 90, no entity could control more than one metropolitan station per state or four stations nationwide, while Section 92 capped prescribed interests (over 5% shareholding or control) at three licenses across , ensuring regional stations like South West Telecasters remained independently owned by local interests. The , drawn from the founding , oversaw operations as an autonomous regional entity, emphasizing and infrastructure development without external metropolitan influence. This independence persisted until the late 1970s, when American-born entrepreneur Jack Bendat acquired control in 1979 through personal investments, renaming the company Golden West Network (GWN) while maintaining its regional focus. Bendat's involvement included appointing family members to key roles, such as his son Paul Bendat as managing director by 1984, who contributed to innovations like talk-back television formats. Throughout the early to mid-1980s, GWN operated as a standalone regional broadcaster, complying with pre-aggregation ownership caps that limited cross-media and national holdings to foster local control and diversity in Western Australia's media landscape.

Acquisition by National Media Companies

In November 1987, repurchased the Golden West Network (GWN), the primary commercial television broadcaster serving regional , from Northern Star Holdings for approximately A$56 million, following a brief sale of the asset to earlier in 1987. This transaction marked Stokes' return to ownership of GWN, which he had initially helped develop in the before divesting it temporarily amid financial pressures in the sector. During his subsequent ownership from 1987 to 1996, Stokes invested in upgrading transmission equipment and studio facilities across GWN's remote coverage areas, enhancing signal reliability in underserved parts of the state. Stokes' control of the Seven Network, acquired in 1995, prompted efforts to integrate GWN more closely with Seven's national operations through a proposed acquisition. In late 1995, Stokes offered to sell GWN to Seven in exchange for additional shares valued at around A$73 million, aiming to consolidate affiliate relationships and streamline programming distribution for regional . Seven shareholders approved the deal in February 1996, viewing it as a strategic move to expand Seven's footprint in the monopoly regional market. However, the Australian Broadcasting Authority blocked the transaction in June 1996, citing anticompetitive concerns related to GWN's existing exclusive affiliation agreement with the , which limited programming options for viewers in remote areas. Unable to complete the integration with Seven, Stokes sold GWN to Prime Television in November 1996 for A$71 million in cash. This acquisition represented a key step in Prime's national expansion strategy, as the company—previously focused on regional markets in , , and —gained entry into Western Australia's untapped remote television sector, where GWN operated as the sole commercial service covering over 1.2 million square kilometers. Prime projected the deal would boost GWN's operating earnings from A$7.2 million to approximately A$10 million annually through cost synergies, improved advertising leverage, and access to broader content libraries, while adhering to cross-media regulations at the time. Under Prime's ownership, corporate governance shifted toward centralized oversight from its headquarters, with regional operations in Bunbury reporting to national executives responsible for programming and sales. In the early 2000s, Prime emphasized efficiency and alignment with eastern state affiliates, though specific details on executive changes remain limited in public records. This structure facilitated resource sharing but maintained local production autonomy to comply with quotas. The acquisition influenced GWN's affiliate agreements with the Seven Network by paving the way for a full programming switch in March 1999, prompted by the entry of WIN Television's dual Nine-Ten service via , which ended GWN's prior Nine exclusivity. The new Seven affiliation agreement provided GWN with access to national primetime content, sports rights, and marketing support, increasing viewership by an estimated 15-20% in key demographics and stabilizing revenue amid aggregation challenges in remote . This partnership endured through the , with periodic renewals focusing on digital transition and local content mandates.

2021 Merger and Integration into Seven West Media

On 1 November 2021, announced it had entered into a conditional Share Sale Agreement to acquire all the business and related assets of Prime Media Group Limited, including its Western Australian operations under the GWN7 brand, in a deal valued at A$131.9 million. The acquisition was completed on 31 December 2021, granting full ownership and control of Prime's television assets, which served regional areas outside . Following the merger, integrated Prime's regional operations, unifying sales teams across metro, regional, and digital platforms to achieve annual cost savings of A$5–10 million through streamlined functions. On 23 May 2022, revealed plans to retire legacy regional brands, with the GWN7 identity phased out on 25 July 2022 in favor of a national alignment, rebranding the service as Seven Regional WA ahead of the coverage. This rebranding extended to news services, transitioning GWN7 Local News to the unified 7NEWS banner while preserving local content delivery. The changes marked the end of the GWN branding, which had been in use since 1979, and facilitated greater operational cohesion within Seven West Media's national footprint. As of November 2025, is involved in a proposed merger with Southern Cross Media Group, announced on 30 September 2025. Under the terms, Southern Cross shareholders would own 50.1% of the merged entity, with Seven West holding 49.9%, creating a larger national company spanning , radio, and digital assets. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) approved the merger on 12 November 2025, stating it would not substantially lessen competition, though the deal remains subject to completion pending shareholder and court approvals.

Programming

Affiliated National Content

Seven Regional WA serves as the regional affiliate of the Seven Network, broadcasting a schedule dominated by nationally produced content from the network's primary feeds in and . This affiliation ensures that viewers in regional receive the same core , drama, and programming as metropolitan audiences, with the bulk of the broadcast day dedicated to these shared offerings. Key programs include long-running soap opera , which airs weeknights in a time-shifted slot, depicting life in the fictional coastal town of and drawing consistent viewership across . Reality competition features amateur cooks competing in themed challenges, broadcast during prime time to engage family audiences with its high-stakes culinary format. Sports coverage is a cornerstone, particularly the Australian Football League (), where Seven Regional WA simulcasts live matches, finals, and related analysis from the network's extensive rights deal covering up to four games per week. Following the digital television switchover in in April 2010, Seven Regional WA expanded to include multi-channel services, mirroring the national lineup. focuses on lifestyle and factual programming, such as home improvement shows and travel documentaries, appealing to daytime and older demographics. emphasizes male-oriented content with action movies, motorsport, and additional sports broadcasts, while targets younger viewers with contemporary dramas, comedies, and international series. These channels are transmitted in standard definition or , enhancing content variety without altering the primary Seven feed. To accommodate Western Australia's UTC+8 —two hours behind eastern states—programming is routinely time-shifted, ensuring primetime shows like air at 7:00 PM local time rather than the eastern 9:00 PM slot. Live events, such as AFL games originating from or , are often delayed for broadcast in suitable evening windows, with occasional real-time s for major finals to maintain national synchronicity. The affiliation with the Seven Network began in 1999, following the introduction of competing satellite services such as WIN WA, which shifted GWN to an exclusive Seven alignment while building on its earlier multi-network affiliations established after the rebranding to Golden West Network (GWN) under owner Jack Bendat. This integration marked a pivotal increase in simulcast volume, solidifying access to Seven's premium content library for regional audiences that persists today under the unified Seven Regional WA branding.

Local and Regional Productions

Seven Regional WA has a history of producing original content tailored to Western Australian audiences, particularly in its under the Golden West Network (GWN) banner. One notable example was the children's program The GWN Saturday Club, featuring the station mascot Doopa Dog and hosted by local presenter Maddie, which provided engaging, family-oriented entertainment for regional viewers. This program, along with coverage of local community events such as festivals and regional gatherings, helped foster a sense of connection in rural and remote areas, emphasizing grassroots stories and cultural activities unique to . Programming often included regional variations to address the needs of diverse audiences, including agriculture-focused segments aimed at rural viewers. For instance, The 4WD and Adventure Show, a long-running series produced for , explores rugged terrains, off-road challenges, and lifestyle topics relevant to farming and communities, airing on Seven Regional WA to highlight local adventures and practical advice for regional lifestyles. These productions incorporated elements like farming tips, discussions, and showcases of agricultural innovations to support Western Australia's significant rural economy. Following the 2021 merger with the Seven Network, production facilities were consolidated, with key operations centered in Bunbury—home to GWN's historic studios that served as a hub for regional TV for over 55 years until their demolition in 2022—and additional support from Perth's TVW facilities. Post-merger integration allowed for shared resources, including crews from both locations, though specific budget allocations for regional originals remain integrated into Seven West Media's broader television expenditures, estimated at hundreds of millions annually across the network. In the post-2000s era, original local productions have declined due to increasing reliance on cost-sharing with national affiliates, leading to a greater emphasis on syndicated content while maintaining select WA-specific shows such as The 4WD and Adventure Show. This shift reflects broader industry trends toward centralized programming to optimize expenses in regional markets.

News Services

Evolution of Local News

The local news service for what would become Seven Regional WA originated with the launch of BTW-3 in Bunbury on 10 March 1967, providing initial bulletins as the first in regional . These early broadcasts focused on community-relevant stories from the South West region, marking the inception of dedicated regional news coverage in the state outside . In 1979, following the rebranding to the Golden West Network (GWN), the news service enhanced its scope to better serve the growing audience across Western Australia's vast regional areas. This period solidified GWN's role as the primary source of local news, incorporating color introduced earlier in the decade. The 1980s saw further development following GWN's acquisitions, such as VEW-8 in in 1985 and GTW-11 in in 1987. These expansions allowed for localized reporting on , , and community issues pertinent to the Goldfields and Mid West regions, strengthening GWN's statewide footprint through satellite distribution to remote areas starting in 1986. During the , the bulletin underwent adjustments amid increasing competition, including a reduction to a dedicated half-hour local segment in 1999 to precede national content, while key presenters like Noel Brunning joined the team in 1986 and became the main anchor in 1998, contributing to sustained viewer engagement through consistent regional storytelling. In 2011, the service rebranded as GWN7 News as part of a broader alignment with Network, adopting the iconic red "7" logo, new promotional identities, and updated graphics to unify presentation across affiliates. This refresh, effective from 16 January, emphasized GWN's integration into the national framework while preserving its focus on regional content up to the pre-merger era.

Current Seven News Regional WA Operations

Following the 2021 integration into , delivers a half-hour weeknight bulletin at 5:30 pm, focusing on local news, sport, and weather stories from across regional . The bulletin is anchored by Noel Brunning, with weather and additional segments handled by various reporters since the departure of long-time presenter Shauna Willis in October 2022, ensuring comprehensive coverage of breaking regional events alongside national and international updates. Special reports are produced locally during major events to maintain relevance for non-metropolitan audiences. This service operates in close integration with Perth, sharing production resources, journalistic expertise, and content feeds to streamline operations while prioritizing regional perspectives. In terms of performance, 7NEWS Regional WA has ranked as a leading regional bulletin from 2023 to 2025, achieving an average audience of 35,800 viewers and a 68.1% share in 2024 (as of 31 December 2024), and placing in the top three programs overall in mid-2025 surveys. Post-merger technical enhancements include full production and broadcast capabilities rolled out across regional in 2025, alongside and on-demand access via the platform for broader reach.

Broadcast Availability

Terrestrial Transmission

Seven Regional WA's terrestrial began as analog broadcasts in the mid-20th century, with stations like BTW-3 in Bunbury launching in 1967 and VEW-8 in in 1971, providing VHF signals to regional communities across . These analog services operated until the national digital switchover, with simulcasting of signals commencing in 2008 to allow households time to equipment. Analog transmissions were fully ceased on 25 June 2013, marking the end of over-the-air analog in regional WA and shifting all services to format exclusively. In the digital era, Seven Regional WA delivers its primary high-definition (HD) service on Freeview logical channel number (LCN) 6, enabling viewers to access programming via standard set-top boxes or integrated digital TVs. Multi-channel offerings include on LCN 62, on 63, on 65, and .com on 68, all transmitted using MPEG-4 compression to optimize bandwidth within the 7 MHz channel allocation. In 2023–2024, Channel 7 and transitioned to HD () via MPEG-4, while and .com remain in standard definition (SD). These channels are multiplexed on UHF frequencies, typically in the 500-700 MHz range, and are accessible via directional or antennas depending on local terrain and signal strength. Key transmitter sites support this infrastructure, including Mount Lennard (near Burekup) for the South West licence area covering Bunbury and surrounding towns, Karlkurla (Peters Hill) for the Goldfields-Esperance region around , and Waggrakine (Moresby Range) for the Mid West area serving . These sites, often managed by Broadcast Australia or independent operators, broadcast from elevated positions to maximize over Western 's diverse landscapes of coastal plains, deserts, and ranges. For instance, the Waggrakine transmitter for callsign GTW operates at 613.5 MHz with an (ERP) of 150 kW in a directional horizontal pattern, ensuring robust signal delivery to urban and rural receivers within a radius of approximately 100 km. Post-digital switchover, the terrestrial network achieves coverage to 95% of the regional population, encompassing major population centers and many remote communities through a combination of high-power main transmitters and lower-power translators. Signal strengths vary by site, with ERPs commonly ranging from 50-300 kW to penetrate arid interiors and coastal interference, though viewers in fringe areas may require amplified antennas for reliable reception. This infrastructure supports access without subscription, complementing options for the remaining underserved locations.

Satellite and Digital Distribution

Seven Regional WA content is distributed via the service, a government-supported platform that delivers to remote and regional areas across , including Western Australia's and blackspot locations. VAST was officially launched on 10 2010 as a replacement for the earlier Aurora service, aiming to bridge the digital TV divide for approximately 200,000 households unable to access reliable terrestrial signals. The service utilizes the D3 satellite, positioned at 156° East, to broadcast signals with nationwide coverage for eligible viewers. Within the lineup for , Seven Regional WA occupies logical channel number (LCN) 6, alongside its multi-channels such as on LCN 62 and on LCN 63. The platform has supported high-definition () broadcasting from its inception, with full integration of additional digital multi-channels aligned to the national rollout following the analogue switchover completion in December 2013. This enables remote viewers to access the same suite of and standard-definition content as metropolitan audiences, including and affiliated programming. Complementing satellite delivery, Seven Regional WA offers digital streaming through the application and website, where geo-location technology ensures regional Western Australian viewers receive localized content, such as dedicated 7NEWS bulletins. The service is accessible on compatible devices with an IP address, providing on-demand and live options for catch-up viewing. Eligible viewers can apply for government subsidies covering most installation costs for satellite dishes and receivers, with household contributions typically ranging from $200 to $250 depending on location (as of ; current amounts may vary).

Technical and Coverage Details

Broadcast Standards and Technology

Seven Regional WA employs the standard for broadcasting, delivering content in high-definition () resolution at 25 frames per second, consistent with Australian norms. This format supports interlaced scanning to optimize within the 7 MHz allocation, ensuring compatibility with consumer HD equipment while maintaining picture quality suitable for regional challenges. The service utilizes MPEG-4 (H.264) video compression, adopted progressively following the analog shutdown to enable efficient HD delivery and multi-channel operations. Digital transmission for Seven Regional WA commenced in selected areas in 2010, with full alongside analog services until the analog switch-off on June 25, 2013, in regional . This transition aligned with ACMA-mandated requirements for regional commercial broadcasters to achieve equivalent coverage to legacy analog services using modulation parameters, such as 64-QAM with a 2/3 code rate for robust . In 2025, Seven Regional WA upgraded its broadcast technology, converting Channel 7 and 7mate to HD using MPEG-4 compression, while 7two, Racing.com, and other services remain in SD. The network supports up to six simultaneous digital channels within its multiplex, including the primary Seven channel in HD, alongside multichannels such as 7TWO (SD), 7mate (HD), 7flix (SD), 7Bravo (SD), and Racing.com (SD). Bitrate allocation prioritizes the HD primary channel at approximately 12 Mbps to sustain quality, while SD multichannels receive 2-4 Mbps each, fitting within the overall multiplex capacity of around 20 Mbps after overheads. These specifications ensure compliance with ACMA's technical planning handbook, which governs emission standards, interference limits, and service reliability for regional TV licensees.

Regional Coverage Areas

Seven Regional WA primarily serves key geographic areas across outside the Perth metropolitan zone, with main operational hubs in the South West region centered on Bunbury, the Great Southern region around , the Goldfields-Esperance region in , the Mid West region in , the Pilbara region such as Karratha, and the Kimberley region including Broome. These areas encompass diverse landscapes from coastal and agricultural zones to districts, with local news bureaus supporting region-specific reporting on events, , and issues. For instance, the South West and Great Southern focus on , , and , while the Goldfields-Esperance and emphasize operations and resource industries. The network's reach extends to approximately 600,000 people in regional as of 2025, representing the state's non-metropolitan , though coverage includes blackspots in far northern remote areas due to geographic challenges. This audience is supported by relay transmitters and to ensure access in rural and remote communities. Viewer demographics skew toward rural and working-class households, with including agricultural sectors like the Wheatbelt, where content often highlights crop yields, livestock management, and drought impacts critical to local economies. Historically, Seven Regional WA—originally operating as GWN—expanded its footprint through strategic acquisitions, adding the Kalgoorlie service (VEW-8) in 1985 via the purchase of Mid-Western Television for A$7 million, which extended coverage to the eastern goldfields. This was followed by the acquisition of Geraldton Telecasters (GTW-11) in March 1987, completing full statewide operations by integrating the Mid West into the network and solidifying its position as the dominant regional broadcaster. These expansions allowed for unified programming while maintaining localized content tailored to each area's needs, such as mining news in and fishing updates in the .

Branding and Visual Identity

Historical Logos and Rebrands

The visual identity of what would become Seven Regional WA began with its launch as BTW-3 on 10 March 1967 in Bunbury, operated by South Western Telecasters. The station was identified by the channel number "3." A significant rebrand occurred in 1979 when entrepreneur Jack Bendat acquired the stations and established the Golden West Network (GWN), unifying operations under a single banner. In late , the was updated to feature the acronym "GWN" rendered in the font within a clean, outlined oval shape, conveying stability and broad regional reach; this design was employed across all GWN outlets until 1995. Between 1986 and 2011, GWN's logo evolved through several variations to reflect technological and stylistic shifts in television branding. The 1981-1995 logo continued with the lettering in the oval. In 1995, a new simplified logo without the oval was introduced. This was updated in 2001 to a yellow version without an orbiting ring. These changes supported GWN's growth as a key affiliate in Western Australia's vast regional market. In 2011, amid deepening ties with Prime Media Group, GWN incorporated Seven Network-inspired graphics into its identity, adopting streamlined elements like angular "7" integrations and dynamic motion motifs for on-air promos. This prefigured fuller alignment while preserving GWN's distinct regional character through the rebranded GWN7 logo.

Current Seven Network Alignment

In 2022, following Seven West Media's acquisition of Prime Media Group, the regional affiliate in underwent a significant to align fully with the national identity, adopting the name Seven Regional WA. This rebrand utilized the standard Seven "7" logo, incorporating a regional such as "The Voice of Regional WA" to maintain local relevance while unifying the visual presentation across the network. The integration extended to the adoption of the Seven Network's signature red and white color scheme, applied consistently in on-air idents, promotional materials, and news graphics. This included updated microphone cubes, lower thirds, and program return bumpers that mirrored metropolitan Seven broadcasts, ensuring a seamless national look while preserving regional content delivery. The changes were part of a broader effort to streamline branding post-merger, enhancing viewer familiarity and operational efficiency. On-air updates commenced with a phased transition, beginning on 6 June 2022 with initial logo migrations and news graphic refreshes, culminating in the official retirement of the GWN7 brand on 25 July 2022. The retirement was marked by a dedicated transition campaign featuring on-air announcements and promotional spots that highlighted the evolution to 7NEWS Regional WA, timed to coincide with the coverage for maximum visibility. This campaign emphasized continuity in local programming while celebrating the integration into the larger Seven family. Digital assets were similarly unified under the Seven Network umbrella, with the website and app sections rebranded to 7NEWS Regional at 7news.com.au/news/, providing streamlined access to local news, videos, and live streams. This digital alignment supported the on-air changes by offering consistent branding across platforms, including handles like @7NEWSRegionalWA on and .

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