TV Central Nine suspension extends to Stan as TV guide dispute remains unresolved – Two months ago, TV Central outlined the reasons behind our decision to cease publishing Channel 9 content. At the time, we remained hopeful that a resolution could be reached. Despite allowing sufficient time for that to occur, and despite taking the matter directly to Nine’s chief executive, the situation remains unchanged.
Since then, I have formally written to Nine CEO Matt Stanton, asking either for the matter to be investigated or for a resolution to be found. While I have continued to have separate discussions with members of Nine’s communications team regarding other matters related to this issue, I have received no response from Mr Stanton, nor has anyone contacted me on his behalf in relation to the correspondence I sent directly to him.
The issue remains exactly as it was: TV Central is not being provided with the amended scheduling information required to operate an accurate television guide service.
This is not simply a matter of receiving a basic weekly schedule. Television listings regularly change due to live sport, market variations and programming decisions. Different AFL and NRL commitments across Australia can significantly alter line-ups, often at short notice. Without access to those amendments, a television guide becomes outdated almost immediately after publication.
TV Central has built a substantial and growing audience around its guide service. Due to the evergreen nature of archived television listings and their performance in search engines, guides have become one of the site’s strongest-performing sections. The inability to provide accurate Nine schedules therefore has genuine commercial implications.
In practical terms, the current situation means that readers seeking accurate Channel 9 listings are encouraged to obtain that information elsewhere. TV Central has both the audience and the infrastructure to provide a comprehensive guide service, but without access to amended scheduling information, it cannot offer the same level of accuracy available through competing outlets.
In preparing this article, TV Central provided Nine with a further opportunity to respond to a number of questions relating to this matter. Among them were why TV Central continues to be excluded from scheduling amendments distributed to other guide publishers, whether Nine recognises the impact that decision has on TV Central’s ability to compete fairly, and whether the network would be willing to review its position to ensure a level playing field exists between publishers performing the same function.
Nine declined to comment.
It is important to clarify that the scheduling amendments in question are not confidential documents, nor do they contain commercially sensitive information. They relate to changes already being made to publicly available schedules and are routinely incorporated into television guides across Australia to ensure viewers receive accurate and up-to-date programming information.
Recent examples have included market-specific amendments affecting Perth viewers. In one instance, scheduled programming for Shark was altered and replacement programming was distributed through amendment notices. TV Central did not receive that information and, as a result, was unable to update its listings to reflect the revised schedule.
I am disappointed that Matt Stanton chose not to respond to correspondence sent directly to him seeking either a review of the matter or a constructive path towards resolution. The communication was respectful in tone and intended to open a dialogue that might benefit both organisations. No response was received.
This situation is particularly frustrating because it stands in stark contrast to TV Central’s relationships with many other areas of Nine’s business. Nine’s publicity teams have consistently been professional, collaborative and supportive, and it has been a privilege to work alongside them over many years. Prior to the current boycott, TV Central spent more than 25 years promoting Nine’s programming and personalities through articles, interviews, podcasts and ongoing editorial coverage.
Likewise, the Stan team has been exemplary in its dealings with TV Central. Access to talent, preview material and interview opportunities has always been handled professionally and with genuine goodwill. What was initially intended to be a brief suspension of Nine coverage evolved into a prolonged dispute, yet TV Central continued publishing Stan-related material as a demonstration of good faith and in the hope that a mutually beneficial resolution could still be reached.
Unfortunately, despite those efforts, Nine has maintained its position. Following further discussions as recently as Monday, 15 June, TV Central was advised that its access to amended scheduling information would not change.
As a result, TV Central can no longer justify treating Stan differently from other Nine-owned businesses. While this decision is regrettable, maintaining a consistent and principled position requires that the same approach apply across all Nine-owned content.
Accordingly, TV Central confirms that Stan-related editorial coverage will cease from 9.00am today.
It is also important to note that this issue is not reflective of TV Central’s relationships across the broader media industry. TV Central continues to enjoy strong and positive working relationships with Seven, Ten, the ABC, SBS, streaming platforms and cinema distributors. Those relationships are reflected in the ongoing coverage, interviews and access opportunities regularly featured across the site.
This decision should therefore not be interpreted as a broader criticism of the Australian television industry, nor of the many talented individuals working across Nine and Stan who have supported TV Central throughout the years. Rather, it reflects a principled position that access to essential scheduling information should be applied fairly and consistently to all publishers performing the same function.
This has not been an easy decision. Nine remains one of Australia’s most-watched television networks, and there is undoubtedly some risk involved in stepping away from that content. Yet, after more than 25 years of supporting Nine’s programming and personalities, I believe this decision is necessary.
TV Central is not seeking special treatment. We are simply seeking the same access to amended scheduling information that is already being made available to other organisations publishing comprehensive television guides. I do not believe that requesting a level playing field is unreasonable.
TV Central remains willing to revisit this position should Nine choose to review its approach. The door remains open to a resolution that would allow a productive relationship, built over more than 25 years, to continue into the future.
Until then, our stance remains unchanged.
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TV Central Nine suspension extends to Stan as TV guide dispute remains unresolved
