SES/RTS
SES/RTS is the collective identity of two WIN Network television services serving south-eastern South Australia and the Riverland.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
SES/RTS refers to two commercial television stations in South Australia: SES-8, serving Mount Gambier and the wider south-east, and RTS-5A, serving Renmark, Loxton and the Riverland. Although they originated as separate regional broadcasters, the stations were brought under common ownership and later operated as components of the WIN Television network. Their principal role has been to deliver metropolitan network programming, advertising and selected local information to communities outside Adelaide. SES-8 began broadcasting from the Mount Burr area in March 1966. Its launch had originally been planned for late 1965, but the collapse of a transmitter mast delayed transmission. The opening-night schedule included a locally presented introductory program, a news service, entertainment programming and a feature film. RTS-5A commenced in November 1976, extending commercial television coverage to the Riverland. It opened with a formal ceremony involving presenters Julie Blyth and John Harvey and federal communications minister Eric Robinson. The two services developed independently for much of their early existence. RTS experienced a significant studio fire in November 1998, but resumed test transmissions within hours. By that point SES had acquired RTS, although RTS continued to identify locally as 5A and maintained a local news presence. WIN Television acquired SES and RTS in June 1999 and incorporated them into the WIN network later that year. The acquisition shifted the stations from independent regional operations toward a network-affiliate model, while preserving their importance as local transmission outlets. Their network affiliations changed several times. Before 2004, the stations carried a mixture of programming sourced from the Seven Network, the Nine Network and Network Ten. The launch of WIN Ten in 2004 gave the region a separate Ten-affiliated commercial service, after which SES/RTS became primarily associated with Nine programming. In October 2007, WIN moved SES/RTS to a Seven Network affiliation following a commercial disagreement with the Nine Network's then owner concerning advertising arrangements. A digital-only Nine service was subsequently introduced in 2009, while the analogue SES and RTS signals were switched off in December 2010 as part of Australia's digital television transition. The services were presented under different network-facing names during the digital era, including Seven SA, Nine SA and WIN-related identities. In 2016 the South Australian services were reorganised under a new affiliation arrangement, and in 2021 the Ten service was renamed 10 SA while the Seven and Nine services retained their respective network relationships. The stations also carried multichannel programming, including services associated with Seven and Nine, depending on the prevailing supply agreement. Local news has been an important but reduced component of the operation. Separate Mount Gambier and Riverland bulletins existed until 2010, followed by a combined regional WIN News bulletin that ended in February 2013. Ten newsroom positions were made redundant when the full regional bulletin ceased. From 2015, short local updates were produced with the assistance of regional newspapers including The Border Watch and the Murray Pioneer. These updates were inserted around network news programming across the local commercial services. The arrangement changed again in 2024 and 2025. WIN ended its local advertising agreement for Seven programming on 30 June 2024, after which Seven SA carried a direct Adelaide feed with Adelaide advertising. In June 2025 WIN announced that Seven programming would cease in the Mount Gambier, Riverland and Loxton areas from 1 July because a new supply agreement had not been reached. Seven programming returned on 3 July 2025 following a later broadcast agreement. SES/RTS therefore remains best understood as a regional transmission and affiliate identity whose on-air branding and network relationships have evolved with ownership, technology and affiliation contracts.
History
SES/RTS is the combined historical and operational identity of two South Australian commercial television stations. SES-8 was established to serve Mount Gambier and the south-east of the state. Its planned November 1965 launch was delayed when a transmitter mast at Mount Burr collapsed after a tensioning wire failed. Transmission eventually began on 25 March 1966. The opening schedule included a locally presented introductory special, news, music and a feature film, establishing the station as a regional source of commercial television. RTS-5A was created a decade later for the Riverland. It began broadcasting on 26 November 1976 and served communities including Renmark and Loxton. Its launch included local presenters and a formal opening by communications minister Eric Robinson. For many years SES and RTS operated as separate services with distinct geographic responsibilities, schedules and local identities. RTS suffered a serious studio fire on 9 November 1998. The station resumed test transmissions in less than seven hours, while plans were made to replace the damaged studio. Around the same period, SES had acquired RTS, although the Riverland service continued to use its RTS and 5A identity for local output. WIN Television acquired both stations in June 1999 and integrated them into its network later that year. Twenty-four-hour transmission began in December 2003. Before 2004, SES and RTS carried a mix of programs from Australia's three commercial television networks. The creation of WIN Ten in 2004 provided a dedicated Network Ten outlet in the region and left SES/RTS mainly associated with Nine programming, apart from selected material such as AFL coverage. In October 2007 WIN transferred the stations to a sole Seven affiliation after a disagreement with the Nine Network's owner over advertising revenue. A digital-only Nine service returned in 2009, and the analogue signals were permanently switched off in December 2010. The stations' presentation changed repeatedly as WIN reorganised its South Australian services. During the digital period, viewers received combinations of Seven SA, Nine SA, WIN and later 10 SA, together with network multichannels such as 7two, 7mate, 9Go!, 9Gem and 9Life where available. In July 2016 the services were aligned with a revised Seven, Nine and Ten arrangement, and in July 2021 the Ten outlet adopted the 10 SA name. The underlying transmitters and regional coverage continued to serve the same broad communities even as network supply contracts changed. SES/RTS also had a substantial local-news history. Separate bulletins for Mount Gambier and the Riverland were produced until October 2010. These were followed by a combined weekday WIN News bulletin, produced with staff in Mount Gambier and Loxton and later presented from Adelaide. The final edition aired on 15 February 2013. In 2015 WIN replaced the full bulletin with short local updates produced with regional newspapers. This arrangement preserved a limited local information service while network news programs supplied most of the daily schedule. The most recent affiliation changes concern Seven programming. WIN's local advertising agreement with Seven ended on 30 June 2024, resulting in a direct Adelaide feed with Adelaide commercials from the following day. In June 2025 WIN said it would stop carrying Seven programming in the relevant regional markets from 1 July because negotiations had not produced an agreement. Seven returned on 3 July after a new deal was reached. These developments illustrate that SES/RTS is less a single conventional consumer brand than a regional broadcasting operation shaped by transmission licences, network affiliation agreements, advertising arrangements and local-service obligations.
- 2025
Seven programming returns
[1]Seven programming resumes in the SES/RTS coverage area on 3 July after a short interruption and a new agreement with WIN.
- 2021
South Australian service rebranding
[1]The local services are rebranded as Seven SA, Nine SA and 10 SA in line with revised network supply arrangements.
- 2013
Full regional news service ends
[1]The combined WIN News bulletin ends, with shorter local updates introduced later.
- 2010
Analogue switch-off
[1]Analogue transmission ends for SES and RTS on 15 December.
- 2007
Move to Seven affiliation
[1]SES/RTS becomes a sole Seven Network affiliate within WIN's South Australian operation.
- 2003
Twenty-four-hour transmission begins
[1]The stations commence continuous transmission.
- 1999
WIN Television acquisition
[1]WIN Television acquires SES and RTS and incorporates them into its network.
- 1998
RTS studio fire
[1]A fire damages part of the RTS studio, but the service returns to the air within hours.
- 1976
RTS-5A launches
[1]RTS-5A begins serving Renmark, Loxton and the Riverland.
- 1966
SES-8 begins broadcasting
[1]SES-8 commences service from the Mount Burr area, serving Mount Gambier and south-east South Australia after a launch delay caused by transmitter-mast damage.
Products and positioning
A regional commercial television platform connecting rural south-eastern South Australia and the Riverland with national network programming, local advertising and limited regional news output.
Regional television station · 1966
SES-8
The Mount Gambier-based service historically known as SES-8. It serves Mount Gambier, the Limestone Coast and other communities in south-east South Australia, carrying commercial network programming, advertising and local information.
Regional television station · 1976
RTS-5A
The Riverland service historically known as RTS-5A. Its coverage includes Renmark, Loxton and surrounding Riverland communities, where it operates as part of WIN's regional television infrastructure.
Television news · 2015
Local news updates
Short local updates introduced by WIN in 2015 for the Mount Gambier and Riverland areas. The updates were produced in cooperation with The Border Watch and the Murray Pioneer after the end of the longer regional WIN News bulletin.
Brand decisions
2025
Temporary cessation and restoration of Seven programmingStrategyBackground
WIN and Seven were unable to reach an agreement covering the Mount Gambier, Riverland and Loxton markets by mid-June 2025.
Action taken
WIN announced the cessation of Seven programming from 1 July, followed by a new agreement that restored the service on 3 July.
Aftermath
Seven programming resumed after a short interruption, although the episode demonstrated the dependence of regional stations on network supply contracts.
2024
End of local Seven advertising arrangementStrategyBackground
WIN's advertising agreement with the Seven Network ended on 30 June 2024.
Action taken
From 1 July, Seven programming was supplied as an Adelaide feed with Adelaide commercials rather than locally booked advertising through WIN.
Aftermath
Local commercials continued on the Nine and Ten-related services.
2013
Closure of combined regional news bulletinStrategyBackground
WIN reviewed its regional news operation after maintaining a combined bulletin for Mount Gambier and the Riverland.
Action taken
The bulletin ended in February 2013 and the Mount Gambier and Loxton newsrooms were reduced.
Aftermath
Short local updates were later introduced with assistance from regional newspapers.
2010
Digital transition and analogue shutdownOtherBackground
Australia was replacing analogue television transmission with digital services.
Action taken
SES and RTS switched off their analogue signals and expanded digital multichannel availability.
Aftermath
Viewers in the region moved to digital terrestrial television services.
2007
Change from Nine to Seven affiliationStrategyBackground
WIN and the Nine Network's owner disagreed over affiliation advertising revenue and related commercial arrangements.
Action taken
WIN converted SES/RTS to a sole Seven Network affiliation in October 2007.
Aftermath
The stations carried Seven programming and later received a separate digital-only Nine service.
Recent events
- 2025
Seven programming temporarily leaves the SES/RTS region[1]
Other
WIN announced that Seven programming would stop from 1 July after negotiations failed, but broadcasting resumed on 3 July after a new agreement was reached.
- 2024
WIN ends local advertising agreement for Seven programming[1]
Other
From 1 July, Seven SA carried a direct Adelaide feed with Adelaide commercials after WIN's local advertising arrangement with Seven ended.
- 2013
Regional WIN News bulletin is discontinued[1]
Leadership change
The combined regional news bulletin for the SES/RTS area ended after its final broadcast on 15 February, with newsroom redundancies in Mount Gambier and Loxton.
- 2010
Analogue transmission ends in south-eastern South Australia[1]
Other
SES and RTS switched off their analogue signals as part of Australia's transition to digital television.
- 2007
SES/RTS becomes a sole Seven Network affiliate[1]
Other
WIN shifted SES/RTS from its principal Nine affiliation to the Seven Network after a commercial dispute concerning affiliation advertising revenue.
- 1999
WIN incorporates SES and RTS into its television network[1]
M&A
WIN Television acquired SES and RTS in June 1999 and integrated the services into the WIN network later that year.
Sources2 sources
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