The Albanese government has thrown a last-minute lifeline to keep Network Ten on air for 500,000 people in Western Australia, after a joint venture between Seven West Media and WIN Corporation came within days of turning off the signal.

In May, Seven and WIN announced they would shut down a loss-making broadcast signal airing in Mildura, in north-western Victoria. The company, Mildura Digital Television, broadcast the Ten signal to an area the size of Belgium – an audience of about 70,000 people – and was “unable to justify” the expense.