"The current legislation was introduced by Hawke in the late 80s. There happens to have been a communications revolution since then but the laws haven't changed. "We are now living in an era of the internet, high speed broadband, catch-up TV services and online streaming which all bring significant competition to our broadcasting services." At the centre of the skirmish are 'reach rules' which restrict any media player from owning radio, print and television in the same market. The rules prevent network operators from broadcasting to more than 75 per cent of the population, thereby restricting mergers between regional print, radio and television media companies. Television broadcasters pay heavily for government licences to transmit in areas such as Newcastle, Wollongong, Tamworth and other regional centres, but in the new digital world, national and even international news services are increasing their market share in those areas without the need to pay any licence fees. In mid-2013 the WIN Network started presenting its Canberra news broadcast from Wollongong, a move that prompted criticism from then ACT chief minister Katy Gallagher, but it continued to broadcast an ACT bulletin.

Meanwhile, Prime7 and Southern Cross Ten air short news updates about Canberra which helps them meet Australian Communications and Media Authority rules requiring a minimum output of local content. Canberra MP Gai Brodtmann said Mr Turnbull and Mr Abbott were not on the same page when it came to media reform. "If the government brings forward a package, Labor will look at it and it will go through the proper processes," Ms Brodtmann said. "I'm particularly concerned about a loss of great local journalism around the country – and particularly in rural and regional Australia. "Regional news is about local journalists telling their stories, put together by local producers.

"Since I've been elected I've been an active advocate for regional news coverage. "I campaigned against WIN's move from Canberra to Wollongong, as well as the axing of the ABC's state based 7.30 program." With market share dwindling, regional broadcasters say they're left with no choice but to slash or close newsrooms. WIN has already closed two at Mildura and Mackay and, while none of the regional broadcasters would confirm which ones, others will certainly follow. It also comes against a backdrop of changes by the ABC and Fairfax Media to streamline operations in regional areas. "The coalition government's reluctance to remove the reach rule is forcing us to review how and if we deliver local news going forward," WIN chief executive Andrew Lancaster said.

"Unlike when the reach rule was introduced 23 years ago there are now a number of streaming and online businesses that are accessing regional viewers including Seven, Nine and Ten. "These businesses are seemingly free to come into regional markets and to take regional revenue and audiences while others such as WIN are constrained." "We're operating with one arm tied behind our backs," Prime's Mr Hartigan added. "We'd just like to compete on even terms." Under pressure from regional broadcasters and his own regional MPs, Malcolm Turnbull flagged industry reforms in March but his moves were later shelved by the prime minister. "We were told the government didn't have the appetite for another fight in the senate," Mr Hartigan said. But that fight was not about the welfare of regional centres, but about protecting the prime minister's "media mates", he said.

Malcolm Turnbull's push for reform of regional broadcast rules was countered by pressure on the prime minister from Rupert Murdoch and Kerry Stokes who, wanting a trade-off, lobbied for the scrapping of laws which keep sport on free-to-air television - a move which would meet strong opposition in the senate. Asked if he'd been lobbied by Murdoch or Stokes to drop his regional reforms, Mr Turnbull would only say that Mr Stokes's views "were very well known". "The television industry is under a lot of pressure because of the internet, and these media ownership rules were written before the internet, so they are very old," Mr Turnbull said. "Regional broadcasters... pay a big chunk of their revenues to the metros for most of their programming content. As they're squeezed, inevitably, the only part of their cost base that they can control is local news and content. "And that is why, sadly, you are seeing local news services in the bush by regional television stations being cut back and in some cases closed."

WIN, PRIME7 and Southern Cross Ten will launch a media campaign next week, heaping more pressure on regional MPs. "I'm sure (those MPs) are keen to ensure that regional communities continue to have a voice but very few seem to be doing anything about it in Canberra," Mr Lancaster said. "What these regional politicians need to understand is that this is not a future issue, it's a now issue." Mr Hartigan warned. "We'll hear about more regional newsroom closures in the coming weeks".