Nine warns streaming will kill regional TV Nine Entertainment boss David Gyngell has put regional TV stations on notice, saying their big-city counterparts won't be needing them within five years. Mr Gyngell said media regulations preventing one broadcaster from reaching more than 75 per cent of the audience would become redundant as Australians shift to online streaming. He said Nine was no longer advocating the repeal of the regulation because the broadcaster wouldn't need its regional affiliates in a few years time. "I'm actually not that interested in the 75 per cent reach rule any more, I think technology is going to overtake that anyway," he told reporters after the company's first annual general meeting. In five years time we will just go around regional television and stream our content into those markets. We ultimately won't have a regional affiliate deal. He conceded the move could mean the end of local news in regional centres but put the blame on federal politicians for failing to overhaul media laws. I think regional television is in a hugely challenged way. I think it's going to be disappointing for regional viewers. They'll get no local news. They'll get nothing because people are playing politics and games," he said. The Abbott government has indicated it wants to overhaul current laws but says it is waiting for an industry consensus to emerge on possible changes. Nine is moving into the online streaming market through a joint venture called Stan, which is due to launch in 2015. The venture will face tough competition in the form of US streaming giant Netflix, which on Wednesday announced it would launch its Australian service in March next year. But Mr Gyngell said there was room for more than one operator in the market and expects three to four million Australians to be using streaming services within five years. "There's room for three players, (but) you'd probably have to be one of the top two to have a real profit," he said. The category is going to explode in this country. Mr Gyngell also dismissed speculation of a possible merger between Nine and Fairfax. "I think people are reading too much into the fact we partnered with them on a streaming service," he said. I don't see any value at this point in us doing any more than that. Mr Gyngell also said Nine would consider taking part in the upcoming bidding process for AFL rights from 2017. Nine already had substantial sporting commitments in rugby league and cricket. But he poured cold water on suggestions the rights could fetch as much as $2 billion. I think it's a joke, they're dreaming. They're not going to get it," he said. Meanwhile, Nine chief operating officer Simon Kelly said a pick-up in advertising would help the broadcaster lift its profit.