The station said the main reasons for the change were the retirement of Port Pirie news director Ken Jeffrey, as well as lack of digital equipment at Port Pirie, and available facilities in Canberra.

Macquarie Southern Cross Media chief operating officer Greg Dodgson said the move was mainly due Mr Jeffrey's retirement and as new studio had been built in Canberra that would cater for digital television, the same facilities were not needed in Port Pirie.

There will be no replacement for Mr Jeffrey but reporters from all Central TV regional locations - Port Pirie, Port Augusta, Whyalla, Port Lincoln and Broken Hill - will keep their jobs.

Spencer Gulf Telecasters Port Pirie manager Brian Bearman said fortunately Mr Jeffrey was due to retire in September this year.

He said the existing studio in Port Pirie was old and in poor state.