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Australia has free-to-air TV services, including Seven, Nine, Ten, SBS, and ABC. Freeview Australia is a free service that delivers TV from these channels directly to your TV when connected to an aerial and the internet. Free TV Australia is the peak industry body for Australia's commercial free-to-air broadcasters, and it advances the interests of its members in national policy debates and highlights the contributions of commercial free-to-air television to Australia's culture and economy. Under proposed legislation, smart TVs in Australia must showcase these free-to-air channels alongside streaming services to ensure that local news and emergency information are easily accessible to Australian audiences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Free TV Australia | The peak industry body for Australia's commercial free-to-air broadcasters |
| Free-to-air TV channels in Australia | ABC, SBS, 7, 9 & 10 |
| Freeview Australia | A free-to-air TV guide, on-demand guide, and more |
| Smart TVs in Australia | Must showcase Australian free-to-air channels alongside streaming services under proposed legislation |
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What You'll Learn
Free-to-air TV channels in Australia
Australia has a range of free-to-air TV channels that can be accessed with a TV aerial and an internet connection. Freeview Australia, for example, offers over 30 channels of live and on-demand content from Australia's free-to-air TV channels ABC, SBS, 7, 9, and 10. To access Freeview, you need a Freeview-certified TV, an aerial, and a broadband connection. The service also offers a mini guide that helps you discover new programs and plan your viewing using your TV remote or the Freeview App.
In addition to Freeview, there are other free-to-air TV options in Australia. These include community-based broadcasters available in metropolitan cities and digital terrestrial television channels that vary based on location and station ownership. The availability of specific channels depends on factors such as regional affiliations with metropolitan channels, with regional capitals like Canberra, Hobart, and Darwin relying on network affiliates.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority's position is that only one commercial television company can be supported, but multiple commercial television services can coexist. This has resulted in the common practice of regional stations affiliating with metropolitan channels to secure programming.
VAST is another platform that provides free-to-view satellite television in areas not covered by terrestrial transmissions. Channels on this platform are encoded in H.264 and subject to a transmission patent licensing tax included in broadcaster costs.
Overall, Australia offers a diverse range of free-to-air TV options, ensuring that viewers can access a variety of content without incurring subscription fees. These services contribute significantly to the country's culture and economy, with organisations like Free TV Australia advocating for the industry's interests and technological advancement.
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Freeview Australia
Freeview was launched in Australia in November 2008 with the goal of bringing all free-to-air broadcasters onto a consistent marketing platform to compete against subscription television services like Foxtel. The brand was introduced alongside teaser commercials promising 15 channels in 2009. The actual service commenced in 2009, along with the rollout of Freeview-badged set-top boxes and integrated digital televisions. The first new "Freeview" channel was Network 10's 10 Bold, which started on March 26, 2009.
The Freeview organisation comprises free-to-air licensees such as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Special Broadcasting Service, Seven Network, Nine Network, Network 10, Prime Media Group, and Southern Cross Broadcasting. These groups are shareholders of Freeview, although a company search revealed that all shares were owned by the Nine Network. WIN Corporation was a member until March 2012, and SBS withdrew in May 2015 due to federal budget cuts.
Freeview offers an always-on mini guide that allows viewers to watch their favourite shows, search for new programs, and plan their viewing using their TV remote or the Freeview mobile app. The service also includes an interactive TV guide that is always up to date, enabling viewers to plan their viewing schedule for the day, tonight, this week, or even go back to catch up on missed shows via On Demand streams. Freeview certifies televisions, set-top boxes, and personal video recorders (PVRs) that meet its standards, ensuring compatibility with free-to-air digital television broadcasts in both standard and high definition.
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Free TV Australia
Freeview Australia is a free-to-air TV service that delivers content from Australia's free-to-air TV channels, including ABC, SBS, 7, 9, and 10. It is accessible via an aerial connection, the internet, and the Freeview App for mobile devices. Freeview offers a variety of programming, including drama, comedy, reality, news, documentaries, movies, sports, and children's shows.
In February 2024, the Labor government proposed prominence legislation to ensure that Australian free-to-air channels are easily accessible on smart TVs. This legislation aims to address the challenge faced by Australian public service broadcasters in securing prominent placement on smart TV interfaces due to limited resources. The legislation requires manufacturers of new smart TVs to prominently display Australian free-to-air channels, such as Seven, Nine, Ten, SBS, and ABC, alongside streaming services.
The proposed legislation has been supported by Free TV Australia's CEO, Bridget Fair, who criticised the campaign by Astra, which advocates for pay-TV services like Foxtel and streaming platforms such as Disney+. The legislation seeks to modernise media laws, recognising the important role that free-to-air broadcasters play in contributing to Australia's cultural life and shared sense of identity.
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Smart TVs and free-to-air channels
Free-to-air TV is available throughout Australia, offering programs from three commercial networks (Seven, Nine, and Ten) and two national networks (ABC and SBS). Commercial services are provided by regional affiliates of the commercial networks, and the name of the network, the programs on offer, program start times, and advertisements may vary depending on the area in which one lives.
To access these free-to-air channels, one needs the right reception equipment, which may vary depending on location and viewing preferences. For example, Freeview is a service that provides access to over 30 free-to-air channels, including ABC, SBS, 7, 9, and 10, when connected to an aerial and the internet. Freeview also offers an app for mobile devices that allows users to plan their viewing and access additional content.
In recent years, there has been a push for smart TVs to prominently display Australian free-to-air channels alongside streaming services. Under proposed legislation, manufacturers of smart TVs would be required to provide easy access to free-to-air networks, pre-install their video-on-demand apps, and present separate tiles for each. This legislation aims to ensure that local networks are not overshadowed by streaming services and that Australian audiences can easily access local news, emergency information, and creative content.
While some parties support this legislation as a way to promote local content and support the communications industries, others, such as Foxtel, argue that it restricts consumer choice and could distort the market in favor of broadcasters. Despite this opposition, Australia is one of several countries considering or implementing similar legislation. For example, in the UK, the bill ensures that free-to-air channels like BBC iPlayer and ITVX are easily accessible on smart TVs.
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Free-to-air TV guides
Australia has a range of free-to-air TV channels, including ABC, SBS, 7, 9, and 10. Freeview is a free service that aggregates content from these channels and delivers it to your TV when connected to an aerial and the internet. The service also includes a mini guide that lets you watch, search, and discover new programs, as well as plan your viewing using your TV remote.
The Freeview website provides a detailed TV guide, listing all the programs available to watch from the free-to-air channels. The guide covers a full week, allowing users to plan their viewing in advance. The Freeview App for Apple and Android mobile devices also enables users to watch and plan their viewing while on the go.
Another online guide for free-to-air TV in Australia is on TV Tonight, which provides TV listings for all the major cities and regions across the country. The website also includes streaming guides for popular streaming services such as Netflix Australia, Stan, Binge, and Disney Plus Australia.
These guides provide users with an easy way to find out what's on TV across the free-to-air channels in Australia, helping them plan their viewing and discover new programs to watch. With just an aerial and an internet connection, Australians can access a wide range of free content, including drama, comedy, reality TV, news, documentaries, movies, sports, and children's shows.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Australia has free-to-air TV services such as Seven, Nine, Ten, SBS, and ABC.
Free TV Australia is the peak industry body for Australia’s commercial free-to-air broadcasters. It advances the interests of its members in national policy debates and highlights the contributions of commercial free-to-air television to Australia's culture and economy.
Freeview is a service that delivers content from Australia's free-to-air TV channels directly to your TV when connected to an aerial and the internet.
Some free-to-air TV channels in Australia include ABC, SBS, 7, 9, and 10.
Yes, under proposed legislation, smart TVs in Australia must showcase local, free-to-air channels alongside streaming services. This legislation aims to ensure that Australian audiences can easily access local news, emergency information, and creative content.
