So they want to rent seek more? I suppose that shouldnt come as a surprise
I’m interested in what events they want added to the list
How about they update their FreeView app/service to support the affiliate channel numbers?
In Canberra FreeView shows just the ABC & SBS, but acts as if the affiliates for 7, 9 & 10 don’t exist.
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That’s about the same in a few place up north here too.
Let me guess, 7’s channels appear in regional Qld because the LCNs match the metros?
Couldn’t answer that one, didn’t check last time I was up there.
Free TV Appoints Natasha Eves as Regulatory Affairs Manager
Free TV Australia is very pleased to announce the appointment of Natasha Eves as Regulatory Affairs Manager effective immediately.
Ms Eves joins Free TV from SBS where she was the External Affairs Manager. She is widely respected in the broadcasting industry and has 15 years’ experience in Australian and international policy roles across media, cultural policy and the arts.
“I am delighted to have Natasha joining our Free TV senior team at a very important time for our industry and our audiences,” said Free TV CEO, Bridget Fair.
Ms Eves will be making a vital contribution as we engage with Free TV members, the Government and industry stakeholders on the important regulatory changes that are needed to ensure that commercial television continues to have a strong and vibrant future.
Ms Eves said: “I have long admired the role that Free TV plays in public policy development for the Australian media sector, and I am thrilled to be able to contribute to this. I am particularly interested in ensuring that all Australians, no matter where they live or what their circumstances, have equal access to free local television services”.
Prior to joining SBS, Ms Eves held senior roles at the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies. She holds a Masters Degree in Media Practice, a Bachelor Degree in Government and International Relations, and a Certificate in Disruptive Strategy from Harvard Business School.
Over the last 12 months Free TV has successfully navigated the enactment of the News Media Bargaining Code, delivered a comprehensive response to the Government’s Media Reform Green Paper, established new headquarters in North Sydney and launched the Free. For Everyone campaign.
“Natasha’s appointment completes the Free TV senior team and positions us very well to launch into what promises to be an issues-rich 2022,” Ms Fair said.
Free TV urges Government to fast-track critical reforms while it considers future spectrum use
Free TV Australia has today indicated that it will work with the Government as part of its taskforce on the future of free-to-air television delivery options but has urged that critical reforms be pursued without further delay.
Bridget Fair, Free TV Australia Chief Executive Officer, said: “The announcement from the Government today acknowledges the critical issues faced by the Free TV sector and the millions of Australians who rely on our services.
“While we welcome the opportunity to continue to work with the Government on the future delivery options for television services, there remain policy matters that must be addressed now in order to ensure that Australians can continue to enjoy access to local news, Australian entertainment programming and live and free sport.
“This means that the Government must commit now to:
Introducing a new law to require that free TV services, including live TV and catch-up apps, are prominent and easy for consumers to find on modern digital television sets;
Protecting the access of all Australians to live and free sport by renewing the anti-siphoning list and expanding it to guard against sport being put behind the paywalls of multi-national streaming companies; and
Building on the Government’s commitment to extend the commercial broadcasting spectrum tax support payments for regional broadcasters by reducing the tax for all broadcasters in line with international best practice.
“Now is the time to act on these issues. With 13 million Australians tuning in each and every day to commercial television, there is no time to wait to secure the future of these vital services.
“Imagine if Ash Barty’s Aussie Open triumph was only available to those Australians who could afford to subscribe to a streaming service, or had reliable internet? This is the stark reality that we face if these important reforms are not immediately put in place.
These messages are being reinforced by our public campaign— Free. For Everyone —that launched in December 2021. This campaign, currently being rolled out across the country, reinforces the value of free television to Australians and its power to bring Australians from all walks of life together.
“We remain committed to working with all sides of politics to ensure that the policy settings are right for the future of television services that all Australians rely on. That work must start today.”
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Will be interesting to see if the LNP (right-wing) government will attempt to force TV manufacturers to include 7+, 9Now, 10play, SBS OnDemand & ABC iView.
What FreeTV are asking for is pretty intrusive, one would think particularly so for a supposedly pro-business, anti-regulation, small government, political party.
Free TV Australia Launches 2022 Federal Election Policy Manifesto
Free television is a fundamental part of the Australian way of life. It brings us together through live sport, delivers trusted local news and entertains with great Australian programming. But the future of these services is not guaranteed.
Urgent action is required to protect Australians’ right to free television services. That’s why Free TV Australia, the peak industry body for Australia’s commercial television broadcasters, is launching its 2022 Federal Election Policy Manifesto today.
Free TV broadcasters are calling on both the Government and Opposition to make three policy commitments ahead of the 2022 Federal Election:
- Introduce a new law to require that Free TV services are prominent and easy to find on connected TVs and other content distribution platforms;
- Protect the access of all Australians to live and free sport by renewing the anti-siphoning list and expanding it to guard against iconic sports being exclusively locked behind the paywalls of streaming and pay TV services; and
- Make the transitional support payments for regional broadcasters permanent and undertake a proper review into the overall level of the broadcast spectrum tax.
Australia’s commercial television industry provides a ubiquitous and critical service to all Australians and is central to the free delivery of nationally significant programming no matter where you live.
Bridget Fair, Free TV Australia Chief Executive Officer, said: “The past two years have highlighted that commercial television creates national moments that bring the country together, from vital health information to sporting triumphs that are a part of the national psyche.
“Australians from all walks of life rely on Free TV services. Regardless of the election outcome, politicians will need to make important decisions on the future of the industry that will affect what Australians can watch on television, and how it can be accessed.
“New research released today demonstrates strong support for commercial television services in the electorate:
- 78% of Australians agree that reliable free-to-air television services are crucial, especially for those without strong internet;
- 76% of Australians agree that free-to-air television ensures Australians have access to iconic sporting events; and
- 72% of Australians agree that free-to-air television allows access to television without straining budgets.
“What we’ve found is that Australians overwhelmingly back free-to-air television, and the public want our politicians to support our industry too. That is why we’re calling for all parties to make these commitments as part of their electoral platforms in the lead up to this year’s election.
“Australian voters deserve to know whether they will continue to get free sport and easy access to their Free TV services before they go to the polling booth. Free TV welcomes the public comments from the Opposition committing to regulating prominence and protecting free universal sport. While the Morrison Government’s media sector reform policy statement of February 2022 acknowledged these critical issues, it fell short of the urgent action required to ensure the future of the broadcasting services relied on by millions of Australians.”
The Free. For Everyone. campaign launched in December 2021 and is running on outdoor, radio, TV, and digital advertising calling for the Government and Opposition to commit to the future of Free TV services. It is supported by research conducted by the C|T Group for Free TV.
The Free. For Everyone Policy Manifesto launched today, provides a detailed outline of the issues facing commercial broadcasters, and the actions needed to ensure the industry thrives into the future. To read a copy of the manifesto and find out more about the campaign visit: www.freeforeveryone.com.au
REGIONAL AUSTRALIA CANNOT BE LEFT BEHIND IN THE STREAMING TV ERA
Research reveals concerns over TV delivered by internet in regional and rural Australia
Communities in regional and rural Australia deserve assurances that their TV services will have a sustainable future, with 78% of survey respondents from those areas saying that Free TV broadcast services are crucial, particularly in communities that might not have a strong internet connection, industry body Free TV Australia said today.
Free TV Australia chief executive Bridget Fair said that with the TV sector evolving rapidly, it was critical to ensure broadcasting policy supports dependable and free access to news and sport for all Australians.
“Events at home and abroad over recent years have underlined how important it is for regional and rural communities to be well served with reliable local commercial TV services,” Ms Fair said.
“We are living through an age of great innovation in the delivery of TV services, especially through the new streaming platforms. Clarity from government is essential to ensure the people of regional and rural Australia continue to be able to access their free-to-air TV services far into the future.”
Commercial television networks serving regional communities face a range of uncertainties, including on the status of unfair spectrum taxes that far exceed those in other countries around the world.
“The government introduced a $40 million broadcasting spectrum tax in 2017 that disproportionately affects regional broadcasters,” Ms Fair said.
“Instead of meeting their commitment to review the level of the tax, the Government has only offered a two-year band-aid extension of the regional support payment. These payments must be made permanent, and the level of the tax brought back into line with international best practice. The current uncertainty is untenable.”
Recent research for Free TV by C|T Group found that:
• 81% of regional and rural voters value Free TV;
• 64% of voters would be concerned if free-to-air television was only available over the internet, and
• 67% of voters agree that free sport is in the public interest.People in regional and rural Australia are also disproportionately affected by patchy internet services and cost of living pressures. An Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) study released in December showed that NBN’s service in regional Australia achieved only 44.8% of advertised speeds. Users in metro areas achieved 84.9% of advertised speeds.
“Equal access to news and sport for all Australians is something we can all say we support, but that needs to be backed up by government action,” Ms Fair said. “The needs of people in regional and rural Australia must be addressed in our broadcasting legislation – we cannot keep kicking the can down the road.”
As part of its Free. For Everyone. campaign Free TV Australia is also seeking an urgent review of the sports anti-siphoning list, and new regulations to force TV manufacturers ensure that Australian media services are easy to find on smart TVs that are controlled by global operating systems.
“This is about access to the news and sport services that people deserve, and about guaranteeing a sustainable future for the commercial broadcasters that work tirelessly to serve their local communities. TV delivers moments of national unity like no other medium, and the legislative framework for broadcasting should reflect Australian values by offering fair and equitable access to Free TV services for everyone,” Ms Fair said.
Free TV’s Free. For Everyone. is today launching its regional television campaign that will be broadcast across Australia in the coming weeks.
Yet how many of this organisation’s members owners supported the LNP federal government which wrecked the NBN, entrenching worse Internet access for people living in regions.
Are Free TV going to ask for legislation demanding all channels be broadcast in regions, and in HD?
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free tv Australia is nothing but a joke. they need to get their heads out of the past and into the future. and the future is streaming. the only ones who watch free to air are the elderly only. and there not going to live forever anyways and as tv act said many of its owners supported the lnp so they have got nothing but them selfs to blame
Oi! How old do you think I am!
49 isn’t elderly! 
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well forgive me then:D
but most people I know don’t watch free to air . and those I know that do are elderly
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And I’m two decades under that. If you think I’m going to pay for tv you’ve got another thing coming.
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So elderly people are irrelevant and they’re going to die anyway, so who cares 
You need to rethink your assumptions, champ
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I hardly watch FTA TV outside of the AFL and NRL grand finals
This just isn’t true.
And until advertisers can advertise and reach mass on Binge, Netflix, Amazon, Stan, Disney etc - FTA holds relevance
If I am Pepsi Max and I want to spend $10 million teaching 16-29 year old males - I can’t do that on streaming platforms
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You will soon with Disney plus among others looking to go to a mixed sub/ad model.
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Very true with disney.
I don’t think Amazon or Netflix have made any noise about advertising yet - no doubt they’ll be watching Disney closely