Forget pay TV, free-to-air is the only truly democratic form of media
Last Friday, Mumbrella published a piece in which Foxtel Group CEO Patrick Delany railed against the current anti-siphoning laws, which prevent free-to-air broadcasters from being outbid on the rights to significant sporting events by subscription TV providers – such as Foxtel.
In this response, Free TV CEO Bridget Fair calls Delany’s position “narrow and self-serving” and argues free-to-air broadcasting is the “only truly democratic form of media.”
Patrick Delany’s recent comments about the anti-siphoning regime is the same narrow and self-serving perspective we have seen from pay TV since the anti-siphoning laws were first proposed in the 1990s.
As the CEO of Foxtel, a company that profits from subscription-based services, his arguments about free local TV services wilfully misconstrue the new world of free broadcasting on multiple platforms, how the majority of Australians get their news, sport and entertainment, and the enduring strength of free-to-air broadcasting. The key issue here is the vital public interest that is delivered by a free and universal broadcast sector in Australia’s media landscape.
Bridget Fair, Free TV
The claim that audiences are abandoning free-to-air is not only misleading, it deliberately distorts a more complex reality.
Yes, the way Australians consume content is changing, but to suggest that this marks the end of FTA television is just plain wrong. FTA broadcasters have been innovating rapidly, embracing digital transformation through on-demand services like 7plus, 9Now, and 10 Play. These platforms provide viewers with the flexibility they demand to access free television services in the way that best suits them, while ensuring that premium content and in particular live and free sport, remains accessible without a paywall.
Unlike subscription models, which require a financial commitment from the viewer, FTA television remains the only truly democratic form of media. It delivers crucial news, sport, and entertainment to all Australians, regardless of socioeconomic status. In a cost-of-living crisis, when household budgets are stretched thin, free access to high-quality content is more important than ever.
One of the fundamental differences between FTA and paid services is accessibility. Free-to-air television is available to 100% of Australians, ensuring that no one is excluded from major sporting events, local news, or homegrown entertainment. By contrast, Kayo currently enjoys a household penetration of around 17%, and of course Kayo, Foxtel and other global streamers operate on a subscription basis, limiting their reach to those who can afford to pay.
Delany was quoted as saying that Australians see it as normal paying for content these days, in relation to Foxtel’s landgrab for exclusive paid access to Saturday AFL matches from 2025. These comments reinforce the stark difference between giving sports rights to service providers whose stated aim is getting people to pay for exclusive access versus those whose business model is based on ensuring the maximum number of Australians can watch something free of charge. Their entire business model is built on eventually converting consumers into paying subscribers, rather than providing content as a public service.
Delany’s argument about anti-siphoning laws being outdated ignores their fundamental purpose: ensuring key sporting events remain accessible to all Australians. While digital access is indeed growing, removing protections that guarantee free broadcast coverage would push more premium content behind paywalls, excluding those who cannot afford yet another subscription. Kayo’s basic plan now costs $25 per month (more than triple Netflix) and to watch on more than one device will set you back $40 per month.
Live sport, reality TV, and Australian drama continue to attract millions of viewers—proof that audiences still value shared experiences. Almost 20 million Australians watch something on commercial television every week, a reach that Foxtel can only dream of. Events like the AFL Grand Final, the Melbourne Cup, and State of Origin remain cornerstone broadcasts that unite the nation, and they are only accessible to all because of free-to-air television. In turn, this shapes the kind of community we all want to live in.
Free TV broadcasters are a cornerstone of Australian content production. Local networks are responsible for funding and airing much of the scripted and unscripted content that makes our industry vibrant, spending $1.67 billion in the last financial year.
While it’s true that streaming services have changed the game, they also face challenges—rising subscription fees, content fragmentation, and increasing audience fatigue from an oversaturation of choice. The idea that paid platforms will entirely replace free-to-air is not only wildly optimistic but ignores the economic and practical realities facing many Australians.
Rather than dismissing FTA as outdated, we should acknowledge its resilience and adaptability. Broadcasters are investing in digital offerings, data-driven advertising solutions, and hybrid content strategies that integrate traditional and streaming models. Far from being a relic of the past, FTA is evolving to meet the needs of the modern audience—delivering quality, accessibility, and cultural relevance in ways that pay TV and streaming services simply cannot match.
The future of media in Australia is not a zero-sum game. Free-to-air television is not disappearing; it’s transforming. And in a rapidly changing media landscape, one thing remains clear: accessibility and Australian storytelling will always matter.
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I still don’t see your point as to why you can’t fulfill the anti-siphoning laws by providing those games such as Live Grand Finals and the State of Origin free digitally? It’s simply anti-competitive.
The claim that FTA is the only democratic form of media is a romanticised view that ignores the reality of today’s diverse media landscape.
The free market thrives on competition and consumer choice. Sports is better viewed on Kayo anyway, arguably driven by the need to encourage subscribers to stay subscribed has driven product innovation and a better coverage compared to the FTA networks.
“Broadcasters are investing in digital offerings, data-driven advertising solutions, and hybrid content strategies that integrate traditional and streaming models.”
Nine is cutting $100m;
Seven’s cost cutting is at $108m;
Hybrid content strategies = less commissions from production companies or less money from production than ever before.
Reality tv works (does it?)
On TV we have:
– Less Aussie Drama.
– Less Aussie Films.
– Less Aussie Docos.
– Almost no commercial kids shows
– Very few comedy sitcoms on commercial TV
Why aren’t people watching TV? The ad breaks are unwatchable — they run too long, there’s little creativity and the networks don’t actually program them — so they run whatever crap their given. It’s a bad viewing experience and there’s actually not much to watch at all.
Let’s be fair Bridget – unless FTA gets its act together and starts a) programming more Aussie content and b) improving the viewing experience with less / better ad breaks, FTA hasn’t got a hope of surviving. They’re not competing with Foxtel or Netflix… It’s Youtube, and it’s now. We need to see Podcasts on TV, spend less on production per series blooding Aussie talent and allow new funding / production models to flourish.
TV hasn’t transformed fast enough. Indie producers can’t get their shows up because TV commissioners aren’t saying yes to anything – all they’re saying is they have no money.
The Digital TV transformation is basically reruns of MASH, Seinfeld or Bondi Rescue.
Here’s hoping that with all the musical chairs of the past 6 months, let’s hope that the new hires are allowed to try some new ideas and that leads to better Aussie TV that people want to watch.
The other commenters have missed the whole point of this article and fail to look at the success that FTA TV has given to the sports it delivers, as well as other forms of content, like news. You can look at the decline of Super Rugby, which started when it progressively put all its games behind the Stan paywall. Look at Foxtels failed News streaming platform. The reach of Rugby League, AFL and local news self perpetuates its success.