Less than a third of Aussies watching TV through an aerial
New polling commissioned by Australia’s commercial TV networks has revealed that less than one in three Australians are watching TV through an aerial.
The national polling by Resolve Strategic – and commissioned by Free TV Australia, which represents the free-to-air networks – found 69% of Australians access TV via the internet, only 29% of Australians watch TV exclusively through an aerial, with a number of those planning to ditch their aerial soon.
The research is in the aid of convincing government to extend proposed anti-siphoning laws to apply to digital services.
Currently, the bill prevents subscription streaming services from buying broadcast rights to iconic sporting events like the Olympics, AFL, NRL and cricket, and locking them behind paywalls. But pay TV and streaming providers can still acquire exclusive digital rights, and lock out those who watch sports on 7plus, 9Now, and 10 Play.
Unless this is amended, the network argues, around half (49%) of people who use free streaming services such as 7plus, 9Now, and 10 Play said they would rather miss out on watching key sporting matches, and would sign up to paid streaming services, or reconnect their aerial.
“This research shows that most Australians are watching TV through the internet and this proportion will only increase as more people either ditch their aerials and new homes are built without them,” said Free TV CEO Bridget Fair.
“New anti-siphoning laws must be updated to reflect this reality otherwise millions will be forced to buy expensive streaming subscriptions during a cost of living crisis or miss out altogether on the great sporting events that bind our nation together.
“All Australians deserve access to sport, regardless of their income or whether they have an antenna on their home.”
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Nathan Jolly is the Features Editor at Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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It’s nice of Free TV Australia to be so upfront in admitting that fewer and fewer people rely on their aerial to watch FTA, with the necessary implication that it won’t be long before FTA broadcasters don’t require radiocommunications licences, so the parts of the spectrum that are covered by their current licences can be put to better use.
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