Australia - Free-to-Air TV - Broadcasters

Synopsis

The broadcast industry has experienced inordinate change over the past decade, and most significantly over the last year with the formation of Free TV and Freeview. Since 2001 all of the Free-to-Air broadcasters have been simulcasting their primary channels in both analogue and digital; however eventually the analogue transmission will be switched off. The switch-off will be phased throughout Australia, commencing in the first half of 2010 and continuing through until 2013.

Digital transmission first commenced back in 2001 and in 2011 celebrates 10 years of operation, with more Australians now enjoying the extra features and channels that are available. By late 2013 all analogue transmissions will have ceased.

Between 2009-2011 the ABC Seven, Nine and Ten will all launch free-to-view digital channels on the Freeview platform, with the latest being the launch of digital channel 11 in early 2011 by the Ten network.

This report provides an extensive overview of Australia’s Free-to-Air broadcasting market, including overviews of all the major commercial and public broadcasters: Nine Network, Seven Network, Network Ten, ABC, SBS, and the regional players, as well as an overview of community broadcasting.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Market overview
• 3. National broadcasters
  • 3.1 Public broadcasters
    • 3.1.1 Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
    • 3.1.2 Special Broadcasting Services (SBS)
  • 3.2 Commercial networks
    • 3.2.1 Nine Network
    • 3.2.2 Seven Network Limited (Seven)
    • 3.2.3 Ten Network Holdings Limited (Ten Holdings)
• 4. Regional broadcasting
  • 4.1 Commercial television broadcasting licences
  • 4.2 Regional licence area plans
  • 4.3 Television aggregation
  • 4.4 Major players
    • 4.4.1 NBN Television (NBN)
    • 4.4.2 PRIME Television Limited (PRIME)
    • 4.4.3 Southern Cross Media Group (SCMG)
    • 4.4.4 Southern Cross Broadcasting (SCB)
    • 4.4.5 WIN Television
• 5. Community television broadcasting services
  • 5.1 Overview
  • 5.2 Community TV goes digital
• 6. Indigenous broadcasters
  • 6.1 Indigenous Broadcasting Program (IBP)
    • 6.1.1 Overview
  • 6.2 Imparja Television
  • 6.3 National Indigenous Television Service
  • 6.4 Warlpiri Media Association (WMA), Yuendumu, Western Desert
  • 6.5 98.9FM Country Radio (4AAA Murri Country, Brisbane)
• 7. Related reports

• Table 1 – Number of television and radio licences on issue – 2009 - 2010

• Exhibit 1 – Commercial television licences
• Exhibit 2 – Nine Network coverage
• Exhibit 3 – Digital community television licences – 2010 - 2011
• Exhibit 4 – Background information on community television licences