2006 Releases


Sport on Free TV still at risk
The Federal government’s ‘use it or lose it’ guidelines for sports on the anti-siphoning list have failed to provide certainty for viewers. Free TV CEO, Julie Flynn, said “it is disappointing that the new guidelines do nothing to reassure Australian sports fans that in the future they will not be forced to pay for sports they currently see for free.”
Wednesday, 20 December 2006

Free TV Summer Viewing Up 10%
It’s been a bumper start to the summer viewing season on Free TV with audiences increasing significantly compared to the same period last year.
Monday, 19 December 2006

Baby Boomers Watch More TV In 2006
Baby-boomers tuned in to Free TV in record numbers in 2006, according to new figures released today by Free TV Australia. This year, the average metro audience of 40-64s has increased 5.4 per cent compared to the same period last year (2am to 2am) with the regional audience increasing 2.1 per cent. In Sydney alone, the average audience for this demographic has increased by 12.5 per cent.Wednesday, 13 December 2006

Aussie Viewers Big Winners in 2nd Ashes Test
Australian cricket lovers have been the big winners in the second test match of the Ashes series, with huge numbers tuning in for the exciting conclusion of the game. The audience for yesterday’s excitement peaked just after 7pm (EDT) with 2.9 million tuned in to Nine’s live coverage. The average audience for the last hour of play was 2.5 million viewers*.
Wednesday, 6 December 2006

More People Watch Free TV in 2006
More people are watching Free TV in 2006, according to figures released today by Free TV Australia. The figures also show Free TV dominates share of television viewing and consumers continue to spend more time with TV than with any other media.   “Even with all the new media competing for consumers’ time, Free TV has again proved its few detractors wrong, with overall viewing up this year,” said Free TV Chairman and Seven Network CEO, David Leckie.
Monday 4, December 2006

English Already the Losers in Ashes Test Series
While Australian viewers can enjoy watching the 2006–2007 Ashes test cricket series on free-to-air television, English fans will not be so lucky. They will have to pay to watch the series or miss out because the Ashes cricket has been taken off the British sports anti-siphoning list.
Monday, 20 November 2006

Digital Free To View Sales Continue To Grow
Free TV Australia has welcomed the latest sales figures showing that Australian viewers are making the switch to free to view digital in growing numbers.
Friday, 17 November 2006

Viewers Fight for Sport on Free TV
Over 50,000 viewers have voted in the Save My Sport online poll and 94% of them do not want to pay to watch sport on television.
Friday, 3 November 2006

Australian viewers want to keep sport free
Australian television viewers have responded in record numbers to the Save My Sport campaign designed to ensure that Australians are able to continue to see major sporting events for free.   Almost 50,000 people have voted in the online poll, with an overwhelming majority calling for important sports events to remain free on television.
Tuesday, 31 October 2006

TV at the Heart Of Advertising Effectiveness
Free TV Australia has reaffirmed its commitment to effective advertising with the renewal of its major sponsorship of the AFA’s Advertising Effectiveness Awards.
Wednesday, 25th October 2006

Top advertisers “THINK TV”
Some of Australia’s biggest advertisers will help promote the continuing strengths of television in a major new advertising campaign by Free TV.
Monday, 23rd October 2006

The principle of “use it or lose it” rules not in dispute
Free TV Australia has dismissed the latest effort by the pay TV industry to undermine the access of all Australians to sport on free-to-air television.
Wednesday, 4 October 2006

Free TV kicks off savemysport campaign
Tonight Free TV Australia kicks off a campaign called savemysport to keep sport on television the way Australians want it – free. Please visit savemysport.com.au
Wednesday, 27 September 2006

Footy codes gang tackle sports fans
Today’s attack on the antisiphoning list by some footy codes is just the latest attempt to force viewers to pay for sports they currently see for free.
Thursday, 21 September 2006

Free TV Australia's Celebration of Fifty Years of Australian Television
Grant Blackley – Chairman, Free TV Australia 50th Anniversary Speech
Wednesday, 13 September 2006

50 years of television – a lot to celebrate!
Australian television turns 50 on 16th September. Today, the Prime Minister John Howard and members of the Government and Opposition join industry leaders to mark the occasion at Canberra’s Lobby Restaurant.
Tuesday, 12 September 2006

FREE TV networks do not “hoard” sporting events
The pay TV lobby's false and spurious claim that Free TV networks "hoard" sporting events is designed to do one thing only: force the 75% of Australians who can’t afford or choose not to take pay TV pay to watch sport on television.
Friday, 1 September 2006

Free TV rejects Foxtel statement
“The situation with the AFL rights negotiations has nothing to do with anti-siphoning and everything to do with the fact that Foxtel wants there to be less sport on free-to-air television and to force viewers to pay to see games they currently get for free,” Free TV CEO Julie Flynn said today.
Wednesday, 24 August 2006

Free TV supports young Australian drama talent
Free TV Australia today reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing young talent for Australia’s television, film and theatre industry with its $30,000 annual award to support students of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA).
Tuesday, 22 August 2006

Women catch the sport bug in 2006
Australian women have caught the sport bug leading strong growth in viewing of sports programs on free-to-air commercial television in 2006.
Tuesday, 15 August 2006

Free TV still on top
Free TV networks dismissed as fanciful claims by News Limited chief John Hartigan this week that newspapers are continuing to outperform free-to-air television.  The claims come after similar comments by Fairfax Holdings CEO, David Kirk, about the future of television in Australia. 
Friday, 11 August 2006

New research highlights integral role of television
An online survey of media decision makers from Australia’s top media planning and buying agencies reveals Free TV has a central role in the new media landscape. 
Wednesday, 9 August 2006

"Use it or lose it" rules must not force viewers to pay
Free TV Broadcasters have today called on the Federal Government to ensure that the application of "use it or lose it" rules to sports covered by the antisiphoning list does not result in Australian viewers having to pay to watch sports that they currently see for free
Friday, 4 August 2006

Free TV Announces January to June 2006 Ad Revenue for Commercial Television Networks
Advertising revenue for free-to-air commercial television networks for the period 1 January - 30 June 2006.
Tuesday, 25 July 2006

Free TV response to media reform framework
Free TV Australia today responded to the release of the government’s framework for media reform by Communications Minister, Senator Helen Coonan.
Thursday, 13 July 2006

Free TV response to media reform framework
Free TV Australia today responded to the release of the government’s framework for media reform by Communications Minister, Senator Helen Coonan.
Thursday, 13 July 2006

Free TV rejects Astra’s claims
“Free TV networks continue to use the listed sporting events we acquire, and we’re confident the monitoring exercise presently underway by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will prove this,” Free TV Australia chairman, Grant Blackley said today.
Thursday, 13 July 2006

ACMA review of code of practice
"Free TV Australia notes the Minister's comments today that she has asked the Australia Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to review the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice in relation to classifying reality TV, " chief executive of Free TV Australia, Julie Flynn said today.
Wednesday, 5 July 2006

Free TV audiences increase in 2006
The commercial TV networks have recorded significant audience growth for the first half of 2006.  The figures released by Free TV show an increase in metro audiences of four per cent across the day (6am-6am) and growth of five per cent in regional audiences.
Tuesday, 4 July 2006

Broadcasters meet Australian content quotas
Free TV Australia welcomed ACMA’s release of figures today showing that all commercial free-to-air networks had met their Australian content requirements for 2005.
Friday, 26 May 2006

Free TV celebrates 50 years with the Powerhouse
As we celebrate 50 years of Australian television, Free TV Australia is proud to announce its principal sponsorship of On the Box: Great moments in Australian television 1956-2006.
Wednesday, 5 April 2006

Summer Ratings Report - Weeks 1 TO 6, 2006
While the 2006 ratings gun officially fired last night, Free TV networks have already lapped pay TV.
Monday, 13 February 2006

Commercial television code provisions on language
Free TV Australia has issued a statement in relation to Commercial Television Code Provisions on Language.
Tuesday, 31 January 2006

ACMA Chair appointment
Free TV Australia today welcomed the announcement of Chris Chapman as the new Chairman of the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
Monday, 30 January 2006

Free TV announces July – Dec 2005 Ad Revenue
Advertising revenue for free-to-air commercial television networks for the period 1 July - 31 December 2005.
Monday, 23 January 2006