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Push for free-to-air channels to get prominence over Netflix on smart TVs in Australia

Ashleigh GleesonNCA NewsWire
TV manufacturers have increasing control over what’s shown on the home screen.
Camera IconTV manufacturers have increasing control over what’s shown on the home screen. Credit: Supplied

Free-to-air networks would appear more prominently on smart TV home screens compared to international platforms such as Netflix if a proposal by the peak body for the commercial broadcasters is taken on board.

Free TV Australia has called for the federal government to introduce legislation that ensures television homepages make it easy for free commercial networks, such as Seven or Nine, to be found so people still have access to trustworthy news.

“Australians’ continued access to trusted local news provided by Free TV members relies on these services being prominent and easy to find on modern connected TVs and related devices,” it has written in a submission to the parliamentary inquiry into social media and online safety.

“However free-to-air television content, both broadcast and online services, are becoming increasingly hard to find among the multitude of other choices in the connected TV environment.”

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The body warned that Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime could not cut to breaking news to cover health advice updates or critical bushfire updates – and it was important to adapt as the way people watch TV changed.

It said TV manufacturers made the call over what apps were shown on home pages – with money often the deciding factor.

TV manufacturers have increasing control over what’s shown on the home screen.
Camera IconTV manufacturers have increasing control over what’s shown on the home screen. Credit: Supplied

That meant profit-driven decisions were being made in boardrooms in Japan, South Korea and the US, it argued, rather than what people should be getting easy access to.

“TV manufacturers and operating system developers increasingly exert control over which options are displayed to consumers, directing viewers to those services that can pay the highest price for preferred placement on the home screen,” it wrote.

“Other mechanisms to divert traffic come through pre-installing apps, putting streaming-specific buttons on remote-controls as well as favourable placement on smart TV home screens.

Rebecca Maddern
Camera IconCommercial free-to-air stations provide trustworthy local news, the submission said. Josie Hayden Credit: News Corp Australia

“This risk becomes even greater as manufacturers seek to monetise prominent spots on user interfaces and to reach lucrative deals with global streaming services over and above local, Australian free-to-air broadcast services.”

The body argued that Australians should be able to easily access free-to-air content on their televisions, without having to navigate the growing list of global services.

“Action is needed now to secure the long-term availability and prominence of Australian commercial free-to-air content services for Australian viewers,” it wrote.

Free TV Australia represents Seven West Media, Nine, Network Ten, WIN Television, Southern Cross Austereo and Imparja Television.

Originally published as Push for free-to-air channels to get prominence over Netflix on smart TVs in Australia

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