Commercial TV contributes $2.5 billion to the nation’s GDP and Australians value access to free TV services, according to a report released today.
Everybody Gets It: Revaluing the Economic and Social Benefits of Commercial TV in Australia (Second Edition), was commissioned by Free TV and conducted by Deloitte Access Economics.
It found that the commercial TV industry increased its contribution to national GDP by $200 million, or 5%, since 2019. The report also revealed that 16,200 full-time employees work in the industry and supply chain.
The report said that 99% of Australians can access free TV services compared to at least 5.6 million Australians who can’t stream video on demand (VOD) due to broadband quality, availability, or insufficient data caps.
Bridget Fair, CEO of Free TV: “Everybody Gets It reveals the critical role Free TV broadcasters play in the economy, our screen ecosystem, our local communities and our democracy.
“While audience viewing habits are evolving, more than 1 in five Australians still don’t have access to the broadband necessary to deliver streaming services. But commercial television is available to every Australian, and it’s free.”
The research showed that 74% of Australians believe that reliable free-to-air television services are crucial for all Australians, especially for those without strong internet. More than three-quarters of Australians believe that Australians should have free access to sporting events and that this shouldn’t be limited to only those that can afford it.
Greg Hywood, chairman of Free TV, said: “The anti-siphoning scheme that ensures that iconic events of national significance stay on our TV screens expires next year and it only applies to Foxtel.
“The scheme would not stop subscription streaming services from acquiring exclusive rights to events like the NRL, AFL, Olympics or even the Melbourne Cup. Australians need the list extended and expanded to stop live and free sport disappearing exclusively behind paywalls.”
The research also found that TV news is still the most frequently used news source and 75% of Australians believe that television news plays an important role as an information source during times of crisis. A recent JWS Research report ranked commercial television as the most useful source of information in the 2022 election campaign.
More than 65% of Australians believe that commercial TV is a trusted source of local news, current affairs, and information essential to Australian society and democracy.
The full report can be viewed here.
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