Free To Air channels


Free to air channels are television channels that are broadcast without any encryption, so that anyone with the appropriate antenna, cable connection or other receiving equipment can view the content.

In Australia, some broadcasters telecast a range of channels free of cost, and these same networks may also be used for emergency public broadcasts. Collectively, these are referred to as free to air channels.

There are more than 35 Free to Air channels in Australia (also known as Freeview), a much higher number than just a few short years ago. In the past, free to air networks in Australia were limited to Channels Seven, Nine, Ten, ABC and SBS, but as our demand for greater, more accessible content grew, so too did the number of channels available to us. Now, each network has a range of digital multi-channels to include 7Mate, 10Bold and 9Gem. In remote areas, or those that are not reachable via terrestrial transmissions, the free to air services are provided by the VAST satellite platform.

The content found on non pay TV channels, including the AFL Free to air local and regional offerings, seasonal Australia Cricket broadcasts, as well as the various contests of the NRL Premiership or a popular television series, often depends on the willingness of free to air providers to pay a fee for the broadcast rights, a process that often results in bidding against Pay TV carriers.

In cases where this fee is deemed too costly when weighed against potential advertising revenue, as has become the situation for many popular ‘privately owned’ sporting events, the Free to Air provider may relinquish the ‘contract’ to carry that programming for the next season and it will likely find itself available on a subscription service such as Foxtel. However, there are laws in place to ensure that certain sports remain available on free to air TV.

Free to Air channels are sometimes collectively referred to as Freeview TV, a term still sometimes used in Australia but much more popular in England and other locations.

Free to Air vs Streaming Services

In recent years, especially since the arrival of global streaming service Netflix in Australia in 2015, free to air TV channels have found themselves competing against not just pay TV in the form of Foxtel, but also multiple streaming services that are available for a monthly subscription. In some cases, the free to air networks have hedged their bets by starting services themselves – for example, Nine owns popular Australian service Stan.

In a attempt to claim some of the lucrative streaming market, all five networks run free streaming services of their own, offering a growing range of programming – some of it exclusive to streaming – supported by regular unskippable ad breaks. Once referred to as “catch-up” services, these are now becoming far more content-rich and diverse.

Presenting free to air TV and their streaming efforts with a serious challenge are the dominant paid streaming services, the most popular of which are used daily by millions of people. Click the links for a detailed review of each one:

For viewers who prefer real-time viewing and browsing what’s on offer. free-to-air channels still attract huge viewer numbers – and with plans to introduce even more channels in the future, the already large range of free-to-air choices looks likely to be popular with those viewers for a long time to come!

Streaming TV & Movies Plans

Plan
Inclusions
Price
Monthly
  • 7-day free trial
  • Monthly
  • No Lock-in Contract
  • Stream on up to 4 devices
  • Watch hundreds of shows and movies ad-free
  • $9.99/mth
$9.99/mth
Min Cost - $9.99/mth onwards after free trial

Standard Monthly
  • 7-day free trial
  • Standard Monthly
  • No Lock-in Contract
  • Exclusive content
  • Stream in HD on up to two devices
  • $9.99/mth
$9.99/mth
Min Cost - $9.99 over 1 month

Monthly
  • New customers: 7-day free trial
  • 3 months free when you buy an eligible Apple device
  • Monthly
  • No Lock-in Contract
  • 4K HDR included
  • Up to 6 simultaneous streams
  • $12.99/mth
$12.99/mth
Min Cost - $12.99 over 1 month

Basic
  • 7-day FREE Trial
  • Basic
  • No Lock-in Contract
  • SD or HD, stream on 2 devices
  • Watch live Ashes, BBL, NBA + more
  • $35/mth
$35/mth
$35/month after 7-day FREE trial, no lock-in contracts.

Basic with Ads
  • 7-Day Free Trial
  • Basic with Ads
  • No Lock-in Contract
  • Stream in HD on a single device
  • 25,000+ hours of the world's best shows & movies
  • $10/mth
$10/mth
Min Cost - $10/month after free trial

Essentials
  • 10-Day FREE Trial
  • Essentials
  • No Lock-in Contract
  • 30+ channels: Entertainment, Drama, Lifestyle, Comedy and News
  • $25/mth
$25/mth
Min Cost - $25 over 1 month

Standard Monthly
  • Standard Monthly
  • No Lock-in Contract
  • Stream in full HD & up to 5.1 audio
  • Downloads on up to 10 devices
  • $13.99/mth
$13.99/mth
Min Cost - $13.99 over 1 month

Monthly Subscription
  • 14-day free trial
  • Monthly Subscription
  • No Lock-in Contract
  • New docos added weekly
  • Unlimited streaming on any device with a DocPlay Premium subscription
  • $7.99/mth
$7.99/mth
Min Cost - $7.99/month

Monthly Subscription
  • 30-day free trial
  • Monthly Subscription
  • No Lock-in Contract
  • Titles available in 4K
  • Use 3 screens at the same time
  • $9.99/mth
$9.99/mth
$9.99/month after 30 days free trial

Last audited 1st February 2024