Australian Broadcasting TV Stations

There are four mainstream free to air television stations in Australia for viewers to enjoy. The Australian broadcasting television stations are channels Two, Seven, Nine and Ten.

Channel Two or the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is the publicly funded national broadcaster of the nation.

The Seven Network is owned by the Seven Media Group since it began operation in December 1956 and is one of three commercial TV networks in this country.

The Nine Network is Australia’s first and oldest broadcaster since hitting the airways on September 16, 1956.

Network Ten is the youngest of Australia’s three commercial television station since being founded in 1965 as Independent Television Network.

Australian Television Stations

ABC – Channel 2

The Commonwealth of Australia owns the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). It was formerly known as the Australian Broadcasting Commission before undergoing a name change in 1983 with the passing of a new ABC Act.

The ABC is a publicly funded non-profit national broadcaster of both Television and Radio. Annual grants from the federal government budget allow it to maintain operations.

Today, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation operates two nationwide television channels. These are ABC TV and the digital-only ABC2. It has also established a commercial digital TV service into the Asia-Pacific region.

The most popular television shows on the ABC are the current affairs/documentary type programs. A comprehensive local news coverage of Australia is one watched by many Australian’s who enjoy a commercial free TV news service.

Children’s television is not forgotten with the ABC Play School, Bananas in Pyjamas and The Wiggles Show a few of the favourite ABC Kids TV Programs.

Seven Network – Channel 7

The Seven Network began operation on December 2, 1956 just two months after the Nine Network became Australia’s first television broadcaster.

Seven is owned in a joint venture between the Seven Network Limited and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co, a New York City based private equity firm.

The Seven Network is simulcast into our homes through analogue, standard definition and 1080i high definition. Since 2007 the station has been testing 1080I simulcasts firstly in Sydney and Melbourne.

By the end of June 2007, it had begun 1080i simulcasts in each capital city of Australia.

The Seven Network owns and operates many regional stations including ATN-7, HSV-7, BTQ-7, SAS-7, TVW-7, and Seven Queensland.

In recent times the station has begun a joint venture with internet services company Yahoo called Yahoo!7.

The most popular shows on channel seven include All Saints, Better Homes and Gardens, Home and Away, Dancing with the Stars, Deal or No Deal, Medical Emergency, Last Chance Learners, The Great Outdoors, Australia's Got Talent and It Takes Two.

Nine Network– Channel 9

The Nine Network is regarded as Australia’s leading television station since its inception on September 16, 1956 when it became the first Australian television broadcaster.

Australia's richest man James Packer sold 50% of Channel Nine to CVC Asia-Pacific, for 4.6 billion dollars in 2006 before giving up a controlling share by selling a further 25% share of PBL Media to CVC for $515 million on June 1, 2007.

The Nine Network is broadcast in analogue, standard definition and 1080i high definition.

Nine Network owned and operated television stations including TCN-9, GTV-9, QTQ-9 and NTD-8 are responsible for delivering the Nine simulcast to the metropolitan area while NBN Television ensures that Nines pictures are seen throughout regional northern New South Wales.

The Nine Network also supplies a simulcast to WIN Television, NBN Television, and Imparja Television.

The most popular television shows on channel Nine include the quiz show hosted by former CEO Eddie Maguire 1 vs 100, Australia's Funniest Home Video Show, Getaway, McLeod's Daughters, Missing Persons Unit, Temptation, The Footy Show for both AFL and NRL fans.

In 1987, the late Kerry Packer sold two Channel Nine television stations to Alan Bond for $1 billion. Three years later, Packer bought back the television stations for $300 million.

Network Ten– Channel 10

Founded in 1965, Network Ten was the last Australian commercial TV network to be formed after channels seven and nine who both began operation in 1956.

Network Ten is owned by CanWest MediaWorks, one of Canada's largest international media companies.

With the Nine Network and the Seven Network enjoying a monopoly the federal government of the day began canvassing for a third commercial television station.

Network Ten was called the "Independent Television Network" or ITN when it began operations but with both Seven and Nine firmly entrenched in Australian households the network found it difficult to break the stranglehold of the two industry leaders.

The Network struggled financially until the emergence of Number 96 which quickly gathered a cult following with its frequent nudity and sex scenes.

The most popular television shows on channel Ten include Australian Idol, Big Brother, The Biggest Loser, Neighbours and Rove.

As is the case with the other television stations, Network Ten is broadcasts in analogue, standard definition and 1080i high definition.

The Ten Network is simulcast throughout the metropolitan areas via television stations TEN-10, ATV-10, TVQ-10, ADS-10, and NEW-10.

Regional Television in Australia

Regional Australia TV stations including Southern Cross Ten, Southern Cross Television, Tasmanian Digital Television, Mildura Digital Television, Darwin Digital Television, Imparja Television, and WIN Television also simulcast the Ten simulcast.

Regional television stations in Australia are affiliated with one of the three major commercial television stations.

These stations are run independently of the major commercial station but use their feeds to simulcast programs on air.

The Australian regional television stations consist of the following stations:

  • Golden West Network (GWN)
  • Imparja Television
  • NBN Television
  • Prime Television
  • Seven Queensland
  • Southern Cross Television
  • Southern Cross Ten
  • WIN Television

Also available for viewing to the general public is Community stations who have applied and received a license to broadcast, such as channel 31. These stations are run by local not for profit organisation.

  • Television Sydney
  • C31 Melbourne & Geelong
  • 31 Brisbane
  • Access 31 Perth
  • C31 Adelaide
  • LINC TV Lismore
  • Bushvision Mt Gambier

Other television stations that operate without a community license include:

  • Aurora Commmunity TV (National, Sydney)
  • Australian Multicultural TV (National, Sydney)
  • Ballarat Community Cable TV
  • Channel NSW (Sydney)
  • Channel Vision (Canberra)
  • Geelong's Own Television Channel (Geelong & Surf Coast)
  • Imparja Info Channel (Remote Australia, Alice Springs based)
  • Satellite Community TV (National, NSW)
  • Westlink (National, WA)