We’re seeking feedback on future technologies that could be used to distribute free-to-air television services in Australia.
Why we want your input
We’re seeking your views about the best technology mix to deliver free-to-air television services over the medium-to longer-term. The consultation paper is a starting point for discussion and presents a range of scenarios about how free-to-air television services might look in the future while still serving the needs of the public.How you can voice your opinion
Read the consultation paper and have your say by making a written submission below. This page will be open throughout the consultation period to receive input from all interested parties.What will be the outcome of this consultation?
Your submission will help to inform consideration of the optimal technology mix for free-to-air television in Australia.The issue
The way Australians consume television has changed significantly over the past decade, and will continue to do so at a pace that makes it difficult to predict what accessing television will look like in 10 to 20 years.
Viewers have embraced online streaming services, and a key question is the relative roles of the broadcast and online platforms in the medium- to longer-term. The consultation paper presents possible future technology scenarios to stimulate consideration of what is a fundamental issue for the future of media in Australia.
We are seeking your input on whether one or more of these scenarios, or any alternatives, would represent a sensible and sustainable way of delivering free-to-air television services. It is anticipated that additional consultation will be undertaken on specific pathways and timings once these technology endpoints are further refined.
Relevant documentation
Participate
15 Sep 2026 21:00 AEST
24 Nov 2026 17:00 AEDT
Open
days
remaining 70 of 70
We invite you to tell us your views on this topic.
Please include:
- contact name
- organisation name, if applicable
- contact details, including telephone number, postal and email addresses
- confirmation whether or not your submission can be made public—published—or kept confidential.
All submissions to be made public need to meet the Digital Service Standard for accessibility. Any submission that does not meet this standard may be modified before being made public.
If your submission is to be made public, please ensure you do not include any personal information that you don't want to be published.
If your submission is confidential, please ensure each page of the submission is marked as confidential.
Please click on the 'Have your say now' button below to upload your submission.
Alternatively please email your submission to media.reform@communications.gov.au.
Privacy Collection Notice
Consultation on future free-to-air television delivery
Your submission, including any personal information supplied, is being collected by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts (“the Department”) in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988.
Use
The Department may use your submission to inform consideration of issues relating to the future of free-to-air television services in Australia and will store this information securely.
Disclosure
The Department may disclose your submission to other government agencies (including but not limited to the Australian Communications and Media Authority). The Department may publish your submission as explained below. Otherwise, your submission will not be disclosed unless authorised or required by law.
Contacting You
The Department may use your contact information to make further contact with you about your submission and the consultation process
Publication
Unless marked confidential (see below) submissions (including the author’s name) may be published in part or full on the Department’s website or in any public response by the Department. When publishing, the Department will redact any personal contact details of the author.
Confidentiality
Confidential submissions will not be published and will only be disclosed in the following circumstances:
- in response to a request by a Commonwealth Minister;
- where required by a House or a Committee of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia;
- where necessary in the public interest; or
- where authorised or required by law.
Submissions will only be treated as confidential if they are expressly stated to be confidential. Automatically generated confidentiality statements or disclaimers appended to an email do not suffice for this purpose. If you wish you make a confidential submission, you must indicate this by ensuring your submission is clearly marked confidential. Even if a submission is not marked confidential, the Department may choose not to publish it, or any part of it, in the Department’s discretion (for example where it includes personal information or opinions about a third party).
Access
The Department will securely store your personal information and the Department’s privacy policy contains information regarding complaint handling processes and how to access and/or seek correction of personal information held by the Department. Further information is available on our Privacy page.