Australia provides a unique media and communications landscape due to its size and relatively small population. It is the sixth largest country in the world by land mass and the largest island on Earth. Technological, demographic and economic change continues to impact and drive Australia forward.
Subscription TV
At A Glance
December 2012
People, Media & Communications
Population: 21.7 million
Median age: 37
Occupied dwellings: 8.3 million
People per dwelling: 3
Household television ownership: 98% of the population
Subscription TV (STV) subscribers: 34% of the population
STV Homes: 2.7 million*
STV People: 7.3 million
IPTV providers: More than 5
Mobile phone ownership: 22 million
Internet subscribers: 8.5 million
Broadband Internet Subscribers: 6.2 million
Average Time Spent Viewing TV per day:
Metro: 3 hours
Regional: 3 hours 19 minutes
STV Homes: 3 hours 25 minutes
Broadcasting & Narrowcasting
STV providers: Foxtel, Optus, Telstra and TransAct
Commercial TV networks: Nine Network, Network Ten, Seven Network
Digital commercial networks: Go!, Eleven, 7Mate, 7Two, Gem, One
Regional TV networks: Prime Television (affiliated with Seven), Southern Cross Media Group (affiliated with Ten), WIN Media (affiliated with Nine) and Imparja Television
Public broadcasters: ABC and SBS
Community television: 70 licensees
Digital Television & National Broadband Network (NBN)
STV digital commenced in 2004 and 100% digital migration was completed in 2007
FTA digital television commenced in 2001
Analogue spectrum switch-off date is scheduled for 31 Dec 2013
As of Q2 2012, 77% of Australians had converted all of their televisions to digital (includes STV)
The NBN will enable advanced digital services to be provided throughout Australia. For information on the rollout visit
NBN Co
STV Demographic Statistics
55% of STV homes have 3 or more TVs per household
The highest proportion of subscribers (26%) live in 4 person households
71% of grocery buyers from STV households are female and 32% of those are aged between 25 and 49
83% of subscribers are broadband connected
42% of subscribers own a home
* Includes Foxtel, Optus, Telstra T-Box and XBox360. Sources: Australian Bureau of Sta(s(cs, www.abs.gov.au; Popula(on figures according to OzTAM as at Q4 2012 (based on people meter areas in Australia: S,M,B,A,P,QLD, NSW, VIC, TAS); Demographics: Multiview National Internal, 26/08/2012 - 17/11/2012, 0200-0200, S-S, Local, Total STV, Total People, profile, Live & Interactive + sameday playback, 26/11/12 Australian Multiscreen Report Quarter 2 2012, www.oztam.com.au; OzTAM Metro, Regional & National 01/01/12-30/10/12, 0200-0200, S-S, Total TV, Total People, Viewing/Viewer, Overnight, as at 12/11/12; OzTAM Naonal, 01/01/12-30/10/12, 0200-0200, S-S, Total TV, Total People, Viewing/Viewer, Overnight, as at 14/06/12.