Is traditional TV dying?

The television landscape in Australia has undergone significant changes in recent years. From the days of the traditional RF-based terrestrial TV signals, the emergence of satellite subscription TV has changed the way we consume television. As we move further into the digital age, we see a shift from traditional TV to streaming services, which are now being delivered over the internet. In this article, we will take a closer look at RF-based terrestrial TV signals, including satellite subscription TV, and compare and contrast these services with TV services being delivered over the internet.

RF-based terrestrial TV signals, also known as free-to-air TV, have been the dominant TV service in Australia for many years. According to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), in 2020, 92% of households had access to free-to-air TV. This shows the popularity and widespread use of this service across the country. However, with the emergence of satellite subscription TV, there has been a shift towards a paid service. According to Roy Morgan, in 2020, 46.8% of Australians had a paid TV subscription, which highlights the uptake of these services.

As we move further into the digital age, we see a shift towards TV services being delivered over the internet. According to Roy Morgan, in 2020, 19.5% of Australians had a subscription to a streaming service. While this may seem small in comparison to traditional TV, the growth of these services has been exponential, with an increase of 6.2% from the previous year.

One of the most significant factors in the uptake of streaming services is the availability of reliable fibre internet service and high-quality WiFi. The ability to stream high-definition content without buffering or dropouts is crucial to the user experience. In contrast, traditional RF-based terrestrial TV signals and satellite subscription TV do not require an internet connection. However, the quality of the content is limited to the broadcast signal, which may not be as high definition as streaming services.

The younger demographic, particularly unit buyers or renters, places more emphasis on having a good WiFi connection than traditional TV. The ability to stream content on-demand and have access to a wide range of content is more important than the traditional linear TV experience. In addition, the ability to watch TV on multiple devices, such as smartphones and tablets, is a significant factor for this demographic.

In conclusion, RF-based terrestrial TV signals, including satellite subscription TV, have been the dominant TV service in Australia for many years. However, as we move further into the digital age, we see a shift towards TV services being delivered over the internet. The growth of streaming services highlights the importance of reliable fibre internet service and high-quality WiFi. The younger demographic, particularly unit buyers or renters, places more emphasis on having a good WiFi connection than traditional TV. While traditional TV still holds a significant market share, the growth of streaming services suggests that the future of TV may lie in the digital realm.