Seven million Australians have streamed more than two billion minutes of catch-up and live streaming content in the past month, according to the free digital television service, Freeview.
According to the latest OzTAM VPM 28 Day Rolling and Live Streaming reports, the significant milestone represents a 30% increase in television streaming over the past six months as Australian TV audiences embrace new technology and platforms to access free-to-air and OTT content.
“We’re thrilled that Aussies are choosing to watch more free-to-air BVOD content than ever before,” said Freeview CEO Elizabeth Ross.
“With free-to-air content available across more platforms including Chromecast and the newly-launched Apple TV app for Freeview FV, viewers have even more choice to watch their favourite free-to-air shows where and when they choose.”
{loadposition peter}According to Freeview. the promotion of top quality content across ABC iview, SBS on Demand, 7plus, 9Now and tenplay has also contributed to the increase, with programming such as Nine’s Married at First Sight, Seven’s My Kitchen Rules, Network Ten’s I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and ABC’s Q&A proving popular with Australian audiences.
In June last year, Freeview revealed a major upgrade to its HbbTV service Freeview Plus, with new features it says were designed to simplify content discovery and offer a more personalised user experience.
The service claims there are currently around three million TV receivers in Australia that are Freeview Plus-enabled with an estimated 85% connection rate.
In November 2016, Freeview launched Freeview FV, a “world-first mobile app” which delivers live streaming from 20 free-to-air TV channels and catch-up content from all broadcasters with just one click.
“We’re seeing more and more Australians engage regularly in the fantastic quality content our free-to-air broadcasters are providing, and with more than 10,000 programs to choose from on Freeview, there’s always something to watch,” Ross said.