Australian Media: Difference between revisions

Australia is a small media market compared to places like the United States, but it has a range of media to reflect the variety of Australian culture.

 

 

Basically, there are four kinds of television channels: public, commercial, community and pay TV.

** ABC also has two audio-only digital channels: '''[http://www.abc.net.au/streaming/digmusic/digmusic.m3u ABC DiG Radio]''' and '''[http://www.abc.net.au/streaming/jazz/jazz.m3u ABC DiG Jazz]'''.

* '''[[SBS]]''' was originally created to provide programming to Australians who have English as a second language. However, due to budget concerns, the problems catering to such a broad audience, and the rise of foreign-language pay TV services, the SBS has had to supplement its income through advertising. These days, SBS has a range of alternative programmes, including documentaries (both from Australia and the overseas market), sports (''especially'' [[The Beautiful Game|soccer]]), foreign-language series such as Austria's ''Inspector Rex'' and Denmark's ''Unit One'', foreign language films, a block of American imports such as ''[[Big Love]]'' and ''[[Boardwalk Empire]]'', foreign news programs, and a tradition of at least one hour of sex-related viewing, documentary or [[Porn with Plot|other]][[Porn Without Plot|wise]], every Friday night. (This mix has led to the [[Memetic Mutation|commonly-used]] [[Fun with Acronyms|backronym]] "Sex and Bloody Soccer".) SBS has two channels broadcast in digital available nationwide, and is the only network to still simulcast its main channel in Standard and High Definition. The broadcasting type and LCN for each channel is noted below in brackets (one has multiple LCNs).

** '''SBS TWO''' (SD, 32), which mostly consists of foreign-language news services during the day and foreign-language movies at night.

** SBS also has two audio-only digital channels: SBS Radio 1 and 2 (simulcasts of the radio stations SBS FM and SBS AM respectively).

 

'''Commercial'''

 

* The '''[[Seven Network]]''' was established in 1956. In 2007, it became the highest-viewed network in Australia, ending the Nine Network's decades-long run in that spot. Its main rural affiliate is Prime Television Limited (Prime / Golden West Network).

** '''Seven''' (SD, 7 & 71), a general channel also broadcast in analogue on Channel 7.

* The '''[[Nine Network]]''', established in 1956, has traditionally been the most popular network, having the catchphrase "Still the One" (originally from the American [[ABC]]) for decades. However, in the past few years, a lack of quality local productions and the loss of quality American shows to Seven or Ten has caused Nine has dropped to second place behind Seven. Its main rural affiliate is WIN Corporation.

** '''Nine''' (SD, 9), a general channel also broadcast in analogue on Channel 9.

** '''GEM''' (HD, 90), the newest channel, is targeted towards women... except when the Nine Network wants to broadcast particularly important games of sport, apparently. The name is supposedly an acronym for "General Entertainment & Movies". In practice, it also feels like a spillover channel; it mainly consists of 90s sitcoms, soaps and shows which have a dominant female cast. Every evening it broadcasts at least two hours of ''[[Friends]]''; [[Adored by the Network|no exceptions]].

* '''[[Network Ten]]''' originated in 1965 as the Independent Television System, and became the 0-10 Network in 1970. Typically, they show a wide range of popular programmes from the United States, but also show a range of local shows. Although Channel Ten has continually remained third place in commercial television popularity, it consistently wins ratings with younger audiences, featuring programmes from [[The CW]] (and [[The WB]] before it) as well as reality programming. Its main rural affiliate is Southern Cross Media Group, part of the Macquarie Group.

* The free channels may all be competing against each other (except the ABC and SBS), but this doesn't stop them getting together and doing joint commercials where their stars join forces to advertise the advantages of free TV. They also have another campaign trying to get sport for free on TV rather than limiting it to paid TV services. Supposedly so it's not limited to just those who can pay. Of course the fact the commercial stations can then charge for advertising time is inconsequential.

 

 

Most Australian radio stations have moved to a combination of music and talk, although there are a handful of talk-radio stations remaining, such as 2UE in Sydney, or [[FIV Eaa]] in Adelaide. Most radio services, especially in the larger cities, are syndicated, such as Nova, Mix and the Austereo network, which includes stations such as 2Day FM in Sydney, as well as Triple M. There are also a number of community radio services throughout the nation. The ABC and SBS also broadcast on radio. SBS broadcasts programming over two radio networks (SBS AM, or Radio 1, and SBS FM, or Radio 2) primarily in a wide range of foreign languages, while the ABC has a few separate stations available throughout most of Australia, including 40 local radio services; Radio National, a 24-hour news service with a mix of informative programming; Classic FM, and Triple J, the national youth service with a wide mix of alternative music formats as well as current affairs.

 

 

There are two national daily newspapers: ''The Australian'', a broadsheet owned by News Limited, and ''The Australian Financial Review'', a tabloid-sized business paper owned by Fairfax Media. ''The Australian'' is conservative and highbrow in tone; the ''Financial Review'' is economically right-wing.