The Wire

You’ve probably seen the ads on commercial TV and the ABC, promoting Freeview which is billed as a “new era in Australian Television”. Freeview promises a total of 15 free channels from the main free-to-air networks, greater choice and more content. But three months on, many consumers are wondering what Freeview actually is. Some media analysts have called the brand a “marketing ploy” designed to edge Australians towards a faster switch from analog to digital, before the free-to air cut-off date in 2013. Media analyst David Knox, from the website TV Tonight, doubts whether Freeview will live up to the hype.