Advanced Television

Australian Freeview plays catch-up

March 5, 2010

Australia's commercial free-to-air TV networks are putting their weight behind the launch of an electronic programming guide and an aggregated online catch-up TV service as part of their fight with pay-TV platforms.

Robin Parkes, the chief executive of the free-to-air marketing body Freeview, has confirmed the launch of a Freeview-branded electronic programming guide in June to rival Foxtel’s iQ device. Its catch-up TV service, accessed via the EPG, will be turned on in the last quarter, she said.

Freeview will not make any of the hardware but is working closely with manufacturers of TV sets, digital video recorders and set-top boxes to have devices in stores in June.

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