A Current Affair accused of pedalling ‘propaganda’ after segment on free-to-air TV

Viewers have hit out at A Current Affair and accused the program of ‘propaganda’ following a segment on free-to-air TV.

Channel Nine’s A Current Affair has been accused of pedalling “propaganda” and “garbage” by its own viewers after it claimed they need a degree to operate a TV remote.

As the Albanese Government finalises controversial new regulations that would mandate that local, free-to-air TV services must be easier for Australian audiences to find on smart TVs, a war of words has erupted on the program’s own Facebook page.

If you’re a smart TV user, the proposed changes mean the government would dictate that you will be offered 10play, 7plus, 9now, ABC iView and SBS on Demand, before streaming services such as Netflix, Binge and Stan.

The proposed changes would also distort search results on smart TVs and could mean you are not served the most relevant and timely content.

But as the government continues to open the idea up for community consultation, Channel Nine has received some “salty” viewer feedback.

“It used to be as simple as pressing a button, but these days you almost need a degree to navigate new TVs,” host Ally Langdon told viewers.

“And good luck finding free to air channels. Streaming apps have taken over our screens but a battle is brewing that could change the way we watch.”

Channel 9 received some ‘salty’ feedback after host Ally Langdon claimed you need a need a degree to operate a TV remote. Picture: Channel 9

What followed was a lengthy segment suggesting that governments needed to make TV remotes “easier to use” to allow them to access “feel good free-to-air moments.”

A “tech expert” Trevor Long warned that if older viewers get a new TV because their old TV broke it could be a “wall garden of apps.”

“Is this going to be hard for them?,’’ he wondered.

But viewers have rounded on the program on Facebook, complaining that the segment was silly.

“Normal TV is the worst in our lifetime, too much reality garbage,” one commenter said.

“Who watches free to air garbage?,” complained another.

“The end user is in control right now. You can arrange your app ‘menu’,” said another viewer.

“How this has become such a problem is beyond me. Rather than tossing your manual away, give it a read and learn.

“This is propaganda rubbish. Who watches free to air? And the ABC which would be front and centre.”

One commenter complained, “Awwww, ACA is salty at how irrelevant they have become.”

Foxtel Group chief executive officer Patrick Delany told The Australian newspaper that viewers should not be dictated to on how they can search for content.”

“This is a hugely emotional issue for Australians who treasure time spent in front of the TVs they spend their hard-earned money on,” Mr Delany said.

“Pay TV and streaming has become an equal part of the diet in addition to free TV – there is no way Australians will be told what to watch or how to search for content. It is an invasion of the living room.”

The government is finalising controversial new regulations that could mandate that local, free-to-air TV services are easier to find on smart TVs. Picture: iStock/Getty

Foxtel is 65 per cent owned by News Corp, publisher of news.com.au.

Free TV Australia represents Seven West Media, Nine, Network Ten, WIN Television, Southern Cross Austereo and Imparja Television.

“Australians know that they are not being given a fair go when it comes to the services they are offered on their connected TVs,’’ said Free TV CEO Bridget Fair.

“It’s a matter of choice and the choice should be made by the viewer. It’s not a choice if your TV is set up to deliberately make it hard to find your local TV channels. Viewers should be able to easily find all the services they want and then decide.”

But the peak body representing the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA) said its own polling commissioned shows Australians don’t want the Government dictating the search results on your smart TV.

The YouGov research found that:

• 94 per cent of Australians said they don’t want the government controlling the order and layout of the apps on their TV.

• 73 per cent of Australians want the ability to customise the order and layout of the apps on their TV themselves, followed by (21 per cent) Australians who want manufacturers and service providers to do that for them.

• 80 per cent of Australians believe the choice on what they watch should be their own.

• One in two Australians (50 per cent) with a smart TV don’t know how to change the layout and order of their apps.

• Australians on average spend up to $2000 on their Smart TVs every year in addition to the multiple streaming apps they subscribe to.

• Australians who pay to watch content want to decide where they watch it. 87 per cent of those who pay for a streaming service agree that if a sporting event is shown on both free and paid TV, they should have the right to choose which one they watch.