The ACMA has today released new research giving insights into current trends and developments in the Australian media and communications sectors.
The research shows a continued shift away from traditional live TV services with more Australians than ever using streaming services for video and audio content.
In 2024, nine in ten (91 per cent) Australians used an online service, paid or free, to watch video content, up from 83 per cent in 2023. YouTube remains the number one online service used for video content with over half (57 per cent) of Australians watching in a week. Both the proportion of Australians watching paid subscription services, and the number of subscription services Australians have, increased.
The research showed a continued decline in the number of people who watched live free-to-air TV (excluding catch-up TV). This year marks a key milestone in Australian’s viewing patterns, with less than half of Australians watching live free-to-air TV (46 per cent down from 52 per cent in 2023) for the first time.
More Australians are using apps for voice calls. While younger Australians are generally heavier users of apps to communicate, it is older Australians who are driving this growth. Almost half (47 per cent) of Australians aged 65–74 used an app to make a voice call, up from 38 per cent last year.
Nearly all Australians (98 per cent) are on at least one communication or social media website or app, an increase from 97 per cent in 2023. Facebook takes the top spot, with 78 per cent of adults using it in the previous 6 months, while YouTube sees a decline to 70 per cent (from 75 per cent in 2023).
The research is comprised of five reports which have all been published on the ACMA website:
- Trends and developments in viewing and listening
- Trends and developments in telecommunications
- How we communicate
- How we use the internet
- How we watch and listen to content
The Trends and Developments reports provide insights into the telecommunications and media industries, including the take up and usage of services and industry activities, while the ‘How we’ publications are interactive online reports which explore the ongoing changes to the Australian media and communications landscape.
The reports have been published as part of the ACMA’s Communications and media in Australia series, which features a range of data snapshots looking at topics such as internet usage, broadcast and streaming consumption, mobile phone use and digital platforms.
The series draws on industry data and our annual consumer survey to provide an overview of the telecommunications, radiocommunications and broadcasting sectors each financial year.