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ABC weighs into TV's war of words

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The OzTam figures we reported on last week suggested that subscription TV had taken a lead in the ratings, and since then the stoush between the free-to-air networks and Foxtel has intensified. Channel Seven responded to the OzTam figures by saying that the majority of the 30 percent of people paying for subscription TV watched free-to-air programs in prime time. Seven attacked Foxtel last week, branding Foxtel's DVR offering "inferior" in comparison to Seven's new TiVo digital video recorder, which will go on sale this month.

THE ABC's head of television, Kim Dalton, has predicted additional free-to-air digital channels and devices such as Seven Network's TiVo will reduce the appeal of pay TV. Mr Dalton said "people will increasingly be presented with a very strong alternative, and they'll be thinking, 'I don't need to spend the money on pay TV'. I just think that take-up [of pay TV] is levelling off."

The Newshound's view?

With a lack of support for cable offerings, it looks like TiVo may well become the choice of current free-to-air TV afficianados. As free-to-air increases its offering (the ABC is introducing new children's channels and Seven, Nine and Ten are introducing new standard definition (SD) channels next year), Foxtel will be counting on continued audience growth to retain its share of the market.

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