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Kids' TV viewing and multi-screen behaviour

This report highlight changes in kids’ viewing habits and shows the popularity of children’s programs on free-to-air and subscription TV.

Children’s television viewing and multi-screen behaviour presents key findings from an analysis of children’s programming and audience data in metropolitan areas from 2005–16. These findings highlight changes in viewing habits and shows the popularity of children’s programs on free-to-air (FTA) and subscription TV.

The report also includes top-level results from commissioned research into children’s viewing habits in the context of a multi-screen environment. This research follows on from our previous examination of children’s viewing of broadcast television released in 2014.

The children’s programming and audience data shows that broadcast TV viewing remains an important part of how Australian kids and families access children’s programming. While kids are spending less time watching live broadcast TV, they are still watching programs specifically made for them.

The survey of parents, carers and guardians revealed that watching television and other screen content is a regular part of daily life for most children aged 0–14. Children are watching television and other screen content on-demand on a range of devices and platforms.

The ACMA regulates children’s television content (programming and advertising) on commercial free-to-air (FTA) TV through the Children’s Television Standards (the CTS) and the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice.

Release date

August 2017

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