Smart TVs must showcase Australian free-to-air channels alongside streaming services under proposed legislation

New devices would need to provide easy access to free-to-air networks, pre-install their video-on-demand apps and present separate tiles

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Manufacturers of new smart TVs will have to prominently display Australian TV channels to ensure local networks are not crowded out by streamers, under draft legislation released by the Labor government.

The so-called prominence legislation has been designed to guarantee local, free-to-air TV services Seven, Nine, Ten, SBS and the ABC are easy for Australian audiences to find on smart TVs.

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