Free TV Australia has welcomed the Government’s announcement in MYEFO to temporarily suspend the Commercial Broadcasting Tax (CBT) for one year starting June 2025, saving TV broadcasters an estimated $46 million. It praised the move as a positive step toward ensuring the long-term viability of commercial television broadcasters.
The CBT is a disguised super profits tax, a relic from the old broadcasting revenue tax it replaced. It was introduced in 2017 as a temporary measure but has remained in place well beyond its intended five-year period. The tax is levied on transmitter licenses, putting additional strain on broadcasters, particularly in regional and remote areas where more transmitters are required. Free TV continues to emphasise the need for permanent abolition, noting that its removal would allow broadcasters to reinvest in producing local Australian content and maintaining essential broadcast infrastructure.
As the Government embarks on its review of broadcast spectrum bands, Free TV will advocate for permanently eliminating the CBT, aligning Australia with comparable jurisdictions and assisting to secure the sustainability of commercial television broadcasting.