Australia: TV news channel sources by political orientation 2023

According to a February 2023 survey on Australian internet news consumption, about 50 percent of Sky News viewers identified as politically right-wing. In comparison, 42 percent of SBS TV viewers claimed to be left-wing.

News channels in Australia

With both public and private broadcasters contributing to the spread of news, Australia has a diverse media landscape. News coverage on a wide range of topics, including politics, economy, culture, and more, is provided by prominent news stations like Network Ten, Seven News, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). A survey conducted in 2023 on Australians' use of media found that 34 percent of participants accessed ABC News on a weekly basis. As digital technology has advanced, several news outlets have increased their online presence to provide viewers with convenient access to news. About 58 percent of respondents who participated in an Australian survey on digital news in February 2023 said they browsed news websites on their phones. Compared to 2016, a higher percentage of respondents nationwide accessed online news via a mobile device.

Trust in news

In recent times, Australia has also been affected by the worldwide trend of diminishing faith in the media. The public's skepticism has grown due to issues with sensationalism, misinformation, and the fragmentation of news outlets. The rise of social media as a news source has further compounded the situation. About 50 percent of Australian consumers did not believe news from social media, according to a survey on digital news consumption in Australia done in February 2021. Despite these challenges, credible news organizations and programs have worked hard to rebuild confidence.

Television news channels viewed by consumers in Australia as of February 2023, by political orientation

Characteristic	Left-wing	Center	Right-wing	Don’t know
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Release date

June 2023

More information

Region

Australia

Survey time period

January to February, 2023

Number of respondents

2,025 respondents

Age group

18 years and older

Method of interview

Online survey

Supplementary notes

The survey question(s) was phrased as follows: "Some people talk about ‘left’, ‘right’ and ‘centre’ to describe parties and politicians. (Generally socialist parties would be considered ‘left wing’ whilst conservative parties would be considered ‘right wing’). With this in mind, where would you place yourself on the following scale? Which of the following brands have you used to access news offline in the last week (via TV, radio, print, and other traditional media)? Please select all that apply.".

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