5 November 2026
Hermannsburg (Ntaria) residents can now access free-to-air television through the Finocchiaro CLP Government's remote television pilot program.
The CLP Government has invested $570,000 into a three-year pilot to restore free-to-air TV in remote communities.
This will help reduce household costs, ease pressure on mobile networks, and improve connectivity and digital inclusion across the Territory.
Marking a major win for remote Territorians under the Finocchiaro CLP Government's free-to-air television pilot, Hermannsburg residents can now watch broadcast television without relying on mobile data or Viewer Access Satellite Technology (VAST).
Hermannsburg is the first of three communities to have local television broadcasting restored, with Ampilatwatja in the Barkly region and Yuendumu in the Central Desert region also expected to be live before the end of the year.
Remote Territorians have relied on the former Federal Labor government's failed VAST service, which RMIT University's Mapping the Digital Gap project found up to 90 per cent of households in some communities had lost access to.
Minister for Corporate and Digital Development Joshua Burgoyne said the pilot demonstrated the CLP Government's commitment to finding practical solutions that delivered real benefits for Territorians.
"Our Government wants to ensure Territorians, no matter where they call home, have reliable access to news, emergency information, education, sport and entertainment," he said.
"Territorians are doing it tough in this economy, but we all deserve access to affordable free-to-air television, and when people are left with no option but to stream TV via mobile data, the costs can add up quickly.
"Restoring local television services helps put that money back into household budgets."
The CLP Government has provided $570,000 in funding to the Central Desert, MacDonnell and Barkly regional councils to deliver the 3-year free-to-air television pilot, with the councils leading local procurement, delivery, community engagement and ongoing management.
Minister Burgoyne said this pilot would collect data and evidence to demonstrate workable, cost-effective solutions that can help inform and secure future Commonwealth investment and decisions.
"Broadcasting is a Commonwealth responsibility, but rather than waiting for action from Canberra, our Government is working with local councils to trial solutions to reduce household costs and improve access to information for our remote communities," he said.
"Restoring free-to-air television to our remote communities has been a priority for me since before coming to government, and I will continue to advocate for Territorians to have access to the services they deserve."
Community member Nicholas Williams said: "Not buying the set-top box is a big win for people as the box would cost several hundreds of dollars.
"People had to borrow set-top boxes from family if theirs was broken and needed repairs. Now, families don't need to spend money on this service. People are really happy."
