Free-to-air broadcasters in Australia are set to get a better deal against streamers who have been buying button prominence on smart TV remotes.

Currently connected and smart TV makers have been cashing in on the willingness of streaming channels to pay for prominence on remotes and menus.

But the Australian Financial Review reports that new legislation will ensure that free-to-air broadcasters are given prominence on the digital menus of connected and smart TVs.

Communications minister Michelle Rowland says Labor is likely to release a framework proposal on the issue later in 2022.

The AFR – which belongs to media and broadcasting giant Nine – quotes Nine Network programming director Hamish Turner that the legislation will ensure that Australian content is freely available on smart TVs.

Free TV Australia has drafted three broad principles that are likely to shape Labor's proposed laws on prominence.

Elsewhere, the same issue reports that Nine’s 9Now streaming platform generated operating income of $101 million in 2021-22, up 37 per cent on the previous period – compared to the Nine Network, where operating income rose only 14 per cent to $285 million, a trend which is likely to continue as viewers shift from traditional to BVOD.