TV Central Update: Growth, Challenges, and What’s Ahead in 2026 -We’d like to take a moment to share an update on TV Central, our website, and the developments that have taken place in recent months.
First and foremost, thank you to all our readers and supporters. Since relaunching, your engagement has been instrumental in our growth. At the time of writing, TV Central has published 18,180 stories in a relatively short period, in addition to 4,434 TV guides. This is an achievement we are incredibly proud of—particularly as we continue to operate with a small, dedicated team producing between 5 and 25 pieces of content daily.
On a personal note, the start of 2026 has involved a significant relocation, including the sale and transition to a new home, with settlement approaching shortly. As many would appreciate, this has been a major undertaking. As a result, readers may have noticed a reduction in podcast output so far this year. This is purely due to time constraints during the move, and we’re pleased to confirm that podcast production will ramp up again in the second quarter.
We’ve also introduced a subscription feature on the website, allowing readers to receive updates directly in their feed whenever new content is published. We encourage you to subscribe and stay connected.
In recent weeks, we’ve received a number of enquiries regarding Channel 9. As a media organisation, our approach is grounded in integrity—we aim to celebrate television and provide fair, balanced coverage without resorting to clickbait. We appreciate the ongoing support from networks and streaming platforms, who regularly provide access to talent, media materials, ratings data, and programming information.
However, Channel 9 currently remains the only major outlet that restricts certain information from TV Central while making it available to other media organisations. This has been particularly evident with TV guide data. While comprehensive programming schedules are widely accessible across numerous Australian platforms and publications, Channel 9 has declined to provide this information to TV Central. This creates a disadvantage for our readers and impacts advertisers, as audiences are forced to seek scheduling details elsewhere.
There have also been additional instances where programming information has not been shared with TV Central but has been distributed to other outlets.
We believe it is important for all media organisations to operate on a level playing field, and we remain hopeful that this situation will be resolved in the near future.
Looking ahead, we will be featuring an upcoming interview with an advertiser associated with Channel 9, offering insight into the role of advertising within television. This discussion will also touch on the importance of accurate and timely programming information. Advertisers invest significantly in placements tied to specific programs—if scheduling is unclear or unavailable, it can diminish the value of those investments. Ensuring audiences know when programs are airing is essential for both viewers and advertisers alike.
We will continue to work constructively with Channel 9 and hope to see progress on this matter as we move into Q2.
Beyond this, TV Central continues to grow. Advertising has returned to the site in a measured and user-conscious way, and we’re pleased with the steady increase in readership. In May, we will also begin expanding our promotional efforts across social media.
Thank you again for your continued support. We look forward to bringing you more news, more television, more streaming content, and even broader coverage throughout 2026.
Note: Nine was sent this article 24 hours before publication and may have chosen to respond but did not
Link to TV Guides HERE
TV Central Free to Air content HERE
TV Central Update: Growth, Challenges, and What’s Ahead in 2026
