How to complain to a tv or radio broadcaster

1. Check that your complaint is covered by the rules. It helps if you can refer to these rules in your complaint.
2. Identify clearly what you are complaining about and why.
3. Provide the date, time and program name/details of the ad.
4. Include your name and contact details.
5. Keep a record of the complaint and when you sent it.  

Some complaints can be made directly to the ACMA, without going to the broadcaster first. Read here for more information.

• Channels seven, nine, ten and regional broadcasters
  Use the Free TV online complaints form or post your complaint to the complaints officer at the station. Complaints must be made within 30 days of the broadcast. You should identify the town or city in Australia you were in when you saw the broadcast. The Free TV website has more information. 
   
• ABC TV or radio
  Use the ABC’s online complaints form or post your complaint to the ABC in your capital city. Complaints should be made within 3 months of the broadcast. The ABC website has more information. 
   
• SBS
  Use the SBS complaint form. Complaints should be made within 4 weeks of the broadcast. The SBS website has more information
   
• Commercial radio stations
  Complain directly to the radio station – there should be a complaint form or postal details on their website. Complaints should be made within 30 days of the broadcast. You will need to clearly state which part/s of the Commercial Radio Australia Codes of Practice 2017 you believe have been breached. 
   
• Subscription TV 
  If your complaint is about a Foxtel channel or service, you can use the Foxtel complaint form. The Foxtel website has more information.
  
  Complaints to subscription services can be made by telephone or in writing (including email).
   
• Narrowcasting TV or radio
  Complain directly to the narrowcaster by phone, mail, email or their website (if available).
   
• Community radio or TV
  Complain directly to the broadcaster by mail, email or by filling out a form on their website (if available). If your complaint is related to broadcast material, it should be made within 30 days of the broadcast. 

Complain to us if:

• the broadcaster responds but you are not satisfied with the response
• you do not hear back from the broadcaster within 60 days.  

When you complain to us, we will need:

• a copy of your original complaint to the broadcaster
• a copy of the broadcaster’s reply (if you received one)
• any other relevant communication with the broadcaster.

We are unlikely to assess your complaint if you do not include this information or if you have not lodged your complaint correctly.

You can complain to the ACMA about ads on TV or radio or programs on TV or radio.

Or you can write to us at PO Box Q500, Queen Victoria Building, NSW 1230  

• Assessment: we assess your complaint to see if it is something we will investigate – this can take a few weeks. We will email you if we need more information. If we do not need anything more, you may not hear from us again.
• Decision: we publish the outcome of complaint assessments and usually update this information each fortnight.
• Investigation: If we assess and decide to investigate, we publish the outcomes of our investigations.

If you lodged the complaint, you can ask for more information about our assessment decision. 

If you have concerns about the way we handle your complaint, you can contact the Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman.