Free-to-air television

Free-to-air (FTA) television was the term originally used for television broadcasts delivered using transmitted radio signals in the air. These signals could be received by anyone with a television within a given area as the signals were not encrypted or scrambled.

It was also known under several different names around the world, such as broadcast television, over-the-air (OTA) and terrestrial television.

Today the meaning has changed slightly. Free-to-air (FTA) television now refers to any form of television delivered with no up-front cost to viewers. Unlike a visit to the cinema, it costs nothing to watch free-to-air television.