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Cairns TV Guide Today: Free-to-Air & Foxtel Listings

Oliver William Brown Smith • 2026-05-30 • Reviewed by Ethan Collins

Planning what to watch tonight in Cairns can feel surprisingly tricky when you’re switching between free-to-air and Foxtel. Whether you’re a local catching the news or a visitor looking for a quiet evening, a clear TV guide makes all the difference. This guide cuts through the clutter with Cairns-specific listings, app comparisons, and time-saving tips for every kind of viewer.

Free-to-air channels in Cairns: 5 (ABC, SBS, Seven, Nine, Ten) ·
Average daily program listings: Over 200 per channel ·
Top TV guide site visits per month (AU): YourTV > 1.5M ·
Freeview app users (AU): 2 million+

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Check your preferred guide each evening for next-day schedules – most sites offer 7-day previews (OnTVTonight (AU guide)).
  • Streaming catch-up services (7plus, 9Now, 10Play, ABC iview, SBS On Demand) expand what’s available after broadcast (Compare TV (Cairns free-to-air)).

Cairns viewers can access five primary free-to-air networks, but the tools to navigate them vary widely. Here’s a quick table of what the main guide services offer.

Source Coverage Update frequency Extra features
Freeview Australia 30+ live channels, free-to-air Daily On-demand search, catch-up
Compare TV 50 channels via 5 networks Daily Channel grid, tonight’s schedule
Foxtel online guide All Foxtel channels (300+) Real-time EPG, recording from iQ box
OnTVTonight Free TV + Pay TV Daily Search by time or channel
TV Guide Tonight All networks in Cairns Daily Detailed schedules per network
Bottom line: The pattern: free services cover everything you need for over‑the‑air viewing; Foxtel costs extra but adds breadth. The catch is that no single guide offers both in one view.

What is the TV guide for Cairns today?

Where to check daily Cairns TV listings

The upshot

For Cairns locals, the fastest way to see what’s on tonight is to bookmark one of these three sites. Travellers staying in hotels without Foxtel will find free‑to‑air guides enough for evening downtime.

This means you can quickly find today’s schedule without signing up.

How to view TV guide Cairns today online

Simply open any of the sites above – no login required. Compare TV notes that its Cairns guide covers free‑to‑air TV channels available via a broadcast antenna (Compare TV (Cairns guide)). Type the date into the search bar or scroll the grid to see prime‑time shows.

The implication: you don’t need a subscription, just an antenna and a browser, to find out what’s on ABC, SBS, Seven, Nine, or Ten today.

Which app provides the best TV guide for Cairns?

Freeview app features for Cairns

  • Freeview app covers all free‑to‑air channels (ABC, SBS, Seven, Nine, Ten) (Freeview Australia (official platform)).
  • Users can watch, search, and discover content from over 30 live and on‑demand channels (Freeview Australia (app description)).
  • Available on iOS and Android.

Foxtel Go app for Cairns subscribers

  • Foxtel Go requires a subscription (Foxtel (TV guide page)).
  • The MyFoxtel app helps users manage their account and find shows to record to a Foxtel iQ box (Google Play (MyFoxtel app)).
  • Foxtel iQ and 4K Ultra HD are available in Cairns urban areas (Foxtel, service details).

Third-party TV guide apps

  • YourTV app is available on iOS and Android (YourTV, app).
  • TV Guide Tonight describes itself as Cairns’s premier online destination for TV programming schedules (TV Guide Tonight (Cairns)).

What this means: For cost‑conscious viewers, the Freeview app is the strongest choice. Foxtel subscribers gain a richer guide but pay a monthly fee. Third‑party apps fill gaps but may not offer live EPG data as quickly.

The trade-off

Freeview gives you all free‑to‑air channels but zero Foxtel content. If you have both, expect to juggle two apps – no single app unifies them yet.

The catch: you may need to switch between two apps to see everything on tonight.

What free-to-air TV channels are available in Cairns?

List of free-to-air channels in Cairns

  • Cairns receives ABC, SBS, Seven Queensland, Nine Queensland, and Ten Queensland via terrestrial broadcast (Compare TV, Cairns free-to-air).
  • These networks together supply 50 channels (including multichannels like 7Mate, 9Gem, 10 Peach) (Compare TV, channel count).
  • Freeview Australia’s TV Guide lists all free‑to‑air networks (Freeview Australia, TV Guide).

How to access ABC, SBS, Seven, Nine, Ten in Cairns

All you need is a standard TV antenna – no satellite dish required. TV Guide Tonight notes it provides detailed schedules for all networks in Cairns (TV Guide Tonight (Cairns)). Reception quality depends on your suburb and antenna condition; Freeview’s coverage map can help check signal strength (Freeview Australia, coverage).

The pattern: Cairns gets the same free‑to‑air networks as Brisbane, though some local programming (e.g., regional news on Seven Queensland) differs. For travellers, this means you can watch the same popular shows without extra cost.

Where can I find the Foxtel TV guide for Cairns today?

Foxtel online guide for Cairns

  • Foxtel’s TV Guide page shows a grid‑based guide interface (Foxtel, TV Guide grid).
  • You can view it without logging in for basic preview, but full EPG data requires a subscription.
  • The MyFoxtel app lets subscribers browse and set recordings remotely (Google Play, MyFoxtel app).

Foxtel EPG on set-top box

The Foxtel iQ box provides a built‑in EPG that updates in real time. Foxtel lists iQ and 4K Ultra HD as part of its service (Foxtel, service features). For Cairns subscribers, the EPG includes all 300+ channels available via satellite or cable.

The implication: if you’re a Foxtel subscriber, the iQ box guide is the quickest route to see today’s schedule – no internet needed beyond initial setup.

What is on TV in Cairns tomorrow?

Tomorrow’s TV schedule for Cairns

  • Most guide sites offer schedules up to 7 days ahead (OnTVTonight, AU guide).
  • YourTV and OnTVTonight show tomorrow’s listings in a simple scrollable grid.
  • TV Guide Tonight also provides a “tomorrow” tab for Cairns (TV Guide Tonight, Cairns).

How to plan viewing ahead

Set a reminder on your phone or use the Freeview app’s “Favourites” feature. Freeview Australia says viewers can watch live or on demand through its TV guide (Freeview Australia, TV Guide features). Tomorrow’s schedule is usually published after 6 pm the prior day.

Why this matters: If you’re planning a movie night or want to catch the morning news, checking the guide the evening before saves scrolling through the EPG during prime time.

“Freeview Australia’s TV Guide covers all free‑to‑air networks, including ABC, SBS, Seven, Nine and Ten.”

Freeview Australia (national free‑to‑air platform)

“Compare TV’s Cairns TV Guide covers free‑to‑air television channels available via a broadcast antenna in Australia for today, tonight and this week.”

Compare TV (Australian TV comparison site)

Confirmed facts

  • YourTV (TV guide aggregator) lists Cairns TV schedules.
  • Freeview Australia (official free-to-air platform) covers all free‑to‑air channels in Cairns.
  • Foxtel (pay TV provider) offers satellite TV in Cairns urban areas.
  • OnTVTonight (Cairns listings page) has a dedicated Cairns listings page.

What’s unclear

  • Exact channel numbers may vary by specific Cairns suburb reception – no official map shows per‑street differences.
  • Some guide apps update frequency is not specified – Freeview updates daily, but third‑party apps may be less reliable.
  • Whether all apps work offline is unconfirmed – most require internet.
  • The availability of catch-up services may depend on the network.
Bottom line: Cairns TV guide options are plentiful but fragmented. Free‑to‑air viewers: bookmark Freeview or YourTV for hassle‑free schedules. Foxtel subscribers: use the iQ EPG or MyFoxtel app. The clear winner for convenience is Freeview – it’s free, app‑based, and covers all five local networks.

For anyone living in or visiting Cairns, knowing where to look for TV listings saves time and frustration. The choice between free and paid guides comes down to how many channels you need. Free‑to‑air gives you 50 channels with catch‑up; Foxtel adds 300+ but at a monthly cost. The smart move: start with Freeview, and if you’re a Foxtel subscriber, keep the MyFoxtel app handy. Either way, you won’t miss tonight’s show.

Frequently asked questions

What channels are on Freeview in Cairns?

Freeview in Cairns includes ABC, SBS, Seven Queensland, Nine Queensland, and Ten Queensland, plus their multichannels (e.g., ABC Kids, 7Mate, 9Gem, 10 Peach). Over 30 live channels are available (Freeview Australia (TV Guide)).

How do I get a TV guide for Cairns on my phone?

Download the Freeview app (iOS/Android) for free‑to‑air listings, or the MyFoxtel app if you’re a Foxtel subscriber. Both show live schedules and guide data (Google Play (MyFoxtel)).

Is Foxtel available in Cairns?

Yes, Foxtel is available via satellite and cable in Cairns urban areas. Check the Foxtel website for coverage details (Foxtel (service areas)).

Can I watch Cairns TV channels online?

Yes – catch‑up services like 7plus, 9Now, 10Play, ABC iview, and SBS On Demand let you stream content after broadcast (Compare TV, Cairns catch-up).

What is the best website for Cairns TV listings?

YourTV.com.au and OnTVTonight.com.au offer comprehensive, daily updated grids. Freeview.com.au is the official source for free‑to‑air schedules.

Does Cairns have local TV news broadcasts?

Yes – Seven Queensland and Nine Queensland produce local bulletins for the Cairns region. Check their guides for times (TV Guide Tonight, Cairns).



Oliver William Brown Smith

About the author

Oliver William Brown Smith

Coverage is updated through the day with transparent source checks.