--- title: "Free TV OP-59 — Australian Television Loudness" description: "Australian television loudness as written in OP-59 Issue 4: −24 LKFS target within ±1 dB, true peak not exceeding −2 dBTP, and short-form measured on the full mix." canonical_url: "https://elephantaudio.pk/reference/freetv-op59" type: "Article" date_modified: "2026-09-24T14:19:09.285Z" publisher: "Elephant Audio" publisher_url: "https://elephantaudio.pk" source_kind: "published-standard" source_url: "https://www.freetv.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/OP-59-Measurement-and-Managemnt-of-Loudness-for-TV-Broadcasting-Issue-4-October-2018.pdf" source_fetched_at: "2026-09-24" entities: - name: "Lahore" type: "City" same_as: - "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11739" - "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahore" - name: "Pakistan" type: "Country" same_as: - "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q843" - "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan" author: name: "Abu Bakar Zahid" role: "Founder, Managing Director & Music Producer at Elephant Audio" url: "https://elephantaudio.pk/founder" same_as: - "https://www.linkedin.com/in/abubakarzahid94" - "https://www.youtube.com/@AbuBakarZahid" - "https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12369947/" - "https://open.spotify.com/artist/1vsRY1hLmqEBXcx5xeKs0m" - "https://music.apple.com/us/artist/abu-bakar-zahid/1654787374" - "https://www.deezer.com/us/artist/190524117" - "https://on.soundcloud.com/EnpcD" - "https://www.instagram.com/abubakarzahid94/" - "https://www.facebook.com/abubakarzahid9400/" - "https://twitter.com/abubakarzahid94" - "https://soundsofpakistan.com/artist/abu-bakar-zahid/" person: "Abu Bakar Zahid" person_same_as: - "https://www.linkedin.com/in/abubakarzahid94" - "https://www.youtube.com/@AbuBakarZahid" - "https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12369947/" - "https://open.spotify.com/artist/1vsRY1hLmqEBXcx5xeKs0m" - "https://music.apple.com/us/artist/abu-bakar-zahid/1654787374" - "https://www.deezer.com/us/artist/190524117" - "https://on.soundcloud.com/EnpcD" - "https://www.instagram.com/abubakarzahid94/" - "https://www.facebook.com/abubakarzahid9400/" - "https://twitter.com/abubakarzahid94" - "https://soundsofpakistan.com/artist/abu-bakar-zahid/" --- # Free TV OP-59 — Australian Television Loudness ## What loudness does Australian television require? Free TV Australia OP-59 adopts a target loudness of −24 LKFS within ±1 dB, measured to ITU-R BS.1770. True peak must not exceed −2 dBTP. Short-form material such as commercials and promotions is measured on the full mix over its total duration, while long-form is measured on dialogue where the dialogue can be separated reliably. −24 LKFS adopted target loudness (0 LU on an LU-scaled meter) · ±1 dB tolerance (tighter than the ±2 dB US television anticipates) · −2 dBTP true peak must not exceed (measured material must not reach 0 dBTP) · Full mix short-form method (commercials and promos, over total duration) One number, and a tolerance worth noticing: OP-59 adopts the ITU's answer directly: the target is −24 LKFS, and the document states that a signal not measuring −24 LKFS ±1 dB should be normalised to match it. That ±1 dB is the detail worth carrying into a mix. ATSC A/85 anticipates a measurement tolerance of about ±2 dB for the same −24 LKFS target, so a spot that would sit comfortably inside the American allowance can be a decibel outside the Australian one. The scale follows from the target. A meter displaying Loudness Units reads 0 LU at −24 LKFS, and the step between LU is one decibel on all channels — so “two LU hot” and “two decibels hot” are the same statement. What the practice actually says: > "If a signal does not measure -24LKFS +/- 1 db, the adopted target loudness, then correction (normalisation) to match that value is very simple." — Free TV Australia OP-59, Issue 4. Section 3, Loudness Reference Level How each kind of content is measured: The method changes with the length, and for short-form it is not optional: - Long form: dialogue, where it can be separated. On mono and stereo soundtracks that needs either a specialised metering system or a manually read short-term meter. - Long form without separable dialogue: where the meter or the content gives no reliable way to isolate dialogue, a measurement of the full mix should be made. - Short form — commercials, promotions and similar: the document says these shall use the full mix measured over the total duration. This one is mandatory language, not a recommendation. - True peak: it is necessary to ensure the true peak level does not exceed −2 dBTP, i.e. that the material as measured does not go to 0 dBTP. ⚠️ OP-59 is guidance; OP-48 is the requirement: OP-59 describes itself as an operational practice recommended by Free TV Australia, and it points at a companion document for the binding part: OP-48, Audio Levels and Loudness, sets out the requirements for television advertisements and applies to all commercials. OP-59 says it provides an extra perspective on metering notwithstanding the guidelines in that practice. So the −24 LKFS here is the measurement target every Australian broadcaster works to, but a commercial clearing for air is also answering OP-48. Treating OP-59 as the whole of the Australian requirement is the mistake to avoid. ## Frequently asked questions ### What loudness do Australian broadcasters require? −24 LKFS, within ±1 dB. OP-59 adopts that as the target loudness and says material outside it should be normalised to match. True peak must not exceed −2 dBTP. ### Is Australia's −24 LKFS the same as the American target? The number is the same, the tolerance is not. ATSC A/85 anticipates a measurement tolerance of about ±2 dB around −24 LKFS; OP-59 states ±1 dB. A mix an American delivery treats as in-spec can be outside the Australian allowance. ### How is an Australian commercial measured? On the full mix, over its total duration. OP-59 says short-form soundtracks such as commercials and promotions shall use that method, because isolating dialogue is harder in short form, particularly where other elements sit high in the mix. ### Does OP-59 cover New Zealand as well? No. OP-59 is a Free TV Australia operational practice and refers to digital television broadcasting on Australian television services. New Zealand broadcasters commonly work to the same −24 LKFS figure, but that is not something this document states, so confirm the target with the broadcaster rather than assuming it carries across. ## Related - [Measure an Australian spot against −24 LKFS](https://elephantaudio.pk/loudness-meter) - [The same number with twice the tolerance](https://elephantaudio.pk/reference/atsc-a85/raw) - [The measurement OP-59 adopts](https://elephantaudio.pk/reference/itu-r-bs1770/raw) - [Which target applies to your spot](https://elephantaudio.pk/guides/broadcast-loudness-specs/raw) - [Commercials delivered to a broadcaster's spec](https://elephantaudio.pk/services/ads-digital/raw) ## Studio - **Studio:** Elephant Audio — Lahore, Pakistan - **Founder:** Abu Bakar Zahid — Founder, Managing Director & Music Producer at Elephant Audio - **Website:** https://elephantaudio.pk - **Contact:** abubakar@elephantaudio.pk