The television rating company OzTam, owned by the three commercial television stations is still waiting for the networks to release audience data on Ten-HD, 7HD and Nine HD this month.

According to a report in The Australian Financial Review, OzTam had been waiting on the data to include in its November report. The company has been measuring the audiences of digital channels for more than two years.

OzTam CEO Kate Inglis-Clark said that the data was expected around now and that the software deadline had now passed. She added that the next deadline was March 1, 2009.

Analysts say that audiences are tiny
While some media observors say that the networks are delaying the information due to low audience figures, executives from Nine, Ten and Seven differ.

According to the AFR report, Nine research manager Steve Weaver said that the decision on the timing of the data release had more to do with its plans for standard-de finition in 2009.