The report collates official data from Government bodies Screen Australia and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and the results show that in the absence of regulatory safeguards, media platforms can’t be relied on to deliver the local content that Australians deserve.
“In 2020, the requirements for Australian drama, documentary and children’s content on commercial free-to-air television were slashed, and at the time SPA warned a dangerous contraction would result. Screen Australia data shows that the result is a sharp drop in investment in new Australian drama on the platform, and a devastating decline in local children’s content,” said SPA CEO Matthew Deaner.
The data shows that investment by commercial free-to-air television in Australian drama was half the amount in the last full year of the outgoing regulatory framework ($107m in 2018/19, down to $54 million in 2020/21).
The amount of Australian drama made for commercial free-to-air television also sharply declined as a result of deregulation, down from 434 hours in the last full year of the previous regulatory framework, to 282 hours in 2020/21. The number of programs was down also from 25 in 2018/19 to 11 in 2020/21.
“We are also extremely concerned about the impact on children’s television. Under the new regulatory framework for commercial free-to-air television, there are no minimum requirements for children’s content,” said Deaner.
Data shows that whilst spend was steady on last year ($48m compared to $51m), the number of titles halved (7 down from 14) and the number of hours more than halved 29 down from 87. Animated titles, typically commissioned by commercial free-to-air broadcasters were down 75%, hours by 77%, budgets by 66% and spend by 52%.
“The data makes plain how vulnerable Australian children’s content is in the absence of regulatory supports. This is backed up by the recent release of data relating to Australian content spend by streaming platforms, which reported declines in Australian children’s drama and non-drama, compared to the previous year,” said Deaner.
“The data from streaming platforms demonstrates that investment lost from traditional platforms will not necessarily be picked up by the streamers unless regulatory safeguards are put in place, something we are asking the Government to do with some urgency.”
Recent data from the ACMA reveals that spending on new Australian commissions by Netflix, Stan, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ in 2020-21 was $103.7 million, slightly down on last year’s figure of $122.4 million.
These numbers show that investment is tracking at roughly a third of the output which would be guaranteed by the regulatory model proposed by SPA and the wider screen industry, which would require streaming companies to spend 20% of locally earned revenues back into new Australian commissions.
“The SPA report identifies this incomplete transition as a ‘regulatory gap’, which is having real time consequences for Australian audiences and the local production sector. We need prompt action from Government to introduce meaningful regulatory safeguards for streaming platforms, which must also include a safety mechanism for local children’s content,” said Deaner.
“We also need a thorough and public review of the results and impact of the changes to commercial free-to-air television regulation, given the damage already done.”
