by FilmInk Staff
RMIT University brings together researchers and screen industry to look at changes in our film and TV audience habits, streaming strategies, and policy recommendations.
A decade ago, Netflix and Stan confirmed their imminent arrival and kicked off a ‘streaming war’ in the Australian television sector. Our legacy broadcasters all followed audiences online in various ways.
In September, the RMIT Streaming Industries and Genres Network (SIGN) will launch with three days of events across RMIT and ACMI, kicking off a hub of new research and policy discussions around streaming and its impacts on Australian film and TV industries and audiences.
Presented in partnership with and hosted at ACMI, the Australian Content in the Streaming Era Symposium on Thursday 12 September will feature discussion panels, talks and a screening designed to catalyse conversation. SIGN researchers and industry heavyweights – including the ABC, SBS, Seven West Media, Screen Australia, and Aunty Donna – will look forward as well as back to consider how we can future-proof our local screen industries in an increasingly global marketplace.
The symposium will map how industry and policy developments have impacted creatives, distributors and the types of content produced by Australian screen industries.
The symposium will also shine a spotlight on audiences to chart how our own behaviour and habits have shifted in the era of on-demand streamed screen entertainment.
Key symposium panels include:
- Australian TV drama/comedy: Industry leaders from Screen Producers Australia, Screen Australia, the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network, and Aunty Donna (Haven’t You Done Well Productions) discuss how the backbone of Australia’s screen sector – drama and comedy – has evolved and what the future holds.
- Australian unscripted/reality TV: SBS’s Head of Unscripted, the creator of Prepping Australia, and See Also podcast co-host and reality TV aficionado Brodie Lancaster discuss how audience habits have transformed to prioritise on-demand streaming of reality TV.
- Australian sport: Free TV, Seven’s Head of Sport, and JAM TV speak about the implications of streaming on the availability, affordability and personalisation of Australian sport.
- Australian kids/youth media: Nick Verso (Crazy Fun Park, Invisible Boys), the head of ABC Children’s Content and Screen Australia’s Head of Investment and Development (Online) tackle the question: what is kids’ content in the age of streaming, which also includes user-generated content across platforms like YouTube and TikTok?
- Australian film: Umbrella Entertainment – who’ve just launched a new streaming service, Brollie – and film producers including Steve Jaggi discuss the implications of vast movie catalogues on streaming for local filmmakers and distributors, and what the future is looking like for Australian film.
SIGN co-lead, Dr Jessica Balanzategui, is an expert in streaming video on demand, Australian kids TV and ‘dark’ genres like horror and crime.
“Across research, policy and industry, we haven’t fully addressed the implications of the algorithmic curation and platform interfaces of film and television streaming,” said Dr Balanzategui.
“From the precarious state of the local children’s TV sector to gambling ads in sport streaming, there are urgent issues that need to be addressed.”
Dr Alexa Scarlata, SIGN co-lead and expert on internet-distributed television and national screen policy, explained the role of universities in driving collaboration and evidence-based decisions.
“The new Streaming Industries and Genres Network brings together evidence-based strategy, policy recommendations and public understanding of streaming,” said Dr Scarlata.
“This symposium is an opportunity to reflect on the early promises of streamers, their impact on broadcasters, and the sustainability of the local production sector. We’ll hear directly from creators, commissioners and policymakers.”
ACMI Director and CEO Seb Chan said, “Through our ongoing partnership with RMIT University, ACMI is working collaboratively with our major academic partner to deliver the Australian Content in the Streaming Era Symposium.
“As a hub for the Australian screen sector, our museum recognises the importance of developing a more sophisticated and future focused understanding of how the screen content we see is shaped by global platforms and their algorithms – which shapes how Australia is reflected back to our communities.”
SIGN will produce a report collating the key challenges, insights and recommendations raised at the symposium, to be published in the coming months.
About SIGN
The Streaming Industries and Genres Network (SIGN) brings together scholars and key industry experts to contribute evidence-based strategy, policy recommendations and public understanding around how streaming entertainment – including streaming video (both subscription and user-generated), gaming, and social media platforms – constructs and frames genre. Find out more: www.rmit.edu.au/research/our-research/enabling-impact-platforms/eip-networks/sign
About ACMI
ACMI is your museum of screen culture. Watch, play, make and discover the universe of screen-based art, films, TV and videogames. Visit us in Melbourne’s Fed Square, online and on tour. Our museum attracts millions of visitors through a vibrant offer of exhibitions, screenings, commissions and festivals. ACMI’s industry, education and creative incubator programs inspire and develop the next generation of screen creatives. We are a globally recognised hub that connects people, communities, technology and ideas to shape our futures. More at acmi.net.au
PROGRAM OF EVENTS | 11-13 SEPTEMBER 2024
Wednesday 11 September (9am-5pm): RMIT University, FREE, register via Humanitix
A series of panels will consider the current state and future of streaming video research methods, streaming diversity, and how to understand streaming audiences.
- 9:15-10:30: Understanding video-on-demand research methods
- 11:00-12:00: Video-on-demand beyond Netflix
- 13:00-14:30: Streaming diversity
- 15:30-17:00: Understanding streaming audiences
Thursday 12 September (9am-5pm + screening): ACMI, $41-48, register via Australian Content in the Streaming Era Symposium | ACMI: Your museum of screen culture
| AUSTRALIAN CONTENT IN THE STREAMING ERA SYMPOSIUM
ACMI Cinema 2, Thursday 12th September |
|
| 9-9:15am | Introduction
Welcome to country |
| SESSION 1
9:15-10:30am |
Australian TV drama & comedy
Drama and comedy have long been the backbone of Australia’s screen sector – but how have these genres evolved after ten years of streaming? What does the future hold? Hear from industry leaders from Screen Producers Australia, Screen Australia, the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network, and Aunty Donna (Haven’t You Done Well Productions.) |
| 10:30-11am | MORNING TEA (provided) |
| SESSION 2
11am-12pm |
Australian unscripted/reality TV
Reality TV is a reliable mainstay delivering consistent ratings success, even as audience habits have transformed to prioritise on-demand streaming. Why does this genre have such staying power? Hear from SBS’s Head of Unscripted, the creator of Prepping Australia, and See Also podcast co-host and reality TV aficionado Brodie Lancaster. |
| 12-1pm | LUNCH |
| SESSION 3
1-2pm |
Australian sport
Streaming services initially appeared disinterested in sport, but now we’re seeing more and more sport (and its paratexts) moving online. What are the implications for the availability and affordability of this important cultural content? Hear from Free TV, Seven’s Head of Sport, and JAM TV. |
| SESSION 4
2-3pm |
Australian kids/youth media
What is kids’ content in the age of streaming, which also includes user-generated content across platforms like YouTube and TikTok? Hear from Nick Verso (Crazy Fun Park, Invisible Boys), the ABC and Screen Australia’s Head of Investment and Development (Online). |
| 3-3:30pm | AFTERNOON TEA (provided) |
| SESSION 5
3:30-5pm |
Australian film
Our cinema-going habits have completely shifted now that we’re able to access vast catalogues of movies via different streaming platforms. What are the implications for Australian filmmakers and distributors, and what’s the future looking like for Australian film? Hear from Umbrella Entertainment – who’ve just launched a new streaming service, Brollie – and film producers. |
| 5-6:15pm | DRINKS AND CANAPES (provided) |
| 6:30pm | Special Preview Screening: TBC |
Friday 13 September (9am-1pm): RMIT University, FREE, register via Humanitix
This half-day workshop on Streaming and Youth Audiences will look at how legacy media (film, television), social media entertainment and other participatory online media are navigating child and youth content and audiences in the era of on-demand viewing and user-generated content.
Full programs will be available soon.
CONFIRMED SCREEN INDUSTRY SPEAKER LIST
Andy Barclay – Screen Producers Australia, Manager of Business & Legal Affairs
Louise Cocks – Screen Australia, Investment and Development Manager (Online)
Joseph Maxwell – SBS, Head of Unscripted
Brodie Lancaster – Author, essayist, culture critic and co-host of the See Also podcast
Lauren Rose Beck – Producer, Prepping Australia (other credits include Farmer Wants a Wife and Hunted)
Bridget Fair – Free TV, CEO
Renée Quirk – Seven West Media, Head of Sport Business Affairs
Nick Verso – Writer/director, Crazy Fun Park, Invisible Boys, Lost in the Trees
Margaret Ross – Screen Australia, Investment and Development Manager (Online)
Hudson Sowada – Umbrella Entertainment, National Sales Manager and Fantastic Film Festival Australia, Artistic Director and Lead Programmer
Sam Lingham – Aunty Donna Head Writer, Executive Producer, Haven’t You Done Well Productions (credits include Aunty Donna’s Big Ole House of Fun, Hug the Sun, Aunty Donna’s Glennridge Secondary College).
Mary-Ellen Mullane – ABC, Acting Head of Children’s and Family
Steve Jaggi – Jaggi Entertainment (Dive Club, Love is in the Air)
