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Digital channels not quite Made in Australia

Senator Stephen Conroy told producers he wasn't about to set quota limits on multichannels such as GO! and 7TWO.

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AustralianFlagDuring his speech to the SPAA Conference yesterday, Senator Stephen Conroy indicated he wasn’t about to set quota limits on multichannelling.

The government’s view at this stage is that it’s better to get the channels on their feet.

“I know many of you are concerned that, as we move to digital-only television, the level of Australian content on free-to-air television might not be protected,” he told producers.

“So far, the digital multi-channels have not been subject to the Australian Content Standard, and I know many of you are concerned to see them launch with so much overseas content.

“While the Government is committed to preserving Australian content, we also recognise that, for commercial broadcasters, rolling out a suite of new digital channels in four years is a technical and economic challenge.

“Getting these channels to air is vital to achieving digital switchover – as those in this room know better than most, it is content that drives take-up, and new channels have to offer attractive programs.

“That’s why I firmly believe that Australian audiences will demand Australian content on all the many, varied channels they will come to take for granted in a few short years.”

But the government equally has no plans to diminish the 90 hours per annum of first run Australian drama on commercial channels.

Screentime producer Des Monaghan said he was concerned about the move because local content requirements were important for the production of Australian content.

”Australian programming invariably enjoys a disproportionate share of ratings success,” he said. ”The problem is that overseas program is effectively dumped into this country.”

At the same time, the current regulations require the networks to play local quota dramas on the primary channels -not digital. That avoids the potential situation of networks buying up NZ content, dumping it onto GO! or 7TWO and filling their premium channels with American content.

And while we may love our Nurse Jackies, Dexters and NCIS -it is Australian content that continues to dominate the weekly Top 20.

ABC3 will launch with 40% local content in early December.

Source: The Age, dbcde.gov.au

16 Responses

  3. Thank god – the last thing we need is more drama quotas for the rent seekers who wouldn’t be able to get anything made without the government strongarming the nets, the quota rules cause too much distortion and bad drama as it is without adding to the problem.

  4. Local quota points pertain to scripted drama, comedy and documentary, although I see increasing blurring between factuals and docos. Foxtel ‘drama’ channels are already required to spend 10% of their budget on first run Australian drama.

  5. The thing is with Australian content it is mainly reality or factuals, that are either police, medical, animal or competitions. After a while it gets stale, and boring. “Oh look that idiot is speeding” or “Oh look that dog is getting treated badly”. Instead of pouring money into these, why dont they put the money into the Australian Dramas or Comedies. That would increase the Australia content, without subjecting us to various and tedious factuals/realities. The government should make Foxtel, release Australian made shows on both Foxtel, and normal channels.

  6. I agree with Russell – there should be some requirement for local content even if not as high as for the main channels. The almost complete lack of it on new channels shows that the commercial networks can’t be trusted to show it unless compelled by legislation. Most of what is shown are repeats anyway, so why couldn’t they be of local programmes rather than US ones? It would be easy to fill 25% with local content – some repeats of older shows, some that were shown recently on the main channel, and some NZ shows that either would not be shown or put on at a late timeslot on the main channel.

  8. After 2013 I would like to see atleast a couple of Australian Dramas made especially for these digital channels. However I don’t want them to be filled with Factuals or Lifestyle programs.

    Also would like these digital channels not to have classification restrictions so shows like Dexter and Nurse Jackie can be on at earlier timeslots.

  9. I find 23 hours a day of American programming very disturbing. And I find it very disturbing that Australians are interested in it.

    Why not put some simple laws in place. Give each new digital channel 2 years from their launch date free of any Australian content requirements.

    Then 2 years after they have had the opportunity to get the channels off the ground and build them up, I say subject them to 25% Australian content between 6am and Midnight (that would be 4.5 hours a day) and allow repeats to count. So Packed to the Rafters, Border Security, The Apprentice, Sea Patrol, Underbelly etc would all count towards that 25%.

    Then Once analogue is switched off in 2013, and digital is in 100% of homes, raise the Australian content requirement to 30%, of which half must be original content. That would mean about 2.5 hours a day of new Australian content and 2.5 hours a day of repeated Australian content.

    Something like that.

  10. The thing has been go! is finishing what was axed on the main channel which the majority is US content a view I haven’t read yet since listing the shows that had yet to show/finish.

    7two and the others didn’t have as much to finish off that is US content except for Ten which decided to keep them on the main channel.

    Particularly with Go! will be interested when the catching up finishes then the Australian content may start coming.

  11. well 7two is crap cause of its home and away catch up, go rocks most nights except for survivor and well oneHD is the boots with a great mix of international sports that most would need to pay for.

  13. I don’t think the digital channels should be subject to Australian Drama Quota Limits at all; there is pleanty going around on the main commerical networks. The networks won’t spend the money in investing in a local show until they can attract similar audiences; though I’d like to see repeats of Aussie Cable shows on FTA if the rights can be aquired like Love My Way, Satisfaction, Tangle, Dangerous etc etc.

  14. I watch way more american stuff than australian anyway so it doesn’t bother me. the biggest reason for this is probably that australian stuff doesn’t really venture beyond the medical, legal, crime, soap and reality genres. I usually stay away from those types of shows.

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