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Producers hoping Netflix will bring a plate to production party

Aussie Producers call on US streaming giant to invest in local production.

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Australian producers have welcomed the arrival of Netflix, but called on the streaming giant to invest in local production.

Screen Producers Australia CEO Matt Deaner said, “Australian audiences, Australian screen businesses and Australian culture benefit from a vibrant screen industry generating quality Australian product. In particular, the contribution of commercial and public broadcasters to local production is critical and the quality of their output must be continually applauded, although not taken for granted.

“In the context of on-going policy discussions at a national level around television broadcasting, both in terms of revenue and regulation, coupled with the launch of new online subscription services, it is important to remember the value of mechanisms to support local content on our screens.”

While Netflix has deals in place for ABC content the only Australian produced content that has premiered internationally is Mako Mermaids, by Jonathan M. Shiff Productions.

“Screen Producers Australia is pleased to see a new player like Netflix enter our expanding market and we trust that this will not just provide an avenue for imported content and local catalogue titles, but also will result in a valuable contribution to Australian screens through original local production,” said Deaner.

“After all, while everyone is invited to the party, polite guests offer to bring a plate!”

8 Responses

  1. Given they are a commerical business, if people want to watch Australian shows and the company can make money producing and showing them then they will. If not, they won’t. This should be the case for all TV stations (or whatever the term is that also captures internet based services) not just those lucky enough to escape laws drafted back in broadcast analogue days.

  2. The Screen Producers are behaving like complete suckers. Netflix Australia, unlike it steaming rivals charges no GST, pays no corporate tax and has no office or employees in Australia. It is another rogue, offshore digital company. It has no Australian content obligations like the free to airs or Pay TV. Let’s assume it gets 500,000 subscribers in next 12 months. That’s $40 million in forgone GST alone. These guys are more likely to wreck original Australian content creation than support it. Screen Producers should be very alarmed.

  3. They should pick up the ‘Batavia’ series channel 10 was trying to make.

    It’s an amazing true story. Ship wrecks, survival and the most evil of man kind. It would also have international appeal. So it’s a win win for everyone.

    It’s one of the most astonishing true stories. The ship was the biggest Dutch ship, loaded with gold on it’s maiden voyage to indonesia. During the journey there were plans for mutiny. It shipped wrecked on barren islands of the WA coast. Where some of the crew undertook one of the greatest sea journeys to safety, taking a small boat form there to Jakarta. While this was going on, the seedy elements essentially became pure evil under this one guy. Turning the barron islands into hell for the survivors. They would just kill people for fun. There’s a lot more too it, confrontation between troops left behind. Groups on different islands. It would be…

    1. You mean SPA has taken this opportunity to lobby on behalf of Australia’s Screen Producers -which is the reason why it exits and reason why we Producers pay our membership fees and levies.

  4. How fortuitous that Doctor Blake is pictured below this article

    Every time I watch this, I can’t help saying to myself that this is a world class production

    Equal or better to overseas shows

    Invest in this Netflix !

  5. I guess that’s true, although at least Netflix is finally here legally, so we can access US shows.
    Hopefully they can make one.
    And hopefully this forces FTA networks to wake up and start making comedies/dramas over reality again.

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