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Networks meet local content obligations

Networks exceed the 55% Australian content quota but debate centres around NZ content.

Commercial TV networks have hit back at criticism by Screen Producers Australia that using New Zealand content is making a mockery of local content obligations.

FreeTV CEO Bridget Fair said: “Commercial television broadcasters are proud of our commitment to Australian content. Our members invest over $1.5 billion annually in making great Australian content that is loved by millions of Australians. Over 80 per cent of total program expenditure by commercial broadcasters is spent on Australian content.

“This is an unrivalled commitment to telling local stories, entertaining and informing Australians and giving them access to all the major sporting codes, live and free.

“The ACMA report shows that in 2017 all networks easily exceeded the requirement to show 55% Australian content on the primary channels between 6am and midnight—with some exceeding 75%.

“Our networks broadcast nearly 600 hours of first run Australian dramas and documentaries in 2017. In total across the primary and multi-channels, 23,000 hours of Australian content was broadcast by the commercial free to air sector.”

FreeTV notes programming from New Zealand makes up less that 2% of all Australian content, but this does include hours bolstered by News and Sport. SPA points to concerns about NZ content in Drama, Documentary and Children’s genres, at a time when networks have pushed to lower or abolish Children’s obligations.

While Free TV cites 600 hours of first run Australian dramas and documentaries, 44 of those hours were from NZ. SPA is calling on the government to close a “loophole” in the Trade Australia-NZ Economic Trade Agreement.

The debate has caused some friction this week.

“Contrary to incorrect claims made today, programming from New Zealand makes up a small fraction of the networks’ schedules,” says FreeTV.

2 Responses

  1. I think the quotas need a rejig but not for the reasons SPA are concerned by. Stations get the content from NZ for their quota because it is an off the shelf product and its cheap. If they were really trying to exploit the ‘loophole’, 9 could have filled its drama quota with all NZ content last year and saved us from House Husbands.

    But at the same time, how much of the $1.5b went to sports rights (NRL, AFL, tennis, cricket)? Their recent multi-year deals are all worth a billion dollars each… so it would take a decade of drama to reach a billion dollar rights deal! The drama quota particularly needs to move away from an hours model and go cash model that recognizes the cost of producing Australian programs. (I get that the stations what sports rights because that’s where the live audience is, but I think they need to take a longer term view of drama then just the overnight…

  2. While I am glad the commercial networks have shown over 600 hours of Aussie content. This week with the exception of Neighbours and Home and Away, there is no Aussie drama. Kudos to ABC for starting Mystery Road next week and Harrow only ended a couple of weeks ago, Seven aired Olivia in the interim. But it is sad that at the end of autumn and the start of winter, when eyeballs would be at their highest, there is a dearth of Aussie drama. I enjoy a range of stories about our great country and support them when they are on, but I struggle to support them if they are not airing, perhaps we can have a minimum drama quota, (if these exist, I am not aware of them).

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