2022 quotas: High volume local content -but Children’s drama nearly erased on commercial TV

Local content data for 2022 has been released by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, indicating high volume output, but with particularly bad news in Children’s Television. Again.

In 2022, all commercial licensees met all their obligations in the calendar year for both the transmission quotas and the points quota.

Seven, Nine and 10 primary channels all increased their local content compared to 2021, which had been impacted by the pandemic.

Nine screened the most local content, but Seven screened more local drama, thanks largely to Home & Away. However 10 came out on top in local content quota points when tallied up by a complex formula linked to budget spend.

Of note, Seven screened the most NZ doco content which counts as Australian, while Nine relied most on first run local movies.

When it comes to Children’s TV the numbers are distressing.

Nine topped the list thanks to its Brisbane game show Smashhdown (which was easily Nine’s highest local points commission), but 10 was the only broadcaster with a drama, Rock Island Mysteries (pictured).

Seven continues to turn its back on local Children’s TV content entirely.

These are concerns raised by Screen Producers Australia below.

Transmission quota metro results

Local Content:

All networks are normally required to broadcast a minimum of 55% in local content on their primary channel from 6am – midnight (NB: this can span many genres including News, Reality, Light Entertainment etc).

Nine broadcast the most at 79.47% (2021 77%)

Seven was next at 76.88% (2021 74%)

10 broadcast 70.54% (2021 68%)

Quotas:

Networks are required to screen 250 points* in first release content across their network (primary + multichannels).

• First-release Australian programs are either commissioned Australian drama (including children’s drama), commissioned Australian documentary (capped at 50 points annually), commissioned Australian children’s non-drama programs, or acquired Australian films.

All networks met the annual points quota:

• 10: 348 points
• Seven: 324.25 points
• Nine: 287.03 points

 

 

Australian Drama:

Total average hours of Australian drama programs claimed  

• Seven: 127 hours
• 10: 94 hours
• Nine: 9 hours

Total average hours of all Australian acquired films claimed

• Nine: 18 hours
• Seven: 0 hours
• 10: 0 hours

Documentary:

Total average hours of all Australian documentary programs claimed

• Nine: 77 hours
• Seven: 49 hours
• 10: 26 hours

Children’s TV:

Total average hours of all Australian children’s programs (including drama) claimed

• Nine: 85 hours
• 10: 10 hours
• Seven: 0 hours

Total average hours of Australian Children’s Drama programs  claimed

• 10 10 hours
• Nine: 0 hours
• Seven: 0 hours

New Zealand Programs:

NZ Programs counted as Australian content in 2022

• Seven: 244 hours
• Nine: 12 hours
• 10: 1 hour

Free TV Australia:

Free TV CEO, Bridget Fair said, “This year, commercial television has again shot the lights out in delivering Australian content to Australian audiences – unmatched by any other platform.

“These numbers show that in 2022 all Free TV members vastly exceeded their requirement to show 55% Australian content on their main channel, with an average of 75% across all networks and some broadcasters reaching over 80%.

“On non-primary channels, Free TV broadcasters showed more than double the required number of hours and delivered over 25,000 hours of Australian content across their main and additional channels.

“We are committed to bringing Australians the great local drama, trusted news, live and free sport and captivating entertainment that they love. Our services are available for free to every Australian, and create national moments that bring the country together through compelling Australian stories, sporting triumphs and information people can rely on.

“No other platform even comes close to delivering this much Australian programming, year in, year out. Commercial television proudly remains the home of local content and the cornerstone of the Australian production industry.”

Screen Producers Australia:

“These 2022 results for the ACCTs, just like those from the previous year, are damming evidence of the failure of this framework to provide Australian children with any content that reflects their own lives and their own experiences,” SPA CEO Matthew Deaner said.

“And when it comes to first release Australian drama, both Seven and Ten rely heavily on low-cost drama programs, with just 35 hours (or 15%) of new drama programs being higher cost and higher quality Australian drama programs – the outcome of which is the complete opposite of what the scheme was supposedly intended to deliver.

“There’s no doubt that the current ACCTs framework is leading to a lack of diversity of new release Australian programs on commercial free-to-air channels and is in urgent need of a review – originally promised for 2022.

“In representing the commercial broadcasters, Free TV Australia attempts to emphasise the importance of making Australian content freely available to Australian audiences but are completely missing in action when it comes to Australian children.

“At the same time, they are attempting to stand in the way of a 20% reinvestment obligation for their online streaming competitors. A meaningful 20% reinvestment obligation – in line with the National Cultural Policy – would create a funding pipeline to safeguard Australian stories.

“Commercial broadcasters are failing Australian audiences when it comes to investing in first-release children’s and quality drama content, yet they oppose streaming services being required to provide these.

“If they have their way on this, Australian audiences will continue to miss out on seeing culturally significant Australian stories and heritage on our screens. We cannot allow this to happen.”