Screen Forever 2024: Subscription quotas still top of industry agenda
It's a determined waiting game for independent producers as annual conference opens on the Gold Coast.
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under News, Top Stories
Screen Producers Australia today opened its annual Screen Forever conference at The Star on the Gold Coast, as it awaits a governmental outcome on local content on Subscription platforms.
The topic has dominated industry events since the pandemic crisis subsided, and follows the Albanese government confirming quotas were coming.
But how it is written in legislation, including how much local content is required, is yet to be outlined.
In opening Screen Forever, CEO Matt Deaner told delegates the Australian Government is seeking to find a regulatory balance between the cultural needs of Australian audiences, the commercial imperatives of streaming businesses – many of whom are global giants – and the Australian production sector.
“What we are seeking is a sort of settlement about what Australian audiences are entitled to expect on these platforms, and how the Australian Government delivers on the commitment made to us in our National Cultural Policy more than a year ago,” said Deaner.
“None of this is easy or straightforward. If it was, it would have been done and settled years ago.
We had hoped that this legislation would have been in Parliament by now, but as of today, it is still a waiting game. So, we continue to push on. It’s not news to anyone in this room that the imperfect equilibrium that previously existed was long ago upended with the arrival of digital streaming platforms.
“You only have to look at the current challenge to Australia from Meta over the News Media Bargaining Code to get a taste of how hard digital platforms both fight and test any Government moves towards regulation.
“Even the toughest rules will be pressured for loopholes and fudging of figures. And even then, they can still be snubbed.
“Getting some sort of settlement does feel closer than it ever has, but we don’t underestimate how hard getting this done is at all and the balancing elements in play for government seeking to find compromises in contested policy settings.”
In January 2023Â Arts Minister Tony Burke announced the government would introduce legislation for Australian screen content on streaming platforms in the third quarter of 2023 and to commence no later than 1 July 2024.
SPA has been backing a 20% quota for Australian revenue to be reinvested back into Australian production.
“Until the last vote in Parliament, I can promise you right now, my team and I will keep working to support the industry to keep fighting as hard as we possibly can to get the best outcome we possibly can for you and for our industry,” Deaner continued.
“Whatever the Government comes up with, we will be judging it to make sure it delivers sustainable growth for our industry through stable investment, in Australian stories.
“The stakes are pretty high, and this means that sometimes, the things that divide us are at the fore.
“But when our industry is united, we are at our greatest strength.’
One Response
If they double the accounting costs for OS shows they claim not only the production tax subsidies, art funding but all deduct the losses from their profits. This is why the BBC brought an Australian production company as their Australian subsidiary this week. The Australian Government never explained why Meta should pay for news it if doesn’t post it on its site. Just because Gumtree and Craig’s List wiped out classified income and Google has most of the online advertising revenue. Then again dinosaur taxi drivers who overcharged, drove the longest way, never turned up for booked rides and provided generally dreadful service are getting $252m from the company that provided customers with cheaper and better service through their smart phone and replaced them. Tax payers are already paying taxes on rides to fund the stupid $300,000 a taxi plate racket the Government created to enrich itself.