ACMA’s 2023–24 report revealed that SVOD providers spent $341 million on Australian content, but despite a modest increase, the data highlights a worrying decline in children’s and documentary programming.
In ACMA’s ‘Spending by subscription video on demand providers‘ report released this week, it was revealed that SVOD providers spent $341 million on Australian content in the 2023–24 financial year, marking a modest increase from $324 million in 2022–23.
While spending on adult drama and light entertainment rose, investment in children’s programs and documentaries declined, seeing their lowest investment since reporting began in 2019–20 and raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of Australia’s screen industry.
Screen Producers Australia CEO Matthew Deaner criticised the ACMA report, calling it a reflection of “a series of policy failures” in the screen industry, saying:
“The ACMA report reflects the series of policy failures suffered upon the screen industry over a number of years and paints an increasingly bleak picture of the level of investment in Australian screen culture increasingly dominated by global streaming services.”
Deaner further stated that the government’s failure to act is contributing to the decline in Australian screen culture and the “murky reporting” that obscures the real investment figures.
When compared to global content investment trends, Australia’s commitment to local productions remains a small fraction of the larger SVOD investment, which highlights the need for stronger incentives and policies to protect domestic screen culture.
The report’s findings underscore the need for immediate policy reforms, including adjusting local content quotas to reflect the shifting landscape and ensure Australia’s screen industry remains culturally relevant.
The full ACMA ‘Spending by subscription video on demand providers‘ 2023-24 report can be found HERE.
