The South Australian government has boosted funding for its ABC SAFC Content Pipeline Fund, which has supported several local TV productions including Ladies in Black in its first year.
The fund was initially launched last year with $5.2 million over three years, which has now been increased by an extra $7.2 million. The extra funding was provided by the state government, the ABC, and the federal government, extending the initial three-year term by another three years to 2027-28.
The SAFC said the fund had already supported 328 South Australian screen industry jobs across six ABC productions in the state since February 2023. This had injected an estimated $21.8 million into the state’s economy.
Several states have announced extra support for the screen sector in their 2023-24 budget announcements including Victoria and Tasmania, while WA is in the throes of building a new $233.5 million studio. Meanwhile, Screen Queensland opened its new Cairns studio facility in April.
The ABC SAFC Content Pipeline Fund has already supported productions including:
- The second season of children’s puppet-based series Beep and Mort from SA’s Windmill Pictures. It was filmed at the SAFC’s Adelaide Studios.
- Comedy series Gold Diggers from SA’s KOJO Studios.
- Children’s factual series Teenage Boss: Next Level, which is currently in production.
- Glamorous 1960s drama Ladies in Black, filmed at Adelaide Studios and around Adelaide. It will premiere on ABC TV and iview on 16 June.