A senate committee has gone against Foxtel on a proposal to halve subscription television's local drama quota, recommending that the legislation remains as is.
The ABC has used its submission to the Federal Government's media reform green paper review to request an additional $90 million in funding, while at the same time joining SBS in dismissing content obligations as "unnecessary".
Free TV Australia believes the proposals outlined in the Federal Government's media reform green paper will not meet the needs of viewers or the broadcast sector, but says there is "time to get this right".
ABC managing director David Anderson reiterated his opposition to local content obligations for the broadcaster at Senate Estimates on Tuesday, describing it as a "breach of independence".
"The Minister should acknowledge and encourage our home-grown creatives too. The Australians working on local stories and projects, generating IP, creating jobs and running small businesses as they tell our stories; stories that must be told," write Shadow Minister for the Arts and Industrial Relations Tony Burke and Shadow Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland.
Thanks to Australia’s careful management of the pandemic, the industry is in the midst of a production boom. The government hopes to support the sector to leverage both this “once-in-a-century” opportunity and the global demand for content in the years ahead, writes Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher.
SPA has called on the Federal Government to set a growth target for the Australian screen industry - one that would see the production of Australian content, rate of employment and size of the industry double within five years.
"Our research examines the role of television storytelling, especially the importance of local television. So it’s with great surprise we find ourselves advocating for the elimination of Australian content quotas on commercial free-to-air broadcasters," write Amanda Lotz and Anna Potter.