Effective support for local children’s content is more critical than ever, argues ACTF CEO Jenny Buckland.
The ABC has strongly rejected the commercial free-to-air broadcasters’ demands that it restrict its role to providing programming which they cannot or will not provide.
The Australian Directors’ Guild has implored the Federal Government not to dismantle the current local content quotas without having a viable alternative in place.
While there is no immediate threat to local content rules the profusion of on-demand services may render quotas irrelevant and Australian broadcasters could be forced by economic pressures to commission less expensive local drama.
Despite all the hype about the streaming revolution, Netflix and Stan do not simply replace free-to-air TV; they complement and interact with it, write RMIT's Ramon Lobato and the University of Melbourne's Alexa Scarlata.
Netflix has publicly cautioned the Australian Government against imposing local content obligations on its Australian service, warning of its disruptive effect.
If streamers are required to reinvest 20 per cent of their revenue on Australian content, it would deliver $300m towards local projects and 10,000 jobs - and ensure Australians see their country reflected back at them, writes Screen Producers Australia CEO Matthew Deaner.
Screen Producers Australia has accused the primary free-to-air commercial channels of screening "significantly less" first-run Australian drama, documentaries and children's programs.