ACMA content report: Nine light on local Drama in 2023, but most hours in Australian content.
Seven, Nine & 10 exceeded Australian content requirements in 2023, but Nine only screened one local drama series, and 10 was the only commercial network making Children's Drama.
- Published by David Knox
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Seven, Nine and 10 happily exceeded the Australian content requirements in 2023, which they have done in successive years now, according to the Australian Communications and Media Authority content compliance data.
Commercial networks are required to broadcast a minimum of 55% in local content on their primary channel from 6am – midnight (this can span genres including News, Reality, Light Entertainment, Sport etc). With diminished interest in international Free to Air titles, they were well ahead of the minimum.
Transmission Quota:
Nine: 78.35%
Seven: 76.42%
10: 69.61%
Hours:
Nine: 5,147.74 hrs
Seven: 5,020.69 hrs
10: 4,573.62 hrs
Points:
Networks are also required to screen 250 points in first release content across their network (primary + multichannels).
First-release Australian programs are either commissioned Australian drama (including children’s drama), commissioned Australian documentary (capped at 50 points annually), commissioned Australian children’s non-drama programs, or acquired Australian films (NZ content also qualifies). Licensees may ‘carry over’ up to 50 points achieved in excess of the annual points quota from one calendar year to the next calendar year.
Includes carry over points:
10 broadcast 434.50 points.
Seven was next at 381.50 points.
Nine broadcast 280.78 points.
Australian Drama:
It was 10 which accrued the most points in local Drama (including Children’s Drama) narrowly followed by Seven. Nine only screened one 2023 drama, Warnie.
Total points of Australian drama programs (excluding Australian film) claimed:
10: 288 points
Seven: 287 points
Nine: 21.58 points
Total points of Australian Film:
Nine: 37.17
Seven: 4.0
10: 0
Documentary:
Total points of all Australian documentary programs claimed (includes carry over points):
10: 434.50 points
Seven: 381.50 points
Nine: 280.91 points
Children’s TV:
Nine’s titles including The Actually Really Very Difficult Show, Smashhdown! Search for the G.O.A.T. and Earth Science Investigators all produced at QTQ9 amassed 90 hours.
10 made the sole Children’s drama Rock Mysteries 2.
Total average hours of all Australian children’s programs (excluding drama) claimed:
Nine: 90 hours
Seven: 0
10: 0
Total average hours of Australian Children’s Drama programs claimed:
10: 10 hours
Seven: 0
Nine: 0
NZ content:
Network 10 was the only network to claim NZ content (13%) towards its quota points.
All 62 regional licensees met the required points quota by reporting a range of 260 to 423 quota points.
Free TV Australia:
“These results matter because they show the commitment of metropolitan and regional commercial broadcasters alike to Australian content. The Australian content our members make informs, educates, entertains and connects all Australians. And the $1.67 billion we spend on Australian content is an essential contribution to Australia’s local screen production industry”, said Free TV CEO, Bridget Fair.
“This is an important reminder of the commitment of Australian commercial broadcasters to Australian content and audiences. Aussie content is in our DNA and tells our local stories, whether that’s in news and current affairs, entertainment, drama or sport”.
“With economic headwinds buffeting us all, it’s time to remember the commitment of local broadcasters to free local stories, and importance of supporting the sustainability of our sector.
“Whether it’s abolishing the unjustified Commercial Broadcasting Tax, which costs our industry $46 million per year, supporting regional broadcasters to keep the lights on, or finalising a position in relation to Meta’s withdrawal from the News Media Bargaining Code, action from the Albanese Government is needed now more than ever. A strong local television broadcast sector is in the public interest and must be part of the Government’s Future Made in Australia”.
7 Responses
Nine FTA don’t show much Australian drama but they have lots of titles on Stan.
Nine didn’t have any drama because they don’t have a soap and they saved Human Error for 2024 (assuming they air it after the Paralympics as they have been advertising. Which they can do under the rules.
Reality and game show formats are vastly cheaper to produce than scripted drama. If the networks can get the same ratings from a cheaper format whilst satisfying the same legal quota, then there’s no financial sense in producing the more expensive show, if not otherwise obligated to do so. Even when forced (with the legislative gun to their head) to produce scripted content, there’s barely such a show that goes to air now days that doesn’t have significant government funding in it, meaning, without such funding, you get effectively an unfunded mandate.
A lot more drama is needed on the free to air channels. Nine’s output was woeful in 2023 (a couple of hours about Shane Warne?). Drama sells very well internationally and if a great concept is developed the concept rights could also be sold overseas. It just needs a bit of ambition and taking a few risks. Make 40 episodes of The Block each year instead of 52 and produce a short miniseries, cancel whatever pre-news game show they currently have and use the funds for a drama. We are near starving for lack of scripted material these days.
I like to think I follow media pretty closely, but have literally never heard of ‘The Appleton Ladies Potato Race’
Me too – I had to look it up! A one off telemovie based on a stage play that aired on 10 at some point, and streamed on Paramount+ (seems not to be there now)
There was a notion that ABC Me was there, so there’s no need for commercial networks to produce or show as much children’s content. It was thought to be ABC Me’s job because commercial networks are more concerned about ratings and revenue than children’s broadcasting obligations.
It’s changed now. Beyond ABC Kids which is for infants, toddlers, early childhood education and kindergarten students or preschoolers, the catering for the demographic for ABC Me has shifted to ABC Education content, which a lot of it is online.
So while commercial networks are required to be viable, they are some of the most well-known brands and there can still be corporate and social responsibility, ethics and public relations to provide and produce an adequate amount of children’s content, because children’s programming is crucial for educational and developmental purposes.