Local free-to-air television programs are being trumped by cheaper international imports, with Australian content dropping from 52% to 38% of total hours broadcast since 2008.
Screen Australia has submitted a report to the Federal Government's Convergence Review which shows the level of Australian content has reduced while total viewing is on the rise as a result of multi-channels. The report compares 2008 with the first six months of 2011.
Total viewing across FTA channels has increased by 14%. International content on FTA channels has also increased 154% since 2008, compared to 59% for local content.
Multi-channels are not subject to the same level of local content quotas as the main channels, opting instead for international content, which are cheaper to air.
Screen Australia chief operating officer, Fiona Cameron, said: "Audiences are fragmenting away from the main FTA channels to multi-channels that have no Australian content requirements and this has resulted in a significant decline in the diet of Australian content.
Although high speed broadband will speed up the process of convergence, television is still the primary way of viewing screen content, she said.
Cameron said: "The strength of the US audiovisual production sector is unsurpassed and the trend to greater levels of foreign content will only continue unless new ways of accommodating Australian stories on Australian screens are contemplated.
"Australia has a unique sense of national identity and an important indigenous history. Australian stories reflect his sensibility and not only provide a valuable cultural contribution to our society but, importantly, generate a significant investment to the economy."
One of the issues in the framing paper for the Covergence Review is local content quotas.
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