Local media owners have accused the government of prioritising foreign production over fixing local content quotas which they say will allow them to better compete with global streaming players.
The Morrison government last week announced a $400 million location offset package to support foreign production and boost local jobs in an industry that has been ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic.
However, industry body Free TV, which has members including Nine, Seven West Media and Ten, says more focus needs to be given to updating content quotas, with media owners pushing for regulation forcing them to produce a certain amount of Australian drama, children programming and documentaries to be scrapped.
Seven CEO James Warburton says he’s frustrated by the government’s failure to act on the issue, saying reform is needed to make traditional media more competitive with global streaming players.
“While we support increasing the location offset for foreign productions it is frustrating and disappointing to see this seemingly given higher priority than fixing the broken regulatory regime for Australian content,” Warburton says.
“Local broadcasters continue to bear the burden of antiquated regulatory obligations that render us unable to fairly compete with foreign online competitors.
“This was recognised by the ACCC in its Digital Platforms Inquiry and the government has committed to addressing it. What is needed is for the Government to act with the same urgency in implementing reforms to our Australian content obligations and production incentives for local Australian productions.”
Free TV CEO Bridget Fair says while investment to support the local production sector is welcomed, she’s concerned the package is in “isolation of the ongoing enquiries into local content, quotas and support for the domestic industry”.
“These international productions come here for many reasons, financial support being one part,” Fair says.
“But the important element of using our talented local cast and crew will be missed if we don’t have a strong, dynamic local industry where these people work day in and day out, honing their skills and ensuring they are match fit to step up to the international stage on bigger bolder productions.
“This in turn provides opportunities for younger people to get their first leg up on the local production ladder.”
According to Free TV, FTA broadcasters spend $1.6 billion on Australian production every year, delivering 25,000 hours of Australian content into every local market.
“We are in the middle of a major review of content quotas and production incentives, including the location offset, so it’s difficult to understand why the Government has made a one-off decision now about a single element of the mix right in the middle of this process.” Fair says.
“Free TV broadcasters and the broader production industry urgently need a timetable for the decisions from the Government, so we have some certainty on when the much-needed reforms can be implemented.”
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