Subscription TV spend on Australian content passes $700 million

Subscription TV spend on Australian content passes $700 million

Australia’s subscription television sector invested $707 million in locally produced content over the past financial year, an increase of 6%, according to new data released today by industry body ASTRA.

The investment supported a record 267,391 hours of Australian programming, a quarter of it first run Australian content.

The Australian content was commissioned and produced by independent channel groups including SKY NEWS, BBC, Disney, Discovery and Viacom, as well as channels owned and operated by Foxtel.

“Australian produced programming continues to dominate viewing, with audiences responding positively to first run local content,” said ASTRA CEO, Andrew Maiden.

News and current affairs invested 24% more in Australian content, generating 37% more first run hours than the previous year, with subscription TV now offering audiences more hours of news and current affairs than all free-to-air networks and public broadcasters combined.

The factual genre recorded the fastest growth in overall investment, up 94% compared to the prior financial year, boosted by new programs such as Kings Cross ER.

New South Wales enjoyed the greatest share of investment (44%), followed by Victoria (30%) and Queensland (21%).

Express broadcasts of drama and entertainment within 24 hours of their original broadcast in the US or UK jumped to 1,629 hours or more than four hours daily.

In 2012-13, Australian produced content included Wentworth, Top of the Lake, Australia’s Next Top Model, Grand Designs Australia, as well as the ever popular sports and news coverage.

The data, which was audited by professional services firm PwC, was reported by more than 30 independent and Foxtel owned and operated channel providers.




Please login with linkedin to comment

Latest News

Cosmo Returns To Australia!
  • Media

Cosmo Returns To Australia!

Ever get the feeling we've weirdly warped back to 1988 at the moment? Confirm it with the relaunch of Cosmo in print.

Sydney Comedy Festival: Taking The City & Social Media By Storm
  • Media

Sydney Comedy Festival: Taking The City & Social Media By Storm

Sydney Comedy Festival 2024 is live and ready to rumble, showing the best of international and homegrown talent at a host of venues around town. As usual, it’s hot on the heels of its big sister, the giant that is the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, picking up some acts as they continue on their own […]

Global Marketers Descend For AANA’s RESET For Growth
  • Advertising

Global Marketers Descend For AANA’s RESET For Growth

The Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) has announced the final epic lineup of local and global marketing powerhouses for RESET for Growth 2024. Lead image: Josh Faulks, chief executive officer, AANA  Back in 2000, a woman with no business experience opened her first juice bar in Adelaide. The idea was brilliantly simple: make healthy […]