Spending and targets: 2022 to 2023
In aggregate, the subscription TV industry spent $18.42 million on Australian drama programs in the 2022–23 financial year.
Spending on eligible shows included:
- Dramas – High Country, Love Me (Series 2) and Strife
- Feature films – Elvis and Wyrmwood: Apocalypse
- Children’s drama – Bluey (Series 3).
These tables provide total industry results aggregated across licensees, channel providers and pass-through providers.
Table 1: Compliance snapshot
| 2018–19 ($m) |
2019–20 ($m) |
2020–21 ($m) |
2021–22 ($m) |
2022–23 ($m) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total spending on new Australian drama in financial year | 24.67 | 13.74 | 8.75 | 18.72 | 18.42 |
| Were all minimum spending requirements met? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Table 2: Compliance analysis
| 2018–19 ($m) |
2019–20* ($m) |
2020–21* ($m) |
2021–22 ($m) |
2022–23 ($m) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total new drama spending target | 26.36 | 13.56 | 11.65 | 29.08 | 27.79 |
| Total amount of current year spending on new Australian drama plus total previous year carry-forward (as nominated toward target) |
26.29 | 13.54 | 11.63 | 20.48 | 10.80 |
| Total shortfall to be made up next financial year | 0.07 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 8.60 | 17.00 |
*Results reflect the ACMA’s temporary relief due to COVID-19 impacts on content productions and supply chains.
All licensees met their minimum spending requirements in 2022–23.
There was an additional expenditure shortfall from 2022–23 of $17 million, which is required to be made up across the industry in 2023–24 to stay within minimum spending rules.
Drama channels and providers: July 2022 to June 2023
Drama channels: BBC First, BBC UKTV, Boomerang, Box Sets, Cartoon Network, CBeebies, Comedy Central, Fox Classics, Fox Comedy, Fox Crime, Fox Funny (broadcast ceased 1 March 2023), Fox One, Fox SciFi, Fox Showcase, Fox Sleuth, Fox 8, Nickelodeon, Universal TV, DreamWorks, PBS Kids and the Foxtel Movies** service (comprising the channels Ultra, Premiere, Hits, Family, Kids, Action, Comedy, Thriller, Romance, Drama, Greats, and Lifetime Movie Network).
**Foxtel Movies comprise 12 movie channels but Foxtel reports this as a single drama service.
Subscription TV licensees: Foxtel, Telstra, and Fetch TV.
Channel providers: BBC Studios Australia, Foxtel Management, NBC Universal International Networks Australia, and VIMN Australia.