N E W S Subscription TV industry spends $15.9m on Australian drama programs

The subscription financial year, the balance must continued to spend more than Showtime 2, Encore, TV1 and television industry spent be made up in the next financial their 10 per cent requirement on UKTV. $15.926 million on new year. new Australian drama. Expenditure on new eligible Australian and New All participants in the new To acquit the drama drama programs in 2004–05 Zealand drama programs eligible drama expenditure expenditure requirement for included investment in and scheme have met their 2003–04 2004–05, $13.592 million must payment of licence fees for a in 2004–05. expenditure obligations. ACMA be spent in 2005–06. range of programs including The subscription television notes that as overall expenditure industry provides substantial on drama programs from all support to Australian drama sources has declined, so has the production. This support expenditure obligation for new provides an opportunity for Australian drama programs. Australians to create and In 2001–02 new Australian participate in a wide variety drama expenditure was of productions ranging from $21 million, compared with feature films such as The $15.9 million in 2004–05. At Proposition and drama series the same time, the expenditure such as Blue Water High, The requirement (based on total Alice, McLeods Daughters, program expenditure) declined Supernova and — from $20.5 million in 2001–02 Series 2. to $18.9 million in 2004–05. Under the scheme, which Of the $15.9 million is set out in the Broadcasting expended in 2004–05, Services Act 1992, licensees Drama on subscription film shorts, telemovies, feature $10.39 million was nominated and channel providers are television films and drama series. to acquit expenditure able to nominate new eligible The 17 subscription television Under the new eligible obligations from 2003–04, drama expenditure either drama channels available drama expenditure rules, each and $5.39 million nominated towards meeting their 2004–05 are: Boomerang, the Cartoon financial year every licensee towards the 2004–05 requirement, or to acquit the Network, Turner Classic of a subscription television requirement. Some of the remainder of their 2003–04 Movies, the Hallmark Channel, drama service and each eligible expenditure has not obligation. The Disney Channel, Fox 8, channel provider must provide been nominated against either The required expenditure on Fox Kids/Classics, Movie ACMA with details of their the previous year shortfall or new Australian or Extra, Movie Greats, Movie total program expenditure and the current year 10 per cent drama is 10 per cent of the total One, Movie One Take 2, expenditure on new eligible requirement because some program expenditure each year. , Showtime, drama programs. scheme participants have If the expenditure requirement is not met for a particular Aggregate expenditure by subscription television drama services on new Australian drama Australian and/or New Zealand drama 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 Total program programs and co- $194,983,964 $205,880,765 $199,326,879 $188,631,004* $189,823,319 productions reported expenditure include:* 10 per cent new eligible drama expenditure $19,498,396 $20,588,077 $19,932,688 $18,863,100 $18,982,332 Feature Films requirement The Proposition Actual new eligible drama $18,218,591 $21,004,080 $19,130,511 $17,707,528 $15,925,986 Hating Alison Ashley expenditure (NEDE) Fat Pizza NEDE as a percentage of the Take Away 93.4% 102% 95.2% 93.9% 83.9% Project Greenlight 10 per cent requirement Alexandra’s Project Expenditure nominated to Getting Square make up previous year’s $5,488,289 $7,804,142 $8,246,506 $8,937,272^ $10,390,475 Series shortfall Expenditure nominated Supernova $12,730,302 $13,199,938 $10,965,030 $8,472,625 $5,390,027 Love My Way (series 2) toward requirement Hollys’ Heroes Obligation to be acquitted $7,804,142 $8,246,506 8,967,654 $10,390,475 $13,592,304 Blue Water High next financial year Secret Agent Men Shortfall as a percentage of Don’t Blame the Koalas 40% 40% 45.7% 55.1% 71.6% Short’n Kerley 10 per cent requirement * This is not a complete list of reported * This figure has been amended from that advised in the ABA News Release NR 172/2004, 23 December 2004. programs as some programs cannot be ^ Make-up expenditure for the 2003–04 financial year has not been fully acquitted because the subscription television licensee TARBS named at this time. World TV Pty Ltd ceased operations and failed to provide a return for its drama channels for 2003–04.

 ACMAsphere | Issue 6 – March 2006