acma news New Eligible Drama Expenditure Scheme results for 2008–09 Australian content and pay TV The scheme accommodates the Drama channels and productions The subscription television industry dynamics of production schedules by The 19 drama channels reported on are: spent $28.47 million on Australian and allowing licensees and channel providers Boomerang, Cartoon Network, Turner New Zealand drama programs in the to operate under an ‘accrual-type’ Classic Movies, Hallmark Channel, 2008–09 financial year in meeting system, where obligations that arise in Disney Channel, Playhouse Disney, its obligations under the New Eligible one reporting period and are not then Fox 8, , Triple 1 Hits, Drama Expenditure Scheme. acquitted must be fully acquitted in the Movie Extra, Movie Greats, Movie One, Nickelodeon, Showcase, Showtime, , TV1, SCI FI and UKTV. (Investment under the scheme) enabled Australians to participate in the production of a wide variety of feature films and drama series … The licensees that broadcast relevant (and) supported new opportunities for Australian film and animation, drama channels are: , , including the hugely popular Tropfest and Flickerfest film festivals, , , SelecTV, the Optus one80 project competition and Nick Shorts, a competition , and TransACT. The channel providers participating in the scheme designed to showcase and celebrate ’s animation talent. are: Sparrowhawk International Channels Limited (providing the Hallmark channel The Broadcasting Services Act 1992 following period. Each year licensees drama packages), Disney Channels (the BSA) requires subscription TV and channel providers report their Australia and New Zealand, Foxtel, the licensees that broadcast drama drama expenditure, which must be at Movie Network Channels, Nickelodeon channels, and drama channel package least enough to acquit any obligation Australia, The Premium Movie providers, to invest at least 10 per cent accrued from the previous year. Of their Partnership (providing the Showtime of their total program expenditure on total drama expenditure, they indicate channels drama packages), TV1 new Australian drama. the portion nominated to acquit the (providing the TV1 and SCI FI channel obligation for the previous year; the drama packages) and UKTV. This investment enabled Australians portion, if any, being nominated to acquit to participate in the production of a wide the current reporting year’s expenditure For expenditure to qualify under the variety of feature films and drama series obligation; and the portion, if any, to scheme, the investment must be for a during the 2008–09 period, including be carried forward to be available for production that meets the BSA definition Animal Kingdom, Beautiful Kate, Charlie nomination in the next reporting period. of ‘eligible drama program’. The scheme and Boots, Two Fists, One Heart, Pam establishes a requirement for subscription Ann, Librarians (series 2), Satisfaction Details of the eligible expenditure and television drama service licensees and (season 3), Chandon Pictures (series 2), the expenditure nominations are set drama channel providers to spend on H2O Just Add Water (series 3) out in the table below. For the 2008–09 Australian drama programs; however, and Tangle. reporting year, all but one of the scheme there is no requirement that the drama participants acquitted their 2007–08 program be broadcast on a subscription The 2008–09 investments also supported expenditure obligations. The ACMA television service. The BSA defines a new opportunities for Australian film and has taken action respect of the failure ‘subscription television drama service’ animation, including the hugely popular to acquit. as a service devoted predominantly to Tropfest and Flickerfest film festivals, the drama programs. Optus one80 project competition and Nick Shorts, a competition designed Information about compliance with to showcase and celebrate Australia’s the scheme is available on the ACMA animation talent. Nine titles were reported website at www.acma.gov.au (go to > receiving script development investment. For the public > Content and advertising > Broadcasting content regulation > TV Figure 1: Aggregate expenditure on new content regulation > Australian content > Australian drama by subscription TV drama services Australian content and pay TV). 2008–09 2007–08 2006–07 $ million $ million $ million Requirement for new eligible drama expenditure $25.98 $23.10 $20.79 (10 per cent of all drama program expenditure)

Actual expenditure on new eligible drama $28.47 $20.06 $26.44

Expenditure nominated to acquit previous year’s $13.90# $10.47* $16.04 remaining obligation

Expenditure toward current year’s 10 per cent $14.67 $9.16 $10.29 requirement

Obligation accrued to the next financial year $11.30 $13.94 $10.50

* Licensees failed to acquit $22,300 of 2006–07 obligation within the prescribed timeframe. # Licensee failed to acquit $40,000 of 2007–08 obligation.

Issue #51 April 2010 17