Legislation will be introduced to parliament this week to oblige streaming services to make Australian content.
The new laws will require streaming platforms such as Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video to spend either 10 per cent of local expenditure, or 7.5 per cent of their Australian revenue, on locally made drama, documentary, arts, education and childrenâs programs.
The Labor Government will finally introduce an Australian content obligation on streaming services.
It is well less than the 20% which had been sought by industry players and more than a year later than it was due to commence.
10% is better than nothing. Australia should look at how dramas are made in Korea as a collaboration between streamers (Netflix / Disney+ ) and local networks.
Like 9 & Stan, 10 & Paramount+ etcâŚ
I think @JohnsonTV is suggesting that the government should consider reforms requiring streaming services like Prime Video, Netflix, and Disney+ to collaborate with local networks â Nine, Seven, 10, ABC, or SBS â to create genuinely Australian content. That way, the productions would truly meet the content quota, ensuring every series produced actually counts.
So how does this work for the likes of P+, Stan, and Hubbl, who all have a significant presence locally anyway?
Are we going to require Hubbl to produce non-sport content for Kayo despite easily meeting the local content requirement? Or are they able to rely on Foxtelâs output?
Hubbl? Donât you mean Foxtel?
Well, isnât Hubbl the provider and the streaming services are Binge and Kayo?
So Binge carries all the Foxtel programming but not sure theyâre meeting the 10% already. If Kayo are showing mostly Australian sport then they are easily over 10%. They wouldnât be asked to produce non-sport programs.
No, Hubbl
Depends how they count it - if just carrying Foxtel programming is enough, then would you just get a double dipping scenario. Studios creating content that goes on Netflix to count towards their quota, and then airs on an FTA channel to meet their Australian content quota.
Indeed they can probably get NZ On Air to help fund shows made in NZ to count towards the Australian content quotas to make it triple.
Low effort documentaries sounds like the place to be.
Sorry, Hubbl is an aggregator platform of multiple streaming services, albeit the Hubbl platform backbone is 100% Foxtel (DAZN) owned. Why is this being confused as being a standalone streamer when it is not? Itâs end is nigh anyway, so why waste brain cells over it?
Presence isnât content. Two dodgy Stan dramas a year isnât good enough nor should be celebrated as a big investment in local stories. I mean they couldnât be less interested in their own drag race franchise.
All three produce local content if you include Sport. Theyâre also operated by companies that produce local content as well.
Instituting quotas doesnât guarantee quality
No, Hubbl is also the company that owns and operates Kayo and Binge, as well as being the aggregation platform.
Because it actually makes a difference here - if Hubbl is deemed to be a standalone streamer, then the rules will apply. If they are allowed to be part of a broader Foxtel grouping, they may be able to rely on their output under the âNew Eligible Drama Expenditureâ program
One might question if putting cameras in front of a sports match counts on the same level as actually producing content like TV shows, documentaries, films, etc.
I donât necessarily disagree, but itâs still local content
Is all Foxtel anyway, StreamCo, DAZN, Kayo, Binge or whatever, canât see the point here. Hubbl will get killed off anyway to avoid the new local content guidelines if they ever become law.
It doesnât matter if Hubbl gets killed off or not. DAZN still have to do the same as every other streaming platform.