Supporting Local Content Investment: International Policy Approaches to VOD Services

Following the ‘Australian and Children’s Screen Content Review’ and ‘Supporting Australian Stories on our Screens’ options paper, Government has updated some regulatory settings for broadcasters and introduced voluntary requirements for SVODs to report on Australian content expenditure and availability from January 2021. As the next part of its staged process to review media regulation, Government is now considering whether further changes are necessary to ensure the sustainability of the television sector and the availability of Australian stories on local television screens in the new media environment.

This report has been commissioned by the ABC and Free TV Australia from Oliver & Ohlbaum Associates (O&O) to inform the Green Paper debate in relation to the proposals on ‘Harmonising Australian Content Obligations’. The ABC and Free TV Australia have asked O&O to look at:

• Lessons from other jurisdictions: identifying what lessons can be learned from other jurisdictions with respect to the design and implementation of policy settings/regulation of SVOD to promote local content

• The potential impact of policy options on the Australian market: the likely effects (for example, inflationary effects, labour impacts, content discoverability) of different policy options to impose local content obligations on SVOD platforms

• Policy considerations: advice on considerations for optimal design of policy and regulatory settings to promote the creation of Australian content of high-quality, cultural value

We have examined these questions using desk research, data analysis and a programme of stakeholder interviews in Australia and other markets, as well as our expertise in the media sector and audiovisual regulation.

Click here to read the report in full.