TV content commissioning by streaming companies operating in Australia has tumbled, industry association Screen Producers Australia says. A recent survey of SPA members found that 80% were experiencing “less” or “much less” commissioning interest from streaming companies, compared with a year ago. Less than 10% perceived more interest and a similar figure felt activity to be “about the same.
” The slowdown stretches across initial meeting activity, development and production. And it is having negative consequences for everything from financing to members’ mental health. “This data is alarming [.
.] it is clear screen producers and the workforce they employ are only just hanging on,” said SPA in a statement. As an English-language territory with highly developed production resources, a large post-production and VFX sector and generous production incentive schemes at federal and state level , Australia previously benefited from the rise of streaming platforms.
Global streaming companies – Netflix , Amazon’s Prime Video and Disney+, AppleTV+ – as well as local player Stan, which is owned by broadcast and newspaper conglomerate Nine Entertainment, ramped up competition for original content. And Australian-made shows such as Stan’s newly-renewed “Scrublands” and Netflix’s “Heartbreak High” have had global impact. The SPA survey suggested that Netflix and Paramount+ had become the least engaged in Australia over the past year.
Paramount Global owns.