Streaming Platform
The Australian government will implement laws mandating digital services to invest a minimum percentage of revenue in local programming, as announced by official statements on Tuesday.
Platforms such as Amazon Prime and other providers that have 1M users must contribute a minimum of ten percent of their Australian expenditure or seven and a half percent of income toward Australian content.
The law is being presented to lawmakers in coming days covering documentaries and informative content.
Government ministers stated the move would help to safeguard acting employment in the industry. Streaming services are yet to responded on the matter.
'Outstanding content'
"There are local production requirements on free-to-air television and pay television, but until now, we lacked assurance of viewing our own stories via digital platforms," a government representative stated.
"Since their introduction in Australia, streaming services have produced numerous remarkable shows. This obligation guarantee that those stories – Australian content – will keep being produced."
As reported by sources, legislation will be introduced to Parliament this week.
The new content requirements were originally scheduled implemented in mid-2024 but concerns over how they would interact with a free trade agreement with the US led to the initiative being put on hold.
Officials cited difficulty engaging in discussions with American counterparts during their electoral process.
Following the U.S. election, there was then concern about whether the rules could lead American officials to impose trade measures against Australia.
Now, with the dust settled, amid strengthened ties internationally, those rules are now back on the table.
While industry groups welcomed the news, streamers are still to issue statements on the matter.
Previously, digital services published documentation emphasizing their cultural and economic impact to the country's creative economy.
Nonetheless, some observers interpreted this as strategic positioning in anticipation of coming legislation.
Production slump
Recent Australian shows on streaming platforms include various series across different categories.
Like many countries, Australia's creative industries have suffered recently, partly because of reduced activity throughout the health crisis.
During the fiscal period recently concluded, funding for movies and television dramas produced domestically decreased by almost one-third, according to industry data.
