A new report from the ACMA shows commercial TV networks spent $1.54 billion on Australian programs in the 2021–22 financial year, representing a slight increase from $1.52 billion on the previous year.
Overall, the networks spent $1.94 billion on Australian and overseas programs, up from $1.78 billion in the previous financial year.
Program genres that saw increases in spending included ‘Australian documentaries’, with expenditure of $14.89 million, up from $8.37 million in 2020–21, and 'Australian news and current affairs' with expenditure of $360.83 million, up from $315.45 million in 2020–21.
Conversely, program genres that saw expenditure decreases include ‘Australian children’s - other (non-drama)’ with expenditure of $883,445 down from $1.64 million in 2020–21 and ‘Australian sport’ with expenditure of $545.00 million down from $623.07 million in 2020–21.
The newly published data is part of the TV in Australia: Spending on commercial TV programs report which comprises commercial TV expenditure information by genre, provided on a voluntary basis on behalf of 69 metropolitan and regional commercial TV licensees.
For the first time this report has been made available in a new, digital format, which provides program expenditure data for the past five financial years and contains interactive visualisations to offer greater insights into the data.
The TV in Australia: Spending on commercial programs is available on the ACMA website.