A new report from the ACMA shows commercial TV networks spent $1.67 billion on Australian programs in the 2022–23 financial year, representing an increase from $1.54 billion in the previous year.
Overall, the networks spent $1.91 billion on Australian and overseas programs, down from $1.94 billion in the previous financial year.
The report shows increases in spending on ‘Australian sport’, with expenditure of $635 million, up from $545 million in 2021–22, and ‘Australian news and current affairs’ with expenditure of $413 million, up from $361 million in 2021–22. ‘Light entertainment—other’, ‘Australian documentaries’ and ‘Overseas drama’ programs remained at similar expenditure levels to the 2021–22 financial year.
The increase in expenditure on Australian news and current affairs included an additional $4.96 million for licensees in regional Australia, reporting $35.32 million in 2022–23, up from $30.36 million in 2021–22 financial year.
The report also shows spending on ‘Australian children’s other (non-drama)’ programs decreased to $743,820 in 2022–23, down from $883,445 in 2021–22. No expenditure was reported for ‘Australian children’s drama’ programs in 2022–23, down from $2,027,426 in 2021–22.
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 broadcasters.
This report is available in a 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 TV programs report is available on the ACMA website.