According to new data from the ACMA, subscription TV licensees and channel providers spent a total of $32.54 million on new Australian drama programs in the 2023–24 financial year, up from $18.42 million in 2022–23.
The subscription television new eligible drama expenditure (NEDE) compliance results also showed all six subscription TV licensees and channel providers met the minimum requirements of the scheme.
Under the NEDE rules, subscription TV licensees that broadcast drama channels are required to invest 10 per cent of their total expenditure in new Australian drama programs. This requirement also applies to channel providers – companies that provide drama channels to subscription TV licensees in Australia.
In 2023–24 subscription TV licensees and channel providers spent $106.3 million as total program expenditure on drama channels. This resulted in an aggregated NEDE target of $10.63 million for 2023–24, down from $27.79 million in 2022–23.
The rules allow for the expenditure obligation to be incurred in one year and acquitted in either the same financial year or the following year. This means that any annual shortfalls and surpluses can be carried across to the following financial year.
In order to be compliant with the rule, in each financial year licensees and channel providers must acquit their previous financial year’s shortfall for each drama channel.
In 2023–24, subscription TV licensees and channel providers met the previous year’s expenditure shortfall. Licensees and channel providers also met all the current year’s expenditure requirements under the NEDE scheme.