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Data quality statement: Spending on commercial TV programs report

Information about data quality in the TV in Australia: Spending on commercial TV programs report is summarised in this statement.

Purpose

The ACMA uses data quality statements to clearly communicate the main impacts relating to data quality. This helps potential users decide whether the data is fit for their intended purpose.

These statements:

  • assist in the interpretation of data
  • provide a method for recording strengths and limitations of data consistently across time
  • assist data stewards to communicate the quality of data assets to users
  • determine how applicable the data is when sharing or promoting re-use
  • allow for quality comparisons of data.

Data asset name

ACMA Australian content program expenditure data

Date

May 2023

Business data steward

ACMA Content Safeguards Branch

Purpose

To report on the commercial television licensees (CTV licensees) aggregated program expenditure information by genre, for the previous financial year.

Description of data asset

Data is provided to the ACMA by either television networks on behalf of CTV licensees or the CTV licensees themselves.

Legislation and authority

This information is provided to the ACMA on a voluntary basis as there is no legislative obligation for CTV licensees to report their program expenditure information.

Scope and coverage

To report on and observe trends in CTV licensees spending by genre.

Reference period

Annual (reporting for financial years)

CTV licensees voluntarily report to the ACMA on their program expenditure at the same time as they report on their annual compliance obligations for Australian content.

Frequency and timing

Data is collected by 31 March each year for the previous financial year.

Formats available

.xlsx files

Other notes

The ACMA uses the data to report on the CTV licensees’ program expenditure information by type of expenditure for the relevant financial year. The data is also used to observe trends across reporting years.

Data quality description

Accuracy

ACMA staff review the data provided by the CTV licensees. Where errors exist and cannot be reconciled, they are queried with the relevant licensee to ensure accuracy of data.

Completeness

All CTV licensees voluntarily report to the ACMA on their program expenditure by genre for the relevant financial year.

Relevance

The data informs stakeholders about program expenditure on commercial television. The data is split between metropolitan and regional broadcast licensees. The data also allows for the analysis of the genre levels and trends over time and between broadcasters at both network and licensee levels.

Timeliness

Data is reported to the ACMA by 31 March each year for the previous financial year. The ACMA Corporate plan KPI is to report on the data within 6 months of its receipt.

Collection

All CTV licensees are encouraged to report to the ACMA on their program expenditure by 31 March each year for the previous financial year using the B94 form, which is available on our website. The data collected includes information such as television network and licensee details as well as financial information, by genre, on the costs of acquiring program rights and subsequent usage.

Consistency

The ACMA has documented processes and procedures for the handling, storage and analysis of data provided to it, including confidential information, by CTV licensees.

Fit-for-purpose

The availability of Australian programs on television contributes to strong and vibrant communities and a shared sense of who we are as Australians by building a common understanding of Australian experiences and stories and enhancing our understanding of the Australian national identity. Relevantly, this data is fit-for-purpose as it reports on commercial television industry’s program expenditure information by genre for the relevant financial year.

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