TV experts say streaming giants should be subject to Australian content quotas

The television is about to farewell the nation’s longest-running TV drama but industry experts say now is the time to enforce Australian content quotas on streaming giants.

Neighbours executive producer Jason Herbison, centre, with some of the TV show’s actors, April Rose Pengilly, Ryan Moloney, Rebekah Elmaloglou and Stefan Dennis. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

Quotas enforcing streaming giants to create a set amount of Australian content would “future proof” the nation’s capacity to produce quality drama, industry experts say.

Jason Herbison, the executive producer of the country’s longest-running TV series, Neighbours, believes change must be made to ensure the industry can survive.

“I would like to see quotas, I think quotas ensure that production continues, it has a huge cultural value,” he told The Australian. “I think Australian audiences should see Australian stories told and I think quotas are something that helps that.”

Under current regulations, international streaming giants are free from quotas to produce a set amount of Australian content, compared to free-to-air broadcasters who must broadcast 55 per cent of overall Australian content on their primary channels between 6am and midnight.

They must also provide 1460 hours of content annually on their multichannels.

Many within the FTA industry oppose quota being introduced for streaming platforms, fearing that it will only drive up the costs of producing local dramas.

While Herbison concedes the TV market has changed drastically in recent years, he said urgent action needed to be taken to preserve Australian-produced content, including on international streaming channels such as Netflix.

“In Australia for example, 15 years ago all of the networks would have long-running shows, Blue Heelers, All Saints, McLeod’s Daughters, all of those sorts of shows that would run year round, but now the viewing habits have changed,” he said.

Neighbours was bumped from Network 10’s main channel to its digital offshoot 10 Peach in 2011 and will air its final episode on August 1.

One of the show’s main stars, Alan Fletcher, who appeared on the program for 28 years, said quotas for Australian content must be enforced evenly across the industry.

“The most important thing for government to realise they need to maintain content quotas, we should have content quotas across all on the platforms including the streamers,” he said.

“We have to legislate it to make television stations and streaming platforms invest back into the industry.”

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland, said: “We want Australians to have Australian content across all screens for the benefit of our economy and entertainment.”