Commercial Networks Abandon Children's Shows

The volume of children's television broadcast on Australian commercial networks has dramatically decreased, with a 42% reduction in average annual screen time between 2021 and 2024 compared to previous years. This decline is primarily attributed to commercial channels Seven, Nine, and Ten effectively ceasing the commissioning of children's content after a government quota requiring 260 hours annually was dropped. Consequently, the ABC is now the predominant producer of first-run children's TV in Australia.

This trend extends beyond children's programming, as Australian TV drama production is increasingly driven by streaming services rather than traditional commercial broadcasters. Netflix, Stan, and Amazon Prime Video are now significant investors in local content, mandated by Australian law to invest a percentage of their expenditure or revenue into Australian productions. Despite this, a Screen Australia report found that only 36% of Australian audiences find it easy to locate local content, even though 84% value it.