Contributions of various types of investor to Australian and co-production TV drama, 1995/96–2008/09

Since 1995/96, around half the finance for the combined Australian and co-production TV drama slate has come from the Australian film/TV industry, mainly commercial broadcasters. This has risen to around 70 per cent in the last three years. From 2007/08, this category has included finance added by producers via the Producer Offset, cashflowed in various ways.

Foreign investors are also a significant source of finance, with contributions peaking at 49.3 per cent in 1999/00. A substantial proportion of foreign contributions are for co-productions.

Direct Australian government sources provide around 13 per cent of finance for the combined Australian and co-production TV drama slate. Up until the end of 2007/08, most of this finance came from the Film Finance Corporation Australia (FFC), which invested in both Australian and co-production TV dramas. In July 2008, the FFC became part of Screen Australia, which is now the primary source of direct government financing.

While the primary source of private investment has been through Division 10BA of the Income Tax Assessment Act, the increases in contributions from private sources in 2001/02 and 2002/03 were due principally to the investment of funds raised by the Macquarie Nine Film & TV Funds. Division 10BA closed to new applicants in July 2007, although the concessional status for investment in productions holding a valid 10BA certificate was available until 30 June 2009.

Source: Screen Australia.

Notes:
1. Includes direct funding from Australian state and federal agencies and funding bodies. Comprises equity investments only – distribution guarantees, loans and underwriting are not included.
2. Includes private non-industry sources such as FLICs and 10B and 10BA investors.
3. Includes Australian-based film and TV producers and production companies, distribution companies, commercial free-to-air broadcasters, the ABC and SBS and subscription TV channels. Producer Offset included from 2007/08.