Documentary Production
Budget Ranges

Proportion of Australian documentaries (not including broadcaster-produced titles) by budget range (2015 dollars), 2007/08–2015/16

Titles | Series hours

Titles: Proportion of documentary titles in various budget ranges

Over the last nine years, most single documentaries made by independent production companies were produced for less than $500,000 per hour (in 2016 dollars). Over the same period, the proportion of single documentaries made for between $500,000 and $1 million per hour has varied, from a low of 18 per cent in 2008/09 to a high of 31 per cent in 2010/11, while the proportion of documentaries made for more than $1 million per hour has been relatively static.

Documentary series production has increased (from an annual average of 21 titles in the five years to 2001/02, to 36 in the following five years and 67 in the five years to 2015/16) (see Activity summary). Between 2008/09 and 2011/12, the greatest proportion of series titles was in the $250,000 to $499,000 (2016 dollars) per hour range, however this has been in decline, while the number of series made for less than $250,000 per hour, as well as in the $500,000 to $1 million per hour range, has increased.

The number of series produced for more than $1 million per hour has remained relatively static.