Documentary Production
Budget Ranges

Proportion of Australian documentaries (not including broadcaster-produced titles) by budget range (2017 dollars), 2007/08–2016/17

Titles | Series hours

Titles: Proportion of documentary titles in various budget ranges

Over the last ten 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 fluctuated between 21 and 38 per cent, while the proportion of documentaries made for more than $1 million per hour has been relatively static.

Documentary series production falls predominantly in the $250,000 to $499,000 (2017 dollars) per hour range, although this is currently trending downwards. This decline, however, is offset by an increase in the number of series made in the $1 million per hour range.

The number of series produced for less than $250,000 per hour, as well as in the over $1 million per hour range, remains relatively static.