As well as the data published and updated by Screen Australia, information on the television industry is also available from other sources.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is a statutory authority within the Federal Government, responsible for the regulation of broadcasting, the internet, radio communications and telecommunications. It was established on 1 July 2005 by the merger of the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) and the Australian Communications Authority.
A range of publications, reports and policy documents can be accessed on the ACMA website.
Screen Australia and its predecessor, the Australian Film Commission, previously compiled time-series benchmarks using data from ACMA. Archived data should be used with caution as methodologies may have changed and revisions may have occurred.
Broadcasting Financial Results: The annual Broadcasting Financial Results report, published previously by the ABA and now by ACMA, includes data compiled from commercial television licensees on drama program expenditure, gross revenue, advertising revenue and profit across national, state, capital city and regional markets.
TV Program Standard for Australian Content in Advertising: Most advertisements are classified as Australian or foreign by Commercials Advice Pty Ltd (CAD), which is wholly owned by Free TV Australia. Each year, ACMA utilises the classification data provided by CAD in conjunction with the licensees’ annual compliance figures to monitor trends in the levels of Australian and foreign content in advertising.
Annual compliance results on ACMA website
New Eligible Drama Expenditure Scheme: The New Eligible Drama Expenditure Scheme is prescribed by the Broadcasting Services Act 1992. The act states that subscription television licensees that broadcast drama channels, and drama channel package providers, are required to invest at least 10 per cent of their total program expenditure on new Australian drama. Each year, ACMA reports a summary of expenditure results.
Annual expenditure results on ACMA website
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is a national public broadcaster, providing a diverse range of television, radio and online services.
A range of information can be accessed on the ABC website.
Information about the hours of Australian content screened on ABC channels can be sourced from ABC annual reports.
Annual reports on the ABC website
The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) is Australia’s multicultural and multilingual national public broadcaster.
A range of information can be accessed on the SBS website.
Information about the hours of Australian content screened on SBS channels can be sourced from SBS annual reports.
Annual reports on SBS website
OzTAM is an Australian research company and the official source of television audience measurement, covering Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth metropolitan areas for free-to-air TV and nationally for subscription TV.
A range of information can be accessed on the OzTAM website free of charge. Additional data can be obtained for a fee.
Viewing reports: OzTAM’s viewing reports rank television networks and programming according to ratings. Data is available online since 2008.
Viewing reports on OzTAM website
Universe estimates: OzTAM’s universe estimates represent the total number of people within specified demographic groups in Australia, including the proportion of homes with television sets and access to free-to-air and subscription services.
Annual universe estimates on OzTAM website
Other publications: Previously, OzTAM issued a series of annual summary publications, including Ratings Snapshot 2004, Year in Review (2003), TV Trends (2002) and Metro TV Trends (2001). Screen Australia published selected data from the Ratings Snapshot 2004 as part of its time series.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is Australia’s official national statistical agency.
A wide range of information can be accessed through the ABS website free of charge, including census data, reports from one-off and ongoing surveys and time series spreadsheets. Most of the publications are identified by a catalogue number.
Unpublished data may also be accessed, for a charge, from the ABS.
Children’s Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities, Australia (cat. no. 4901.1)
The statistics in this publication are compiled from data collected in the Children’s Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities Survey, a supplement to the Monthly Labour Force Survey.
The major aim of the survey is to identify characteristics of children who participate in organised sport, cultural activities and selected activities undertaken for recreation and leisure, and to monitor the use of information technology by children. The focus on activities outside of school hours is to elicit information on activities that are more likely to be undertaken by children by choice rather than those that are part of the school curriculum.
Starting in 2000, it has been published every three years.
Screen Australia published selected data from reports in 2006, 2003 and 2000.
Full report on ABS website, including explanatory notes and current, previous and future releases