Screen Australia

Screen Australia aims to inspire, inform and engage screen audiences through compelling Australian storytelling.

National television broadcasters

Australia’s national, publicly funded free-to-air broadcasters are the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), and the Special Broadcasting Corporation (SBS), which broadcasts National Indigenous Television (NITV).

Functions

Quota requirements do not apply to Australia’s National Broadcasters, however, their respective functions are set out in their establishing legislation as follows:

The ABC Charter mandates that the broadcaster deliver programs which foster Australia’s national identity, provide information and entertainment, reflect the nation’s cultural diversity, and offer educational content.

The SBS Charter outlines SBS’s principal role as delivering multilingual and multicultural broadcasting and digital media services that inform, educate, and entertain all Australians, while reflecting the nation’s multicultural society. It also mandates the SBS help meet the communication needs of Australia’s multicultural society, including ethnic communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Advertising

The ABC is precluded from advertising on its broadcasting services, with limited exceptions (e.g. advertisements of its own programming). The SBS may broadcast advertisements and sponsorship announcements on its services, with certain restrictions.

Captioning

The ABC and SBS must show captions on all programs broadcast between 6am to midnight. News and current affairs programs must have captions at all times. Some exceptions apply, such as programs that are not in English.

Anti-siphoning scheme

The anti-siphoning scheme is designed to protect Australians’ free access to live broadcasts of culturally and nationally significant events. From 17 December 2024, the rules extend to online streaming services in addition to traditional broadcasters. 

Key points include: 

  • The anti-siphoning list identifies major events that should be freely available on television
  • Free-to-air broadcasters get priority in acquiring broadcasting rights before subscription or online services
  • Broadcasters are not required to acquire event rights, and if they do, they may provide partial, delayed, or no coverage at all
  • Events are removed from the list 6 months before they occur, lifting the anti-siphoning restrictions
  • Media content services like streaming platforms may only acquire rights if:
    • A commercial broadcaster can televise the event to over 50 per cent of the population, or
    • The ABC or SBS holds the rights to televise the event.