Online streaming services make a few bucks in Australia, with Netflix boasting 11 million Australian subscribers, according to Roy Morgan's latest market research.
However, despite these impressive figures, the American giant has only reinvested a small amount of this money in the local film and television industry, producing only one Australian Netflix Original series (Tidelands, illustrated) since its launch in November. 2015.
That could change everything as a result of a new report from the Australian Competition and Consumers Commission (ACCC), which sheds light on the practices of digital platforms and how they operate in Australia. .
The report, published by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Communications Minister Paul Fletcher, makes a total of 23 recommendations for more regulation of digital platforms.
Following the investigation, Fletcher took part in ABC's Insiders show to discuss local content rules that were not directly addressed in the report. The Minister of Communications recommended that digital platforms such as Netflix, Google and Facebook be subject to the same laws and regulations as other media. Companies are obliged to respect.
"Would you like #Netflix to contribute more to the Australian economy?" App @annabelcrabb @PaulFletcherMP, while government plans to strengthen laws on online media companies #Insiders #auspol pic.twitter.com/JntkGpGd2J July 27, 2019
"It is clear that one of the questions is this: the obligations imposed on open television networks and on subscription television for Australian content, is Netflix anxious not to have such obligations, these are the issues we will consider," he said. Fletcher, further stating that the ACCC "will be interested in stakeholder feedback."
"This report looks at," he says, "a set of obligations for a group of companies that cater to Australians and provide content, namely traditional pay TV and free pay TV operators." this type does not exist for Netflix, not even for Stan, or others who also provide content to Australians. "
"This raises important policy questions. These are precisely the kinds of questions that this full ACCC report (examines)," Fletcher said.
(via The Guardian)