The Broadcasting Services Act 1992 requires all commercial free-to-air television licensees to broadcast an annual minimum transmission quota of 55% Australian programming between 6:00am and midnight on their primary channel. Commercial networks must also broadcast 1460 hours of Australian programming yearly on their non-primary (virtual) channels. 

As we continue our trend towards consuming media through streaming platforms, and broadcast television becomes less relevant, we need to start making considerations for the future of the Arts in Australia, and make efforts to minimise the pervasive presence of United States based streaming companies on our screens. Australians are still paying more of their subscription fees to overseas based streaming companies and this is unlikely to change as content owners continue to launch proprietary streaming platforms. We must insist that some of what spend on digital media is invested back into the local film and television production Industry. 

Children’s educational programming should be of particular concern, producing this content locally is undoubtedly preferable.