Comments on: How the networks reach their content points

By: jmgirl

jmgirl — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:06:40 +0000

@Ticky Result of a technically correct, but in substance absurd, decision of the High Court, interpreting an Oz-NZ free trade agreement as having the effect that NZ content must be counted as Oz content and vice versa. Think the decision is named something ‘Blue Sky’.

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:38:00 +0000

There is no problem with NZ content being counted as local – little NZ is hardly a threat to Australian production and could hardly be considered culturally foreign (indeed, it is still listed as a state in our constitution just in case it decides to sign up one day). Australia and NZ are moving to establish a single market and it makes no sense to treat television production differently to any other industry. The problem is not the inclusion of NZ content in local content quotas, but the abuse of this by Australian networks, which use it as a cheap way to get around their obligations. What they are doing does not create a stronger Australasian production industry, which co-producing programmes with NZ networks or paying decent amounts for NZ content would, but strips money from it to spend on acquiring foreign content.

By: Trix

Trix — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:35:31 +0000

@Clint, Rescue Special Ops’ first series had a dramatic arc throughout: a nutter who infiltrated the unit, whilst attempting to knock off various characters here and there.

By: David Knox

David Knox — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 04:12:11 +0000

Part of qualifying for FFC Miniseries funding meant there needed to be a through-line through all of the episodes, which Sea Patrol has historically had. But there have since been changes including the end of the FFC.

By: Clint

Clint — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 03:22:01 +0000

Series 1, 2 and 3 of ‘Sea Patrol’ were classified as mini series for extra funding. Series 4 dropped the mini series arc, and become a regular series, also extending to 16 episodes instead of 13. This is why Sea Patrol 2 was called ‘The Coup’ and the 3rd series was called ‘Red Gold’. Although series 1 did not have a name, it centered around a main story arc of Bright Island, and as such was a mini series.

I’m not 100% sure abour Rescue though.

By: salf

salf — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 02:29:45 +0000

i am pretty sure as of 2010 a miniseries is deemed equal value as a series. hence sea patrols extension to 16. making miniseries disadvantages international sales though because all seasons need to be treated as seperate series and cannot be sold in a series offer. so if a country bought SP1 and it flopped they likely would not pay for season 2 and by season 4 there is very little int. sales.

@nudge, no it doesn’t work like that.
@Michael, the government through ACMA fund a lot of things for networks, in exchange they ask for them to make aussie shows and give jobs to aussies hence the local quotas.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 01:47:45 +0000

@Brenton Rush is 22 episodes a season, thus not being a miniseries its an actual series. Where nine only do 13-16 episodes for its programs and they are still classified as miniseries but it also has to do with the funding, more funding from 13-16 episode order than 22 episode order.

By: chann

chann — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 01:36:06 +0000

@Ticky: it’s because of the Free Trade Agreement with NZ. If you look in the Australian Content Standard ACMA has to treat NZ programming as equal to Australian content for the purpose of meeting ‘international obligations’ (i.e. it was probably a bureaucratic stuff-up that nobody intended to make). Seems TEN especially is getting a good run out of it.

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 01:34:29 +0000

I’d like to know what incentive (apart from employing Australian Talent) there is for the channels to show Australian content. What do ACMA give the channels back?

By: Nudge

Nudge — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 01:16:47 +0000

They also buy docos from overseas,dub in an Australian voice over and that’s classed as Australian content.

By: girlygal

girlygal — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 01:09:32 +0000

Why is NZ content counted – this seems ridiculous. But good on the neworks for not going under the quotas.

By: Ja'mie

Ja'mie — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:52:19 +0000

I think it’s disgusting that NZ content can be classified as Australian.

I guess that explains why Ten have kept Outrageous Fortune in their lineup despite being a huge failure.

By: tomothy

tomothy — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 22:47:33 +0000

I think Sea Patrol and Rescue Special Ops are classed as a mini-series because that is the only way Nine were able to get the funding for it. If they classed it as a series, it would be fair accross all networks.
Maybe they should base it on hours, not type of show…

By: Brenton

Brenton — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 22:40:51 +0000

How can Sea Patrol & Special Ops qualify as a mini series and Ten’s Rush qualifies as a series. Both Sea Patrol and Special Ops storylines continue season to season with about 13 episodes each season and Nine advertise Sea Patrol as season 1, 2, 3 and 4 not miniseries 1,2,3 or 4.
That’s why Rush on Ten is a series cause it’s storylines continue and each 13 or so episodes is a season

By: dave

dave — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 22:33:27 +0000

Interesting stuff – goes in cycles that the networks struggle achieving their tally, so they hop across the Tasman and buy the Kiwi product – ala Shortland Street in the 90′s. I just wish there was more of a mix in the series/serials. Cops, robbers, crime and misdemeanors and soaps! Oh and rescues. But then shows like Last Man Standing don’t find an audience, as i suspect this new one with the 4 women may not. Cable is the place to find novel, distinctive drama – like America.

By: Ticky

Ticky — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 21:05:23 +0000

Someone enlighten me as to why NZ content is counted?