Free to Air networks spend $1.23b on local content.

Free to Air commercial broadcasters invested over $1.23 billion on Australian TV productions last year – an all-time high.

Commercial television networks now employ 15,000 Australians (7,500 directly and 7,500 more directly and indirectly in productions).

Industry body Free TV Australia released the numbers which contrast those recently issued by the Subscription TV group ASTRA -it claimed $578m on local content for the same period, with 4,920 people employed.

Data for 2010-11 included 25,650 hours of Australian content, over 6,400 hours of Australian content, 716 hours of first run drama and documentaries, and 315 hours of news and current affairs each week. 40 of the top 40 programs shown in 2010-11 were Australian productions.

Free TV CEO Julie Flynn said, “Australians have an insatiable appetite for Free TV programming across a range of different devices. More than 14 million people are tuning into Free TV every day, but they are also catching up with their favourite programs online, or streaming content on mobiles.

“The old adage ‘content is king’ is more relevant today than ever, and delivering quality content that Australians want to watch is what commercial broadcasters do. It’s part of their DNA.”

But despite the government giving Free to Air networks a $250m license rebate, Flynn says networks are struggling with antiquated regulatory obligations.

“Media regulation hasn’t kept up with the technological advances and the changes in viewing behaviour. Free TV broadcasters are burdened by a raft of financial and regulatory obligations under the Broadcast Services Act, which was formulated twenty years ago; obligations other media do not have. Networks need greater flexibility,” she says.

“We need a fair and balanced regulatory framework to ensure free-to-air commercial broadcasters can continue to do what they do best – delivering high quality television services to Australian audiences, for free.”