A decade ago, Netflix and Stan confirmed their imminent arrival and kicked off a ‘streaming war’ in the Australian television sector. Our legacy broadcasters all followed audiences online in various ways.
In September, the RMIT Streaming Industries and Genres Network (SIGN) will launch with three days of events across RMIT and ACMI, kicking off a hub of new research and policy discussions around streaming and its impacts on Australian film and TV industries and audiences.
Presented in partnership with and hosted at ACMI, the Australian Content in the Streaming Era Symposium on Thursday 12 September will feature discussion panels, talks and a screening designed to catalyse conversation. SIGN researchers and industry heavyweights – including the ABC, SBS, Seven West Media, Screen Australia, and Aunty Donna – will look forward as well as back to consider how we can future-proof our local screen industries in an increasingly global marketplace.
The symposium will map how industry and policy developments have impacted creatives, distributors and the types of content produced by Australian screen industries.
The symposium will also shine a spotlight on audiences to chart how our own behaviour and habits have shifted in the era of on-demand streamed screen entertainment.
Key symposium panels include:
- Australian TV drama/comedy: Industry leaders from Screen Producers Australia, Screen Australia, the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network, and Aunty Donna (Haven’t You Done Well Productions) discuss how the backbone of Australia’s screen sector – drama and comedy – has evolved and what the future holds.
- Australian unscripted/reality TV: SBS's Head of Unscripted, the creator of Prepping Australia, and See Also podcast co-host and reality TV aficionado Brodie Lancaster discuss how audience habits have transformed to prioritise on-demand streaming of reality TV.
- Australian sport: Free TV, Seven’s Head of Sport, and JAM TV speak about the implications of streaming on the availability, affordability and personalisation of Australian sport.
- Australian kids/youth media: Nick Verso (Crazy Fun Park, Invisible Boys), the head of ABC Children’s Content and Screen Australia’s Head of Investment and Development (Online) tackle the question: what is kids’ content in the age of streaming, which also includes user-generated content across platforms like YouTube and TikTok?
- Australian film: Umbrella Entertainment – who’ve just launched a new streaming service, Brollie – and film producers including Steve Jaggi discuss the implications of vast movie catalogues on streaming for local filmmakers and distributors, and what the future is looking like for Australian film.
SIGN co-lead, Dr Jessica Balanzategui, is an expert in streaming video on demand, Australian kids TV and ‘dark’ genres like horror and crime.
“Across research, policy and industry, we haven't fully addressed the implications of the algorithmic curation and platform interfaces of film and television streaming,” said Dr Balanzategui.
“From the precarious state of the local children’s TV sector to gambling ads in sport streaming, there are urgent issues that need to be addressed.”
Dr Alexa Scarlata, SIGN co-lead and expert on internet-distributed television and national screen policy, explained the role of universities in driving collaboration and evidence-based decisions.
“The new Streaming Industries and Genres Network brings together evidence-based strategy, policy recommendations and public understanding of streaming,” said Dr Scarlata.
“This symposium is an opportunity to reflect on the early promises of streamers, their impact on broadcasters, and the sustainability of the local production sector. We’ll hear directly from creators, commissioners and policymakers.”
ACMI Director and CEO Seb Chan said, “Through our ongoing partnership with RMIT University, ACMI is working collaboratively with our major academic partner to deliver the Australian Content in the Streaming Era Symposium.
“As a hub for the Australian screen sector, our museum recognises the importance of developing a more sophisticated and future focused understanding of how the screen content we see is shaped by global platforms and their algorithms – which shapes how Australia is reflected back to our communities.”
SIGN will produce a report collating the key challenges, insights and recommendations raised at the symposium, to be published in the coming months.
About SIGN
The Streaming Industries and Genres Network (SIGN) brings together scholars and key industry experts to contribute evidence-based strategy, policy recommendations and public understanding around how streaming entertainment – including streaming video (both subscription and user-generated), gaming, and social media platforms – constructs and frames genre. Find out more here.
About ACMI
ACMI is your museum of screen culture. Watch, play, make and discover the universe of screen-based art, films, TV and videogames. Visit us in Melbourne’s Fed Square, online and on tour. Our museum attracts millions of visitors through a vibrant offer of exhibitions, screenings, commissions and festivals. ACMI’s industry, education and creative incubator programs inspire and develop the next generation of screen creatives. We are a globally recognised hub that connects people, communities, technology and ideas to shape our futures. Find out more here.
