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Australia Enacts Streaming Quotas for Global Streamers

A Greens deal also delivers A$50 million to the ABC for children’s and drama content.

Overview

  • Parliament passed the streaming content bill on Thursday, with the new requirements scheduled to begin on January 1.
  • Services with more than one million Australian subscribers — including Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Stan, Paramount+ and Binge — must invest in Australian drama, children’s, documentary, arts or educational programming.
  • Platforms may choose to commit 10% of Australian program expenditure or 7.5% of Australian revenue to local originals, a choice that is fixed for three years with a three‑year acquittal cycle.
  • The Australian Communications and Media Authority will enforce the regime, with potential civil penalties of up to ten times a service’s annual Australian revenue for breaches.
  • Screen Producers Australia praised the law as a landmark step for local storytelling, while reports said senior US officials recently voiced concerns about the policy in discussions with Australia’s ambassador.