Free TV clears every Australian content quota after $1.625 billion spend – Australia’s commercial television broadcasters invested $1.625 billion in local programming during the 2024–25 financial year. Free TV Australia highlighted the figure in its response to two new industry reports.
Almost nine in every ten programming dollars went to Australian content. The total remained broadly steady despite difficult advertising conditions. It included about $377 million for Australian news, alongside local sport, entertainment, drama and documentaries.
Commercial broadcasters carry binding Australian-content obligations that do not apply in the same way to every screen service. These results show the networks did more than reach the minimum standards. They exceeded every major local-content quota assessed for 2025.
Commercial networks exceed Australian content quotas
Free TV said the networks averaged 74 per cent Australian content across their primary channels. That was well above the statutory requirement for at least 55 per cent Australian programming between 6am and midnight.
Broadcasters also exceeded the separate quota for their multichannels. Commercial networks must screen at least 1,460 hours of Australian content across their non-primary services. Some networks delivered up to four times that requirement.
Every network also met the first-release quota. Together, the broadcasters aired almost 490 hours of new Australian programs and films during the year.
Titles counted among the first-release Australian slate included RFDS, Scrublands, Ghosts Australia, The Imposter and Home and Away.
How the Australian content rules work
Commercial television licensees must meet several annual requirements. Networks must achieve at least 250 points from first-release Australian programs. That sits alongside the 55 per cent primary-channel quota and the 1,460-hour multichannel quota.
The points system gives different values to eligible genres. Australian drama can attract more points depending on its production budget, while other qualifying first-release genres also contribute to a network’s annual result.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority assesses compliance using information supplied by commercial broadcasters. Its review covers metropolitan, regional and remote services. Free TV said two ACMA reports released on 30 September confirmed the latest expenditure and compliance results.
Free TV says local investment supports shared viewing
Free TV Australia linked the spending figures to the role commercial television plays in Australian communities. A recent Deloitte Access Economics report found 78 per cent of Australians believe commercial television creates shared experiences in their communities.
Free TV Australia chief executive Bridget Fair said the results demonstrated the scale of broadcasters’ investment in Australian stories.
“We are incredibly proud of these results,” Fair said. “No one invests in Australian stories like Free TV broadcasters. The same news bulletin, the same grand final, the same Aussie drama – watched together right across the country, and free for everyone.
“That’s what makes free TV a shared civic space – all funded by advertising, while global streamers and AI platforms don’t even come close to our contribution.”
Calls for policy support for commercial television
Fair said the sector’s cultural role should be considered as the Australian Government consults on the future delivery of free television.
“Free television is cultural infrastructure, and it can’t be taken for granted,” she said. “As the Government consults on the future of free TV, it’s time to back the broadcasters who back Australian stories – by protecting our content from AI theft, fixing competition failure in ad tech, and guaranteeing free, universal access for the 20 million Australians who watch every week.”
The commercial television industry is funded primarily through advertising. Free TV says global digital platforms and changes in television delivery are creating pressure. It also points to competition issues in advertising technology. The organisation argues these challenges could affect investment in local programs and universally available services.
COMMERCIAL TELEVISION BROADCASTERS INVESTED $1.625 BILLION IN AUSTRALIAN PROGRAMMING IN FY25 AND EXCEEDED EVERY AUSTRALIAN CONTENT QUOTA ASSESSED FOR 2025.
Read TV Central’s earlier report on commercial television’s role in social cohesion. Learn more about Australian content requirements on the ACMA website.