Screen Currency findings highlight value of Australian stories, but producer challenges remain – Screen Producers Australia has welcomed the summary findings from Screen Australia’s new Screen Currency 2026 research, while warning that major challenges remain for the producers creating Australian stories.
The release of the findings matters for Australian television and screen audiences because it puts numbers around a long-running industry tension: Australians value local stories, but those stories still need better discoverability, stronger investment and sustainable producer-led business models to reach viewers consistently.
According to Screen Australia’s summary findings, the screen and games sectors generated more than $11 billion in gross value added to the Australian economy in 2023-24 and directly employed nearly 70,000 people in 2024-25.
Screen Australia CEO Deirdre Brennan said the research confirmed that Australian screen stories continue to matter locally and internationally.
“While audience choices become increasingly global and algorithm-led, Screen Currency 2026 confirms local TV, film, direct-to-audience content and games matter deeply to Australians and clearly resonate around the world,” Brennan said.
“Australia has extraordinary talent and internationally recognised capabilities, but there is no doubt we are in a pivotal moment of transformation for the sector. We want our communities and experiences reflected on all screens, but ensuring we reach people is now as important as producing that content. Future success will require support for Australian businesses to build enduring intellectual property, strengthen audience relationships, improve discoverability and compete confidently in global markets. This is a creative industry worth investing in.”
Screen Producers Australia CEO Matthew Deaner said the figures showed the scale of screen production’s economic contribution, but argued the headline numbers should not be treated as a complete measure of the health of the domestic screen industry.
“These headline figures point to the enormous value of screen production to Australia, but they also underline why we need to look much more closely at what sits behind the headline numbers,” Mr Deaner said.
Mr Deaner said there was an important distinction between productions being made in Australia and Australian stories being made and owned by Australian businesses.
“International productions choosing Australia are an important and welcome part of our screen ecosystem. They create jobs, develop skills and bring substantial investment into the country.
“But service production on international projects cannot be a substitute for investment in Australian stories and Australian intellectual property. We need both if we want a genuinely sustainable screen industry.”
Producer Challenges Remain
SPA said the findings should be considered alongside broader challenges facing Australian producers, including commissioning pressure, the balance between international service production and Australian-owned stories, and financing and deal structures that can limit long-term participation in the value of successful intellectual property.
The organisation also pointed to discoverability as a key issue, with local content competing against global libraries and algorithm-led recommendation systems across streaming and online platforms.
SPA said it looks forward to reviewing the full Screen Currency 2026 research after release and examining the findings in greater detail.
The Screen Currency 2026 official microsite is due to be available from Wednesday, 19 August 2026.
For more Screen Producers Australia stories, check out TV Central.
