Australia - Pay TV - Content - Providers

Synopsis

To satisfy the demand for national pay TV programming, several new companies were formed in the mid 1990s, to produce programming for the new pay services. Many started and many failed to secure contracts with the distribution networks of the pay TV operators. This report indicates how difficult it has been to access the Foxtel, Optus and Austar networks, listing a number of content providers that failed to secure access. It also introduces some of the national arrangements that have emerged, including some leading international companies with an Australian presence. Useful statistics on production activity by broadcasters and pay TV channel providers is also given.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Overview
• 3. The national players
  • 3.1 Rationalisation
  • 3.2 Production statistics
  • 3.3 FTA broadcasters
  • 3.4 Beyond International
  • 3.5 Crawfords
  • 3.6 Southern Star Group
• 4. Leading International providers
  • 4.1 Sample overseas content providers
  • 4.2 American-dominated programming
  • 4.3 Grundy
  • 4.4 Granada-Artist Services
  • 4.5 TVSN
    • 4.5.1 Brief history
  • 4.6 Content providers who never had a chance
    • 4.6.1 Cosmovision Cable Television (CCT)
    • 4.6.2 Explorer Channel
    • 4.6.3 Galacta – Gay and Lesbian Cable TV Association
    • 4.6.4 Planet Pay TV
    • 4.6.5 PPV TV
    • 4.6.6 Visitor Publishing Group
    • 4.6.7 Television Oceania (TVO)
    • 4.6.8 zerO1zerO (Dergat)
• 5. Related reports

• Table 1 – Share of total Australian production made by pay TV channel providers1 – 1993 - 2000
• Table 2 – Share of total Australian production made by TV broadcasters – 1993 - 2000
• Table 3 – Examples of Australian TV program production costs

• Exhibit 1 – National channel partnerships
• Exhibit 2 – Selection of overseas content providers in Australia