Deloitte report finds ABC now critical to Australia’s screen survival

A new Deloitte Access Economics report has found ABC-commissioned screen productions generated $772 million in value for the Australian economy between July 2022 and June 2025.

Lights, Camera, Action: The Economic and Social Contribution of ABC commissioned Screen Productions report, found that the broadcaster supported more than 7,700 full-time equivalent jobs and drove economic activity across Australia’s screen sector.

Over the three financial years, the ABC supported 315 screen productions, delivering more than 1,526 hours of Australian content across drama, comedy, entertainment, factual and children’s genres.

ABC investment drives screen sector

The report found ABC commissioning plays a central role in supporting Australian storytelling, particularly in genres such as drama, children’s and educational content, where commercial incentives are under increasing pressure.

ABC commissions also helped attract further investment. For every $1 the ABC invested in external co-productions, an additional $1.31 was leveraged from other public and private sources, including state agencies, international partners and private investors.

ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks said the report highlights the impact of sustained investment in the broadcaster.

“The Deloitte Access Economics report makes it clear that the ABC’s investment in Australian screen content is essential to the strength and continued sustainability of the local screen industry,” Marks said.

“The ABC plays a more important role in Australia’s screen ecosystem than it ever has. We are increasingly at the centre of economic resilience of the sector and delivering critical support to creative industry businesses and talent in every part of the country.”

Hugh Marks

Children’s content and national identity

The report also examined the cultural and social benefits of ABC productions, including the broadcaster’s role in supporting children’s wellbeing.

In 2024-25, the ABC delivered 86 hours of children’s programming, reaching an average of 3.2 million viewers per week.

The report also found 79% of Australians identify the ABC as distinctly Australian, recognising its role in reflecting national stories, communities and values. ABC content continues to reach audiences at scale. In 2024-25, around 5.4 million Australians watched ABC-commissioned broadcast productions on television each week, generating nearly 7.8 million viewing hours.

In 2026, the ABC across broadcast and ABC iview reaches 12.5 million people each week, up 1.5% year-on-year, with growth across all adult age groups.

Main Image: Hugh Marks

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