SPA’s Matthew Deaner to Open SCREEN FOREVER 40 with Focus on Reform

Why It Matters

The streaming obligations give Australian content a guaranteed platform, yet financing, commissions and global partnership gaps still threaten the sector’s sustainability and competitiveness.

Key Takeaways

• New streaming rules require Australian content quotas on platforms.
• SPA launches Industry Codes to improve workplace safety and professionalism.
• Deaner urges modernising production incentives and co‑production treaties.
• Calls for stronger cultural export strategy to boost global reach.
• Emphasises need for fair commercial deals and sustainable financing.

Pulse Analysis

Australia’s first comprehensive streaming‑content regulation, enforced from 1 January, obliges platforms such as Netflix and Disney+ to allocate a share of their libraries to locally produced titles. By codifying Australian content quotas, the framework reduces market uncertainty and offers producers a clearer revenue pipeline. Industry observers note that the rule aligns the country with European models, potentially attracting additional investment and encouraging platforms to develop homegrown series and films.

Beyond the regulatory milestone, SPA CEO Matthew Deaner used the SCREEN FOREVER 40 opening to spotlight systemic challenges that persist. He highlighted the need to modernise the Producer, Location and PDV offsets, which currently underpin most financing deals, and urged a review of the nation’s co‑production treaty network, which lags behind competitors like Canada and the UK. The launch of SPA’s Industry Codes signals a push for safer, more professional set environments, while a robust cultural export strategy could help Australian stories break into overseas markets and diversify revenue sources.

For producers, the combined effect of these reforms could reshape financing dynamics and commissioning practices. Stable streaming quotas may improve pre‑sale valuations, but without updated incentives and fair commercial frameworks, many projects will still struggle to secure funding. Strengthening international partnerships and ensuring Australian narratives remain visible on global platforms will be critical as audience attention fragments across streaming services. Deaner’s call for a holistic policy overhaul underscores that regulatory certainty alone will not sustain the industry; coordinated reforms across incentives, co‑production, and export promotion are essential for long‑term growth.