FILM AND TV INDUSTRIES INJECTED $4.4 BILLION INTO AUSTRALIA'S ECONOMY
9 April, 2009
download as PDFIndustry Also Supported 50,000 jobs in 2007 says Access Economics
SYDNEY – The film and television industries contributed a staggering $4.4 billion into Australia's economy, according to a report by Access Economics released today.
The report, which assessed the industry in its entirety – from the people who create the shows we love, to the people who bring them to us at cinemas, DVD stores and on the small screen – found that in 2007 the industry contributed $4.4 billion to the Australian economy and supported around 50,000 jobs.
The report was featured at a roundtable event “Building Creative Industries – Film Industry Factors for Success” organised by the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) on behalf of the film and television industry on April 7, and was attended by Dr Ruth Harley, Chief Executive Officer of Screen Australia, and senior representatives from across the industry businesses featured in the report.
A key business success story featured in the report was the digital production business Animal Logic, which grew from 10 people in 1991 to a company today that has a core of 200 employees and up to 550 during productions such as the animated feature “Guardians of Ga’hoole” currently in production.
Commenting on the release of the report, Greg Smith, Director of Public Affairs for Animal Logic, said: “It is great to see how the film and TV industries make such a significant contribution to jobs and the Australian economy. The success of Animal Logic is based on people who not only develop technical intellectual property but also creative intellectual property that allow us to diversify into all facets of the industry.”
Denis Parkes, regional independent cinema owner in Merimbula NSW said: “Our small cinema, and other cinemas across Australia, employ almost 6,000 people and provide not only jobs and entertainment but also an invaluable community service and meeting place.”
Access Economics also highlighted the significant growth in the market for the digital video disc [DVD] which, growing from $12 million in sales in 1999 to $1,448 million in sales in 2007, supports around 2,000 small franchise rental/retail businesses and over 10,000 jobs. Adrianne Pecotic, Executive Director of AFACT, said: “Filmed entertainment is pervasive in our society and can easily be taken for granted. The Access Economics report highlights the value of our industry. For over 100 years the filmed entertainment industry has been meeting growing audience demand and delivering great films and TV shows at different price points in every available channel.”
The report also noted the following:
• Of the $4.4 billion in value-added, Free-to-Air TV was the largest contributor equating
to almost $1.9 billion, followed by the Production and Distribution sectors at $769
million and $622 million respectively.
Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft Ltd. ABN: 56 106 585 924 ACN: 106 585 924
• Pay TV contributed $374 million, Exhibition $314 million, Retail $223 million and
Rental $238 million.
• The production sector generated an output of $2 billion.
• Of the $2 billion in production output, $410 million in turnover originated from the
independent domestic sector.
• The total industry supported almost 50,000 people, which includes 37,774 in direct
and 11,140 in indirect employment.
• Production was the largest sector, employing 10,616 people within the industry.
• Significant levels of employment are also estimated for the Free-to-Air TV networks
with 6,033 employees, 5,890 in Exhibition and 5,663 in Retail.
• The industry contributes the largest amount in NSW, with $2.3 billion in value-added –
about 43% - while the industry in Victoria contributes about $1.2 billion or about 22%,
and the industry in Queensland contributes about $1 billion in value-added.
• The industry in NSW was by far the biggest employer, with 21,244 industry employees
residing in the state.
• DVD sales have increased from $12million in 1999 to $1,1448million by 2007. This
reflects the growth in the new market in the sale of digital home entertainment, which
together with DVD rental, had a higher gross annual output than the exhibition sector
by 2006-07.
• The film and TV sector contributed an estimated $1.8 billion in tax to the Australian
government in 2007.
About AFACT
AFACT works closely with industry, government, police and educational institutions to address copyright theft and protect the interests of the film and television industry as well as the interests of Australian movie fans.
In 2008, state and federal police conducted 51 raids involving movie piracy and seized 544,697 pirated DVDs. They also seized 488 burners capable of producing 12 million pirated DVDs a year with a potential street value of over $61million.
AFACT acts on behalf of the 50,000 Australians and small businesses under threat from copyright theft, including independent cinemas, video rental stores and film and television producers across the country. AFACT has its own anti-piracy hotline: 1800 251 996.
Contact:
For interviews with Adrianne Pecotic, AFACT, contact:
Stephen Jenner: (02) 9997 8011
After hours: 0409 776 196
info@afact.com.au
www.afact.com.au
