Netflix warns Australian quotas will force streamers to jack up prices
In its submission to a government review obtained by Capital Brief, the streaming giant describes proposals for quotas as “profoundly unfair”.
Global streaming video giant Netflix has warned the Australian government its proposed content quotas would have unintended consequences that could both exacerbate inflationary pressures in the screen industry and leave consumers to shoulder higher subscription costs.
The government’s streaming quotas were announced by Arts Minister Tony Burke in January as part of Labor’s national cultural policy, Revive, which the government hopes will bring streaming platforms in closer alignment with broadcasters on local content obligations.
The government, which aims to have the regulation take effect by July next year, has so far proposed two models for the drama content obligations, according to a consultation paper obtained by Capital Brief.
The first is a progressive expenditure model that would see platforms with more than 5 million subscribers, which could include Netflix and Amazon's Prime Video, have to spend 30% of their total expenditure on drama programs for Australian audiences on Australian drama.
