The Australian government is launching a review to figure out how to safeguard funding for national broadcasters ABC and SBS. 

The findings of the review could lead to some certainty for the channels, which have had to deal with a lot of industry upheaval since the pandemic. Most significantly, the government scrapped its quotas for kids content, which led to the amount of Aussie kids productions getting cut in half in 2020/2021. 

The review is part of a broader plan to support the broadcasters that includes restoring US$55.8 million in funding that was previously cut to the ABC. The government is also implementing five-year funding for both broadcasters that started on July 1. 

The review’s scope is a bit limited, covering only how the government can reliably protect the broadcasters from funding cuts. This could include amending laws or creating a body dedicated to delivering the funds. 

The review also focuses on making the selection process for ABC and SBS board members more transparent, while also pursuing measures to help broadcasters remain independent. This could include improving the diversity of its board, and clarifying what standards are required to serve on it.  

“Independent public broadcasters are a hallmark of a healthy democracy,” said Australia’s minister for communications, Michelle Rowland. “I encourage all Australians to share their thoughts on how to provide greater stability to support the independence of the national broadcasters.”

Recommendations can be submitted via the government’s website, with the submission period closing on August 31. Significantly, for producers and advertisers, this new review does not cover funding models for the broadcasters or changes to advertising restrictions. The government will present its findings later this year.

Streamers have also been attracting more and more eyeballs in the country, leading the government to announce that major platforms like Disney+ and Netflix will have to meet quotas for Aussie-made content. It’s a similar story in Canada, where the government is requiring streamers to feature domestic productions.

In other SBS news, the public broadcaster’s free-to-air channel National Indigenous Television has hired producer Taryne Laffar as commissioning editor to oversee development of First Nations-focused programming across kids content, documentaries and drama. 

Laffar, who started this week, was formerly at PiNK PEPPER, a prodco with a focus on telling Indigenous stories that she started in 2020. She has produced projects that have aired on NITV, including docuseries Our Law and food show On Country Kitchen. She reports to NITV’s head of commissions, Marissa McDowell. 

NITV’s latest original kids show is Barrumbi Kids, about two youngsters growing up in a remote Australian community. US broadcaster FNX picked it up this month, along with a handful of other Aussie content.