Australians Love Their Own TV — But Most Can't Find It, Says Screen Australia Report
Eighty-five percent of Australians say access to local content matters to them. Yet only 36% say that content is easy to find, according to Screen Australia's Screen Currency 2026 report, published on 18 August 2026 (Deadline).
The gap is striking. Three-quarters of Australians want more local screen content. But 60% spend less than 30% of their viewing time actually watching it. Screen Australia CEO Deidre Brennan flagged audience reach as critical to building momentum for Australian stories, according to the same report.
The numbers come from one of the most wide-reaching studies the agency has conducted. More than 13,750 people participated, with 13,550 of them across six surveys. The research drew on over 40 stakeholder consultations and expertise from 18 partners across five research teams, producing five reports in total.
Australia's screen sector — covering TV, film and games — contributed more than A$11 billion ($7.8 billion) to the economy in 2023/24. It employed more than 70,000 people in 2024/25. Exports hit A$1.6 billion in 2023/24, driven primarily by gaming, and have grown an average of 15% year-on-year since 2016/17.
The breakout titles cited in the report include Colin From Accounts, The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Top End Bub. Separately, Bluey stands as Australia's top screen and games export, according to Screen Australia's Screen Currency 2026 study (Variety).
International demand is part of the picture. India, New Zealand, China and the UK are the countries most inclined to engage with Australian content, the research found. More than 60% of survey respondents in China and India said Australian content gives them a positive impression of the country (Screen Australia).
For the industry itself, the biggest opportunity lies in co-productions and partnerships that provide scale and financing. Australian production businesses identified that path as their top priority in the report.
The Screen Currency research measures the economic, social and cultural value of Australian screen and games production. Screen Australia has planned a staged release of findings throughout 2026, designed so the approach can be repeated in future cycles.
What sits under these numbers is a familiar tension for any screen market. Audiences want local stories. The industry is producing them. The missing piece — as Brennan puts it — is reach: getting Australian titles in front of the people who already say they want to watch.
