Julie has not got much fame after the hype of winning died down. Coles were going to do a series of promos based on her, but they have now opted to go with George (one of the judges) instead. Seems like the judges and Poh..etc have gotten more out of MC Aus than Julie so far?

Each week Kyle Sandilands (Austereo/2Day Fm DJ) is taken from city to city across Oz for public beatings.

Any takers?
Do I smell a pilot coming along..?

The rebate is being trialled now – I think market forces will decide whether it is a success. My point was that if the broadcasters have a series that will cost (say) $5m to make, and the producers rebate was (say) $500k, I think it is unfair to expect the producers to put that in as “up front” funding so as to reduce the broadcaster investment (it gets paid after completion so in essence the producers would work for nothing until it arrives). Of course, a producer with funds may want to tip the $500k in and end up with 10% equity, but it should be their business decision and not a mandatory in order to get a series produced.

Full Disclosure: while I am not an independent producer myself, my wife is, and I am a director of an independent production company – so obviously I would hold these views! I just hope you agree that they make sense as a way to ensure increased quality local content on our screens.

“Ten was planning to axe The Simpsons from its line-up, or at least considering the move to save a reported $6 million a year.

Each original episode of The Simpsons costs $25,000 or whatever the sum is. That equates to a series cost based on 22 episodes of about $550,000. You only pay the higher sum for the first run episode. A proportion of that cost is amortised against the revenue written for the first showing. Then a further amount is amortised against subsequent showings or repeats.”

Each state has a “film fund” of sorts and there are various other funding bodies, but these tend to be funds for cinematic release rather than for the goggle-box. One of the problems has been that under various previous tax regimes, funding was seen as a huge tax dodge, and this was part of the reason that financial support dried up. There is currently a producers rebate being trialled and it seems to be working pretty well. The problem is that the producer doesn’t get the rebate until the end of the financial year that it is shown in. This generally means some form of bridging loan until the rebate arrives for six (or even seven) figure sums. I do prefer a rebate system (based on the payroll of the local hirings – to generate jobs) than a hand out which can be too easily wasted. The key is that this rebate needs to be seen as the producers funding – not funds that the broadcasters can access to reduce their production costs – otherwise there will be no independent producers left!

The US were the same for a bit.

Agree with you John that the local production budgets are pretty weak and most shows that are going to do anything well needs overseas help. I think in WA they have a lottery fund that is used for TV and Movie production…maybe the other states should consider similar?

I heard something awhile back that Ten was looking at cutting back of the airing of the Simpons as it costs them something like $20k to show an repeat episode (I think my cost guess is a bit wrong)…I wonder how it works with syndicated shows and repeats normally?

Mero … oddly, the celeb death camp appeals to my warped sense of humour. My SMS bill should Kyle Sandilands be on the list would be HUGE!

I think the opportunities (ideas-wise) are huge in Australia. What was the last good coemdy we produced? (If you say ‘Hey Dad’ you’re off to Execution Island !!) It was probably Kath and Kim (ABC roots there). What was the last good drama – before Underbelly? Packed To The Rafters is good family fare so I’ll tick that box (prior to that probably Seachange – ABC). Last good game show – Spicks and Specks I’d suggest (ABC again).

I think the stumbling blocks are two-fold. First, the measly Australian content rules. 20 hours a year for kids TV production for example – measly is a compliment! The second is the budgets that are allocated to local production. Unless you make a co-production with other countries you simply won’t get even the best and bravest idea off the ground. I don’t have a solution to the second, but political will is the issue with the first!

Anyway … enough of my ramblings.

Just keep pitching good and fresh ideas. Someone will eventually green-light one – and the first is always the hardest.