These guidelines are framed in the context of Screen Australia’s enabling legislation, which directs us to place particular emphasis on "programs of interest or relevance to children". They also acknowledge the particular challenges and opportunities involved in producing television drama for children, including the difficulties broadcasters have in monetising content, as well as the different relationship between first and subsequent windows created by the nature of the audience.

Browse the guidelines below,
or download as a PDF at right

PLEASE NOTE: These guidelines, released on 3 May 2011, take effect from the 14 October 2011 funding round. Applications were considered under the 2010/11 guidelines for the 3 June 2011 round.

Eligibility

Format and duration

Children’s drama of any broadcast format is eligible for this program, including telemovies, telemovie packages and series (no distinction is drawn between series and mini-series).

However, more than 26 broadcast hours of any one project, which may include multiple series, will not be eligible for funding unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated. (This includes hours already funded as of 30 June 2011.)

The content can be either animation or live action, and does not have to be ‘C’ drama. However, the primary audience for the content must be children, as opposed to families generally.

Marketplace attachment requirements

A local presale for the initial Australian television rights is required, with a minimum licence fee of $100,000 per broadcast half hour. This floor price must not include:

• any equity component for the broadcaster;
  
• broadcast rights for New Zealand or any other Rest of World territory;
  
• rights for a secondary window (subscription television or exclusive satellite rights if the initial presale is to a free-to-air broadcaster, or free-to-air if the presale is to subscription television).
  

Where the rights for a secondary window are also presold, the licence fee for this window must be at least $15,000 per broadcast half hour, excluding any equity component or broadcast rights in any Rest of World territory.

The minimum licence fees specified above assume a maximum holdback period of 18 months between the primary and secondary windows.

Regardless of the above, the producer is free to negotiate licence fees and holdbacks between multiple broadcasters (free-to-air and/or subscription), or to negotiate an exclusive licence to one broadcaster, provided the total Australian minimum licence fee is $115,000 per broadcast half hour.

Screen Australia expects the project to be made available on at least one digital media platform other than broadcast television (free-to-air or subscription). At a minimum, this could be a catch-up television service, but producers are also encouraged to consider mobile or other online platforms as part of their release strategy.

A sales agent for rest of world (ROW) must be attached on all projects.

The following scenarios illustrate how the above licence fee requirements might work.

Example 1: A children's drama program is to have its premiere window on free-to-air television. Two free-to-air broadcasters choose to jointly commission the program and share runs. The two broadcasters can divide their respective licence fee contributions as they wish, provided that the combined licence fee is at least $100,000 per broadcast half hour, entitling them to a holdback period of up to 18 months. A subscription TV channel can acquire the secondary window at a minimum licence fee of $15,000 per broadcast half hour, allowing the channel to broadcast the program 18 months after the final free-to-air run.

Example 2: The two free-to-air broadcasters from Example 1 want to commission the program exclusively, so that it will not appear on subscription television during the term of the licence – effectively buying out the subscription TV window. The two broadcasters can divide their respective licence fee contributions as they wish, apportioning the number of runs accordingly, provided that the combined licence fee is at least $115,000 per broadcast half hour. [Similarly, an individual broadcaster could also buy out the subscription TV window, as long as the total licence fee was at least $115,000.]

Example 3: A subscription channel wants to contribute to a project commissioned by a free-to-air broadcaster (to secure the second window inside the 18-month holdback period). As long as the combined licence fee is at least $115,000 this will be acceptable. The timing of the broadcasts in each window and how the licence fee is apportioned between the free-to-air and subscription are up to the parties.

Broadcaster involvement

Screen Australia will not finance children’s drama where the project has been developed by a broadcaster and sub-contracted at a later stage to a producer, except where chain of title resides with the producer.
In addition, Screen Australia expects key creatives (producer, writer, director, director of photography, editor) to be sourced from the freelance market and not from the staff of a free-to-air or subscription television channel.

Project funding available

Screen Australia will not generally invest more than $3 million for up to 26 broadcast half hours, other than in exceptional circumstances.
Limits also apply to the level of direct funding as a proportion of the project’s budget; these limits are set out in Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade.

Investment decisions

Applications are considered by Screen Australia executives, with industry specialists consulted as required. Investment decisions will be made against the following criteria, and in the context of the outlines investment and slate management principles:

• strength of the proposal, including its national and cultural significance,
  
• the project’s potential to connect with its target audience
  
• track record and capacity of the creative team;
  
• strength of the marketplace (ie level of co-finance excluding Screen Australia and the state agencies);
  
• diversity of slate.
  

Preference will be given to original formats over programs based on foreign formats.

Screen Australia will advise applicants of the success or otherwise of their application. Where an application is unsuccessful, the reasons will be conveyed to the applicant, with a written statement of reasons provided on request.

[These guidelines were issued on 3 May 2011.]