RMIT University brings together researchers and screen industry to look at changes in our film and TV audience habits, streaming strategies, and policy recommendations.
A decade ago, Netflix and Stan confirmed their imminent arrival and kicked off a 'streaming war' in the Australian television sector. Our legacy broadcasters all followed audiences online in various ways.
In September, the RMIT Streaming Industries and Genres Network (SIGN) will launch with three days of events across RMIT and ACMI, kicking off a hub of new research and policy discussions around streaming and its impacts on Australian film and TV industries and audiences.
Presented in partnership with and hosted at ACMI, the Australian Content in the Streaming Era Symposium on Thursday 12 September will feature discussion panels, talks and a screening designed to catalyse conversation. SIGN researchers and industry heavyweights - including the ABC, SBS, Seven West Media, Screen Australia, and Aunty Donna - will look forward as well as back to consider how we can future-proof our local screen industries in an increasingly global marketplace.
The symposium will map how industry and policy developments have impacted creatives, distributors and the types of content produced by Australian screen industries.
The symposium will also shine a spotlight on audiences to chart how our own behaviour and habits have shifted in the era of on-demand streamed screen entertainment.
Key symposium panels include:
- Australian TV drama/comedy: Industry leaders from Screen Producers Australia, Screen Australia, the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network, and Aunty Donna (Haven't You Done Well Productions) discuss how the backbone of Australia's screen sector - drama and comedy - has evolved and what the future holds.
- Australian unscripted/reality TV: SBS's Head of Unscripted, the creator of Prepping Australia, and See Also podcast co-host and reality TV aficionado Brodie Lancaster discuss how audience habits have transformed to prioritise on-demand streaming of reality TV.
- Australian sport: Free TV, Seven's Head of Sport, and JAM TV speak about the implications of streaming on the availability, affordability and personalisation of Australian sport.
