Australia Yearbook - 2001

776 Year Book Australia 2001
Film industry
Film and video production
As part of the cultural industries program of
collections undertaken in 1996–97, the ABS
conducted a survey of the film and video
production industry. This industry covers
businesses mainly engaged in the production of
motion pictures on film or video tape for theatre
or television. Also included are businesses mainly
providing production services such as casting,
film editing and titling. This was the second ABS
survey of the industry, following a survey in
respect of 1993–94.
As shown in table 21.37, there were 2,003
businesses in the film and video production
industry at 30 June 1997, a 70% increase on the
1,179 businesses in the industry at 30 June 1994.
Employment increased by 57% to 9,438 persons
in the three year period from 30 June 1994, of
whom 62% were employed full-time.
The film and video production industry
generated $1,129m in total income for 1996–97,
of which $681m (60% of total income) was from
the production of commissioned works.
The industry recorded an operating loss of $67m
for 1996–97, representing an operating profit
margin of –6.1%. This was a considerable
improvement on the results for 1993–94 when
the industry had an operating loss of $98m and
an operating profit margin of –21.0%.
Table 21.38 shows that the main activity of
businesses in the industry was making
productions specifically for television ($533m),
which accounted for 55% of the total value of
production activity in 1996–97 ($977m).
The other major activities were the production
of commercials and advertisements ($197m) and
feature films ($192m) which each accounted for
20% of total activity.
Film and video distribution
In conjunction with the survey of the film and
video production industry, the ABS also
conducted a survey of employing businesses in
the film and video distribution industry in respect
of 1996–97. The industry is made up of
businesses mainly engaged in leasing or
wholesaling motion pictures on film or video tape
to organisations for exhibition or sale. It also
includes channel providers to pay television
operators. The ABS had undertaken a previous
survey of this industry in respect of 1993–94.
As shown in table 21.39, the industry is small with
only 66 businesses, compared with 69 businesses
operating at 30 June 1994. Employment in the
industry increased by 37% to 1,341 persons over
the three year period to 30 June 1997. The great
majority (83%) of persons were employed
full-time.
Total income of the industry in 1996–97 was
$974m, an increase of 52% over 1993–94. A major
contributing factor to this increase was the
emergence during the period of pay television
channel provider businesses, which generated
$156m in subscriber income in 1996–97.
21.37 FILM AND VIDEO PRODUCTION INDUSTRY—1996–97
Units 1993–94 1996–97 % change
Businesses at 30 June no. 1 179 2 003 69.9
Employment at 30 June
Full-time persons n.a. 5 857 n.a.
Part-time persons n.a. 3 581 n.a.
Total persons 5 998 9 438 57.4
Income
Income from the production of commissioned works $m 239.8 681.3 184.1
Income from the provision of production and post-production services $m 184.0 222.6 21.0
Other income $m 183.9 224.6 22.1
Total $m 607.7 1 128.5 85.7
Expenses
Labour costs $m 203.6 351.7 72.8
Income from the provision of post-production/film laboratory services $m 62.5 73.0 16.8
Other expenses $m 439.8 770.7 75.2
Total $m 705.8 1 195.5 69.4
Operating profit/loss before tax $m –98.1 –66.9 31.8
Operating profit margin % –21.0 –6.1 . .
Source: Film and Video Production and Distribution, Australia, 1996–97 (8679.0).