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Average duration per title and average cost per hour for Australian documentaries (not including broadcaster-produced titles) (current and 2006 dollars), 1996/97–2005/06

Next update February 2009

The average duration per title for single documentaries has remained unchanged at around 0.9 commercial broadcast hours over the ten-year period, but for series it has ranged from a high of 5.0 hours (in 2003/04) to 3.4 hours (in 2000/01).

2003/04 saw a peak in production of documentary series. Several new reality-style series were launched, such as Desperately Seeking Sheila, Sensing Murder and Divorce Stories, while existing programs continued into their second and third series. The high result for series in 1999/00 (a total of 146 hours) was due to an overall increase in the number of series produced (nine of the 12 documentary titles financed by the National Council for the Centenary of Federation were produced that year), as well as several long series including Australians at War (8 x 60 minutes), Journey to the Ends of the Earth (13 x 60 minutes) and American Journey (13 x 60 minutes).

For single titles, the average cost per commercial broadcast hour has risen since 1996/97, reaching $286,539 in 2000/01 ($341,586 in 2006 dollars). It fell in 2001/02 and subsequent years, however, when no large-format titles were produced, but rose again in 2005/06 with the production of several high-budget titles, such as The Secret, Bom Bali and Night. For documentary series, the average cost per commercial broadcast hour has ranged between $110,173 in 1997/98 ($140,552 in 2006 dollars) and $262,952 in 1998/99 ($334,037 in 2006 dollars).

Over the ten-year period, 75 per cent of series hours have been made for less than $300,000 per hour (actual running time) and 22 per cent for less than $100,000 per hour. Only 5 per cent cost more than $600,000 per hour.

See ‘Proportion of series hours in various budget ranges1’ below.

Average cost per commercial broadcast hour
for single titles

Average cost per commercial broadcast hour
for series

 

 

Graph: Average cost per hour for single titles. Table following provides the data.

Graph: Average cost per hour for series. Table following provides the data.



No. produced Duration (hrs)1 Average per title (hrs)2 Average cost per hour
Current $3 2006$4
Single titles
1996/97 134 121 0.90 220,597 284,933
1997/98 136 130 0.96 240,855 307,268
1998/99 123 112 0.91 265,685 337,509
1999/00 133 115 0.86 283,686 353,220
2000/01 125 109 0.87 286,539 341,586
2001/02 126 109 0.87 242,270 282,402
2002/03 124 112 0.91 221,663 250,325
2003/04 112 97 0.86 251,564 274,785
2004/05 92 95 1.03 265,710 278,714
2005/06 81 80 0.99 412,021 412,021
Series
1996/97 17 60 3.55 222,409 287,136
1997/98 14 52 3.72 110,173 140,552
1998/99 18 80 4.43 262,952 334,037
1999/00 30 146 4.85 172,602 214,908
2000/01 27 91 3.38 138,364 164,945
2001/02 18 68 3.80 205,341 239,355
2002/03 31 109 3.53 225,704 254,888
2003/04 33 166 5.03 225,718 246,552
2004/05 34 162 4.77 196,554 206,173
2005/06 32 132 4.11 202,791 202,791

Source: Australian Film Commission (AFC).

Notes:
1. Duration calculated on commercial broadcast running time of program in minutes.
2. Calculated by dividing total number of hours by the number of titles.
3. Calculated by dividing total production value by the number of hours.
4. Calculated by dividing total adjusted production budgets by number of hours. Real dollar figures have been adjusted for inflation using the Non-farm GDP Deflator. This index was used in preference to the Consumer Price Index as it more accurately reflects cost increases experienced by the film industry.

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Proportion of series hours in various budget ranges1

Graph: Proportion and total of series hours in various budget ranges, 1998/99-2005/06. Table following provides the data.

Proportion of series hours
Under $100k/hr $100k–$300k/hr $300k–$600k/hr Over $600k/hr
1996/97 15% 44% 35% 6%
1997/98 47% 47% 6% 0%
1998/99 28% 21% 41% 10%
1999/00 44% 30% 20% 6%
2000/01 45% 36% 19% 0%
2001/02 10% 71% 15% 4%
2002/03 14% 64% 12% 10%
2003/04 6% 59% 35% <1%
2004/05 5% 82% 7% 6%
2005/06 7% 65% 24% 4%
Total 20% 54% 21% 5%

Source: Australian Film Commission (AFC).

Notes:
1. Hours are calculated on actual running time of programs in minutes.

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