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

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

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.

Proportion of series hours in various budget ranges¹

Source: Australian Film Commission (AFC).

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