Streaming services now have to fund Australian stories. Here is how it works

The biggest streaming services now have a legal duty to spend money on new Australian programs. The requirement puts streamers in a similar position to free-to-air and subscription television, which already have local content rules.

What the law says

Parliament passed the Communications Legislation Amendment (Australian Content Requirement for Subscription Video On Demand (Streaming) Services) Bill in November 2025, as the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts announced on 28 November.

According to the Office for the Arts, major streaming services with at least one million Australian subscribers must invest at least:

• 10 per cent of their total program spending for Australia, or

• 7.5 per cent of their Australian revenue

in new local drama, children's, documentary, arts and educational programs.

Which services are covered

The investment rule applies to services with more than one million subscribers that meet the other conditions in the law. Those services must report every year to the Australian Communications and Media Authority, which administers the requirement.

Services with between 250,000 and one million paying subscribers do not have to spend a set amount. They must notify the regulator and give it information about their service.

What counts as an Australian program

The law uses the same definition of an Australian program that already applies to commercial free-to-air and other subscription television. That definition comes from the Broadcasting Services (Australian Content and Children's Television) Standards 2020. Using the existing test means streamers are judged by the same yardstick as broadcasters.

Why it matters

For viewers, the aim is more Australian stories wherever you watch. The Office for the Arts says the requirement ensures that, whichever service Australians use, they have greater access to Australian stories.

For the screen industry, a guaranteed minimum spend offers more certainty for producers, writers, actors and crews. Alongside the new law, the department announced a $50 million boost for the ABC over three years from 2026–27 to support new Australian children's and drama content.

What we do not know yet

It is too early to judge the results. The first annual reports from streamers to the regulator will show how much was spent and on what. Questions worth watching include:

• whether spending goes mostly to a few large drama series or is spread across genres

• how much reaches children's programs

• how services choose between the program-spending and revenue-based measures.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has published guidance for streamers on how the requirement works.

This explainer draws on official Government sources. It is general information.