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Australian Children’s Content Summit comes at critical time

Local and international delegates from the children’s and family entertainment industry will come together later this month for the inaugural Australian Children’s Content Summit.

The three-day event, presented by SLR Productions with Principal Partner the Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF), will provide a chance for creatives and industry executives from around the world to engage, connect and encourage business in the vibrant children’s, family and young adult entertainment and media sector.

SLR Productions CEO and Australian Children’s Content Summit founder Suzanne Ryan said: “The Australian Children’s Content Summit is proving to be an exciting event with 250 delegates registered, including buyers, distributors, producers, creators, investors, government funding bodies, and educators. This is a unique opportunity to gather and connect with peers, potential partners, and experts from various parts of Australia and international executives.

“The summit has created an agenda that allows exclusive content pitching, bespoke marketplace meetings, speakers from Canada, USA, UK, Europe, and Australia. ACCS promises a fun and engaging environment, allowing attendees to forge meaningful connections and collaborations in a relaxed setting.”

The event comes at a critical time for the Australian children’s television industry, as new data shows the amount of local children’s content created and broadcast by our free-to-air networks is in freefall, and the federal government considers the terms of imminent local content quota obligations on SVODs.

According to the latest Australian Media and Communications Authority report, locally made children’s content decreased by more than 84% between 2019 and 2022. This is primarily due to a decision from the Coalition government to abandon the quota for children’s free-to-air television in 2020. Currently, there is no mandate for any broadcaster or platform to show local children's content.

As part of the Labor government’s National Cultural Policy, Revive, streaming services will soon be subject to quota obligations - and the government will consider a specific quota for children's content within these requirements.

ACTF CEO Jenny Buckland said: “The screen industry is transforming rapidly as viewers turn to streaming services, and children’s content is especially vulnerable within the broader environment with no current regulation to ensure its existence. Australia creates exceptional children’s television which is not only extremely successful, but truly nation building. We are excited to be bringing together passionate, experienced individuals from all over the world to build new relationships, collaborate on new ideas and join forces to meet the challenges facing the industry.”

The Australian Children’s Content Summit will be held in Coffs Harbour, NSW, from 29-31 August. You can find more information and purchase tickets here.

The Australian Children’s Content Summit is presented by SLR Productions with Principal Partner, the Australian Children's Television Foundation. The major Government partner is Screen Australia and is supported by Screen NSW and the Department of Regional NSW. Corporate sponsors include Fulcrum Media Finance, Simpsons, Hayes Knight, Silver Trak Digital, Count Out Loud, Klang and Scout Management.

Industry support is being provided by Australian Children’s Producers, Screen Producers Australia and Screenworks with the regional support of the City of Coffs Harbour and the National Cartoon Gallery.