The ABC can make more money, says its new ex-Netflix content boss
The ABC should earn more money through bigger, bolder and more expensive bets on films and TV, the public broadcaster’s new content boss says.
Former Netflix executive Chris Oliver-Taylor joined the ABC in March this year to lead the new, 1700-strong content division that was created in a major restructure in July. It has about a third of the ABC’s $1.1 billion annual government-funded budget, which is divided between the news division, run by Justin Stevens, and transmission and infrastructure costs.
The ABC’s new chief content officer, Chris Oliver-Taylor.
The ABC has the biggest creative team in the country and commissions the most scripted content, Mr Oliver-Taylor said. In 2021-22, the ABC spent $177 million of its own budget and secured $144 million in other funding for Australian content, its annual report shows. But that is not reflected on the balance sheet – it generated just $21 million from selling content, and $41 million from all its sales areas.
To put this in perspective, BBC Studios, the juggernaut production arm of the BBC, reported £1.6 billion ($3.07 billion) in revenue over the same time, including £800 million from exporting shows, according to its filings. It was the top international TV distributor outside Hollywood.
“I think there is additional money to be made for the ABC,” Mr Oliver-Taylor said, adding: “And for the producer. Because if we can get those shows to really sell around the world, then the producer will be in first position to make some money and will be an investor in the show. And we’ll take our fair cut in due course.”
Had the ABC taken a stake in Bluey, which it funded early on and which went on to become one of the most successful children’s shows in the world, it would have
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