Commercial TV increase in sports costs is seven times the local drama budget.

Commercial television is hammering to reduce the amounts of drama etc it is compelled to run. But spiralling sports costs are a much bigger problem.
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A network television accountant trying to deal with plunging profits. Image: Bottersnikes and Gumbles, made for the Seven Network by Mighty Nice and Cheeky Little Media, with CBeebies and Netflix involved as well. 

According to the free-to-air broadcasters, their income is slipping badly and they need relief from the alleged shackles of quotas and government ownership regulation. Screenhub is always sceptical about self-interested numbers, and some recent statistics allow us to do our own sums. 

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David Tiley was the Editor of Screenhub from 2005 until he became Content Lead for Film in 2021 with a special interest in policy. He is a writer in screen media with a long career in educational programs, documentary, and government funding, with a side order in script editing. He values curiosity, humour and objectivity in support of Australian visions and the art of storytelling.