Christopher Hughes
Research expert covering Australia and New Zealand
Media industry in Australia - statistics & facts
The media industry in Australia includes cinema, television, print and digital media and the music industry and has seen steady growth in almost every sector in recent years.
The average time spent watching television programs has seen a gradual reduction in metropolitan areas of the country in the last ten years, with the most popular live television broadcasts in these areas being sports fixtures from rugby and the Australian Football League, as well as reality television. Screen based content is primarily accessed through broadcaster catch-up services and more traditional broadcast TV.
In the music industry, revenue has seen good year on year growth since 2015, in tandem with an overall increase in music sales. Despite this increase, the worldwide trend for reduced physical sales is echoed in Australia with consumers instead opting to purchase music through digital means.
Consumption of music through digital channels is high; YouTube use for listening or watching music videos is commonplace, with a large share of the population across all age ranges using the platform. Additionally, the share of listeners to audio streaming services is increasing, with Spotify having significant market penetration.
Cinema and television
The cinema sector has seen steady growth in attendance since 2013, despite a year on year increase of the price of a ticket. This may at least be in part due to the popularity of international blockbuster films; the majority of the most successful recent titles have been successful worldwide. Additionally, most cinema screens across Australia have retained independent ownership, with chains Hoyts and Greater Union owning the next largest shares.The average time spent watching television programs has seen a gradual reduction in metropolitan areas of the country in the last ten years, with the most popular live television broadcasts in these areas being sports fixtures from rugby and the Australian Football League, as well as reality television. Screen based content is primarily accessed through broadcaster catch-up services and more traditional broadcast TV.
Print media, music, and digital media consumption
Consumption of print media in Australia mirrors the worldwide reducing demand; national newspaper consumption is low, with a comparatively small number of sales Monday to Friday, although for The Australian this number almost doubles for Saturday editions. Printed magazines also have a small regular readership, with more Australians choosing to access content via digital publications.In the music industry, revenue has seen good year on year growth since 2015, in tandem with an overall increase in music sales. Despite this increase, the worldwide trend for reduced physical sales is echoed in Australia with consumers instead opting to purchase music through digital means.
Consumption of music through digital channels is high; YouTube use for listening or watching music videos is commonplace, with a large share of the population across all age ranges using the platform. Additionally, the share of listeners to audio streaming services is increasing, with Spotify having significant market penetration.
