Mark
17-12-04, 05:51 PM
The Australian Broadcasting Authority has released guidelines on how it will interpret ‘documentary’ for the purposes of the Australian Content Standard.
The standard applies to commercial television broadcasters, and requires, amongst other things, that broadcasters show at least 20 hours of documentary programming per year.
‘Changes in program formats for factual programming have made it increasingly difficult to determine what a documentary is,’ said Lyn Maddock, ABA Acting Chair. “The ABA acknowledges that television formats will continue to change and evolve, but hopes the guidelines will provide greater certainty for producers and broadcasters in this area..’
The Australian Content Standard defines documentary as ‘a program that is a creative treatment of actuality other than a news, current affairs, sports coverage, magazine, infotainment or light entertainment program’.
The guidelines elaborate on this definition. They look at what might constitute a ‘creative treatment’, and consider various programming types against the creative treatment test. They also seek to define characteristics for program types excluded from the definition.
The call for guidelines came out of a major review of the Australian Content Standard in 2001. This review concluded that, while the definition of documentary was broadly appropriate, guidance was needed as to the types of programming that would meet the definition.
The finalisation of the guidelines concludes a process that has included consultation with television broadcasters, the production industry, and film policy and funding agencies.
The guidelines are available on the ABA website.
http://www.aba.gov.au/abanews/news_releases/2004/168nr04.htm
The standard applies to commercial television broadcasters, and requires, amongst other things, that broadcasters show at least 20 hours of documentary programming per year.
‘Changes in program formats for factual programming have made it increasingly difficult to determine what a documentary is,’ said Lyn Maddock, ABA Acting Chair. “The ABA acknowledges that television formats will continue to change and evolve, but hopes the guidelines will provide greater certainty for producers and broadcasters in this area..’
The Australian Content Standard defines documentary as ‘a program that is a creative treatment of actuality other than a news, current affairs, sports coverage, magazine, infotainment or light entertainment program’.
The guidelines elaborate on this definition. They look at what might constitute a ‘creative treatment’, and consider various programming types against the creative treatment test. They also seek to define characteristics for program types excluded from the definition.
The call for guidelines came out of a major review of the Australian Content Standard in 2001. This review concluded that, while the definition of documentary was broadly appropriate, guidance was needed as to the types of programming that would meet the definition.
The finalisation of the guidelines concludes a process that has included consultation with television broadcasters, the production industry, and film policy and funding agencies.
The guidelines are available on the ABA website.
http://www.aba.gov.au/abanews/news_releases/2004/168nr04.htm