Screenrights has announced a record $41.8 million distribution to members in FY2023/24, and that use of the Australian Educational Licence has grown once again with usage records up more than 30% on the previous year.
“Last financial year Screenrights reached another record year in distributions, and this achievement underscores our ongoing commitment to ensuring that our members receive fair and timely remuneration for the secondary uses of their work,” said Board Chair Kim Dalton. “The evolving nature of broadcasting in the age of streaming – in particular its impact on copyright and our members – remained a key focus for Screenrights over FY24. We are encouraged by the continued engagement of the Attorney-General of Australia Mark Dreyfus KC MP, whose Copyright Roundtables have provided a platform for various stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue about potential reforms.”
Access to screen content through the Australian Educational Licence continued to set new records with an increase of over 30% in raw usage records, and an analysis of data over the four years to FY23/24 demonstrates increases across all socio-economic demographics with the biggest relative increases in the less advantaged schools. “Most notably, the divide between affluent and under-resourced schools is closing: in FY24, students in the lowest ICSEA (Index of Community SocioEducational Advantage) range are engaging with more content per capita than their wealthiest counterparts did in FY20,” said Screenrights Chief Executive James Dickinson. “We are also pleased to announce a record year for license collections of $48.6 million through our Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand licensing schemes, and significant strides in our extensive digital transformation to enhance how we manage the ever-increasing data used by our systems.”
At its AGM held remotely on Thursday 28 November, Screenrights Company Secretary Natalie Buck announced the Board election results.
One new Director and three returning Directors were elected to the Screenrights Board. Michael McMahon joins the Board and will replace Karina Holden who is stepping down after three years on the Board. Michael was a founder and first Executive Chairman of Matchbox Pictures, and is currently a Director and Executive Producer of Big and Little Films. He is a former Board Director of VicScreen and Screen Tasmania, and is an Adjunct Professor of Film and Television at Swinburne University of Technology.
Returned to the Screenrights Board are: Kim Dalton, Director since 2015 and Chair since 2019; Georgina Waite Director since 2018 and Deputy Chair since 2019; and Jonathan Carter, Authorial (Music) Director since 2017. Screenrights sincerely thanks outgoing Director Karina Holden for her contributions to the Board over her term.
Further highlights from Screenrights’ 2023/24 year in review are available here. A full copy of the Annual Report will be available once it has been tabled in Parliament.
Key Facts:
• Through our licence schemes, Screenrights distributed a record $41.8 million to members in FY2023/24
• Usage of the Australian Educational Licence jumped once again, with usage records up more than 30% on the previous year
• Growth in educational licences in both Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand offset the ongoing decline of retransmission licence income, resulting in a record year of $48.6 million in licence revenue
• Screenrights moved into a new office in Warrang, The Rocks, which was officially opened by the Attorney-General of Australia, Mark Dreyfus KC MP, enabling greater collaboration by our teams and providing spaces for industry members to work and create
• The 2023 Screenrights Cultural Fund awarded $266k to 6 initiatives fostering the creation and appreciation of screen content in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand
About us:
Screenrights is a non-profit organisation that provides rights and royalty management services to the screen industry, and facilitates access to screen content for licensees. We license Australian and NZ educators, and Australian government and pay TV retransmitters, to copy and communicate broadcast content. From the licence fees we collect, Screenrights distributes royalty payments to rightsholder members for the programs being used. Screenrights also provides services to the screen industry such as worldwide royalty collection, film and television disbursements, performer residuals management, and an annual Cultural Fund. www.screenrights.org
Contact details:
Sarah Steel
T: (02) 8038 1300
