The PricewaterhouseCoopers Australian Entertainment & Media Outlook 2003-2007 is the second edition of Australia’s most comprehensive forecast of the local entertainment and media industry.
This edition builds upon last year's inaugural edition by offering greater coverage of the global sector and reviews issues, economic analysis and trends to forecast changes in 11 industry segments. The report provides a detailed local supplement to the PricewaterhouseCoopers Global Entertainment and Media Outlook, which is currently in its fourth edition.
Key issues and trends
Filmed entertainment
Covering the rapid expansion of Australia's soundstage capacity, the stagnation of cinema admissions in 2002 despite the release of four the highest-grossing films of all time, and the current success of DVD technology offsetting the effects of piracy and boosting industry growth.
Free-to-air television
Reviews the notion of free-to-air having the strongest advertising growth in light of increased media competition, regulation governing Australian content and regional news, and the failure of digital free-to-air to fulfil its promise.
Subscription television
Looks at the Foxtel/Optus Content Supply Agreement (CSA), the movement of same audience measurement to that of free-to-air television to lift advertising on subscription, and the provision of more channels, interactivity and on-demand movies from digitised services.
Radio
Addressing the release of new FM licenses in Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne over the next 12 months, the introduction of electronic audience measurement, consumer trials of digital radio and the slack in commercial roll-out.
Out-of-home advertising
Considers the oversupply of inventory following the 2000 Sydney Olympics restraining rates and revenue growth, the overall impact of innovations for on-board videos in elevators, and consensus on an audience measurement system to increase advertiser confidence in the effectiveness of out-of-home advertising.
Newspapers
Visits the continual decline of the newspaper advertising share in light of positive growth, the lure of visual elements and lift-outs to attract new readers and boost usage in existing customers, and the industry benefit of deregulation.
Magazines
Examines the continual evolution and life cycle of the Australian magazine industry, the role of increased prices in returning the industry to positive growth, and the drive of incremental circulation through non-core distribution channels such as supermarkets.
Recorded music
Studying the fall in music retail sales due to piracy, the impact of the DVD boom on sales growth, and the challenge of convincing music lovers of the benefits of purchasing music online through digital subscription services.
Internet
Summarises the up-take of broadband services and the strength of its forecasted growth, the return of internet advertising to positive growth due to improvements in content and measurement technology, and the role of Government intervention in defining the structure and operation of the Internet in areas such as gambling and spamming.
Interactive games
Inspects the price-war from console manufacturers attempting to gain maximum penetration from games and online gambling, Australia's strong reputation in the games development industry due to support from State governments, the lack of concern amongst governments and regulators to thwart piracy, and a lack of an 'R' classification category.
Consumer books
Assesses the Australian consumer book industry as plagued be the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the weak Australian dollar, the overwhelming success of Harry Potter and its crucial role in the Australian consumer book industry, and the constraints affecting the growth of e-books.
