Explore alternative financing and budgeting to keep indie TV thriving amid rising production costs and a challenging market.

Australia’s independent TV sector has long excelled at delivering quality programs on relatively modest budgets of around $1–1.5 million per hour. However, surging production costs have driven those budgets up beyond $2m per hour and made financing more complex than ever before.

In this session, a panel of seasoned finance experts and experienced producers will examine innovative financing solutions, fresh budgeting approaches, and unconventional funding sources that can sustain independent television production despite skyrocketing expenses. From equity partnerships and new co-production models to self-distribution, the panellists will share firsthand insights on navigating these shifting financial landscapes. They’ll address how careful planning, strategic partnerships, and adaptive production methods can help keep Australian indie TV alive and thriving in an intensely competitive global market.

Session moderated and produced by Andy Barclay, Screen Producers Australia