Senator the Hon Helen Coonan

Minister for Communications,

Information Technology

and the Arts

Lights, camera, digital action!

Launch of Broadband Production Initiative projects

Sydney

Monday 11 April

It is a pleasure to be here for this very special occasion.

I am delighted to take part in the launch of the first four broadband projects under the Broadband Production Initiative.

Today we will see what happens when our film, television and new media practitioners blend their talents with broadband technologies.

By combining their skills, expertise and creativity with broadband technologies they have opened up a magical new world and I don’t put it too highly, of possibilities in entertainment and educational content.

Digital content revolution

Digital content is increasingly shaping the way we communicate in the 21st century making the digital content industry of great strategic value to Australia.

It is the digital content industry and the capabilities that digital brings, allow communication with pictures, sounds or virtual realities to happen.

Such innovations are essential to our future prosperity as a nation and their products and services will drive the take-up of technologies across our economy.

Content, for example, created for both broadband and digital television allows viewers to have the choice of either watching a show as a scheduled television program or watching it whenever the viewer wants — on demand, through a broadband connection.

Digital content places the viewer in the driver’s seat, and it is very exciting giving the consumer greater choice. The four Broadband Production Initiative projects launched today are great examples of this interactivity.

Digital Content Strategy

In 2004, the Howard Government made a commitment to develop a comprehensive Digital Content Strategy.

The objective of this strategy is to accelerate the production, distribution and marketing of digital content and applications both domestically and internationally.

The Government gave this commitment because we recognise that digital content and applications will become increasingly important—both in economic terms and as a means of expressing Australia's unique cultural identity.

Digital Content Industry Action Agenda

Last week I had the opportunity to meet with the Leaders Group of the Digital Content Industry Action Agenda – who represent a very diverse section of the Australian economy from telecommunications carriers, broadcasters, game developers and even architects.

From just the make up of this group I think that sends a message – it is clear that the digital content sector is going to have an impact on all of our lives no matter what we do!

New and innovative digital content developed in Australia has the potential to drive the take up of new technologies such as broadband. This will help Australians harness the information potential of the Internet, and sustain a competitive edge in business.

In fact, if we don’t do it we know we will simply fall behind.

It is encouraging for entrepreneurial Australians developing quality digital content, to see that a ready market in education and entertainment is rapidly evolving both in Australia and globally.

Australian Government support

The Australian Government is proud to support the Broadband Production Initiative.

The Government provided $2.1 million to the Australian Film Commission to develop broadband content production over three years between 2002 and 2004.

I am delighted, as I am sure everyone is, to be here today to see the results of this investment.

AFC and the ABC

I am also pleased to note that the AFC increased their available funding to more than $4 million by forging a partnership with the ABC and by leveraging funds from the Tasmanian Electronic Commerce Centre; the Telstra Broadband Fund; South Australian Film Commission; Adelaide Film Festival; and the Learning Federation.

This collaboration, partnership and support may well be a model for future broadband projects as I am sure that excellent relationships have been forged over the last couple of years.

The ABC is hosting these programs exclusively for 12 months on the Broadband section of ABC Online – another very good synergy. They have also made a major contribution with technical support and services.

Broadband Production Initiative projects

I know everyone here today has devoted themselves to producing these outstanding programs and your enthusiasm to make this Initiative a resounding success is of course matched by my own enthusiasm to make certain that the broadband sector reaches its full potential.

The Broadband Production Initiative has delivered high-quality Australian content for Australian audiences supplied on demand through broadband.

Four out of the seven projects commissioned have been completed and one, UsMob, an interactive drama for young viewers, went live on the ABC’s Broadband Service a couple of weeks ago.

I understand that the response to UsMob has been very positive and already people have used the site to upload their own video stories.

The other three projects include two documentaries: The Life, Times and Travels of the Extraordinary Vice-Admiral William Bligh and Dust on My Shoes and the children’s animation Dog and Cat News.

When people of considerable talent, imagination and expertise work together to harness their creativity and at the same time develop new and innovative products and services that generate wealth and employment opportunities for all Australians we are really on to something big.

I wish everyone involved in these projects every success.