Netflix Australia reveals $700m revenue in 2022 under new reporting system

Muster Dogs is set for a second season

Netflix’s Australian business has reported A$1.06bn (US$700m) in revenue for the year to December 2022, after changing the way it reports its local financial results.

Prior to this year, revenue in Australia was reflected as sales and fees from streaming and content support services. Netflix does not reveal local subscription numbers.

The new reporting system shows actual revenue derived from the local market and comes as the industry waits for the government to impose content quotas on all streaming platforms in Australia.

If the recommendations are accepted by the government, streamers would be forced to invest up to 20% of local revenue in locally made content. The Australian Communications and Media Authority estimates streaming services in Australia amassed a combined A$2.49bn in revenue in 2021.

The financial results, filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, reveal Netflix Australia paid A$966m to the Netflix Group in distribution fees and other costs, delivering A$22.7m before tax, and reported a profit of A$15.8m for the year.

Elsewhere, Netflix has also picked up Australian family observational reality series Muster Dogs for all of its English-speaking territories.

Screened on the ABC and iView and produced by Australia’s Ambience Entertainment, Muster Dogs follows a year in the life and training of Kelpie pups across various regional families.

The broadcaster has announced it has commissioned a second season, with production underway for a launch in 2024. ABC Commercial handles international distribution.

Monica O’Brien, Ambience Entertainment’s executive producer, told C21 that ABC Commercial is in discussions with multiple territories about adapting Muster Dogs as a format.

Ambience is currently in production on lifestyle series The Garden Hustle, which has been commissioned by the Nine Network for screening in September and October. The original format was created by O’Brien.