news flash
July 8, 2008
MEDIA RELEASE - $4 MILLION RETRANSMISSION PAYMENTS MADE BY SCREENRIGHTS
End of financial year announcement
Copyright owners in film and television broadcast in Australia are benefiting from a new source of income. Screenrights has distributed more than $A4million in retransmission royalties in the period 21 December 2007 - 30 June 2008.
In announcing the distribution today Screenrights Chief Executive Simon Lake said “this is a great achievement and we are pleased that such a significant return is being made to the industry at large. Increasingly copyright owners rely on a diverse range of income to continue to invest in program making – retransmission will be a strong ongoing source of income.”
In Australia, retransmission royalties are generated when the pay television companies (cable networks) pick up a free-to-air broadcast signal and provide it as part of their service. When a program is broadcast on a channel that is retransmitted, royalties are generated for that program.
Speaking in Sydney today, Chief Operating Officer for CTC Productions Mark Fawcett welcomed the payment saying “CTC Productions has been making much loved Aussie programs like Burke’s Backyard and Backyard Blitz for the best part of 20 years.
“The retransmission payments we receive from Screenrights help us to fund more great programs for Australians to enjoy. Our sincere thanks go to Screenrights for all the work they do in the collection and distribution of retransmission royalties, an important new revenue stream for us.”
Emma Rogers, Screenrights Member Services Executive, has overseen the distribution. "We're distributing royalties back from 2001 through to 2007, with more royalties being released in December each year. If you have programs broadcast on the television you should register them with Screenrights."
Who is entitled to claim retransmission royalties?
If you own or control the right to retransmit a program in Australia you should register the program for retransmission royalties with Screenrights.
http://www.screen.org/rightsholders/retransmission.php
For interview or further information, please contact:
Simon Lake
Chief Executive - Screenrights
M 0413 057 860
Virginia Gordon
Public Affairs – Screenrights
M 0414 389 551
