Australia’s subscription television industry contributed $2.4 billion to the national economy in 2025 and supported more than 15,700 full-time equivalent jobs.

According to the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA), which has released its latest economic contribution report for calendar year 2025, Australians watched a combined 2.6 billion hours of subscription television content throughout the year.

The report, prepared by Deloitte, revealed that Aussies watched an average of 10.4 hours of subscription TV content per subscriber each week, with locally produced programming making up 36 per cent of total viewing.

Paid subscription streaming services continued to dominate the Australian media landscape, with 68 per cent of Australians watching paid streaming platforms during 2025. Subscription streaming also remained the most popular media platform, ahead of user-generated and short-form online video services and free-to-air TV.

Sport was the most-watched content category across subscription TV and streaming, attracting one billion hours of viewing throughout 2025. 

Next was news, factual programming and documentaries with 490 million hours consumed, while light entertainment accounted for 428 million hours.

The report also highlighted the industry’s consistent economic contribution, with subscription television having generated more than $2 billion in economic value annually since 2019.

Beyond direct economic returns, Australian screen productions continue to deliver substantial benefits to local communities, supporting employment, regional businesses and tourism.

A number of examples were highlighted in the report, including the second season of High Country, which supported 895 Victorian screen workers, and the second season of The Twelve, which was described as the biggest drama production of its kind ever filmed in Western Australia.

The latter contributed $9.6 million in value to the WA economy and supported more than 650 jobs.

ASTRA Chairman Peter O’Connell said subscription television remained an important contributor to Australia’s media, sporting and screen industries, providing economic value while supporting content that audiences want to watch.

He said changing viewing habits and increased competition across digital platforms means government policy needs to evolve alongside the industry.

O’Connell called for modernisation of the anti-siphoning scheme and a level playing field across all platforms to protect audience choice and encourage continued investment in Australian sport, entertainment, innovation and employment.

ASTRA members supporting the report include BBC Studios Australia, ESPN Australia, Foxtel Group, News24 (formerly Sky News Australia) and Warner Bros. Discovery.