Documentary PRODUCTION
Budget ranges
Cost per Hour

Australian documentaries (not including broadcaster-produced titles)

The cost per hour for documentary titles – single and series combined – has gradually increased in the 5 years to 2021/22, averaging $401,000 p/h, a 6% increase on 2017/18. 

For series, the cost per commercial broadcast hour averaged $371,000 in the five years to 2021/22.

For single titles, the cost per commercial broadcast hour averaged $557,000 in the five years to 2021/22.

In 2021/22, the cost per hour for single titles dropped by 20% on the previous year driven by a drop in the number of higher budget single titles produced for over $1 million per hour. Cost per hour for series titles increased by 21% on 2020/21, 8% above the 5-year average.