Jenny Buckland

Children’s television serves a purpose that goes far beyond simple entertainment. The TV we watch as kids has a profound impact, right at the time when we are developing our identity. We need to protect homegrown content in a rapidly changing landscape to make sure children grow up with Australian shows.

The organiser of the Australian Children's Content Summit promised that “it will be like school camp for the children’s screen industry”. As ACTF CEO Jenny Buckland reflects, the inaugural Summit delievered on all its original expectations in spades, leaving attendees much to think about.

The “Supporting Australian Stories” review of the screen sector attracted a groundswell of community support for Australian children’s content. Here's what some of the organisations within and around the industry had to say about kids' TV.

Part 1: This review matters to lots of people – here’s what some of them said about kids TV.

A 30+ year track record of successful Australian children’s television has proven it’s possible to attract a children’s audience for quality local content — with the right mindset. The Seven Network’s decision to stop meeting its children’s television obligations has left us questioning the network’s strategy for building future audiences.

The ACTF's CEO addresses the 2019 National Australian Literacy Educators Association (ALEA) Conference.

Almost everyone accepts that it’s time to re-visit the current C and P regulations and come up with a system that is fit for purpose – but just getting rid of them and doing nothing is not the solution, either. In the UK the Parliament and the regulator (Ofcom) are requiring the commercial free to air broadcasters to be part of the solution – here’s what Australians can learn from the UK.

What’s left if we get rid of Aussie kids' TV? According to the commercial networks, 'The Bachelor', 'Masterchef' and 'Ninja Warrior' are 'kids' shows, and will be enough!

A campaign has been launched to bring US juggernaut Sesame Street to the Sunshine State. But why try to tap into American series when we have internationally-recognised, quality-made, local children's programming on our own shores? 

Although commercial broadcasters may be seeking to wash their hands of mandated children’s TV quotas, ACTF CEO Jenny Buckland argues the way forward lies in reform, not abandonment.

What is the best way to secure Australian children’s content?

A review into Australian and children’s content is underway and the Commonwealth Government has indicated that it will actively seek community and industry responses to the complex questions around support for Australian and children’s content in the future.

The Commonwealth Government is preparing to launch a wide-ranging review of the Australian Content Standards. Even before the official announcement, the commercial broadcasters wasted no time making it clear that children’s television was their preferred target.

It’s National Children’s Week, a celebration of children’s rights, talents and citizenship. This year the Children’s Week Council has chosen Article 17 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child – children’s right to media – as its theme.

Prix Jeunesse has been running every two years in Munich since 1964. Its aim is to promote quality television for children worldwide – “television that enables children to see, hear and express themselves and their culture, and that enhances an awareness and appreciation of other cultures.”