Film, Television and Digital Games Survey

For assistance completing this survey online, refer to Survey Account Help.

The Film, Television and Digital Games Survey includes a range of businesses, varying in size and location, across the film, television and digital games industries to best reflect the performance of these industries in Australia.

All Film, Television and Digital Games Survey forms include questions on employment, income and expenditure, profit or loss and inventories. Additionally, each form has a dedicated section that is unique to their industry, with the exception of the Distribution of Film and Television, where industry specific questions have been included in the aforementioned categories.

Yes. Under the Census and Statistics Act 1905, you are obliged to provide the information requested by the ABS.  We understand this is a difficult time and we are here to help. We conduct follow-up of delayed responses and we will assist you if you are having difficulties.

Due to strict privacy policy guidelines protecting the information submitted by our data providers, we create new survey forms that do not contain previously submitted data. 

The form you receive for the Film, Television and Digital Games Survey is based on the main industry of the business, according to the ABS Business Register, information provided by Screen Australia alongside additional research. The majority of the questions asked on the Film, Television and Digital Games Survey are the same for all industries (with minor exceptions). If the survey form has some questions which don't apply to the business' industry, you should still complete the survey noting the correct business activity in the survey form.

Please complete the survey form with comments indicating the sale of the entity and the date of the sale. If the business operated by the selected entity (e.g. ABN) was sold during the reference period, then the survey should be completed using figures up to, and including, the day that the business was sold, as well as figures relating to any other new activity undertaken by the selected entity for the remainder of the financial year. Please also provide the name of the new owners. 

You will still need to submit the survey with comments stating that the business did not trade this year. You do not need to include any figures or zero values. 

Please complete the survey using figures up to, and including, the day that the business was liquidated or went into administration. It is also important to report the date that this occurred. If you are unable to access the accounts, then the liquidator or administrator should complete the survey. Where this is not possible, best available estimates of the data should be provided. It is acceptable to provide an estimate based on a percentage change from the previous year’s figures. Where estimates are not possible, or the business did not trade during the reference period, please call us on 1800 685 490 and one of our team will be happy to assist you. 

The checklist below has been included to assist with checking the information which you have supplied in the survey before submitting it to ABS. Use of the checklist may reduce the need for us to contact you with further enquiries. The points covered reflect some of the most common reporting errors.

• Are the reported numbers a headcount of persons working for the business? (Should not be FTE.) 
• Have you reported only those who worked for the business in the last pay period ending in June 2022? 
• Working proprietors and partners should only be reported for an unincorporated business, not if the business is incorporated (e.g. Pty Ltd). 

• Are all reported financial items reported in $'000s (thousands)? For example, if business income for the year were $123,456, it should be reported as 123 on the survey. 
• Have the nature and amount of the main components of 'Other...' items been provided in Other Income and Other expenses? 
• Have the values of both opening and closing inventories been reported, where applicable? 

• Have you provided comments on any unexpected activity or values in the information you have supplied. By taking the opportunity to do this you will enhance the value of the data you supply as well as minimising the chance of ABS staff being required to call you directly for clarification. 
• Have you provided an estimate of the time taken to complete this survey? (Please note that we use the time taken information to help us to design effective surveys while minimising the burden on our providers.)