Streaming services step away from LGBTQIA+ categories this pride month

Streaming services step away from LGBTQIA+ categories this pride month

As Pride Month comes to an end, questions have been raised about a shift away from visible corporate brand activations, including pride categories on streaming services. An RMIT expert explains that while streaming services are important in the distribution and prominence of queer television, public service broadcasters play a vital role in making diverse and ambitious stories available.

Dr Damien O’Meara, School of Media and Communication:

“The idea that streaming platforms are leading the way in diverse and queer representation is rooted in US television models. In Australia, streamers are only just beginning to catch up.

“So when it comes to prominent, locally grounded stories, the ABC and SBS continue to deliver the greatest value, particularly in the sheer volume of Australian dramas they commission and produce. Meanwhile, commercial broadcasters have seen a downturn in the total hours of local drama produced in recent years.

“This raises important questions about the ongoing role of the ABC and SBS in shaping Australian stories and culture. In an increasingly risk adverse market where streamers are trying to balance local relevance with international appeal, it’s often locally focused productions, such as ABC’s The Newsreader, that end up resonating globally. 

“A series like The Newsreader, a relationship-driven drama exploring mental health and sexuality in a 1980s Australian newsroom, is the kind of project that might not be made without a public broadcaster prioritising local audiences. Despite this, its appeal is broader than the local market it was created for.

“It may be time to recognise that our public service broadcasters give us a lot, often under less-than-ideal conditions, particularly when it comes to commissioning ambitious, high-quality drama that would be considered too risky within a commercial subscription model.”

Dr Damien O’Meara’s research investigates communication, brand and visibility in creative industries. He examines how creative workers and media institutions construct and negotiate identity, create value, define and reach audiences, and include underrepresented communities onscreen. 

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General media enquiries: RMIT External Affairs and Media, 0439 704 077 or news@rmit.edu.au

30 June 2026

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30 June 2026

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