Universal International Studios will close Matchbox Pictures, ending the Australian producer’s 18-year run and shifting the studio’s local presence toward project-by-project deals rather than a standing label. The company said it reached the decision after reviewing the business and current market conditions, and will keep working in Australia while changing how it develops and commissions shows.
The shutdown also affects Tony Ayres Productions, the banner launched in partnership with Matchbox and NBCUniversal in 2018, which is also slated to cease operations. Matchbox managing director Alastair McKinnon said he was “immensely proud” of the company’s output and its teams across nearly two decades.
Founded in 2008 by Tony Ayres, Penny Chapman, Helen Bowden, Michael McMahon and Helen Panckhurst, Matchbox grew from an independent outfit into a major supplier for broadcasters and streamers. NBCUniversal took a majority stake in 2011 and moved to full ownership in 2014. Its credits include The Slap, Secret City, Glitch, Safe Harbour and Stateless, plus more recent releases such as Dog Park and Netflix’s The Survivors.
The decision lands during a choppy period for Australian scripted TV. New local-content obligations for streaming services began in January, but commissioning volume remains tight. Screen Australia reported that total drama production spend hit A$2.7 billion in 2024–25, while the number of Australian titles entering production fell to 71 from 89 a year earlier; spending on Australian titles rose to A$1.1 billion, up 14%.
Screen Producers Australia chief executive Matthew Deaner called the closure “the end of a remarkable chapter” for the sector, pointing to the company’s role in launching careers for writers, producers and crew. For commissioners, the move removes a familiar, scaled-up supplier at a moment when global groups are reassessing how many permanent banners they keep in smaller markets.
