Broadcasting

Who does this licence apply to?

• Persons or other legal entities that own and operate a radio broadcast station in the AM or FM Broadcast bands.

• Persons or other legal entities that own and operate a television broadcast station in the television broadcast bands.

Commercial broadcasting

To obtain a Spectrum Licence to transmit a broadcasting service in the MF-AM, VHF-FM, VHF-TV, and UHF-TV bands, you should make an application online or contact an independent radio engineer or certifier to apply for the licence on your behalf. A guide is available for those completing the application online.

To obtain a Radio Licence to transmit in any other broadcasting band, you should make an application online or contact an independent radio engineer or certifier to apply for the licence on your behalf. 

For applicable licence fees refer to the fees schedule.

Non-commercial broadcasting

Policy on non-commercial broadcasting, including NZ On Air, is the responsibility of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage. The Ministry for Culture and Heritage's responsibility is to ensure that an application for a non-commercial licence fulfills the criteria for non-commercial radio or television before it is granted. The Ministry for Culture and Heritage also has responsibility for the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

Māori broadcasting, including Te Māngai Pāho (Māori Broadcasting Funding Agency) is the responsibility of Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry of Māori Development).

Advice on the Government's ownership interests in relation to broadcasting, that is issues affecting the Government's interests as the owner of Television New Zealand and Radio New Zealand, is provided by the Crown Company Monitoring Advisory Unit, a branch of the Treasury.

Applications for non-commercial broadcasting licences can be submitted to Radio Spectrum Management online or contact an independent radio engineer or certifier to apply for the licence on your behalf. For applicable licence fees refer to the fees schedule.

Applicants should note that applications for non-commercial broadcasting licences will follow a consultation process with the relevant other government department as specified above, and licences are only granted upon approval from the relevant government department. Radio Spectrum Management licence engineering fees are non-refundable, and therefore it is recommended the applicant seeks advice from the relevant government department on frequency availability before submitting an application to Radio Spectrum Management.

Further information on local commercial FM broadcasting licences can be found here.

Low Power FM Radio stations

Radiocommunication transmitters intended for local-area broadcasting and known as "Lower Power FM Broadcasting Short Range Devices", or LPFM Broadcast, can operate under a General User Radio Licence.

Information on Low Power FM Broadcasting is contained in the General User Radio Licence, Low Power FM Broadcasting Short Range Devices Notice 2010 [117 kB PDF]. Licence applicants must ensure that they operate in accordance with the terms, conditions and restrictions of the LPFM notice.

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