Broadcasting Policy in New Zealand

In 1988/89, a new broadcasting policy regime was established.

The objective of the new regime was to improve economic efficiency while ensuring that the Government's social objectives in broadcasting continued to be met.

This report considers the policy environment at the time of the broadcasting reforms, the nature of the reforms themselves, and significant developments since.

Communications Division
Ministry of Commerce

February 1997

Broadcasting Policy in New Zealand: Executive Summary

In 1988/89, a new broadcasting regime was established which was intended to improve economic efficiency in the broadcasting industry while ensuring that social objectives continued to be met. After seven years:

• the number of radio stations broadcasting separate programmes on a continuous basis has increased from 64 to approximately 184;
• all but three radio stations (National Radio, Concert FM and the AM Network) are now privately owned;
• hours of transmission on network television each year have increased from less than 10,000 to over 48,000;
• hours of New Zealand-made programmes broadcast on mainstream, free-to-air television have increased from 2111 to 5018;
• TV3 has established coverage of 97.2 per cent of the population and a new national channel, TV4, is to be established by CanWest in 1997;
• Sky Television now reaches 260,000 subscribers in the main centres and plans to offer 20-30 digital channels via satellite by the end of 1997;
• regional and cable television services have been established;
• coverage of Concert FM has increased to 94 per cent of the population;
• Te Mangai Paho, a Maori broadcasting funding agency, has been established and offers funding to 21 radio stations and has funded a pilot television station in Auckland;
• Pacific Island radio stations have been established in Auckland and Wellington;
• 11 access radio stations are now firmly established; and
• the broadcasting standards regime has been strengthened.