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Local content programming on New Zealand televisionDefinitionThe number of hours of local content screened on New Zealand television channels during prime-time (6pm to 10pm), as a proportion of the total prime-time schedule. Local content is generally defined as material that is both predominantly made in New Zealand and reflective of New Zealand identity and culture. From 2005 the indicator includes information from Māori Television Service and Prime Television, in addition to the core channels of TV One, TV2 and TV3. From 2006 it also includes information from C4. RelevanceTelevision is the dominant cultural medium for most New Zealanders. The 1998/1999 Time Use Survey indicated that New Zealanders spend almost two hours a day watching television or videos.86 Ninety-eight per cent of New Zealand households have at least one television set.87 For many people, television is a major source of news, information and entertainment and strongly influences their sense of local and national identity. A local content measure reflects the extent to which we see our culture reflected through this medium. Current level and trendsIn 2008, local content on six national free-to-air television channels made up 42 per cent of the prime-time schedule – just under the figure recorded in 2007 (43 per cent). The proportion of local content on the three main free-to-air channels rose from 24 per cent in 1988 to a peak of 42 per cent in 1994, before dropping to 35 per cent in 1995. It reached 42 per cent again in 2003 and 2004. The fall to 38 per cent in 2005 was mainly attributable to the inclusion of Prime Television which had a low level of local content. The subsequent addition of more local sport to Prime Television’s schedule and to those of other free-to-air channels, along with the inclusion of C4’s local entertainment programming, were important factors behind the increase in 2006. The percentage of local content in prime-time transmission hours in 2008 differs across the channels: TV One: 58 per cent, TV2: 19 per cent, TV3: 43 per cent, Prime: 15 per cent, Māori Television: 62 per cent, and C4: 57 per cent. Between 2007 and 2008, percentages of local content in prime-time television declined for TV2, TV3, and Prime, increased for TV One and C4, and remained steady for Māori Television. Figure Cl1.1 Proportion of local content on prime-time television, 1988–2008
Source: NZ On Air Four programme types accounted for over three-quarters of the local content hours in 2008: news and current affairs (32 per cent), entertainment (16 per cent), information programmes (15 per cent) and sports (15 per cent). This was similar to the pattern in 2007, although news and current affairs programmes accounted for a greater proportion of local programming in 2008. Table CI1.1 Percentage share of total hours of local content, by programme type, selected years, 1988–2008
Source: NZ On Air International comparisonInternational comparisons are difficult due to the inconsistencies in measurement approaches by different countries. However, in 1999, local content accounted for 24 per cent of total transmission time in New Zealand, a smaller proportion than that in 10 other surveyed countries. This was compared to the United States (90 per cent), the United Kingdom (BBC only, 78 per cent), Canada (60 per cent), Norway (56 per cent), Finland (55 per cent), Australia (which mandates a local content transmission quota of 55 per cent on all free-to-air commercial networks) and Ireland (RTE only, 41 per cent).88 Note this is a measure of total air-time programming rather than prime-time programming, which is the measure this indicator is based on. » View technical details about the local content programming on New Zealand television indicator |
