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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. A 2009 survey indicated that New Zealanders spend more than three hours a day watching television.88 Ninety-eight percent of New Zealand households have at least one television set.89 For many people, television is a major source of news, information and entertainment and it 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 2009, local content on six national free-to-air television channels made up 39 percent of the prime-time schedule. This is below the figure recorded in 2008 (42 percent). The proportion of local content on the three main free-to-air channels rose from 24 percent in 1988 to a peak of 42 percent in 1994, before dropping to 35 percent in 1995. It reached 42 percent again in 2003 and 2004. The fall to 38 percent 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 2009 differs across the channels: TV One: 51 percent, TV2: 20 percent, TV3: 44 percent, Prime: 13 percent, Māori Television: 54 percent, and C4: 53 percent. Between 2008 and 2009, percentages of local content in prime-time television declined for TV1, Prime, Māori Television and C4 and increased slightly for TV2 and TV3. Figure CI1.1 Proportion of local content on prime-time television, 1988–2009
Source: NZ On Air Four programme types accounted for over three-quarters of the total local content hours in 2009: news and current affairs (33 percent), information programmes (15 percent), sports (14 percent) and entertainment (14 percent). This was similar to the pattern in 2008. Table CI1.1 Percentage share of total hours of local content, by programme type, selected years, 1988–2009
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 percent 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 percent), the United Kingdom (BBC only, 78 percent), Canada (60 percent), Norway (56 percent), Finland (55 percent), Australia (which mandates a local content transmission quota of 55 percent on all free-to-air commercial networks) and Ireland (RTE only, 41 percent).90 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 |
