3 August 2006

Kiwi TV content up by nearly 10 percent

More local content in prime time than ever before

Local programming has broken the 7000 hour mark for the second time in New Zealand's TV history, says Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey.

The milestone has only been reached once before in 2002 with America's Cup coverage.

Steve Maharey said content played in prime time had reached its highest level ever at 2070 hours, an increase of 210 hours, or 11.3 percent since 2004.

"I want to congratulate free-to-air broadcasters on their commitment to showing high quality New Zealand content," Steve Maharey said.

"Local content hours have increased from 6423 in 2004, to 7026 in 2005.

"This is a significant achievement given the challenges of increased production costs and fragmentation of media that broadcasters are facing worldwide."

Other highlights included:

- TV One's local content increased from 51.6 percent to 54 percent (3551 hours), including 61 percent in prime time
- Prime TV introduced 571 hours of local content for the first time
- Local content hours increased by 13.6 percent, from 6187 in 2000 to 7026 in 2005
- Total first run, or new content hours increased 10 percent from 5182 hours in 2000 to 5698 in 2005

Steve Maharey said the figures were likely to increase further next year, when Maori Television is included in the reported hours.

The government provides $62 million a year for local content through NZ On Air and $15 million to TVNZ to support charter programming.

Full details available at www.nzonair.govt.nz

ENDS

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