MEDIACOM-RELEASE-NZ-ON-AIR

NZ On Air has welcomed the Government's announcement today of an extra $7 million for New Zealand music, television and radio.

The announcement includes $2 million tagged to the development and promotion of New Zealand music, and the balance - $5 million - for television and radio initiatives.

NZ On Air chief executive Jo Tyndall said the organisation was delighted to have its funding for New Zealand music initiatives effectively doubled.

"This is great news. It will enable us to build on the great progress we are making in getting New Zealand music onto commercial radio.

"Our strategy will coordinate with and complement the work of the New Zealand Music Commission, which the Government has also announced today."

Ms Tyndall said the $5 million additional funding for television and radio programmes would begin to make up for the decline in funding that the organisation had suffered over the last decade.

"This extra funding gives us some breathing space," she said.

Ms Tyndall said this was the first time in five years that NZ On Air had been able to say something positive about its funding.

"In real terms our funding base has been gradually eroded over this time. This year, for the first time, we will have a little bit more."

The Government also confirmed today that it would provide compensatory funding to make up the shortfall which resulted from the abolition of the Public Broadcasting Fee.

"This shortfall funding is a great relief. It means we can meet our prior funding commitments, which were made on the basis of anticipated income, before the Fee was abolished. Without it, we would have been forced to cut back on funding initiatives next year."

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