More Kiwis than ever watching locally made TV

MEDIA RELEASE - for immediate release

7 May 2009

More New Zealanders than ever watching locally made TV

NZ On Air’s annual survey of the amount of local content on New Zealand television has found that more New Zealanders than ever are tuning in to locally made TV.

The Local Content Report 2008 released today found that more than 11,600 hours of local programming screened in 2008 on the six national free to air channels. This is the highest level recorded to date and a 7% increase on last year. Thirty-four percent of the free to air schedules feature programmes by Kiwis, for Kiwis.

Chief executive Jane Wrightson said that healthy competition in the broadcast sector was driving excellent on-screen results. 

“NZ On Air has compiled this report for the twenty years of our existence,” she said. “The comparison is remarkable. In 1989, the year the contestable funding system was being designed, only 59 hours of drama screened. In 2008 it was 711 hours. It’s the same for children’s programmes: 464 hours in 1989 compared to 1,047 hours in 2008. And the documentary figures are staggering: 34 local hours in 1989, 691 hours in 2008.”

“New Zealanders’ desire to see themselves reflected on screen remains undiminished’, she said.

NZ On Air invests over $80 million into local programmes each year, along with broadcasters and other funding sources. “What’s especially good this year is that first-run hours increased by over 8%,” said Ms Wrightson.  TV One screened the most local content - nearly 4,000 hours - and Maori Television came second, with over 2,600 hours.
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