The Future of Broadcasting
Government's vision for the future of public broadcasting in New Zealand is outlined in the report Building a Strong and Sustainable Public Broadcasting Environment for New Zealand, released in February this year.
In releasing the report, Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey said that the government's current work programme in broadcasting was now largely complete and this document sets the scene for the development of a new programme of broadcasting work for the next six years.
The framework is underpinned by a set of goals aimed at ensuring that broadcasting policies
- reflect public broadcasting principles
- strengthen public broadcasting as a key element in the broadcasting 'mixed economy'
- maintain a healthy private broadcasting and production sector
- provide a foundation for community and regional broadcasting.
Six priorities to guide public broadcasting over the next six years have been established.
These priorities are:
- achieving adequacy and certainty of public funding for broadcasting
- strengthening public broadcasting
- facilitating the successful development of digital broadcasting services
- enhancing regional and community broadcasting
- enhancing independence and responsibility in broadcasting
- enhancing the incentives for producing higher-quality content and schedules.
Tomorrow's Television
The Ministry recently hosted a broadcasting seminar in Auckland, Taking up the Challenges, Tomorrow's Television in New Zealand, in association with Māori Television, NZ On Air, TV NZ and Te Māngai Pāho.
Participants heard from a range of speakers including Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey, NZ On Air Chief Executive Jo Tyndall, Managing Director Touchdown Television Julie Christie, Chief Executive of Maori Television Jim Mather and Programming Manager of Prime Television, Andrew Shaw.
Four workshops were held in the afternoon focussing on growing the market, the public value of Maori Television, fragmentation and the digital future, and achieving quality.
The seminar provided an opportunity for a hundred senior industry practitioners and their representatives, broadcasters and media commentators to engage in productive discussion, sharing ideas and creating solutions to meet the challenges of the changing landscape of broadcasting in New Zealand.