Mass Media
Source: New Zealand Official Yearbook 2000. Please note, this information may now be out of date.
Broadcasting policy
In 1988 the Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand was replaced with two state-owned enterprises, Radio New Zealand Limited (RNZ) and Television New Zealand Limited (TVNZ), each with its own management board. TVNZ was required to vest its transmission assets in a subsidiary company, Broadcast Communications Limited (BCL).
The Broadcasting Act 1989 established the Broadcasting Commission (NZ On Air) and the Broadcasting Standards Authority. It provided for election broadcasting and restricted the scope for political intervention in the management or programming of TVNZ or RNZ.
Te Mängai Päho, the Mäori broadcasting funding agency, was established by the Broadcasting Amendment Act 1993 to provide funding to promote Mäori language and culture through broadcasting. For the year ended 30 June 1999 $8.6 million was allocated to Mäori television. In addition, $8.1 million was allocated to Mäori radio to fund 20 Mäori radio stations and a range of programmes that were produced by national programme providers to supplement local Mäori radio programming.
Limits on overseas shareholdings in New Zealand broadcasting companies were removed in 1991.
Broadcasting Commission (NZ On Air): Irirangi te Motu
The commission's role is to promote cultural and social objectives in broadcasting and other activities unlikely to receive sufficient commercial provision. Its statutory objectives are to:
- Reflect and develop New Zealand identity and culture by promoting programmes about New Zealand and New Zealand interests and promoting Mäori language and culture.
- Maintain and, where considered appropriate, extend television and radio coverage to New Zealand communities that otherwise would not receive a commercially viable signal.
- Ensure that a range of programmes is available to provide for the interests of women, children, people with disabilities and other minorities, including ethnic minorities.
- Encourage the establishment and operation of archives of programmes that are likely to be of historical interest in New Zealand.
NZ On Air fulfils these objectives by providing funds for broadcasting, production of programmes and archiving of programmes. Since July 2000 this funding has come from general taxation. Previously the Public Broadcasting Fee was levied on each household with a television set.
The members of the Broadcasting Commission are appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Minister of Communications.
In 1998/99, NZ On Air spent $42.8 million on the production of television programmes; $23.7 million on National Radio, Concert FM and access radio services; and $12.4 million on Mäori broadcasting. It also spent $2.1 million on remote television and radio coverage, $2.0 million on New Zealand music projects and $1.0 million on broadcasting archives.
NZ on Air
Broadcasting standards
Broadcasting standards and objectives specified by the Broadcasting Act 1989 are overseen and enforced by the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA), which is a Crown entity. The four members of the authority are appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Minister of Communications. The authority's functions are to:
- Encourage broadcasters to develop and observe codes on the protection of children; the portrayal of violence; fair and accurate programming and procedures for correcting factual errors and redressing unfairness; restrictions on the promotion of liquor; safeguards in the area of human rights; and the presentation of appropriate warnings.
- Develop other codes where appropriate.
- Conduct research and publish findings.
In relation to complaints, the authority:
- Hears and determines formal complaints against broadcasters when the complainant is dissatisfied with the action taken by broadcasters, or when there are issues of individual privacy.
- Publishes its findings.
- ay impose penalties (the most severe being a 24-hour restriction on broadcasting).
There are appeal rights to the High Court against the authority's decisions.
Complaints about the standard of advertising on radio and television are handled by the Advertising Standards Authority.
Election broadcasting
The Electoral Commission is responsible for allocating political parties free broadcasting time and funding party political-advertising broadcasts before an election.
Mäori broadcasting
Frequencies suitable for radio and television were reserved throughout New Zealand for the promotion of Mäori language and culture.
Te Mängai Päho, a broadcasting funding agency, has primary responsibility for the allocation of public funding for Mäori broadcasting. This currently includes support for Mäori language programming on TVNZ, iwi radio stations and some Mäori radio programming available on a networked basis.
Te Mängai Päho
Television broadcasting
Television New Zealand (TVNZ)
TVNZ operates two national channels (TV ONE and TV2), and has several subsidiary companies.
A state-owned enterprise, TVNZ is charged with being a commercially successful business. It must act with social responsibility to provide quality services. This responsibility applies to providing television programmes which reflect and foster New Zealand's identity and culture and are in the overall national interest.
The chief executive reports to a board of directors appointed by government.
TVNZ broadcasts its services to approximately 1.126 million households, and has almost 100 percent coverage of the New Zealand population and 70 percent audience share. Its channels broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
TV ONE aims to provide quality New Zealand and overseas drama, news, sport and information programming. TV2's mix of comedy, movie and entertainment programming attracts a younger audience.
TVNZ's local and international activities include programme production, outside broadcast services, multi-media development, merchandising, Teletext, signal distribution and programming supply, and transmission consulting services in Australia, South-East Asia and the Pacific.
The company's main revenue source is advertising. Advertising revenue in 1998 was $270 million (total revenue $426 million). Tax-paid profit for the year to 31 December 1998 was $31.5 million, up 50 percent on the previous year.
TVNZ
TV3 Network Services
TV3 Network Services is a privately-owned free-to-air network which operates TV3 and TV4.
TV3 is 100 percent owned by CanWest Global Communications Corporation, a Canadian communications company.
TV3 is a broad-based entertainment channel which primarily targets viewers aged 18 to 49 years old. It has an emphasis on news, current affairs, sport, and local programming.
TV4 targets young, urban New Zealanders in the 15 to 39-year-old age bracket and is broadcast to more than 70 percent of New Zealand. Around 2.3 million people can access the channel.
TV3
Sky Television
Sky Television, New Zealand's first pay television network, began broadcasting in May 1990.
At 16 August 1999, SKY had approximately 346,000 residential and 5,000 commercial subscribers. Its terrestrial UHF signal reaches over 73 percent of households and virtually all the remaining 325,000 homes are able to receive SKY through a satellite dish
The UHF service provides seven channels over five frequencies including SKY Sport, SKY 1, SKY Movies, Cartoon Network, Discovery, Trackside and CNN.
The satellite service provides 22 channels.
Sky Television
Prime Television
In 1997 Prime Television acquired 34 UHF licences covering all the major cities and towns and in August 1998 commenced broadcasting to a target audience demographic (30 plus). Prime television is a free-to-air terrestrial broadcaster with its main office in Albany, Auckland.
Broadcasting 24 hours a day, Prime's programmes include British drama and comedy through to international rugby, soccer and golf. Prime Television is a wholly owned subsidiary of Prime Television Australia PTY Limited.
Regional and local television services
A number of small regional television services operate around the country, providing a mix of programmes, from music to local and international news, tourist and entertainment services.
Trackside
Owned by the Totalisator Agency Board (TAB), Trackside broadcasts live racing, race results and programmes about racing, using UHF frequencies.
Cable television
New Zealand's first commercial cable television operation had its beginnings on the Kapiti Coast in the early 1990s. Rebranded as Saturn Communications in 1996, the Wellington-based telecommunications company is rapidly expanding and plans new market start-ups beyond Wellington in 2000. It offers multi-channel TV, telephone and high-speed data services via HFC (hybrid fibre co-axial) cable. Saturn is wholly owned by Austar United, a division of United Global Com of Denver, Colorado.
Saturn
Non-commercial television
The Government has reserved UHF frequencies nationwide for the provision of non-commercial (community access) television services. As at November 1999, the Ministry of Economic Development had offered licences for non-commercial use to broadcasters in eight New Zealand regions. Two of these licences have been taken up: Triangle Television has been broadcasting in Auckland since July 1998 and Channel 7 has been broadcasting in Wellington since June 1999.
Radio broadcasting
Since the broadcasting reforms of 1988-89, the number of registered radio frequencies has increased substantially. At 1 July 1988 there were 47 AM and 17 FM stations broadcasting in New Zealand, 30 of which were privately owned.
The Radio Communications Act 1989 established a market-based system for spectrum management, with up to 20-year tradeable spectrum access rights. Such rights not only encourage investment in spectrum use, but also provide for situations where a number of users are possible.
Spectrum access rights are allocated by auction. The registration of licences following allocation establishes the tradeable right which is recorded in a publicly accessible register. An annual administration fee is payable to the Ministry of Economic Development by all registered licence holders.
Most of the currently available UHF television, FM sound radio and AM sound radio frequencies have now been allocated. Additional licences are created, where technically possible, and allocated when there is demand for them. Information on past and future auctions can be found on the MED website.
Radio Spectrum Auctions
Public radio
State-owned radio has provided both commercial and public radio services to New Zealand since the early 1930s. Private radio emerged in the late 1960s and, since then, privately-owned and commercial state radio stations have been in competition.
Radio New Zealand: Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa
Radio New Zealand is New Zealand's public radio broadcaster consisting of:
- Three non-commercial radio networks: National Radio, Concert FM and the AM Network.
- A shortwave service: Radio New Zealand International.
- A news service: Radio New Zealand News and Current Affairs.
- Sound Archives/Ngä Taonga Körero.
National Radio and Concert FM are funded through New Zealand On Air (see Broadcasting Commission above), and Radio NZ International is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity.
Radio NZ
The Radio Network of New Zealand
The Radio Network, formerly the government-owned Radio New Zealand Commercial, commenced operations as a private radio broadcaster on 1 August 1996. The Radio Network is made up of 52 stations. It is owned by a consortium comprising radio, newspaper and outdoor advertising group Australian Provincial Newspapers Holdings Limited, US radio and television operator Clear Channel Communications Inc., and local newspaper and publishing group Wilson and Horton Limited.
The Radio Broadcasters Association (RBA)
Formerly the Independent Broadcasters Association, the Radio Broadcasters Association is based in Auckland and represents the private companies operating independent radio stations in all metropolitan and provincial markets, including locally-operated, network and iwi stations.
Non-commercial broadcasting
The Crown has reserved AM and FM radio frequencies and UHF television frequencies throughout the country for use by non-commercial broadcasters. AM frequencies have been reserved in all communities with populations of 10,000 or more. Licences are allocated to appropriate community organisations which are responsible for ensuring that all interested groups have access to airtime on the frequencies. Use of reserved frequencies is restricted to non-profit activities.
Access radio stations
Access radio stations operating on reserved frequencies provide air time on a non-profit basis to a range of minority groups in the community. In 1999 there were 11 access radio stations operating in New Zealand. All have been assisted by NZ On Air, whose funding for access radio in 1998/99 was $1.7 million.
Newspapers and magazines
Daily newspapers
New Zealand has a high number of daily newspapers in relation to its population size. There are 26 daily newspapers, of which 18 are evening papers, nearly all of them published in provincial towns and cities. Of the eight morning dailies, the Auckland-based 'New Zealand Herald' has the largest audited net circulation at 213,150 copies daily. The largest provincial paper is Hamilton's 'Waikato Times' with an audited net circulation of 40,622. Other daily newspapers have circulations ranging from about 2,400 to about 100,000.
The majority of the country's daily papers are owned by two major publishing groups, Independent Newspapers Limited and Wilson and Horton Limited. Between them, these two groups now account for almost 90 percent of New Zealand's aggregate daily newspaper circulation of about 850,000 copies.
On a typical day more than 1.7 million New Zealanders over the age of 10 read a newspaper and New Zealanders spend approximately $4.0 million per week on their daily newspapers (including Sunday papers).
Independent Newspapers Limited
Sunday newspapers
There are two Sunday newspapers, 'Sunday Star Times' and 'Sunday News', both published by Independent Newspapers Limited and distributed nationwide. The 'Sunday Star Times' is a broadsheet and circulates 197,619 copies every Sunday.
Community newspapers
There are approximately 120 community newspapers in New Zealand of which the great majority are tabloid. Many of these community papers are owned by the two big newspaper publishing groups but some are owned by individuals, families or by small companies.
Magazines
There are over 4,700 magazines available in New Zealand on a regular basis, 700 of which are published in New Zealand. Of these 700, 165 are listed with the New Zealand Audit Bureau of Circulations as being published in New Zealand or as New Zealand editions. One hundred and forty-five of these were audited in the period between January and June 1999. Of these, 83 were published monthly and 34 in alternate months.
Top 10 magazines by circulation, Jan-June 1999
Publication | Circulation per issue | Published |
| AA Directions | 545,818 | Alternate months |
| Skywatch | 293,139 | Monthly |
| TV Guide | 241,356 | Weekly |
| NZ Woman's Day | 165,914 | Weekly |
| NZ Woman's Weekly | 126,640 | Weekly |
| Reader's Digest (NZ Edition) | 124,589 | Monthly |
| PC Buyer | 121,353 | Alternate months |
| Health & Wealth | 108,900 | Alternate months |
| Rural News | 93,483 | Fortnightly |
| NZ Listener | 90,521 | Weekly |
New Zealand Press Association (NZPA)
NZPA is an organisation cooperatively owned by New Zealand daily newspapers. NZPA provides a wide variety of local and international news through cooperative news-swapping arrangements between newspapers in New Zealand and international agreements with Reuters, Australian Associated Press (AAP) and other news organisations around the world.
New Zealand Press Council
The Press Council is a self-regulatory body founded in 1972. It has as its primary duty the investigation and adjudication of complaints against newspapers.
Its membership comprises an independent chairman, five members representing the public and five from the newspaper industry.
Since its inception the council has adjudicated on 750 complaints against newspapers.
Complaints range from cartoons that are too hard-hitting, photographs that are too explicit, and editorials that are alleged to be skewed, to the more frequent ones of non-publication or editing of letters sent to the correspondence columns.
Freedom in the press in New Zealand is of the highest degree
New Zealand Press Council
Advertising
Advertising industry
Approximately 1,000 people are employed in advertising agencies, and 2,500 in advertising-related services. Advertising revenue also contributes to the employment of another 10,000 people in the publishing, radio and television industries.
At the end of March 1998, there were approximately 150 agencies, most of them New Zealand-owned, with the remainder (30) affiliated to multi-nationals by total or partial ownership (these tend to be the larger agencies).
Mainstream media advertising for the year ended March 1998 was approximately $1.382 billion. Substantial additional money was spent on advertising using direct mail, telemarketing, display material, brochures and the like, although accurate estimates of this are not available. Expenditure in this category would certainly be in excess of $500 million.
Industry organisations and self-regulation
The Advertising Agencies' Association of New Zealand is an incorporated body representing the interests of its members on issues affecting the advertising industry and agencies. The Association of New Zealand Advertisers represents the interests of advertisers.
The industry has a self-regulatory system managed by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), and the Advertising Standards Complaints Board. The authority's function is to promulgate codes of practice and develop policies on advertising standards. The board's function is to adjudicate on complaints and advise the ASA on codes and public issues.
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