Local New Zealand Television Content Local New Zealand Television Content Table of Contents Chairman’s Introduction ..................................................................... 1 Executive Summary ............................................................................ 3 Changing Local Content Landscape .................................................... 6 2006 Results: Total Hours .................................................................... 7 First Run Hours ................................................................................ 12 Prime Time Hours ........................................................................... 18 Repeat Hours .................................................................................... 23 Trends by Genre ............................................................................... 25 Information programming .......................................................... 25 Documentaries ............................................................................ 27 Maori Programming .................................................................... 29 Children’s Programmes ............................................................... 30 Entertainment ............................................................................. 31 News and Current Affairs ............................................................ 33 Sports .......................................................................................... 34 Drama/Comedy Hours ................................................................ 36 Other Channels ........................................................................... 37 Appendix 1: Notes on Methodology ........................................... 38 Appendix 2: 2006 Master spread-sheet – 18 hour clock .................. 41 Appendix 2a: 2006 Master spread-sheet – 24 hour clock ...................43 Appendix 3: TV ONE programmes 2006 .................................... 45 Appendix 4: TV2 programmes 2006 ........................................... 54 Appendix 5: TV3 programmes 2006 ........................................... 63 Appendix 6: Prime TV programmes 2006 ................................. 69 Appendix 7: MTS programmes 2006 .......................................... 76 Appendix 8: C4 programmes 2006 ............................................. 91 Appendix 9: Sky 2006 Master spread-sheet ................................ 93 Appendix 10: Regional 2006 spread-sheet .................................. 107 Appendix 11: NZ On Air - funded programmes ........................ 108 1 Chairman’s introduction As demonstrated in this report, local content levels are increasing and local programming is becoming available on more and more channels - and screens. In a fragmenting market local content provides an important ‘point of difference’ for broadcasters, so it could be seen that - to a certain degree - the changing broadcasting landscape assures the future of local content. The challenge for NZ On Air is to ensure that the promotion of New Zealand culture and identity, through broadcasting, is not compromised by this shifting environment, and that a diverse range of local programming remains accessible to the New Zealand viewing public - wherever they are watching. We will continue to champion the importance of local content on our screens - with a particular emphasis on public interest broadcasting. The mechanisms for achieving this continue to increase with TVNZ operating under its Charter and Maori Television (MTS) now well established. Additionally, in November 2006 the Government allocated funding to TVNZ’s new digital channels to “strengthen its public broadcast offering as it makes the transition to free-to-air digital”. The first of these channels is due to launch in the last quarter of 2007. This should have a positive impact on local content levels going forward. NZ On Air has conducted an annual survey of the local content appearing on our television screens since 1990. Over the years this report has grown and changed, but its primary focus remains the same: a quantification of how much local programming screens on the main free-to-air television channels. As noted, the number of channels has increased since the first report and will continue to do so. Prime TV was included for the first time last year, and Maori Television (MTS) and C4 are included in the main body of the report in 2006. What is apparent this year is that local content is spreading across a wider range of channels - meaning increased hours - but that levels on the established free to air channels remain relatively static. Nevertheless local content hours are more than double those screened a decade ago. First-run hours directly reflect the amount of new investment in local programmes so it is a pleasing result that, even without taking into account the hours of MTS and C4, first-run programming increased by 152 hours. And, without taking those channels into account, prime time hours remained consistent, having shown an increase last year. The Television Local Content Group has agreed that NZ On Air’s Local Content Report will be the central document to provide a tool for setting local content targets and measuring results. The Group was set up in 2003 to establish and monitor appropriate voluntary targets. The Group comprises TVNZ, TV3, Prime Television and representatives of SPADA and NZ On Air. MTS joined the group in 2005. For 2006, the Television Local Content Group committed to the following local content targets for transmission between the hours of 6am and midnight. Target Actual TV One 54.2% 53.2% TV2 18% 19.8% TV3 20.6% 19.3% Prime TV 3.9% 13.1% Maori Television 89% 74.7% C4 26% 22.5% Local Content 2006 1 Prime TV exceeded its target - by a significant 9.2% - due to the securing of Sports rights as a result of Sky TV purchasing the network, and subsequent to the targets being set. As occurred last year when Prime TV was included in the report for the first time, the addition of MTS and C4 has seen an overall increase in local content. Local content hours in 2006 reached 10,255 - comprising 30.3% of the 6am to midnight broadcast hours. Over the years this report has shown that there will always be fluctuations from genre to genre, largely dependant on levels of commissioning, which can be driven by a number of factors, including changed broadcaster strategies and audience appetite. While it does not necessarily follow that the addition of more channels will result in more local content production, we are seeing increasing levels of local content on channels not covered in the main part of this survey - such as those screening on Sky TV. These are summarised at the end of this report. If this trend continues it will contribute to the on-going health of the local production sector Because it broadcasts a significant amount of local content the addition of MTS in this year’s survey has provided more balance across genres. This is reflected in the fact that in 2006 local content levels increased across all genres and the dominance of News and Current Affairs in local content hours was reduced. Sports programming increased significantly, in part due to MTS, but also due to increased coverage on Prime TV and TV One, which screened the Winter Olympics and the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Entertainment hours were also up significantly due to the inclusion of music channel C4. As more channels become available the proportion of local content made with NZ On Air funding tends to decline, due to the increased percentage of local content (especially News and Current Affairs) that is produced without a subsidy. In 2006 NZ On Air contributed funding to 20% of the total local content hours. Increased production costs also have an impact on the percentage of local content funded by our organisation, as does an increased emphasis on quality public interest programming. NZ On Air’s continuing interest is in quality and diversity of local content, readily accessible to all New Zealanders - free-to-air - wherever and however they choose to watch it. As this report is being written NZ On Air is developing a strategy for funding local content in the new digital environment. It presents us with a challenge but is also an exciting next step, aligned with the vision of the Government’s ‘Programme of Action’: New Zealand Broadcasting: a shared space, informing and enriching a changing society.” Neil Walter Chair NZ On Air May 2007 Local Content 2006 2 2 Executive Summary Special note As signalled in last year’s report, local content figures for Maori Television (MTS) and C4 have been included in this report for the first time. This is in addition to Prime TV’s local content hours, added for the first time last year. Therefore, the main figures for this year cover six free to air channels: TV One, TV2, TV3, Prime, MTS and C4. Where the exclusion of the Prime and/or MTS and C4 hours provides a more meaningful comparison with the previous year, we have made this comparison. Overview - More channels, more local content Local content on the main channels has been relatively stable in recent years. As the broadcast market continues to expand, growth in local content is coming from new channels. Free to air television • The addition of MTS and C4 to the survey means that total local content measured in 2006 increased by 3229 hours to 10,255 hours, compared with 2005 (7026 hours). • Excluding MTS and C4, total local content hours were 6924 (7026 in 2005). Local content on