Broadcasting

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Not set out on their website.

• Establish a new Broadcasting body or Broadcasting Commission to set rules relating to any obligations attached to the right to broadcast such as minimum local content quotas; as well as issues relating to digital convergence, cross-media and multi-media ownership, and monitor and enforce those rules. This new body will undertake a range of related functions, in respect of spectrum pricing, access rules and common standards for broadcast platforms, and the timing of the “analogue switch-off”.
• Introduce a minimum number of hours of locally made children's television that free to air television channels are required to screen.
• Substantially increase funding through New Zealand On Air for locally produced children's programming (only 2% of programmes on free to
  air television are New Zealand made children's programmes).
• Move commercial advertisements away from screening during preschool and school age children's television.
• Explicitly require TVNZ to take a lead in screening locally produced children's television programmes. (more here)

• Labour will establish a new model for non-commercial public broadcasting. It will be based on the outcomes of a nationwide public debate to be held within one year of taking office.
• Creation of a New Zealand Broadcasting Trust, which would sit above the public broadcaster‟s board and independently appoint the members of that board.
• Labour will encourage a competitive environment in digital commercial media, and investigate the merits of providing special tax status to low-profit limited-liability content development companies which are New Zealand owned and who commit to a defined programme of re-investment in their business.
• Labour will prepare a proposal for public consultation within six months of taking office setting out the path towards a single powerful regulator for telecommunications and broadcasting. (more here)

• The Authority will evaluate the Te Reo and Matauranga Māori outcomes it is purchasing through all medium – education, broadcasting, promotional, community, whānau and īwi and adjust its funding to achieve the best outcomes. (more here)

• We seek recognition that the spectrum is a taonga. We will negotiate 33% (15MHz) of 4G Spectrum (700MHz Band) and future allocations for Māori.
• We will maintain the current level of funding to Te Māngai Pāho and Māori Television.
• We require broadcasters to increase Māori content in peak times; increase programming that aims to educate our nation and all broadcasters on national broadcasting to be Māori language proficient.
• We will develop rangatahi Māori radio programming. (more here)

Not set out on their website.

• Ensure a particular focus on improving quality, accountability and transparency within all publicly funded broadcasting services.
• Support NZ On Air as a mechanism for encouraging local content on television and radio, since it is available to all networks and it encourages creativity and diversity by allowing independent producers to flourish.
• Reform the Broadcasting Standards Authority to enable it to fulfil its ombudsman role, including streamlining procedures and providing extra resources to ensure complaints are dealt with expeditiously, broadening its scope so that it can be proactive in raising issues, and empowering the BSA to defend its rulings from network challenges.
• Reduce the compliance costs of regulations for bands on airwaves for regional broadcasters, to allow new players to enter the market and ensure that local voices have access to the airwaves.
• Maintain Radio New Zealand in public ownership, notwithstanding changes to its structure or operation.
• Support Radio New Zealand’s transmission to the greater Pacific region.
• Ensure that the sound and film archives housed at Radio New Zealand and TVNZ are protected and digitally recorded.
• Ensure the Broadcasting Act recognises the importance of Community Access Radio and ensures their continued access to FM and AM frequencies.
• Encourage the development of a free public service channel.
• Encourage all television and radio channels to raise the profile of local content in programming and productions through NZ on Air. (more here)