$12m a year to help TVNZ comply with programming charter

12.30pm

Television New Zealand will get $12 million a year to meet the costs of implementing its new charter, Broadcasting Minister Marian Hobbs said today.

Opposition parties have clamoured to know how much it will cost the state broadcaster to implement the charter that calls for more quality programming and New Zealand content on television.

TVNZ is to become a Crown-owned company with separate television and transmission businesses.

The charter, to be phased in from July 1, sets out nine objectives for the broadcaster to work to, including that it provide programmes that appeal to Maori and special interest groups.

Ms Hobbs said today funding for television broadcasting would increase by $18m a year in the May 23 budget.

This included the $12m a year to implement the charter and $6m a year to NZ On Air, the Crown agency that allocates public funding for New Zealand programmes.

"The support made available through NZ On Air is essential in ensuring we have local content television," Ms Hobbs said in a statement.

"The extra $6m means that developments in this area will be maintained."

The $6m increase brought total government funding for NZ On Air to $97.121m a year. Ms Hobbs said $62.7m of the $93.621m for the current financial year, that included a one-off $2.5m allocation, went on television.

TVNZ would continue to be eligible to apply for NZ On Air funding, she said.

"The future of public television in New Zealand is very much brighter than was the case 2-1/2 years ago."

- NZPA