Broadcasters told, join the queue

By Louisa Cleave

Broadcasting will have to line up with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Te Papa, and "every social welfare thing" for annual funding, says the Acting Minister of Broadcasting, Tony Ryall. He says that although the industry will have to rely on being a "priority" when asking for more money, it will be better off.

"There is potential for it to grow if the Government agrees to increase funding. Every year now New Zealand On Air will line up with the orchestra and museum, and every other social welfare thing and it will be up to the Government to decide where its priorities lie. I don't think there is a chance of it being reduced."

But the industry believes the scrapping of the public broadcasting fee from July 2000 could mean less money for New Zealand culture on television and radio.

Jane Wrightson, of the Screen Producers and Directors Association, says there are no guarantees "ring-fenced" funds will be secure. "In the past, Governments have taken away supposedly ring-fenced money from superannuation and roading funds."

New Zealand on Air received $85.1 million for its 1998-99 budget and will be given an annual $87 million by the Government for the next three years. Mr Ryall says this does not include the $11 million it costs to enforce the licence fee because "that was money that was a deadweight."

The chairman of NZ On Air, David Beatson, says the $87 million is less than would have been collected through the fee.

He says that when cuts are made they will be to programmes for television and commercial radio, which will ultimately lead to more advertising and more mass-market programming of "reality-style format and infotainment shows."

However, Mr Ryall says broadcasters will be better off in the long run because the broadcasting fee had not been increased in 10 years. As householders receive their fee demands over the year to July 2000, the amount asked will decrease each month. By January the cost will be $55 to cover the fee for six months.