NZ On Air has released its annual report of local TV content, and found that New Zealanders enjoyed slightly more new local television content last year but less local content in prime time.
The Local Content Report, a study of local content on mainstream channels, shows relatively steady levels of local content in a challenging economic environment.
The Local Content Report looks at the amount of locally produced content by genre on seven free-to-air channels. Since NZ On Air began issuing the report in 1989, local content has increased 468%.
Key findings for 2016 were:
� First run local content (new) was up by 4%, or 266 hours more than 2015. This was partly due to Olympic Games coverage on Prime and additional investment by MediaWorks.
� Local content comprised 31% of prime time schedules (down from 36% in 2015).
� The biggest increase in any genre was Entertainment programming which was up 42%, largely influenced by new nightly programme Family Feud on Three.
� Documentary, Drama/Comedy, Sports and M?ori programming for a general audience all increased, while General Factual and Children's programming were down.
� Repeat programming was down 1%.