Samantha Hayes was named sexiest woman in Auckland by Metro Magazine. Photo / Supplied

Samantha Hayes was named sexiest woman in Auckland by Metro Magazine. Photo / Supplied

Never mind public radio and the hoary old forgotten concept of public service broadcasting. Funding agency New Zealand On Air gives the distinct impression of becoming a TV company support body.

The funding agency is charged with using taxpayer cash to boost local content levels on television, radio, and online.

But it also wants to help the broadcasting and television production industries through tough times.

Chairman Neil Walter said yesterday the state agency had an obligation to support the health of the television industry which relied on it.

"One of the questions foremost in our minds as a board is what we can do differently and better to help those sectors through these difficult times," said Walter.

Asked if it was the job for the funding agency to deliver industry support, Walter said: "It is an unspoken part of the job. We cannot do our job unless we have a healthy local content production sector, and unless we have a good broadcasting sector.

Anything we can do within our mandate to assist both industries, we will do.

"We are not an industry support agency. Our job is to champion local content - but there is obviously a very strong impact on the businesses as we take those decisions on funding.

"We are a very big factor in the viability of the broadcasting sector. At least one of the broadcasters is pushing to reduce the commitments to contribute costs of TV shows."

Typically the bulk of budgets for many TVNZ local shows - and virtually all TV3's local programmes - are paid by New Zealand On Air.

The broadcasters pay the programme maker a minority share or "licence fees" similar to the price they pay for an overseas-sourced show.

It means that the TV industry - largely TV3 and TVNZ - is dependent on taxpayer handouts.

The agency - which has budgeted to slip $5 million below the $74.2 million target for TV contributions this financial year to June 30 - is bracing for TV networks to cut back local content.

THE SYSTEM

Being fair to Walter and his staff, NZ On Air has been extraordinarily efficient and 97 per cent of cash goes on programming.