Hobbs to defy international pacts with TV, radio quotas

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WELLINGTON - Government plans to introduce local content quotas for radio and television could breach international obligations and bring demands for compensation.

The Ministry of Culture and Heritage has also told Broadcasting Minister Marian Hobbs that Australian programmes would have to be allowed under any quota.

But Ms Hobbs plans to press ahead with the quota moves. She says New Zealand culture is more important than the agreements.

Ministry briefing papers said the General Agreement on Trade in Services guarantees other countries equal access to the New Zealand market in audiovisual services.

New Zealand has made some reservations to the agreement but none that would allow local quotas.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade advised that a move by New Zealand to impose quotas "would expose us to a demand by other countries for compensation, or, if that could not be agreed, the withdrawal of equivalent benefits enjoyed by New Zealand."

Under the closer economic relations agreement with Australia, Australian programmes would qualify as locally made under any local content quotas imposed here.

"It was on the basis of the CER agreement that the New Zealand film and television industry ... successfully sought the inclusion of New Zealand content under the Australian quota system," the ministry said.

Labour's policy is to introduce quotas to boost New Zealand content on radio and television. The levels of these quotas will be worked out with the industries.

Ms Hobbs said she wanted to look at how other countries dealt with local content quotas.

She believed protecting local content through quotas was in principle more important than the services agreement.

"For me it's a matter of debate, rather than a matter of just rolling over and saying we can't do it because that [agreement] is there. We may challenge and argue."

The briefing papers also raised concerns about the way local television content is funded.

NZ on Air said it needed $12 million more urgently to help to reverse a decline in local television programming caused by a freeze in the broadcasting fee.

The Ministry of Culture and Heritage papers also said broadcasters' commercial needs and NZ on Air's wish to promote New Zealand culture were in conflict.

They said the proportion of New Zealand content on television had not increased in the past 12 years, and current levels were maintained only by a large increase in the number of repeats.

- NZPA