“The BSA said that the boundaries of its jurisdiction are no longer clear. It told us that it needs legislative clarity, as do New Zealand’s remaining traditional broadcasters, which are moving to digital-only offerings. Further, the BSA said that the Government must work to define modern broadcasting and that regulation should focus on content rather than on platforms.”
In a statement to Newstalk ZB, the BSA said it had long pointed to the “growing challenges” of applying the Broadcasting Act, dating to 1998, to a “rapidly evolving” media landscape.
“We believe legislative reform is the best and cleanest solution and have been calling for reform with increasing urgency for some 15 years,” the media watchdog said.
The BSA added it has supported and made input to numerous legislative “solutions” proposed by successive governments, including the proposals put forward by the coalition Government last year. It stated the reform envisions regulation “covering all ‘professional media’, regardless of platform”.
In the statement, the authority reiterated the importance of striking a balance: “We’re clear that any new regulatory regime must continue to protect freedom of expression, while allowing for appropriate limits to prevent harm.”
Late last year, following criticism relating to the BSA looking to address a complaint about Plunket’s online platform, the Act Party lodged a Members’ Bill in the name of MP Laura McClure to abolish the agency.
At the time of the announcement, McClure expressed concern whilst suggesting the authority was not relevant.
”The BSA’s attempt earlier this year to expand its remit into online media, following a complaint against The Platform and Sean Plunket, was an attempt [to] counter its own irrelevance with massive overreach. When a government-appointed body tries to regulate speech on podcasts and livestreams, we have a serious problem," McClure said.
She added the abolishment of the BSA would still mean laws against defamation and obscenities were to stay in place.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters had also weighed in on the case relating to The Platform at the time, saying “the blatant overreach on display by the BSA, now dictating they can censor and monitor anything transmitted on the internet, is highly concerning”.
Peters also questioned the legal basis for what he labelled an “outrageous action”.
Levies expected to decrease
The Broadcasting Standards Authority has pointed to challenges in the traditional media landscape as being behind its expectation for revenue from broadcasting levies to follow a downward trajectory.
The select committee paper noted an increasingly financially challenged media sector since the agency’s establishment in 1989. It added many traditional broadcasters had closed, and the BSA told the committee, “in the long term, it expects revenue from broadcasting levies to decrease further”.
“However, the BSA warned that eventually, spending conservatively will not maintain its operations,” the report added.
The agency has reiterated to Members of Parliament its focus on disciplined spending, with the report adding its focus is on “spending conservatively” as well as working with a limited mandate.
In a statement, the BSA pointed out that as broadcasters continue to pursue “digital-first” strategies, levy revenue will continue to decline in the coming years.
Despite the negative outlook, the BSA’ s statement of prospective financial performance for the year ending June 30, 2026 saw its estimated actual levy revenue higher than budgeted amounts.
It had budgeted for $600,000 of revenue relating to the broadcasting levy, but had an estimated actual revenue of $713,750 for 2024/25.
Azaria Howell is a multimedia reporter working from Parliament’s press gallery. She joined NZME in 2022 and became a Newstalk ZB political reporter in late 2024, with a keen interest in public service agency reform and government spending.
