New Zealand still has one of the lowest levels of local content on television, a New Zealand On Air survey shows.
Last year, 23.5 per cent of the total hours of television was locally made - up fractionally from 23.4 per cent in 1999. Based on past surveys, NewZealand is likely to be lagging behind the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, Ireland and South Africa.
The continuing low level will play into the hands of the Government, which plans to introduce a television quota system this year, forcing broadcasters to air more New Zealand programmes.
Last year a CM Research survey, commissioned by NZ On Air, showed that 62 per cent of people supported increasing the amount of New Zealand-made programmes.
NZ On Air chief executive Jo Tyndall said yesterday that despite no overall increase in local content, the latest survey revealed emerging trends that showed increases in important genres, as well as more variety.
"In previous surveys, we have expressed concern at declines in, for example, drama and children's programming, while news, entertainment and information have all increased. The 2000 survey reveals a slight reversal of that trend."
The number of hours of Maori programmes also slightly increased.
Ms Tyndall said these were the areas where NZ On Air was a significant contributor and the ones most in need of its assistance. But local content remained static and the mix for 2000 still favoured cheaply made programmes.
Broadcasting Minister Marian Hobbs said it was pleasing to see a slight increase in new children's and drama programmes.
She said the results showed the need for a quota system, but she recognised the costs involved in making quality programmes.