It has been reported that…The Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA) will lobby the Rudd Government to overhaul local content rules after an unprecedented number of New Zealand-made programs have flooded Australian television screens.
…SPAA executive director Geoff Brown said budget-conscious networks are taking advantage of the arrangement under the Australia New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Agreement to run cheap New Zealand imports instead of making more expensive Australian-made programs.
Three years ago Nine came under scrutiny when Outrageous Fortune was expected to be submitted as local content. Bowing to pressure, Nine did not proceed with it.
…The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) lobbied the Howard Government against a move to recognise New Zealand television as Australian content but lost the fight. The Howard Government’s Free Trade Agreement with the US was a battle also lost by the MEAA, ruling out any future increase in the minimum requirements of Australian content.
The Screen Producers Association will meet Federal Government representatives in Canberra next month to discuss overhauling the regulations.
Read the complete report at: www.tvtonight.com.au