Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman today announced the reappointment of Michael Glading to the board of NZ On Air.
Mr Glading has served one term on NZ On Air and was reappointed for two years from 1 January 2011.

A national campaign to promote the switch to digital television was launched today by Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman.
The Government announced in September that New Zealand will make the switch, region by region, to digital television by November 2013, beginning with Hawke’s Bay and the West Coast in September 2012.

SPADA has posted audio files to key sessions from this year’s conference on its site – the producer organisation’s way, I’m told, of giving back to those people who can’t afford the conference, as well as providing a service to those who did attend and want to catch up with the sessions they missed.

The following is the text of the address that Minister of Broadcasting Jonathan Coleman made to the annual industry conference organised by producers’ organisation SPADA (Screen Production and Development Association) on 12 November.

This year’s SPADA conference kicks off with a hiss and a roar with The Hobbit – What Really Happened. Chaired by Russell Brown, the panel will include Philippa Boyens (co-writer The Hobbit), SPADA’s CEO Penelope Borland and Executive Member Richard Fletcher. “The past five weeks we have been focused on The Hobbit and the issues behind the dispute. We’re thrilled with the outcome, and look forward to discussing the underlying issues; as well as bringing clarity to some of the key arrangements that underpin the workings the film industry,” says SPADA CEO Penelope Borland.

Everyone at TV3’s launch of its new season to media and ad agencies in Wellington took the opportunity to plug the importance of NZ content, from co-host Ben Hurley citing 7 Days’ phenomenal success, to news and current affairs chief Mark Jennings promising there would no ‘isms’ in his network’s coverage next year (“no sexism, no racism, no sarcasm”) to programming chief Kelly Martin pointing out: “Six years ago, no one would have believed a New Zealand drama would be the highest-rating drama on NZ TV in 2010.”