Statement of Performance Expectations 2025
This SPE sets out our proposed performance targets and forecast financial information for the year ahead. It is produced in accordance with section 149E of the Crown Entities Act 2004 and should be read together with our Statement of Intent 2023-2027 (SOI).
The forecast financial statements and underlying assumptions in this document have been authorised as appropriate for issue by the board of the Broadcasting Standards Authority in accordance with its role under the Crown Entities Act 2004. It is not intended to update the forecast financial statements subsequent to presentation.
A copy of the full report is available for download for the year ending 30 June 2025.
BSA Statement of Performance Expectations 2025
Te Whakatakinga | Introduction
This SPE sets out how we measure our performance, and reports on progress against our targets. Results against these and the longer-term goals set out in our SOI are reported in our Annual Report.
The BSA faces a challenging year ahead as we wait for regulatory reform. Over the last three years we have received increases to our Crown funding, the first increases in 20 years. This has allowed us to meet challenges posed by declining industry levies, inflation, and the reality that we are operating under increasingly obsolete legislation.
Industry levies have remained higher than expected in the last two years, but this is not expected to continue. Recent industry closures, and signals that some broadcasters intend to move their operations to purely digital platforms, indicate the sector is facing difficult times as media consumption trends continue to evolve.
Each year it becomes more of a challenge to reach and engage with the public to educate them on broadcasting standards and ensure the Authority is reflecting community standards in its decision-making. Audiences are continuing to move away from linear television and radio at pace.
Traditional broadcasting fulfils a vital role in presenting our national voice, and acting as a lifeline during emergencies, but people in Aotearoa now access the majority of their media content through online channels, whether that is YouTube, TikTok, Google, or other streaming sites and social media platforms. With our jurisdiction limited by statute, these online spaces remain largely unregulated, making it difficult to quantify the potential harm
New Zealanders are experiencing.
Regulation remains fragmented, shared between a range of statutory, industry and other bodies in a manner that is confusing for the public. Some media providers are subject to multiple regulatory regimes and others subject to very little regulation.
In the last three years, consultation was undertaken by the Department of Internal Affairs on the Safer Online Services and Media Platforms framework, which was intended to resolve some of this fragmentation.
However, it remained unclear to us whether it would in fact simplify the currently confusing landscape, or simply add another regulatory layer. With the SOSMP project now concluded with no further action to be taken, we look forward to further announcements about the Government’s plans for modernising regulation of the media sector.
A strong and diverse news media is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy, contributing to transparency, social cohesion and informed debate on matters of public interest. The Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill is currently before Parliament and we continue to work with stakeholders and Manatū Taonga to support its progress.
The Bill is designed to ensure New Zealand news media can bargain fairly with digital platforms, helping maintain a sustainable, independent media sector. News media companies are, to our knowledge, unanimous in their support, saying – while the Bill is not a silver bullet – it would make a positive difference.
If the BSA is appointed to administer and monitor the new framework, we will need to increase our capability and capacity, bringing on board the right skills and operational capacity to effectively administer the new regime. This will of course require us to work closely with the Government to ensure sustainable funding into the future.
Until legislative reform arrives, we will continue to fulfil our statutory functions to a high standard. Despite the shift away from traditional linear channels, there continues to be a role for broadcasting media. Our co-regulatory system serves the objective of free speech without harm, by upholding the standards New Zealanders expect to see reflected in their media.
A limited number of print copies are available. To enquire about a print copy, email: info@bsa.govt.nz