SPADA E-NEWS #8
13 December 2007

I hope everyone’s looking forward to a relaxing and peaceful Christmas break.  It was great to see so many of you at conference this year. 


SPADA Conference 2007
Approximately 270 delegates attended the 15^th annual film and television conference in November, with Hon Trevor Mallard making his inaugural industry address as new Minister of Broadcasting.

Peter Elliott’s NZ On Air John O’Shea Memorial Address was remarkable; Jason Gunn ensured the TVNZ Big Dinner was MC’d with wit and intelligence; the Park Road Welcome Drinks were fabulous; and thanks to all our sponsors for enabling us to carry out this event.  The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between SPADA and the Producers Guild of America went very well, and was witnessed by Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast.  Members do remember if you’re travelling to Los Angeles or New York to get in touch with the SPADA Office, and we’ll provide you with the appropriate contact details.

Thank you for the feedback we have received to date – both verbal and written.  It’s imperative that SPADA continues to review and assess the conference’s goals and outcomes, and we will be taking a completely fresh approach to conference next year.  We are scheduling meetings in the New Year in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland to seek your input on what constitutes the ideal screen industry conference.  Dates to be advised.


Audio Files
We’re pleased to offer members for the first time the opportunity to listen to the conference sessions on line.  The audio files will be available (for streaming only) on SPADA’s website.  Click Here. 


“Say Cheese”
Mark Coote, this year's conference photographer, has captured some wonderful images from conference’s key social events. To view the online Web Gallery please go to: www.markcoote.com/clients/spada.  If there are any images you would like to order please contact Mark directly on mark@markcoote.com.


Diary Now!  Next Year’s Conference Dates
They’re out – the SPADA Conference dates for 2008 are 20-21 November in Auckland.  SPAA takes place the week before at the Gold Coast on 12-14 November - so it will be possible to attend both conferences.


Award Winners
Once again congratulations to the following SPADA Award recipients: Dick Reade - Industry Champion; Summer Agnew – New Filmmaker of the Year; Melanie Rakena and Jane Andrews – Independent Producer of the Year; Peter Young for his winning pitch at the South Pacific Pictures’ Pitching Competition; and to all the Qantas Award Recipients.

We look forward to seeing you in 2008.

Penelope Borland

CEO

WELCOME TO THE 2007/2008 SPADA EXECUTIVE
Thanks to those members who attended the AGM on Wednesday 14 November.  Along with various issues discussed, the final votes were tallied for the 2007/2008 Executive. 

The 2007/2008 Executive are: Richard Fletcher (President), Gary Scott (Vice President – TV), Vincent Burke, Angela Littlejohn, Veronica McCarthy, Peter Young, Libby Hakaraia, Mhairead Connor, Karen Soich and Matt Emery.


WELCOME TO THE FOLLOWING NEW MEMBERS
Redflame Media ................Production Company, AK
Four Stars Productions ....Production Company, AK
Brave Star Films ..............Production Company, AK
Annabel Langbein Books.. New Media Company, AK
Toa TV Ltd....................... Production Company, AK


TERMS OF TRADE: TELEVISION
SPADA met with key producers on 14 November to discuss TVNZ’s Draft Principles of Engagement.  Subsequently, SPADA went back to TVNZ, and both parties have agreed to hold an intensive, high level discussion in late January.  We will advise you of the outcome.


TELEVISION LOCAL CONTENT GROUP
Following on from recent discussions regarding the efficacy of the LCG; its focus has changed to debate industry issues affecting local content broadcasting and production.  It now includes Te Mangai Paho and will meet twice yearly (May and during the SPADA Conference in November).  The first meeting took place at conference on 16 November.

Subsidiary objectives are to: promote the highest possible standards for local content; and examine New Zealand On Air’s annual hours count.   SPADA is still keen to see a focus on increasing local content hours and in particular first run, which indicates new investment in programming.

The LCG is keen to support SPADA in holding an AC Nielsen seminar/workshop early next year, which will look at: how to read ratings, what ratings mean, and what to do with the information.

Vincent Burke replaces David Baldock as the new SPADA representative on the LCG. 


CURRENT FILM ISSUES
SPADA has been doing considerable lobbying with MPs and officials on key film issues, and also met with the NZFC Board on 04 December.  Richard Fletcher, Matt Emery and Penelope Borland discussed a number of strategic issues with management and board members, including the sustainability of the New Zealand domestic industry, moves towards a New Zealand equivalent of the Australian producer offset, and revenue sharing.


NEW BROADCASTING UNIT ESTABLISHED
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage has established a new, separate Broadcasting Unit, headed by Acting Director Jo Tyndall.  A key focus will be the future of local content and the cultural reasons for government’s involvement in broadcasting as new technologies allow the proliferation of multiple platforms and consumer choice.


NEW MONEY FOR DIGITAL CONTENT
NZ On Air has announced the creation of a new contestable fund, the Digital Content Partnership Fund (this fund replaces the former Innovation Fund).  The fund will support programmes involving the use of new media and is part of NZ On Air's new digital strategy as it prepares for changes to the Broadcasting Act.

The fund will exist for four years, with $1million set aside each year and submissions sought annually. The first application deadline is in March 2008.

Chief Executive Jane Wrightson says the fund is a great opportunity for fresh collaboration across broadcasting and new media and is aimed at providing audiences with new experiences.  The preference for the first year is for projects targeting New Zealand children or youth.  "This audience is, of course, the most digital-savvy" said Ms Wrightson.  "It's important they have the opportunity to connect with local content on all the platforms they use," she said.

Amendments to the Broadcasting Act are intended to allow funding of online and other digital content. The Act currently requires a 'broadcast outcome', says Ms Wrightson. This means that successful projects for the first year's allocation, at least, must still air on a New Zealand television or radio station.  But the fund will also allow reversioning and streaming on online and mobile platforms. A nationwide networked or syndicated outcome is desirable so as many people as possible can access it. 

The content must be available free to the audience on at least one platform, but some form of subscription or cost-recovery on another may also be permitted.

Funds may be applied to one or more projects. A minimum total of 10 funded hours is expected – and more is better, says Ms Wrightson.  "We've kept the criteria very broad to encourage the most innovative ideas to surface," she said.

More about NZ On Air's strategy and the fund is on www.nzonair.govt.nz.

BROADCASTING AMENDMENT BILL
The Broadcasting Act is to be amended to allow both NZ On Air and Te Mangai Paho to fund the production, transmission and archiving of new forms of digital content.  The recommendation from the Commerce Select Committee is that changes be passed without amendment.

RETRANSMISSION RIGHTS

SPADA has submitted a paper - Retransmission on Free-to-Air Broadcasts - recommending New Zealand move to a legislative regime for royalty payments to underlying rights’ holders who are currently not being paid for retransmission of programmes on Pay TV.  S88 of the Copyright Act allows retransmission by cable operators of free to air channels and has been the subject of intensive lobbying in the course of the Copyright Amendment (New Technologies) Bill.

The Bill is expected to be reported back to the House shortly with s88 intact.  However, SPADA would like to see a move to a legislative royalty regime, similar to that in Australia applying to both cable and digital transmission.

PLEASE NOTE THE SPADA OFFICE HOURS OVER THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD

Closes mid-day 21 December 2007 – Opens Monday 07 January 2008


FEEDBACK
Please email any feedback to us on info@spada.co.nz or give us a call.

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