A REMINDER OF WHERE TAX PAYERS $$$ WENT TO MEDIA….

(Willy Jackson succeeded Faafoi as Broadcast Minister)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, New Zealand media companies received support through a primary $50 million media support package launched in April 2020, as well as broader business support like the Wage Subsidy Scheme.

1. Specific Media Support Package ($50 Million)
Announced by then-Broadcasting Minister Kris Faafoi, this package focused on immediate cashflow relief due to plummeting advertising revenue.

Transmission Fee Waivers ($19.82m – $21.1m): Completely cut fees for Kordia TV/FM and RNZ AM for six months to reduce operational costs.

NZ On Air Contribution Cuts ($16.5m): Reduced media organisations’ required contributions for content by 80% for the 2020/21 financial year.

Targeted Assistance ($11.1m): Set aside for specific assistance to companies as needed.
Advance Advertising & Subscriptions: The government brought forward roughly $4.83m in advertising payments and allocated $1.3m – $1.55m to purchase news subscriptions for government departments.

Publications Grant ($4m): Targeted at over 300 magazines and community newspapers that had not received significant other relief, providing one-off payments of approximately $12,000.

2. Wage Subsidy Payments
Major media outlets also claimed significant amounts through the standard COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme to retain staff:
NZME (NZ Herald): $8.6 million.
Stuff: $6.2 million.
TVNZ: $5.9 million.
MediaWorks: $3.6 million.

3. Public Interest Journalism Fund (PIJF)
Following the initial relief, a $55 million Public Interest Journalism Fund was established in 2021. Administered by NZ On Air, it funded specific journalism roles and projects rather than general operating costs. Notable recipients of various funding rounds included:
Allied Press: Over $1.2 million for training and video content.
Stuff: Received nearly 10% of total PIJF funding.
Newsroom: 5.4% of total funding.
The Spinoff: 4% of total funding