Kiwi kids bombarded with overseas television programmes watch more United States-made content than their American counterparts. And rather than moving away from such programmes, exposure to American children’s shows is increasing, says a visiting academic.
The statistics have led to a call for a publicly funded, free-to-air children’s channel, as well as warnings of “far reaching consequences for our children and our society” if the trend is not reversed.
German academic Maya Goetz, who specialises in children and media, said a 2007 study showed more than 84 per cent of fictional children’s shows in New Zealand came from the United States.