Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith said new legislation passed its third and final reading in Parliament yesterday.
Section 81 of the Broadcasting Act prohibits broadcast television advertising on Sunday and Anzac Day mornings between 6am and noon.
Similar restrictions were in place for TV and radio broadcast advertising on Christmas Day, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Goldsmith believed the move would make the media sector more competitive.
“We need to level the playing field by ensuring local media companies are not disadvantaged by restricted advertising times which don’t apply to digital streaming platforms.
“This change could help a sector facing intense competition, with industry estimates showing this could generate approximately $6 million annually.”
The restrictions had become “increasingly redundant” as more audiences turned to streaming platforms, he said.
“New Zealand on Air data shows YouTube was the most popular platform in the country last year, reaching 43 percent of the population daily.
“New Zealand’s media sector has been calling for this change for a long time, and this government has done it.”
