The· primary purpose of this study is to describe and analyse the events associated with the development of the policy enacted into legislation in 1973 for the establishment of three independent corporations to run broadcasting in New Zealand under the overall control of a Broadcasting Council. The Study is designed as a case study of policy development. Attention is focused upon the genesis of the policy and upon the procedures which were used to develop the policy. In explaining the development of the policy, reference is made to the political systems model of analysis, in particularly as developed by David Easton. In Easton’s terminology the study focuses upon the inputs to the policy, and upon the conversion process adopted in developing the policy. The study also takes cognisance of a number of media effects theories, especially those developed by. Colin Seymour--Ure and Janet Horgan.