Nats say they won't sell TVNZ
National says it won't sell TVNZ but the Government is suspicious about a broadcasting policy that will open up charter funding to private sector competitors.
The party announced its broadcasting policy yesterday, saying TVNZ would be released from its charter obligations and would have to compete with other networks for funding to make local programmes.
TVNZ operates under a charter which encourages it to show programmes that reflect New Zealand's identity and in return gets $15 million to produce shows that would not be commercially viable.
Prime Minister Helen Clark has described National's policy as an assault on public broadcasting and Broadcasting Minister Trevor Mallard says it amounts to a trojan horse for privatisation.
That was denied today by National's broadcasting spokesman Jonathan Coleman.
"There is no plan to sell TVNZ," he said on Radio New Zealand.
"We want to maintain it in state ownership, we think it's a great public asset and it could be performing a lot better."
Dr Coleman said the $15 million TVNZ gets for local programmes was only 4 per cent of its annual revenue.
"Competition allows the best projects to come forward and be made," he said.
"TVNZ basically is an asset that hasn't been performing to its capability.
"It's a commercial broadcaster. . . it hasn't been operating as a true public broadcaster for many many years."
Mr Mallard reacted to those comments by saying National planned to transfer the function of the charter to the private sector.
"If you run down the public sector the way they're planning to run down TVNZ and ACC, then in the end there is the question of why have them," he said.
"It's a matter of whether you believe them or not. They've made it very clear they're into privatisation."
The charter was introduced by Labour in 2000 as part of a new dual public service-commercial model for TVNZ, which has at times struggled to implement it. Former TVNZ chief executive Ian Fraser once described it as "not mission impossible but mission very difficult".
TVNZ has also run into trouble with the Government for using its charter money to fund programmes such as NZ Idol and Mucking In, and on its successful bid for rights to the Beijing Olympics, after which the Government stripped TVNZ of its automatic allocation of charter funding, requiring it to gain approval from New Zealand On Air for each programme.
National's plan goes much further, with the money set aside for charter funding to be made available to any free-to-air broadcaster or independent production company. Mr Coleman said National wanted more accountability for the money spent on TVNZ's digital channels and funding for Radio New Zealand, including regular audience and ratings data.
National wanted to fund public broadcasting, rather than public broadcasters. "The public really don't mind if that's shown on TV3, Maori TV, Prime. They just want to be able to see it."
Mr Coleman said the charter was just a bunch of mission statements, and axing its requirement would be "a relief" for TVNZ.
He denied it would lead to cheaper, mass-market programming on television, saying public service material would be spread over a wider range of channels.
Mr Norris said National's policies would result in a host of "blue- chip" documentaries and events-based programming, such as Waitangi Day and Anzac Day, no longer being screened. Public service programming would not shift to other channels because it would not be in their commercial interests to use it.
Broadcasting Minister Trevor Mallard said National's policy was "a Trojan horse for the ultimate privatisation" of TVNZ and Radio New Zealand.
TVNZ declined to comment on National's plans.
- With NZPA
- © Fairfax NZ News
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Competitions is a proven failure, look at where we are right now with food and petrol, there's no end in sight. The scaremongers are bureaucrats who are getting fat with TVNZ funding in fear of losing their ride. But the real danger is losing funding for Maori TV. If you add this to Maori seats, Treaty settlements, Foreshore and Seabed, a Labour coalition might just get in...
Vinnie,
the t.v network cannot be compared to the railroad network in this situation. the free market WILL work with accessible competition, which is viable in t.v networks, but not in the natural monopoly of railroads, which it is unrealistic to have to producers dealing in.
Scott- I presume you refer to all the quality programming that comes out of Australia's competitive system? 7,9, 10 and the rest.
That's right Big Brother, check book journalism, trial by media and quality media.
This is the Nat's starving TVNZ as a precursor to selling it in the second term.
If we lose it (like the power) it is really difficult or really expensive (rail) to get it back.
The Nat's don't care about New Zealand. They are bound up with special interests, which mainly seem to be Australian business, planning to once again trash the institutions such as ACC that have made our country unique and have been built up over generations.
The current charter is junk (thanks labour). Nationals idea is not a lot better. we'll just get NZ Idol on Prime now. The best NZ content is on Maori TV because Tinny Fox secured access to all the TVNZ archives.... and that is without the charter funding.
Labour is down the toilet. I wouldn't waste my vote on them... and this statement from National isn't enough to change my mind about that.
Scott...if competition is always best explain to me why the railways - sold by National in 1993 - are barely at 3rd world standard? It would seem to me that competition in the private sector did nothing for them, all they cared about was making a buck and consequently the public and services suffered and were run into the ground.
If charter money is made contestable I don't question whether good programmes would be made but why they hell would a TV3 or Prime burden themselves with making a programme that only a minority watch? The point of the charter is that it allows the public broadcaster to create quality shows for a range of audiences and minorities - free of the constraints of worrying about whether the show will rate well. The charter means TVNZ has to make these shows. TV3 etc have no obligation and will never choose a say pacific affairs show over an Outrageous Fortune and who could blame them. The result being that without the charter TVNZ will just become another TV3, another effectively privare broadcaster and so the viewers will be the ones who suffer.
More typical "free market will save us" rhetoric. Too bad it never works in the real world. Is that you John?
More scaremongering by the Labour Government!
So... what's the matter? Shouldn't the funding go to the BEST company that can meet the charter obligations the BEST way instead of making it a one-horse race, basically giving TVNZ little to no incentive to produce GOOD locally-made television programmes?
How are Wheel of Fortune and all the New Zealand versions of the overseas game shows meeting TVNZ's charter obligations?
Competition is always best. It makes sure money is well-spent and that the fittest survive. There's too much bureaucracy under the current Government, and there's lots and lots and lots of money wasted on things that it shouldn't be. Competition would help ensure money is better spent because there would be a case of "keeping up with the Joneses".
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So National is making it pretty clear that what it really is about is privitisation.
So you are quite right 'Scott' National seem to be bound up with special interests! what about NZ peoples interest, lets put that first and stop thinking about how to make a quick buck!"