Apsattv
28-05-2008, 03:02 AM
From http://www.tv3.co.nz/MinisterialdiscontentoverTVNZleadstochangeinrules/tabid/209/articleID/57350/cat/41/Default.aspx
Ministerial anger at TVNZ's misuse of charter money means it will be stripped of the power to decide for itself how it spends $15 million a year.
Broadcasting Minister Trevor Mallard confirmed a Dominion Post story today that the state broadcaster would have to apply to funding agency NZ On Air on a programme by programme basis to use its charter funds.
“There are going to be a clear set of rules that are drawn up,” Mr Mallard told journalists.
"It will mean for example that they won't be able to use money for the bid and production costs of events like the Olympics which are won on a competitive basis.
"If something is going to come to New Zealand anyway, then there is not added value in having it on TVNZ as opposed to one of the other free to air channels."
TVNZ spokeswoman Megan Richards said TVNZ had not used direct government funding in the bid for the actual rights to screen the Olympics.
"We have never used government funding to bid for sporting events," she told NZPA.
Bidding for the rights to the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics was conducted before there was a charter, Ms Richards said.
Ministerial sources told NZPA that TVNZ's argument was a matter of semantics as charter money was being used to subsidise the Olympics coverage, which included the bid.
Mr Mallard indicated there had been long running discontent within the Beehive over the use of the charter funding.
He said his predecessor Steve Maharey had a lot of debate with TVNZ over the inappropriate use of its charter funding for programmes such as current affairs.
Mr Mallard indicated the new rules would ensure that charter programmes were not banished to the early hours of the morning.
"Probably the most important point is getting programmes on at the right time. It is all very well having charter funding for New Zealand production but we have got to have them on at time people see them and that is a big test too."
TVNZ gained an enormous advantage out of charter funding to provide New Zealand television.
"We expect results, we expect added value in at least some of the funding, we haven't been getting that," Mr Mallard said.
TVNZ was "comfortable" with the Government's proposal requiring NZ On Air to approve funding on a per programme basis, Ms Richards said.
Such a move would add "clarity" to the funding process and the state broadcaster was already discussing the proposal internally.
Mr Mallard said the new funding process would be given a one-year trial "with a no-penalty arrangement" and be implemented fully from July next year.
A memorandum of understanding would be struck with TVNZ on what would be approved and what would miss out on a programme by programme basis.
The new rules would not affect use of the money for this year's Olympics, or other programmes in train, or where TVNZ had already made commitments but would ensure appropriate use in future.
Ministerial anger at TVNZ's misuse of charter money means it will be stripped of the power to decide for itself how it spends $15 million a year.
Broadcasting Minister Trevor Mallard confirmed a Dominion Post story today that the state broadcaster would have to apply to funding agency NZ On Air on a programme by programme basis to use its charter funds.
“There are going to be a clear set of rules that are drawn up,” Mr Mallard told journalists.
"It will mean for example that they won't be able to use money for the bid and production costs of events like the Olympics which are won on a competitive basis.
"If something is going to come to New Zealand anyway, then there is not added value in having it on TVNZ as opposed to one of the other free to air channels."
TVNZ spokeswoman Megan Richards said TVNZ had not used direct government funding in the bid for the actual rights to screen the Olympics.
"We have never used government funding to bid for sporting events," she told NZPA.
Bidding for the rights to the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics was conducted before there was a charter, Ms Richards said.
Ministerial sources told NZPA that TVNZ's argument was a matter of semantics as charter money was being used to subsidise the Olympics coverage, which included the bid.
Mr Mallard indicated there had been long running discontent within the Beehive over the use of the charter funding.
He said his predecessor Steve Maharey had a lot of debate with TVNZ over the inappropriate use of its charter funding for programmes such as current affairs.
Mr Mallard indicated the new rules would ensure that charter programmes were not banished to the early hours of the morning.
"Probably the most important point is getting programmes on at the right time. It is all very well having charter funding for New Zealand production but we have got to have them on at time people see them and that is a big test too."
TVNZ gained an enormous advantage out of charter funding to provide New Zealand television.
"We expect results, we expect added value in at least some of the funding, we haven't been getting that," Mr Mallard said.
TVNZ was "comfortable" with the Government's proposal requiring NZ On Air to approve funding on a per programme basis, Ms Richards said.
Such a move would add "clarity" to the funding process and the state broadcaster was already discussing the proposal internally.
Mr Mallard said the new funding process would be given a one-year trial "with a no-penalty arrangement" and be implemented fully from July next year.
A memorandum of understanding would be struck with TVNZ on what would be approved and what would miss out on a programme by programme basis.
The new rules would not affect use of the money for this year's Olympics, or other programmes in train, or where TVNZ had already made commitments but would ensure appropriate use in future.