TVNZ funding no more than Labour election year ploy

Thursday 3 Feb 2005
Deborah Coddington
Press Releases -- Broadcasting

ACT Broadcasting spokesman Deborah Coddington was today outraged at the Labour Party's manipulative ploy in an election year to shore up guaranteed coverage on State-owned television.

"Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey's announcement, as per usual, is full of claptrap that says nothing. However, TVNZ's grovelling gratitude reveals all," Miss Coddington said.

Labour's broadcasting plan will increase taxpayer funding to TVNZ to match commercial revenue.

"Significantly neither Mr Maharey or TVNZ CEO Ian Fraser state where this money will come from. The worst kept secret in broadcasting circles has been that TVNZ has been lobbying to bypass NZ on Air and give taxpayers' money directly to the State broadcaster.

"TVNZ will pay a huge price for this latest step backwards when the integrity and independence of its news and current affairs staff are compromised by a Government that uses taxpayer dollars to curry favour with the media," Miss Coddington said.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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