Tue, 13 Oct 2009 6:22p.m.
Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman has confirmed the Government is prepared to back a joint bid by TVNZ and TV3
By Scott Campbell
The Government is being accused of dirty tactics and hijacking Maori TV’s bid for the rights to show the Rugby World Cup by passing confidential information on to opponents.
Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman has confirmed the Government is prepared to back a joint bid by TVNZ and TV3 – effectively knocking Maori TV out of the race.
Maori TV was odds-on to win the free-to-air rights for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but it has been spear-tackled by the Government, which has backed a bid from TVNZ and TV3.
“MTS decided to go it alone and we felt that it wasn’t going to meet the needs of all New Zealanders, so effectively we’ve asked TVNZ top lead a consortium on this,” says Coleman.
Maori TV has put up $2million to $3million in its bid for the free-to-air rights. It is supported by another $3million from Te Puni Kokiri. The idea was Pita Sharples’, and had the pitch covered until last week.
But that is likely to be knocked out by TVNZ’s last minute attempt - supported by TV3 - and crucially, the Government’s cheque book. However, Maori TV can also join this, should they lose.
Sharples is questioning why the Government orchestrated this deal.
“I’m extremely disappointed,” he says.
“I think our bid was transparent. Their bid was made knowing how much MTS had bid, and I think it is grossly unfair.”
Questions have been raised as to whether it was Coleman who passed on the confidential details of Maori TV’s bid to TVNZ, ensuring that the state-owned broadcaster’s would be successful.
“I can not recall giving them specific information about Maori TV’s bid,” Coleman said earlier today.
He later rang 3 News saying he did not tell TVNZ.
The Government maintains this is all about coverage, and that Maori TV only broadcasts to 85 percent of the country.
“There are 16 games in the free-to-air package, Maori TV can take all 16, 12 of those games will be split half each between TVNZ and TV3,” Coleman says.
That means all All Blacks games, the knockout rounds, and final will be shown free – but on which channel is not clear.
“The left hand does not know what the right hand is doing,” says Labour Party deputy leader Annette King.
“Policy has been made on the hoof, what is going on, who is paying? Is it our hard working taxpayers again, as they try to clear up what has obviously been a blunder.”
So it appears the Government has orchestrated this new deal to knock out Maori TV, and critics argue it looks like a shambles.
3 News
