National is defending its proposed broadcasting policy, under criticism from the Government that it is nothing but a pathway to privatisation.
The Government is suspicious about the policy, that will open up charter funding to private sector competitors.
Yesterday National MP Jonathan Coleman released his party's policy for broadcasting. Today he is assuring voters Television New Zealand will not be sold.
If elected, National plans to strip TVNZ of its charter obligations and its monopoly on $15 million of funding.
National plans to give power of allocation of that $15 million to New Zealand On Air, and allow other free-to-air broadcasters and independent production companies to compete for it.
Local production companies 3 News has spoken to say they are supportive of the idea in principle.
Labour's Trevor Mallard was not quite so optimistic.
National says there is no plan to privatise TVNZ, and that they will continue to supply the $15 million funding for local programming should they get into power.
3 News