Katherine Rich National Broadcasting Spokeswoman

16 March 2003

TVNZ Charter costing viewers already

More evidence is emerging showing the Government Charter is already biting into TVNZ ratings and eroding the value of a prime state asset.

"Figures from Nielsen Research show ratings for TVNZ during 2003 have already dropped below the Government's own target," according to the National Party Broadcasting spokeswoman Katherine Rich.

"The annual average share figure for prime time is just 63% this year, well below 2002.

"Under the commercial model it was in the state broadcaster's interests to screen programmes that people wanted to watch, now they have to play what they're told and the taxpayer will foot the bill.

"That's why TV3 deserves credit for raising important independence issues in its recent advertising campaign.

"TV Three's simply cashing in on what the public have assumed for quite some time now and the viewing numbers prove that.

"In 2001, then Broadcasting Minister Marian Hobbs said:

"The Charter will be successful if its still got 70% of New Zealanders as they currently are watching television, saying this is our TVNZ."*

"By the Government's own standards TVNZ is already failing, even before the full impact of the Charter has been felt," says Katherine Rich.

"As more and more politically correct programmes are forced on us, the ratings will only get worse.

"These statistics back-up the miserable ratings figures seen during the Festival documentary series, " she says.

"It's estimated the poor ratings from this series alone will have cost TVNZ $100,000 in advertising revenue, compared with its average rating.

"Former Media Studies lecturer Steve Maharey may think he knows what is best for TVNZ, but New Zealanders are voting with their remotes," says Mrs Rich.

Ends

*Sunday Star Times, 24th Feb 2002

© Scoop Media