The PSA’s Broadcast Media members welcome the increased certainty coming from Governments decisions about TVNZ announced yesterday", says PSA Broadcast Media spokesperson Grant Duffy.

“In general we support the direction taken by this Government in Broadcasting and we support the Public Broadcasting Charter for TVNZ. While clearly there are important matters left to be resolved we think that the decisions made by cabinet yesterday will result in increased certainty for staff and the public.

“We expect that TVNZ will remain a “mixed” broadcaster, operating both as a commercial organisation and a Public Broadcaster. Staff are proud to work for TVNZ, an organisation they see as high prestige, operating in the high quality end of the market, and commercially successful. Our members at TVNZ are passionate about their industry, their professions, and their organisation.

They want to contribute to the quality of Public Broadcasting in New Zealand.
“Our members were concerned about proposals to split some “commercial” functions from the “Public Broadcast” functions of TVNZ. The concerns were in 4 major areas – funding Public Television, skills, professional & career development, future risks of sale, and disruption to staff and impact on staff morale.

“We also had concerns about the ongoing suitability of the SOE model for a Public Broadcaster

“We made our concerns made known to the Minister are pleased that they seem to have contributed to this decision.”

The joint PSA Broadcast Media-EPMU submission to the Minister on these issues is available by emailing information@psa.org.nz

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