Wednesday, July 16, 2008

TV3 Launches Innovative On-Line
Election Coverage Today

New Zealand’s political parties have already begun campaigning for the highly anticipated 2008 election.

3 News viewers and RadioLIVE listeners will be able to access the most current and comprehensive election information with the launch of decision08.co.nz today, Wednesday, July 16.

Qantas Media Award winning political reporter, Duncan Garner leads a team that will provide detailed analysis and critical examination of all the issues covering all the candidates from all the parties.

decision08.co.nz will include extensive news video and audio, polls, blogs, candidate, electorate and party information. Another unique feature is that main party candidates will be able to manage their own content ensuring that decision08 is the country’s freshest site. And our reporting team will be able to quickly respond with objective analysis of all the twists and turns.

The site has been in development for eight months, with preparation starting in October 2007. Originally conceived by Siobhan McKenna (General Manager, NetWorks) and Mark Jennings (Director of TV3 News and Current Affairs) it required collaborative planning from 3 News, RadioLIVE and NetWorks - the online division of MediaWorks.

McKenna says the advertising and sponsorship opportunities have been available to advertisers since mid May.

“Interest has been good and we expect it to increase further now that the site is live,” she says. decision08.co.nz offers candidates the chance to take ownership of their own page and update it and upload photos. This has been approved by the Electoral Commission.

TV3’s Director of News and Current Affairs, Mark Jennings, says decision08.co.nz will receive unparalleled support from the country’s leading news programmes.

“It will be the only site promoted for election coverage through 3 News, Campbell Live, Sunrise, Nightline and RadioLIVE’s national news network as well as promotion across RadioWorks’ eight national radio networks,” he says.

“Overseas elections have proven that online election coverage now plays a key role in informing voters and with broadband use in New Zealand growing quickly, it’s important for a leading broadcaster to have a website dedicated to politics and election coverage ” adds Mr Jennings.

Log on to decision08.co.nz for New Zealand’s most comprehensive and easily navigated election coverage.

ENDS

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