MEDIA STATEMENT
14 October 2009

Maori Television to Lead RWC Rights Bid

Maori Television has welcomed the announcement today by Prime Minister John Key that Maori Television will lead a consortium to bid for the free-to-air broadcasting rights for the Rugby World Cup.

Chief Executive Jim Mather said a meeting today between Maori Television, TVNZ and TV3 had been positive and had resulted in agreement for a joint approach to bid for the rights.

He said both TVNZ and Maori Television had withdrawn existing bids. A new bid would be submitted by Maori Television to the IRB as soon as details regarding the structure of the agreement had been finalized.

Mr Mather acknowledged the support and leadership of the Minister of Maori Affairs, Dr Pita Sharples, in working towards a resolution to this issue.

Maori Television now looked forward to lodging the new bid and to the decision of the IRB.

ENDS

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