“Marian Hobbs’ brave new Television world is under threat because she has the structure wrong and the impotent Alliance is staging a hissy-fit,” New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters said in Tauranga today.

“TVNZ and Radio New Zealand need to be retained in public ownership but be combined as one state owned enterprise (New Zealand Broadcasting) modelled on similar broadcasting organisations overseas, Mr Peters said.

“The current structure of these organisations prevents them from fulfilling their necessary obligations. You also have a culture of profligacy in one, and a hand-to-mouth existence for the other. Neither are producing the quality current affairs, news, or cultural programmes that you would expect from first world broadcasters.

“Both channels and Radio New Zealand ought to share a common news service to enhance coverage and reduce administration costs. A certain weeding out of the grossly overpaid would also not go amiss, said Mr Peters.

“The Minister should not be diverted from her goal by Alliance politicking but needs to have another look at the structural changes. Why do we want to make a major part of TVNZ (the profitable Broadcasting Communications Ltd.) a separate entity? The solution is clear: one organisation with a clear charter and a culture of public service.” Mr Peters concluded.

ENDS

© Scoop Media