Paul Holmes Speech: Media Conference - Nov 2

2 November 2004

PAUL HOLMES SPEECH NOTES (Media conference - Hilton Hotel, Tuesday 2 November 2004 at 11am)

Good morning ladies and gentlemen.

I am moving to Prime Television.

I’ll start with Prime Television when my contract with Television New Zealand ends on December 31.

The Holmes programme has been hugely successful over 16 years and remains so.

But it is time to move on.

In my dealings with Chris Taylor I have found him to be energetic, positive and very ambitious for Prime’s place in New Zealand’s broadcasting landscape.

There is no doubt in my mind that Prime is committed to taking a major place in New Zealand broadcasting.

Prime Television has significant international backing and I have found them to be very astute operators.

I am going to miss the people at TVNZ very much, people with whom I have had such a long and productive working relationship.

There are marvellous people at TVNZ, people who day after day practice their craft with excellence.

TVNZ has been rather like family.

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The HOLMES programme remains hugely successful, and there was a very good offer on the table to renew my contract, but I decided not to accept it.

The challenge Prime offers is irresistible.

The challenge is not only to host the programme, but also to co- produce it and to build a network.

I am very excited about the Prime Television challenge.

Yes it is going to be tough, but I have done tough before.

I am going to Prime Television with two ambitions.

Number one, to make a vital current affairs programme that people have to watch.

Number two, to help build Prime Television into a dominant broadcasting force in the New Zealand market.

ENDS

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