TVNZ Welcomes Report on television Violence

Media Release

Thu, 1 Apr 2004

TVNZ today welcomed the Television Violence Project Working Group's report and made a strong commitment to explore and implement a more rigorous process to reduce the amount of violence portrayed in programme promotions.

The report's findings show the use of violence in promotions is more pronounced than that found in programmes and TVNZ's Chief Executive Officer, Ian Fraser, also a member of the working group, says that needs to change.

"We know there is an issue around television promotions because of the concentrated messaging and that it is promotions that cause much of the offence in terms of violence," Mr Fraser says.

"As a result of this report we are looking at ways to reduce the amount of violence in our promotions along with when they are played."

Mr Fraser says TVNZ is also very aware of the need to have better systems in place for listening to viewers, another finding of the report.

"TVNZ has been charged by its shareholders, the government and people of New Zealand with creating a public service television broadcasting organisation which best meets the unique needs of all New Zealanders. We are committed to hearing what people are concerned about.

"The report's collaborative approach gives us a mechanism to do that which fits in nicely with TVNZ's Talk Television initiative - a nationwide series of public meetings visiting communities around the country - which will enable viewers to tell us what they want and expect of us. TVNZ is driven by our commitment to be responsive to viewers' needs and expectations. "

The report and its suggested collaborative approach to television violence will better accommodate television advocacy groups and give them greater leverage according to Mr Fraser.

"As a result of this report I think we can expect the establishment of more advocacy groups and that's a very good thing."

ENDS

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