The Green Party's opposition to splitting BCL from TVNZ shows naivete, ACT Broadcasting Spokesman MP Penny Webster said today.

"The Greens oppose splitting BCL from TVNZ because they don't want the state broadcaster to be forced to come cap-in-hand for funding. Have the Greens been asleep? The Charter will destroy TVNZ - the state broadcaster will have to ask for funding, regardless of whether BCL is split.

"Green MP Sue Kedgley claims she is scared TVNZ could become a pawn in political games. Political pressure and interference has been rife as Chairman Ross Armstrong's recent headline-grabbing antics have proved.

"Splitting BCL from TVNZ is beneficial because it makes TVNZ easier to sell. It also restores a semblance of independence to BCL, and makes charges transparent - CanWest and other private broadcasters will be charged the same as state television.

"Splitting BCL from TVNZ can only create a more even playing field," Penny Webster said.

Ends

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>