27 May 2008

Transparency should be paramount for TV funding: Greens

The Green Party strongly supports the Broadcasting Minister's decision to require TVNZ to have to bid for any future Charter funding in a transparent way through New Zealand on Air.

"TVNZ has manipulated its Charter funding, and spent it on a host of commercially viable television programmes that don't meet its own Charter criteria. They have used it as a private fund for their own purposes, ignoring for the most part, their own rules," Broadcasting Spokesperson Sue Kedgley says.

"There has been no transparency or proper accountability, and I congratulate the Minister for his decisive action. I agree with him completely that the money should not have been used to subsidise a bid for the Olympic Games.

"TVNZ has only itself to blame for the Minister's decision. Had the money been used wisely and with full accountability, this Minister may not have intervened.

"As it is TVNZ may not be successful in securing the $15 million of funding. Other free to air channels might put up better bids."

ENDS

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