Rt Hon Winston Peters

New Zealand First Leader

Member of Parliament for Northland
11 AUGUST 2016

Hosking Not Worrying About Ordinary Kiwis

Broadcaster Mike Hosking wants the public to keep paying to watch our Olympians live but how many would pay to watch him on television, says New Zealand First.

“It’s obvious that if it wasn’t free to watch Mr Hosking on television each night, as it is now, he would not last long.

“Mr Hosking’s tongue got out of control when he stated on his show that free-to-air sports coverage is dead and will not return.

“This is only because media companies – the only masters Mr Hosking listens to – want to suck as much money they can out of the public.

“New Zealand taxpayers pay millions of dollars each year to assist in preparing our athletes for competitions such as the Olympic Games and have a right to see how they perform.

“Taxpayers also provide substantial grants to all medallists and even down to those who place ninth to 12th.

“But while providing all this financial support, taxpayers have to pay again to see the athletes perform live.

“That’s not a fair go – especially when most New Zealanders do not have Sky and when the government has the capability of ensuring they can view all major events involving our athletes,” says Mr Peters.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/video.cfm?c_id=1503077&gal_cid=1503077&gallery_id=163962

ENDS

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