PM Gets it Wrong as Save TVNZ 7 online petition hits 30,000

12 June 2012

PM Gets it Wrong as the Save TVNZ 7 online petition hits 30,000

Today on the Stuff website PM John Key appeared to say TVNZ 7’s funding of $16m was instead transferred to NZ On Air. “In relation to TVNZ7, the Government transferred that funding to the Platinum Fund administered by NZ on Air because it saw better value for money from that spend” John Key said.

“Here at Save TVNZ 7 we’re trying to work out what exactly John Key meant,” says Myles Thomas of the Save TVNZ 7 campaign.

“Does he mean the $16m annually being used to run TVNZ 6 & 7 was redirected to the Platinum Fund?
Does he mean the $15m previously going to TVNZ to fund their Charter objectives was redirected to the Platinum Fund?
Does he mean Cabinet actually considered redirecting the Charter money to funding TVNZ 7?
Or does he not actually know what is going on with the closure of TVNZ 7?

“If it’s the latter, we urge the Prime Minister to have another think about closing down TVNZ 7. It doesn’t have to be a U-turn, Cabinet could be forgiven for making the wrong decision if they were given the wrong figures to base that decision on.”

Earlier this month Jonathan Coleman, then Minister of Broadcasting, confessed to using incorrect TVNZ 7 weekly viewership figures when announcing the channels closure (see links below).

“It’s quite feasible those same incorrect figures contributed to Cabinet thinking no-one would care if TVNZ 7 was closed down,” Mr Thomas says. “The problem for Cabinet is that many New Zealanders do care about TVNZ 7’s closure, and they seem to care a lot.”

• Nielsen viewership figures show 1.4 million viewers watch TVNZ 7 per month - that’s a third of New Zealand.
• The Save TVNZ 7 public meetings around the country have been hugely successful with record attendances.
• The online petition at www.savetvnz7.co.nz has today reached a significant milestone - 30,000 online signatures.

“We’re finding that Kiwis from all over the country are actually pretty upset about the decision to cut funding to TVNZ 7 and as the last days of the channel count down, they’re starting to realise what they’ll be losing. Especially when the government are prepared to spend $120m on contractors to sell assets but can't spend $16m on a channel that a third of the country are watching and enjoying.”

Today’s Stuff webchat with John Key (at 12.34pm)
Coleman admits getting numbers wrong

Note: Save TVNZ 7 has thousands of members from across the political spectrum, and is not affiliated with any party or other interest group. The website and online petition is at www.savetvnz7.co.nz

ENDS

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