Katherine Rich National Broadcasting Spokesperson

13 February 2001

Hobbs talking esoteric nonsense on role of TV

Marian Hobbs must stop treating television like a social engineering tool, National's Broadcasting spokesperson Katherine Rich said today.

"Ms Hobbs' speech to the 'Television and Evolution' conference today confirms that after fourteen months as Minister of Broadcasting she is still taking a Stage 1 Philosophy approach to what is a major revenue earner for the government.

"Again and again she refers to television as 'an important tool in contributing to democracy'. I challenge the Minister to march into South Auckland to engage in such esoteric discussions about television.

"Ms Hobbs' ability to capture the imagination of New Zealanders with such waffly elitist views of television would rate about as well as the TVNZ Waitangi Day special she celebrated in her speech. Comments like these serve to demonstrate how out of touch she is with the tastes of New Zealand viewers.

"The more the Minister attempts to make New Zealanders watch worthy shows designed to, in her words, 'create platforms where important issues can be examined, dissected, challenged' the more New Zealanders will flock to competing stations where they are entertained.

"Marian must move on from the philosophy and start to concentrate on the practical issues facing New Zealand television," Ms Hobbs said.

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