Katherine Rich National Broadcasting Spokesperson

31 October 2001

TVNZ forced to cadge a ride with Sky

Television New Zealand's TV1 and TV2 being broadcast on Sky from December was inevitable given the deteriorated financial state of the company, during Marian Hobbs' reign as Broadcasting Minister, National's Broadcasting spokesperson Katherine Rich said today.

"Marian Hobbs and TVNZ can try to put a positive spin on the channels going onto Sky but the reality is that TVNZ's poor financial state and prognosis made it clear the company had no other option.

"This was inevitable for TVNZ after it lost its battle to get support for its own strategy.

"While Marian Hobbs deludes herself that TVNZ's digital strategy remained intact despite the breakdown of the Telstra Saturn deal, what was presented today is a pale shadow of TVNZ's earlier plans.

"Sky has won the digital battle. TVNZ meanwhile is entering a new era where it is no longer a broadcaster but just another content provider on the digital platform and just another option on Sky's remote," Katherine Rich.

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