Jonathan Coleman MP
National Party Broadcasting Spokesman

13 August 2007

What’s the plan Minister?

Steve Maharey needs to tell the public what his plan is for switching households from analogue to digital television, says National Party Broadcasting spokesman Jonathan Coleman.

"Steve Maharey doesn't seem to have any sort of plan for increasing the uptake of digital television. It is clear that without a set date to begin phasing out the analogue signal, and in the absence of compelling content on Freeview, numbers will plateau pretty quickly."

Dr Coleman was commenting on today's release of Freeview's sales figures for set-top boxes.

"Freeview has done a good job in reaching its initial target.

"However, those figures need closer scrutiny. Of those 41,000 households able to receive Freeview, 20,000 were already watching TVNZ via a set-top box.

"Some 21,000 people bought a box because of Freeview. Given that $104 million of taxpayer money is being spent on digital TV, that's a tax-funded subsidy of nearly $5,000 for each household that has signed up.

"Freeview’s being marketed on the basis of clarity of reception for those households which can't get a clear analogue signal.

"The problem is, those who are motivated by reception issues are likely to have a box by now, yet Mr Maharey maintains that Freeview numbers will grow because of content.

“Well, if content is the answer, Mr Maharey should tell us where and when we can expect to see it.”

ENDS

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