The issue of Public Service TV in New Zealand

NZ once had public service TV along similar lines to the BBC, ABC and CBC. NZ’s public service TV has been slowly eroded since the 80s and with the abolition of the charter which was ineffectual, TVNZ has embraced its role as a purely commercial broadcaster. In NZ there is a generation who don’t know what public service TV actually is and didn’t know what they were missing until they saw TVNZ 6 & 7. TVNZ 6 (Kidzone) has sadly closed down but TVNZ 7 has continued and gained a strong audience of around 1.4 million Kiwis each month. This is a third of NZ watching TVNZ 7 at some point over a 4 week period, mostly more than once a month and probably more than once a week. Compare this to TV 3 in it’s infancy and TVNZ 7 is doing very well. Especially considering it has no publicity, no cross channel promotion and most crucially, no listings in magazines or newspapers.

The Save TVNZ 7 Online Petition

Viewable at www.savetvnz7.co.nz the petition has grown steadily to 24,000 at last look (20 May 2012) and is comparable to the Radio NZ Facebook campaign which gained over 30,000 FB fans. That was for a radio network that is well established with over 40 years existence. The fact that over 20,000 people choose to sign an online petition to save a fledgling channel that is only available on Freeview and Sky, shows real support for TVNZ 7 and Public Service TV in general. It’s no surprise considering the most popular form of radio in NZ is Public Service Radio (NZ National).

Why is Public Service TV important in NZ?

NZ’s media market is saturated with commercial media in radio, print and TV. Yet these media reflect back to us our culture, values and beliefs about NZ. Yes we choose whether we believe or not but on many levels the words and images around us get into our psyche and shape our definition of NZ. We need TV that is intelligent, original, distinctively Kiwi and not based solely upon selling products to keep NZ’s distinctive culture alive. If we see Kiwi talent on an imported talent show format (supported by NZ On Air) then are we just another state of the USA? If we see ourselves only in reality shows about emergency services, competitive cooking, and shallow behaviour, then that’s what we will become.

Only Public Service TV is free to reflect NZ in all its un-rating’s driven glory. And while that NZ will never disappear, we will forget it exists if channels like TVNZ 7 close down. Public Service TV celebrates NZ. It is TV that serves the audience rather than serving the advertisers. That’s why it ends up being more thoughtful, intelligent, quirky, refreshing, interesting and entertaining than the mainstream TV channels - because it isn’t desperately trying to keep everyone glued to the screen at any cost.

Facts and Figures:
• 1.4m Kiwis watch TVNZ 7 each 4 week period (data supplied by TVNZ from Nielsen Research)
• 24,228 have signed the Save TVNZ 7 online petition (as of 20.5.12)
• Australia has five public service TV channels, NZ only has one
• Australia recently announced funding boost of $200m to SBS, the NZ government has chosen to cut funding of $15m to TVNZ 7
• Australia funds the ABC through a levy on commercial broadcasters profits. A similar levy in NZ would accrue at least $13m
• When TVNZ closes we will join Mexico as being the only two countries in the OECD without Public Service TV
• Meanwhile comparable countries have public service TV - Botswana, Estonia, Ireland and Serbia to name a few
• TVNZ has quoted the government a cost of $16.5m to keep TVNZ 7 going.
• The government leant $43M to the private operator Mediaworks for unpaid license fees
• Sky TV annual profit was $120m after tax. Unlike most countries Sky in NZ has no requirements to share significant sports coverage or to pay a levy on its profits for public service TV
• The digital switch from analogue TV will net the government around $1.5b from leasing the frequencies to Telcos. Surely some of that windfall should cover the costs of a healthy public service TV channel
• NZ has the most commercialised TV environment in the developed world requiring TVNZ’s programming to be even more focused on appealing to advertisers.

The following meetings have been scheduled to discuss the issue of Public Service TV in New Zealand.

(Please check www.savetvnz7.co.nz regularly for updates)

Wellington
21 May 7-9pm - Wesley Church Hall, Taranaki St
Speakers
• Wallace Chapman - moderator
• Clare Curran - Labour
• Sue Kedgley - ex Greens
• Dr Peter Thompson - VUW
• Tom Frewen - Journalist NBR and Media Commentator

Nelson
25 May 6-8pm - Trafalgar Pavilion (off Trafalgar Park Lane)
Speakers
• Wallace Chapman - moderator
• Clare Curran - Labour
• Julie Anne Genter - Greens
• Dr Peter Thompson - VUW
• Phillip Woollaston

Christchurch
28th May, CPSA building, 5 Madras St, City.
Speakers to be announced.

Palmerston North
6th June, 7-9pm at the All Saints Church Hall, cnr of The Square and Church Street.
Speakers to be announced.

Dunedin
7th June, 6-8pm at the Barnett Theatre, 1st floor of Dunedin Hospital, Great King Street, City.
Speakers to be announced.

Hamilton
13th June at the University of Waikato.
Speakers to be announced.

www.savetvnz7.co.nz

ENDS

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