25 June 2012

Funeral march down Lambton Quay to mark passing of a dear channel

With only 5 days left in the life of TVNZ 7, supporters are planning a funeral march down Lambton Quay in Wellington this Thursday (June 28).

The march will leave Civic Square at 12.15pm and proceed down the quay and into Parliament grounds, lead by a coffin-carrying hearse.

At Parliament, the Save TVNZ 7 petition, signed by more than 31,000 people, will be presented to Labour Broadcasting spokesperson, Clare Curran

Save TVNZ campaign organiser Myles Thomas said the funeral procession was appropriate as the demise of TVNZ 7 was the death knell to public service television.

“There’s the myth that NZ on Air will provide public service television but in fact NZ On Air only funds programmes the networks want to screen. Increasingly, it’s funding commercial programmes such as The GC, leaving less funding for programmes such as the arts, science and current affairs shows that have been on TVNZ 7.”

About 400 people attended a meeting in Wellington last month to lend their support to the Save TVNZ 7 campaign so march organisers are hoping for a good turnout at this Thursday’s protest.

ENDS

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