This week the National Party made another statement about what they plan to do if they win the elections. They said they will keep TVNZ as public TV, but will get rid of the Charter because it is not working.
The Charter was brought in by the Labour government in 2003 to try to make TVNZ produce more local programmes. Because our population is so small, we cannot afford free public television. TVNZ is owned by us, the people, but it has to be commercial. Most of its money comes from advertising. Advertisers don’t want to waste their money on programmes with a small audience. This means that it is hard for TV to find money for documentaries or current affairs programmes. It is also cheaper to buy overseas programmes than to produce local ones.
The Charter says that TVNZ must make programmes that inform, entertain and educate New Zealand audiences. Programmes should encourage us to discuss ideas. They must show us experiences that help to form our national identity. There should be local programmes that show New Zealanders, New Zealand history and our natural environment. They must promote Maori language and culture. All interests should be represented, including the interests of smaller audiences and minority groups. Our culture includes not only sports but also the arts so they should make programmes about the arts. Most importantly, the Charter says TVNZ must make quality programmes, and encourage creative experimenting in new programmes. The government provides $15 million every year for charter programmes but there is also $70 million New Zealand On Air money they can apply for.
The government is angry with TVNZ at the moment because they spent $5 million of this charter money on bringing us Olympic Games broadcasts and nearly $3 million on the Sunday programme. The Minister of Broadcasting, Mr Mallard, says this is not good use of the charter money and in future they will have to apply to New Zealand On Air for money. TVNZ needs to spend that money on quality programmes which show us New Zealand people, our culture and our environment. |