TVNZ seeks to scrap election obligations - again
Weak ratings of addresses put TVNZ at "disadvantage" and Parliament TV is an alternative.
TVNZ wants to abandon its obligations to broadcast political parties’ opening and closing addresses because they rate so poorly.
In a submission to parliament's electoral and justice select committee, the state-owned broadcaster says the rules over election broadcasts were introduced in 1989 when it did not have a requirement to behave like a commercial business.
Additionally, TVNZ says voters now have access to a variety of resources covering the policies of political parties to choose from, especially through the internet and social media.
TVNZ has tried and failed to change the rules in the past. In 2012 it submitted a nearly identical proposal following the 2011 election.
The addresses are aired between 7pm and 9pm, along with restricted advertising. This is “prime time” – the period with the highest viewing and advertising revenue.
The broadcaster says ratings for the addresses in the 2014 election were 38% lower than the average of the six previous Saturday evenings.
“This placed TVNZ at a serious commercial disadvantage to its competitors,” the document says.
If the proposal is rejected, TVNZ wants the election coverage obligations extended to its commercial rivals.
It says Parliament TV would be a more appropriate channel to screen the party addresses.
TVNZ spokeswoman Lenska Papich says the submission is not an attempt to dilute the broadcaster’s election coverage, pointing to Vote Compass, an educational tool developed by political scientists.
National campaign manager Steven Joyce told the New Zealand Herald he would be open to the addresses being scrapped, saying they are costly and voters have more options.
Labour leader Andrew Little said the submission showed need for a “genuine” public service channel and that the obligations should remain.
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TVNZ seeks to scrap election obligations - again
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