06 September 2008
‘Very vulnerable’ beginnings for new station
28 February 2008
By Tom McRae, Amberleigh Jack and Dallas Gurney
TVNZ promised more diversity and New Zealand content on its new digital channel TVNZ 7 this week, despite only four hours a week of local shows being specifically made for the station.
TVNZ hopes the new channel will reflect the national voice and strengthen New Zealand’s sense of identity. “Around 70 per cent of the channel’s content will be locally produced and around 40 per cent of that will be made specifically for TVNZ 7,” said chief executive Rick Ellis.
However the state-owned broadcaster admits only four hours a week of non-news content will be specifically produced for TVNZ 7. The remainder will be news bulletins, international programming and repeats of shows already aired on TVNZ such as Sunday, Breakfast, Te Karere and Agenda.
But head of digital Services Eric Kearley says the channel will change over time. “Launching a new channel is a bit like a baby. It’s a very vulnerable period. It has to be nurtured. Babies aren’t that pretty when they’re born.”
The channel will receive $80 million from the Government over its first five years. However, only 80,000 New Zealanders have so far bought set-top boxes, the only way to access TVNZ 6 and 7.
Russell Brown, host of TVNZ7’s local media commentary show Media 7, said he would still cover his own channel. “We’ll probably make a point of giving [TVNZ 7] a roasting fairly early on in the series just to establish where the line is.”
An AUT poll on Auckland’s Queen Street revealed that only one in 10 people knew about TVNZ 7. Marilyn Haye, 50, is disappointed she hadn’t heard of the channel. “I think it would be most interesting,” she says.
Kearley agrees a lack of programme listings and “visibility” is an issue. “All I can say is we’re not lax about it. We want to address it.”
The channel will be launched on air with a live political debate from Wellington on Sunday, March 30.
