Hewitt ties up TVNZ over dancing images

Former All Black Norm Hewitt has put his foot down over Television New Zealand's use of film of him from Dancing with the Stars.

TVNZ spokeswoman Megan Richards said the broadcaster would usually have rights to such images in perpetuity, but Hewitt had negotiated a "unique" deal, The Sunday Star Times reports today.

After he won Dancing with the Stars last year, TVNZ paid for a two-month licence to his images and was then unable to use them without permission.

Ms Richards said the issue had arisen again because this year's show provided "temptation" to refer to last year's champion.

An internal email written by news head Bill Ralston last week said a "small contractual issue" meant news "can never use an image of (Hewitt) in connection with this programme".

Hewitt said the deal was merely good negotiation on his part. He said the deal was fair and "came down to contractual negotiations... that's business".

He said he was paid $40,000 to be on the show and had received "thousands" from TVNZ for use of the images.

- NZPA