Maori Television Service deal, but no start date

By RUTH BERRY

Long-lasting wrangles between the Government and the Maori Television Service appear to have been resolved, but the channel's on-air date remains uncertain.

Two months ago the Government approved a last-minute bid by the service to go to air on a Sky channel, after appearing ready to reject the deal.

But a formal announcement was not made because the approval was subject to several conditions.

Those conditions created a fresh round of tensions between the parties, including talk of legal action.

Under the Sky deal, MTS will use one of Sky's existing UHF channels in exchange for letting Sky use the four frequencies reserved for Maori television it has been squatting on.

Associate Communications Minister David Cunliffe refused yesterday to spell out what the problem over the management right was, but said "we had to think our way through some process issues".

But a letter which should clear the path for Sky and MTS to conclude negotiations had been sent last week.

MTS would not comment yesterday on when it expected to go to air, saying commercial arrangements were yet to be completed.