Maori TV backs Cannes trip

By LOUISA CLEAVE

The Maori Television Service says two consultants who attended a major television market in France have identified programmes for further consideration but not bought anything.

Joanna Paul and Kath Graham attended the week-long Mipcom TV market at Cannes this month, before visiting the Welsh language channel S4C in Cardiff.

The trip was authorised by Te Puni Kokiri, the Ministry of Maori Development, on the recommendation of the MTS board. A spokeswoman for the ministry yesterday could not give details about the cost of the trip.

Ms Paul, a former director of MTS who quit and then applied for a full-time position with the service, and Ms Graham provide programming and scheduling advice.

The Mipcom market was attended by more than 10,200 television professionals. Companies such as Disney, Fox, MTV and the BBC use the market to show and sell their programmes.

MTS chairman Derek Fox said that the pair had "established some good contacts and brought back a wealth of information". He said they visited SC4 in Cardiff because the channel is a world leader in minority language programming, research and sub-titling.

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Feature: Maori TV