Maori TV tussling with producers

By LOUISA CLEAVE

The Maori Television Service is wrangling with its programme makers over ownership of shows in production for the new channel.

Independent producers have been warned not to sign a contract which heavily favours the MTS by handing over key copyright, distribution and merchandise rights.

At least 26 points of the contract have been challenged, including a clause that would allow the service to drop the producer's name and company from the credits before selling the programme overseas.

Producers are making shows at a discount rate of $40,000 an hour, which is about 50 per cent less than a standard budget, set by the MTS board.

The Screen Production Development Association and Nga Aho Whakaari, which represent independent producers, are negotiating a new contract.

The Government's Maori broadcasting funding agency, Te Mangai Paho, raised concerns with the MTS about its contract before it was sent to producers.

The agency has allocated $7 million to programmes for the channel, which is not expected on air until the middle of next year.

Te Mangai Paho chief executive Trevor Moeke said the agency did not see a final version of the contract before it was released.

"We gave them our recommendations [on the first draft] and it's fair to say some of them have been addressed but not the substantive ones - the ones around distribution, merchandise and who has the rights."

MTS board chairman Derek Fox said the original contract was designed on the principle that the service should have a share in the value of programmes it was commissioning. The service had accepted some of the points raised by Te Mangai Paho and had listened to concerns raised by Spada and Nga Aho Whakaari, he said.

Spada chief executive Jane Wrightson said a second version of the contract had been drafted and consultation was going on. A new agreement was expected to be reached before Christmas.

A top Maori producer has accused the MTS of using the contract to create a rift within the industry by asking producers to deal with the service individually.

"The MTS have not created the opportunity to sort this issue out," said Auckland producer Carey Carter, creator of the Mataku series. "They're trying to keep everyone a little bit divided and negotiate on individual terms."

Herald feature: Maori TV