Editorial: Good riddance to unworkable TVNZ charter

Opinion

The protracted birth of Television New Zealand's public service charter bore testimony to the self-evident difficulties of making the state broadcaster both a popular success and a servant of minority interests. Six years on, its death should be as swift as it will be unlamented. "The charter hasn't worked," the Prime Minister noted succinctly, while confirming its imminent demise.

Such was always bound to be the case in an exercise that asked TVNZ to keep acting commercially while its profitability was being undermined by a supposedly diminished focus on ratings. In sum, this was a soft option taken by a Labour-led Government that could not bring itself to forgo a healthy dividend and finance a channel for programming that commercial operators might not screen.

The charter, as envisaged by that Government, would usher in high-quality programmes that reflected our identity and culture and history and heritage, as well as the arts and Maori and minority interests. Prime-time screening of this fare would contribute to a sense of national purpose and a pride in New Zealand's diversity.

Far too often, however, what emerged under the charter banner was dumbed-down reality television. The situation reached a nadir last year when TVNZ decided it would use charter money to finance Olympic Games coverage. When this was blocked by the then Broadcasting Minister, Trevor Mallard, he might just as well have brought the curtain down on the charter.

Its failure was comprehensive. Trying to achieve the best of both worlds led only to the worst of all conclusions. Few programmes that could not be profitable were shown, as the broadcaster chose, effectively, to continue down a commercial path. But, all the while, TVNZ's profitability was crumbling. Many viewers, accustomed to better programming, were alienated. Ironically, much of the dross produced using charter money rated well, thereby reaping advertising dollars.
There was absolutely no need for such programmes to enjoy taxpayer subsidies.

Under the changes previewed by the Prime Minister, the $15 million in charter funding, designed for the production of non-commercial programmes, will be channelled through NZ on Air, the public programmer commissioning agency. All broadcasters can bid for it. TVNZ will not be obliged to provide public service broadcasting, a situation that has led critics to suggest the viewing schedule will become that of a commercial wasteland.

This seems unlikely. Some time in the future, a survey of programming before, during and after the charter will surely confirm little change. It remains in TVNZ's interests to screen good indigenous programmes. While TV2 competes with TV3, it can use these to differentiate TV One. Further public service-style broadcasting can also be shown on its digital channels, TVNZ6 and TVNZ7, which the Government wants to place on the Sky platform to complement their current
Freeview location. As John Key suggested, it seems likely that TVNZ will get "the vast bulk of it [the $15 million] back". But few viewers will quibble if private channels win money for worthwhile documentaries.

The charter has not been the only thing dragging TVNZ down over the past few years. Some talented staff have been let go and some highly questionable appointments have been made. But the end of the charter will benefit the state broadcaster in two ways. First, any lingering confusion about how it addresses an unrealistic prescription will end. Secondly, it will have to stand on its own two feet and compete. That is exactly what is required.