Time for Key to exercise leadership on TV bids

The bidding war for rights to screen the Rugby World Cup is continuing to drag on. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Photocopies of the Maori Television Service bid were personally delivered to the offices of Finance Minister Bill English and Associate Rugby World Cup Minister Gerry Brownlee on September 24, according to another leaked document (keep them coming!)

The delivery was from Te Puni Kokiri staffer Craig Owen.

The use of the bid information has seen the Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples condemn fellow ministers and drawn acute criticism from Maori Television CEo Jim Mather.

Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman says the Government found out from TVNZ what the deal was.

But my understanding was that TVNZ chief executive Rick Ellis was given the information on the clear understanding that TVNZ was out of the running.

The document also says that Murray McCully's office (Chris Major) was briefed on Te Puni Kokiri's support for the Maori Television Service bid as early as July 23.

(It doesn't say that the $3 million TPK planned to spend was mentioned at that time, however).

You can understand why MTS are crying foul. The full text of Mather's blistering press statement from last night is printed below.

John Key has a major problem on his hands and it is time for him to knock heads.

Is there any reason why MTS could not be the primary free to air broadcaster, with sub-licensing to TVNZ for perhaps a half-hour delayed coverage rights and a bit of the dosh the cabinet is willing to fork out to TVNZ being spent on marketing the tournament and ticket sales on TVNZ to a mass audience.

Apparently Key's office yesterday tried to convince MTS to withdraw their bid so the whole process could begin again but it refused.

Tainui, meanwhile, has issued a statement saying it won't be putting money in to top up the MTS bid against TVNZ, which is probably wise. It would just be going straight to the IRB bank account.

JIM MATHER'S BLISTER PRESS STATEMENT - October 15.

Maori Television has confirmed that it will not withdraw its bid for the free-to-air Rugby World Cup rights despite a Government announcement today that it is financing a late bid by TVNZ aimed at beating the Maori Television bid.

Chief Executive Jim Mather said he was surprised and disappointed at the decision by the Government to attempt to defeat Maori Television's bid. He described the decision as extremely disappointing.

Mr Mather said he was also extremely concerned at allegations that the TVNZ bid was developed with access to confidential information within Maori Television's bid, indicating that the tender process for the rights had been compromised.

He was similarly concerned at the process that had been undertaken to develop the TVNZ bid and the actions of some Government ministers.

Mr Mather confirmed that Maori Television had not been consulted by either the Government or TVNZ on the development of its bid, and had not been invited to participate in it. He was not aware of the detail of the bid apart from what had been reported in the media.

He could not understand the rationale for the Government to finance a TVNZ bid, particularly given its concerns that Government funds should not be spent on broadcasting rights.

The Government's objection to the Maori Television bid has been the fact that it is supported by Te Puni Kokiri funding. The TPK support has been labeled inappropriate use of Government funding, yet now the Government is providing more funds to beat the Maori Television bid. What is the rationale for this and why is funding for TVNZ now deemed to be appropriate use of Government funds? said Mr Mather.

The Government's other concern has been the matter of 10 per cent of New Zealanders not being able to access the Maori Television analogue signal. However, Maori Television addressed this by modifying its bid to allow for sub-licensing of some games. It is our understanding that Prime Minister John Key was happy with this arrangement, said Mr Mather.

Mr Mather said that the TVNZ bid had resulted in the two publicly funded broadcasters now competing against each other and questioned the rationale for this.

Maori Television submitted its bid after bids by the other broadcasters had been deemed inappropriate by Rugby World Cup Limited. Maori Television cannot be accused of entering into a bidding war. That is an accusation for TVNZ to answer, he said.

Mr Mather said that he was satisfied that Maori Television had acted appropriately at all times, including the process it had undertaken internally to develop a business plan that had undergone intense scrutiny at Board level, through to the submission of its bid with the knowledge of all of Maori Television's stakeholders.

Mr Mather also stated the following:

Dr Coleman is incorrect in his statement that the Government contacted Maori Television prior to our bid being submitted. At no stage prior to the bid being submitted was Maori Television approached by Dr Coleman or a Government representative with any request, including one to reach an agreement with other broadcasters.

Maori Television did not decide to go it alone, as stated by Dr Coleman. The IRB bid required that all bids were to be from individual broadcasters. Maori Television was advised by the IRB that it did not want any joint bids, nor did it want any bids which proposed sub-licensing. However, in response to the Prime Minister's expectation that Maori Television was required to ensure 100 per cent coverage, Maori Television approached the IRB with the requirement that our bid must allow for sub-licensing. This was agreed by the IRB.

The allegation that Maori Television has not worked collaboratively is false. Maori Television has abided by the requirements of the bid, which until a week ago was that no sub-licensing would be permitted.

Mr Mather acknowledged the support that Maori Television has been receiving from a range of Maori organizations and iwi Maori. He also acknowledged the many non-Maori New Zealanders who have also expressed their support.

He said Maori Television remained confident that its bid was serious and credible and that, should Maori Television win the rights, it looked forward to broadcasting all 48 games of the Rugby World Cup tournament free-to-air for all New Zealanders.

Audrey Young