Commonwealth Games: TVNZ defends use of ads after string of complaints

Viewers have not been impressed with thenumberof ads during the early part of the Commonwealth Games. Photo / Photosport

Viewers are taking a dim view to the number and timing of advertisements on the Commonwealth Games coverage from the Gold Coast.

And while TVNZ expected some criticism, they insist the treatment of advertisements during events is being done as respectfully as possible.

There has been solid criticism on social media, during both the opening ceremony last night and the first major event with a New Zealand flavour, the women's triathlon.

Among the criticisms:

TV coverage of the women's tri is far from top class. All focus on the two front cyclists; little indication how far back the chasing pack is. Hope this isn't a portent of things to come. #commonwealthgames2018

— Suzanne McFadden (@suzemcfadden) April 5, 2018

I am all for free-to-air coverage of major sports events but it needs to be done well. @TVNZ showing they aren't up to it when they put ads during the opening ceremony and during events with NZ competitors

— Aimee Bell (@aimzbell) April 4, 2018

So @TVNZ interrupting Commonwealth Games coverage with ads already. Day one, the triathlon. This is where free to air TV shoots itself in the foot badly... @NewshubSport

— Richard Wain (@rbmwain) April 5, 2018

At one point in the triathlon, a lengthy advertisement for cooking chickens ran as the leaders were getting to the sharp end of the race with one New Zealander, Nicole van der Kaay pushing to get up towards the bronze medal position.

TVNZ spokeswoman Rachel Howard said on Thursday the organisation has to find a method of funding the content.

''That's part of the package. But in saying that the team who are managing the Commonwealth Games are being very mindful about balancing the ad load with the viewer experience,'' she said.

''We are scheduling carefully and flexibly so we're not going to miss key moments of action or those medal moments.

''We are not just whacking them in to fit a pre-determined schedule.''

TVNZ have a certain number of minutes of advertising each hour, but again that's not locked in.

Andrea Hewitt finished 13th. Photo/ Photosport

''If we have huge moments happening we'll make up the advertising at another point to ensure our obligations to sponsors and advertisers are met.

''We're looking at the Games as a whole when it comes to advertising rather than hour by hour,'' Howard said.

She added TVNZ fully understood advertisements aren't to all viewers liking.

That said, ''we have the ambition to make this the most extensive free-to-air coverage of any major sporitng event''.

There are decision makers in the Games coverage group who decide when advertisements will run. They are not pre-set, Howard said.

''If we have a Kiwi athlete who is unexpectedly coming up trumps then we can hold off (an ad) and make sure we're showing it.''

Criticism of the advertisements isn't a surprise, she added.

''It's the world we play in. That's how we fund our content.

''But even with the ads we think there is going to be more than enough Kiwi content.''