A defiant Maori Television Service (MTS) says it won't
withdraw its bid for free-to-air Rugby World Cup broadcast
rights despite the Government backing a rival bid by TVNZ.
In a bizarre twist, the taxpayer-funded networks are
competing for the local broadcast rights to 16 world cup
games.
The MTS bid is backed by Te Puni Kokiri, the Ministry of
Maori Development, which has put up $3 million.
Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples supports it and didn't
tell his cabinet colleagues before the bid went in.
TVNZ followed at the last minute with a consortium bid
involving privately-owned TV3, backed by the Government.
Cabinet will have to sign off funds, likely to be $3m-$4m, if
the TVNZ bid succeeds.
Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman said TVNZ asked for a
level playing field.
"You can do the sums -- you can see it's going to be a
reasonable amount of money." Dr Sharples, clearly angry about
the way the situation developed, said iwi were offering money
to boost the MTS bid.
"It was a reaction by some iwi to say to us `you've been done
and we should help you'," he told reporters.
MTS chief executive Jim Mather said last night the
Government's decision amounted to an attempt to defeat MTS
and was "extremely disappointing".
He said he was "extremely concerned" about allegations that
the TVNZ bid was developed with access to confidential
information about the MTS bid, which indicated the tender
process had been compromised.
"The TPK support has been labelled inappropriate use of
government funding, yet now the Government is providing more
funds to beat the Maori Television bid," he said.
"What is the rationale for this, and why is funding for TVNZ
now deemed to be appropriate use of government funds?" Mr
Mather said MTS had addressed government concerns that its
signal did not reach 10 percent of the population by
modifying its bid to allow for the sub-licensing of some
games.
"It is our understanding that Prime Minister John Key was
happy with this arrangement."
The Labour Party said the competing bids confirmed the
Government's "shambolic" policies.
Broadcasting spokesman Brendon Burns said the Government's
belated intervention would simply line the pockets of the
International Rugby Board as it played off two state-funded
bids.
