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Source: ONE News -
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Maori TV will lead the bid to broadcast the Rugby World Cup on
free to air television.
The television networks finished hammering out the details of a new
joint deal on Wednesday evening.
The government-backed bid involving TVNZ and TV3 has been taken off
the table in a surprise compromise.
The major television networks met at Government House in Auckland
on Wednesday afternoon to agree on one bid to present to the
International Rugby Board.
The broadcasters bidding to show the World Cup matches in 2011
have been told to play for the same team.
"Our preferred option would be to have one bid, led by Maori
Television Service and with TVNZ and TV3 playing a role," says
Prime Minister John Key.
The directive from the government is that Maori TV will hold the
rights for the 16 main games and sub-licence some games to TVNZ and
TV3.
"It would be a Maori Party-led bid and it will be subbed (sub-contracted) out to the other groups as well," says Pita Sharples, Maori Affairs Minister.
And he is calling it a personal win.
"We'll still be able to do the things that I wanted to do and promote the Maori initiatives, not just for Maori but for New Zealanders," Sharples says.
But it is not a win for the International Rugby Board. The bidding war between Maori TV and the government-backed joint bid between TVNZ and TV3 was pushing the price up.
"It's not in anybody's interest to have a bidding war. It might be in IRB's interests but it's not in New Zealand's interests," says Key.
Because the Maori TV bid expired at midnight Tuesday and the
TVNZ-TV3 bid has been taken off the table, no actual bid exists
before the International Rugby Board right now.
But broadcasters involved in putting together a new deal came out
of their meeting at Government House in Auckland on Wednesday
evening, feeling optimistic.
TVNZ's chief executive Rick Ellis, says while there's still work to
be done, rugby fans will be satisfied with the outcome.
