LEADING EDGE : Free For All?

More than 100,000 Freeview-capable receivers have now been purchased. With the recent addition of TVNZ 7, Te Reo and tvCentral the total number of channels broadcasting on Freeview is now 15. After a solid start, Freeview expects the momentum will continue with Freeview|HDTM offering a growing selection

To the frequently asked question, "Why are the new TVNZ channels not available on Sky?" - the official TVNZ response is that TVNZ would love to have TVNZ 6 and TVNZ 7 made available via the Sky platform. But TVNZ says that at present there is no mechanism that ensures any of the revenue Sky generates through subscriptions for viewing taxpayer-funded local content, is returned to TVNZ to reinvest into such content. So to give the new services away without this mechanism in place would be suicidal for TVNZ and put in jeopardy future locally produced content. It poses the question on its website: "Why should the New Zealand taxpayer subsidise Murdoch's profits?" The answer is of course that it would allow another 600,000 taxpayers and their families access to additional taxpayer-funded channels like TVNZ 6, TVNZ 7 and Te Reo.