Cheers again to Josh on Facebook for the tip-off!
TVNZ’s decision to lease the TVNZ 7 frequency, for use by a NZ version of The Shopping Channel, has officially been canned – while the future of the channel and frequency is still uncertain, there are hints that TVNZ 7 may switch to a commercial model (which doesn’t seem to go in hand in hand with the public service model).
Thank goodness for The Shopping Channel plans being derailed!
SBS Australia which I can get on the Optus D1 Satellite is a public service channel and is commerical and runs perfect! It will be interesting ti see what TVNZ will do with the channel, I am sure they will chnage the overall schedule and graphics, perhaps a new name? But at least it is not a shopping channel! nekk minute?
SBS still does an alright job as a public broadcaster and it still broadcasts much interesting and informative content. However, it is a pale imitation of the channel it was before ad breaks were introduced in programmes. Since then almost all of the subtitled foreign-language programmes and more adventurous and artistic programmes have disappeared from prime-time to be replaced be more mainstream, English-language content.
SBS survived perfectly well for many years with a limited number of ads shown only between separate programmes – this had no real effect on the quality of programming. The introduction of ad breaks by Shaun Brown (formerly of TVNZ) led to the changes in programming that alienated many of the channel’s viewers and led to a number of long-serving and well-respected presenters resigning.
I think the SBS example shows that advertising does not necessarily damage public broadcasting, but any decision to introduce it is dangerous. The effects of decisions to take more advertising or coming to depend substantially upon it can be very damaging indeed.
That’s a good point – just seems better commercial-free, and since we’ve had a taste of it, it really is a shame it can’t continue in that capacity. I wonder if they will overhaul the graphics and name – TVNZ 7 has a fair bit of brand equity, especially because of the whole ‘hard done by’ persona it seems to have adopted after being wrongfully axed. Will be interesting to see. And totally agree – so relieved that the shopping channel idea is out the window!
You are going to be a busy blogger
Totally – will be lots of fresh content!
I wouldn’t mind having some ads on TVNZ 7 to keep it as a public service broadcaster. Just not too much.
With TVNZ U the ads are not on all the time and are not like TV One ads either if TVNZ 7 keeps it the same as TV U then it would be alright, meanwhile I find TVNZ U a channel full of repeats from last year and 2009 its needs an overhaul
Yeah, I got that impression about U as well. Lots of dated content. Although in all honesty it’s new to us!
TVNZ will no longer broadcast on Freeview as of July It will continue on SKY under commercial
TVNZ what?
I assume he means TVNZ 7. Do you have any references that say TVNZ 7 will live on on Sky?
Can’t find anything on the matter.