Even Lorde can't work miracles with TVNZ

TVNZ spokeswoman Megan Richards yesterday said there was no chance the schedule would change.

TVNZ is not backing down from its decision to screen the Grammys hours after the rest of the world, despite Kiwi superstar Lorde being nominated for four awards.

The 17-year-old will also perform her worldwide hit, Royals, at the ceremony in Los Angeles, but New Zealanders will have to wait seven hours longer than music fans in other parts of the world.

A Facebook page site set up to put pressure on the state broadcaster to carry the award live has not made any difference.

On the Facebook page "Let's get the Grammys live on TV in New Zealand" Craig Jeffries wrote: "stupid decision from TVNZ", while another fan wrote: "I don't care what time it is live ... But NZ must see Lorde."

Broadcaster Pam Corkery has added her weight to the debate, criticising TVNZ's decision to allow "our Australian cousins" to watch it live, while Kiwis had to wait for the news.

TVNZ spokeswoman Megan Richards yesterday said there was no chance the schedule would change.

The Grammys will screen on TV2 on Monday, January 27 at 9.15pm - a delay of more than seven hours. At 2pm when the Grammys are starting TV2 is usually playing I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here while TV1 viewers will be watching Come Dine With Me.

Ms Richards said screening the awards during the afternoon would be a "waste of an expensive and comprehensive show" when viewership was "relatively low and many people are back at work".

"We need to make it available to the widest possible audience and that means prime time."

She said screening the awards live was not necessarily more expensive than a delayed broadcast. "Once the rights are purchased it's up to the network how it makes use of it.

Lorde's involvement was why the network went after the rights. "We were lucky to get the deal."

Corkery on Grammys

"On Monday week we won't be glued to the telly as Lorde's big year reaches a climax at Los Angeles' famous Staples Centre.

Our Australian cousins will be able to watch it live, and I reckon they will cheer as Lorde and (co-writer Joel) Little take their banquet seats in the glare of global media alongside A-list musicians and legends including David Bowie and Paul McCartney. For the rest of us, there's not even live streaming on the internet despite TVNZ upping its digital ad media profits by 20 per cent.''