Maori TV must broadcast World Cup to all NZ - Sharples

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Maori Television will be expected to broadcast Rugby World Cup matches to the whole country if it wins the coverage rights it is bidding for, Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples says.

Dr Sharples is backing the Maori Television Service's (MTS) bid with $3 million from his ministry.

Prime Minister John Key said yesterday Dr Sharples was entitled to do that but if the bid was successful he would expect all New Zealanders to receive free-to-air broadcasts of the matches.

MTS broadcasts to 85 per cent of the country.

Dr Sharples said today he was confident coverage would not be an issue.

"The prime minister has set out his expectation that all New Zealanders should be able to watch the games and I fully endorse that," he said. Dr Sharples accused Opposition MPs of spreading misinformation about the bid by describing Te Puni Kokiri's backing as a grant or a subsidy.

"Te Puni Kokiri is in fact buying a package deal of programming that will wrap around the rugby broadcasts during the two years of build-up as well as the games," he said.

"This promotion of Maori development is part of Te Puni Kokiri's role and the programming will celebrate New Zealand identity in a much more interesting way than advertisements for fast food, cars or home appliances."

SKY TV has won broadcast rights for the tournament covering all 48 matches but there are local broadcast rights for up to 16 matches, including All Black pool games, the quarterfinals, semifinals and the final.

Dr Sharples did not say how MTS would ensure its broadcasts covered the entire country, but Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell said there were "many ways" it could do that.

"There is no single channel in the country which has 100 per cent free-to-air coverage but if the MTS bid is successful it has two years to improve," he said.

Mr Flavell also said the backing from Te Puni Kokiri was not a grant or a subsidy.

"On the other hand TVNZ has enjoyed tens of millions of dollars of grants and subsidies from the taxpayer in its lifetime," he said.

"TV3 is a straight out commercial broadcaster whose role is to maximise its profits for its shareholders. It has no allegiance to the public of New Zealand.

"MTS is a public channel controlled by a statute of Parliament."

A decision on the bidding was expected around mid-month.

- NZPA