Lack of Shield TV ‘joke’

Press, 11 September 1986, Page 3

Lack of Shield TV ‘joke’

Television New Zealand’s willingness to reject live cover of the Canter-bury-Auckland Ranfurly Shield match had to be "sick, a joke, or both,” said the Minister of Recreation and Sport, Mr Moore, yesterday. The dispute between the New Zealand Rugby Union and Television New Zealand over the broadcasting fee for the September 27 match showed the need for a competitive third channel, he said. “When we see this sort of nonsense, a bit of competition is going to do TVNZ some good. "I know the fee is a negotiable matter, but television’s willingness to ditch live cover has to be sick, a joke, or both. “This decision on the Shield coverage must have been made In Auckland by some people who know Canterbury is going

to beat them,” said Mr Moore. The Rugby Union has said it would accept a fee of $60,000 to allow the match to be shown live, but TVNZ has offered only $15,000. Mr Moore said the whole country would come to a standstill to watch Canterbury “take the Shield -off Auckland.” “What about the old, the people outside Auckland, and those in hospitals? They should be able to see the match,” he said. Television had also been at fault about sport when it originally asked the organisers of the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland to pay for television to cover the Games. “In other countries networks compete to buy broadcasting rights to major sporting spectacles,” Mr Moore said.