Shield TV offer ‘too little’

Press, 25 September 1987, Page 3

Shield TV offer ‘too little’

The New Zealand Rugby Union yesterday rejected what appeared to be Television New Zealand’s last offer on live coverage of tomorrow’s Ranfurly Shield match between Auckland and Wellington.

The offer was “too

little and too late,” said the Rugby Union negotiator, Mr Ron Don. TVNZ’s director of programmes, Mr Des Monaghan, made what he said was a “record offer” to compensate the Rugby Union for gate-takings it says will be lost at other venues if the match is broadcast live.

TVNZ was “very keen” for live coverage and had made every effort to persuade the Rugby Union to allow it, he said. Neither side was revealing the exact amount being discussed, but Mr Don said the offer was “definitely not even six figures.” It was reported earlier this week that the Rugby Union’s asking price was about $200,000.

With both the Shield and the national championship hinging on the match, interest is bound to be very high. Mr Don said that the main factor was the nine other important fixtures at venues throughout New Zealand where gate-tak-ings would fall substantially if the match was shown live.

On last year’s experience, he said that a reduction of 75 per cent could be expected. “Many of the unions in question will show a huge operating loss this season. They will be looking to us (the national union) for compensation,” said Mr Don. The impasse would not have arisen if TVNZ had agreed, when the matter was first discussed in April, to a live broadcast but with Auckland “blacked out.” The other matches could then have been rescheduled, to avoid the clash, and the two parties would now be discussing not whether to. broadcast live but whether to broadcast live tn Auckland as well._