A whole new blog post about it!

Here.

How responsible is that?

Clowns.

Sky's pay-TV monopoly means half the country is routinely denied watching live sporting events featuring our national teams, sportsmen and women. Where's the outrage about that?

...

As to the problem of incomplete coverage by Maori TV, it's easily solved. Simply introduce an…

You're right, and that's a looming dose of public outrage ahead of us.

I think I need a long preparation period to get through the howls of "nanny state stopping my TV from working".

Well, the last date for analogue shut-off in supposedly in 2012, so they're going to have to do that anyway!

You're right, and that's a looming dose of public outrage ahead of us. But there's no commitment to the shut-off itself — 2012 is when the government has committed itself…

Russell – Sharples means 100%, I assume, because MTS is on FreeView and SKY Satellite. No network – none – in New Zealand has 100% terrestrial coverage.

No, but TVNZ's analog VHF broadcasts get very close — so much so that it has a statutory civil defence role. TV3 and…

So, simon g, some people are going to have to "eat satellite" no matter who wins the bid.

Well, the last date for analogue shut-off in supposedly in 2012, so they're going to have to do that anyway!

And Giovanni, please don't tell me you're a Leafs fan. A year living in TO taught me they're too crap to support.

I told you the Sharks are going to tank and that I wish Chara well – you ought to be able to divine the team I support!

So, simon g, some people are going to have to "eat satellite" no matter who wins the bid.

And Giovanni, please don't tell…

After English (spoken by 95.9 percent of people), the most common language in which
people could have a conversation about…

Oh well in that case: Original 6 final this year? Bruins/Hawks?

A supporter of a team in my division! I'd like nothing better than for Zdeno Chara to use the Stanley Cup as a spittoon, but it's not going to happen this year.

Oh, and the Sharks are going to…

Woh. Sorry Russell. I really am genuinely very very sorry.

No worries. And thanks, and feel free to stick around.

My chances of understanding what happens at the breakdown wouldn't be significantly diminished if the commentary ended up being in te reo.

Hee!

I'm surprised no-one has yet pointed out that 90-95% of the coverage will be in English, and then inserted a dig at the expense of various members…

Actually, I'd really prefer you didn't waltz in here and use your first post to accuse me and others of being racist.

Woh. Sorry Russell. I really am genuinely very very sorry. I've followed your good works over many years in many media and have read PA for a long…

"Let them eat satellite"?

Sharples also says in the link above that MT will have to cover 100% of New Zealand viewers.

Problem is, they don't control their own network. Who will pay for Kordia to build out UHF (which includes Freeview) to those difficult areas? Sharples seems to have…

The supposed coverage of MTV is a total red herring, I've never heard anyone complain about Sky's exclusivity.

Because they've never had it. The Rugby World Cup has always had a free-to-air broadcaster, TV3 or TVNZ.

This thread seems to consist of people who have access to coverage, or don't…

.............. I'm thinking and I could be wrong that the $3 million paid for the rugby will actually provide a return ............. whether its a return of $3 million I wouldn't know but its not like they are burning the money.

Nah. They're giving it to the rich…

The supposed coverage of MTV is a total red…

I agree with you that MTS's coverage is the least relevant part of this whole schemozzle, but front-page race-baiting? Come on, its not as if there's not plenty of real shit the Herald should be pimp-slapped for without going there.

Like I said, it fits a pattern. I've lost count…

Perhaps like other Operas there could be sur- or sub-titles to aid translation – then we'd learn a few words and know what was…

I'm picking Ducks-Detroit in the western final.

I say this every year, but the Sharks are looking good... and substantially different from last year. If D Heatly takes time off from being a complete ass and actually plays hockey, they might actually have some playoff success this year.

I also…

Huh? Haven't seen or heard much in the way of contention for a long time. The fact that some Canadians speak French, while others speak English (and a lucky few speak both), is not really grounds for contention.

Bill 101 (Charter of the French Language), which made French the only…

Oh well in that case: Original 6 final this year? Bruins/Hawks?

Meh. Your team will be lucky to get past the second round. Once it goes to game 7 you're pretty much an automatic loss based on recent history. Three in a row going back six years?

I'm picking Ducks-Detroit…

For all its multiculturalism, French language still seems to be a bone of contention in Canada, apparently more so than Maori language in NZ.

It's not so much a bone of contention, rather, a fact of life. Canada recognises two official languages. From this point down, it's up to the…

Giovanni and I have a mission to lead all things PAS to ice hockey. In such a mission, there is no such thing as off topic.

Oh well in that case: Original 6 final this year? Bruins/Hawks?

Gah, I've created an off topic monster.

Giovanni and I have a mission to lead all things PAS to ice hockey. In such a mission, there is no such thing as off topic.

You will all be assimilated.

Hey, I never said it was racist. I implied it was racist. Just like the article implies something by stating that thousands of people will miss out if 'the Maoris' get the rights to broadcast the World Cup.

You mean Maori Television? Darling, I seldom miss a chance to put…

DC Red, as kyle pointed out to me, I made too general a point. RDS, the French language broadcaster, broadcasts the vast majority of Canadiens games east of Ottawa. Elsewhere, of course, its up to the home franchise's broadcaster to provide commentary, which…

French language still seems to be a bone of contention in Canada

Huh? Haven't seen or heard much in the way of contention for a long time. The fact that some Canadians speak French, while others speak English (and a lucky few speak both), is not really grounds…

but how is the headline or anything else about the story you linked to racist?

Hey, I never said it was racist. I implied it was racist. Just like the article implies something by stating that thousands of people will miss out if 'the Maoris' get the rights to broadcast…

Every Montreal Canadiens game is broadcast on TV in French only.

Some Canadiens games are also broadcast in English on CBC. They'll also be broadcast by the other team's provider in English for all games.

The WC quarterfinal loss in 2007 was on a Sunday morning around 8am on free to air TV (TV3) and had 1,000,000 viewers.

And the numbers have been going down since then. All Blacks v Wallabees a month and a half ago had 444k viewers, and Sky's annual presentation from…

We're not going to get to see either of the next summer and winter olympics without having Sky. 15% of the population having to shell out a few hundred for a freeview box doesn't seem so harsh, it's just an advance on digital shutoff anyway.

Actually, I understand they're basically…

Also, rugby isn't a human right. As I said, my understanding is that TVNZ and TV3 are unwilling to pay what the IRB wants for the FTA rights... absent MTS' bid, what is your solution to getting it on FTA TV?

The smartest move would probably have been to let…

The fact is that the Maori TV bid for the RWC will disenfranchise many kiwis.

I don't think disenfranchise means what you think it does. Unless 'seeing the RWC for free' somehow got inserted into the Bill of Rights Act when I wasn't looking.

Aside from the dodginess of the…

there is a huge amount that you just can't follow at all unless you speak the language.

That argument only applies if the play-by-play commentary is going to be in Maori. Which I understand it will not be. Also, as I said above – radio commentary. Radio Sport would love…

What is the real cost of the box on that basis?

I'm selling my (secondhand) freeview box on trademe. I'll let you know ;)

We spent $50 million on the yachting. At least rugby is a game that most kiwi kids can participate in.

NZ Young People: 14% Rugby, 8% Touch, 18% Soccer, 13% Cricket, 10% Netball, 1% Rugby League (yes 1%).

Maori Young People: 20% Rugby, 15% Touch, 12% Netball, 11% Soccer, 10%…

5 to 10 % of the commentary and flavour stuff is going to be in Maori. You really can't put up with that? Maori is an official language of NZ.

Lets use an analogy from another country with multiple official languages (and DeepRed, I'd disagree that it is a…

On that basis it is wrong to leave hundreds of thousands of Kiwis who want to see it without paying being unable to.

Boo fucking hoo... Since TV One seems to have given up on broadcasting quality British drama and documentaries pitched above the 'when freakishly large tits gone wild…

For all its multiculturalism, French language still seems to be a bone of contention in Canada, apparently more so than Maori language in NZ.

Yes, two imported languages fighting for the right to impose themselves on a nation.

Methinks te reo Maori may be a little different.

Sorry Andre, A…

towns such as Russell, Paihia, Kaikohe, Wellsford, Warkworth, Coromandel, Whitianga

What strikes me is that most of these towns have large Maori populations. The ten percent or so of the population who can't get MTV coverage are more than likely places with higher Maori populations.

I wouldn't have caught the rugby as a kid on that basis. Love of our national sporting team is something that binds us together as a nation. Not everyone agrees (Paul etc) but the majority do...

A regularly trotted out generalisation.

The WC quarterfinal loss in 2007 was on a…

I normally only check a thread out a couple of times before moving on.

Yeah, I wouldn't read that drivel either..

Thousands of kids won't be able to watch it because their parents can't afford sky or freeview and they live [in] ... Queenstown

Yeah, won't somebody think of the impoverished kids of Queenstown, scraping to pay for a sky sub as well as a lift pass, new pair of skis...

Russell's not racist – his issue is where the money's coming from, which is fair enough. The Herald's choice of headline, however, is something else.

God help me, standing up for The Herald, but how is the headline or anything else about the story you linked to racist? Personally, I…

My chances of understanding what happens at the breakdown wouldn't be significantly diminished if the commentary ended up being in te reo.

A squirrel grip crosses all language boundaries instantly.

If a French language channel had won the rights I'd be more worried – and so would you.

And if we lived in France, I'd give a shit.

Andre, you've gone from "5 to 10% of the coverage" being in te reo to "0.004% of us speak Maori yet our…

I am reminded of this wonderful quote that there is nothing like a bit of OE (usually further than Oz) being good for the soul:

And accessible broadband is the next best thing.

For all its multiculturalism, French language still seems to be a bone of contention in Canada, apparently…

I'm quite sure that bilingualism would be quite a burden for those in areas like direct marketing. That doesn't deny the legitamacy of an indigenous language as a significant cultural goal. Indeed the growth of the Welsh language though slow, is steady and suggests that there are significant…

Actually, I'd really prefer you didn't waltz in here and use your first post to accuse me and others of being racist.

Especially when its totally unfair — I think its fair comment to say, while its not a perfect analogy, Russell has been generally supportive of so-called 'charter' funding…

Becase Maori TV have an agenda to push...

You sure you're not pushing your own?

We all use a lot of Maori in our everyday language but the fact that only 18,000 people speak Maori after decades of spending billions on special schools etc really does make it look like a language that is never going to be used much outside the select clique…

no, you're not senile.

Relief.

And it also moved Brian Easton to send me the link to this amazing poem.

That made me a little teary. Okay, scratch "a little".

Hang on, how did I miss this? Am I going blind and/or senile?

I published the rest before that last part, so if you got in the the 20-30 min window between the two ... no, you're not senile.

Thank you, Russell! I might just put it on my cards:…

And just to raise the tone ...

Hang on, how did I miss this? Am I going blind and/or senile? Thank you, Russell! I might just put it on my cards: Giovanni Tiso, tone raiser.

(Seriously, though: thanks.)

If you're going to rag on Kiwiblog, at least have the courage to go do it on Kiwiblog...

Been there, got the postcard. I don't generally bother anymore, because it just generates a shitstorm, and leaves the perpetrators feeling validated.

But as far as I can tell, the audio broadcast rights are a completely separate deal. Is Sharples saying MTS will…

If the government could forbid both TVNZ and Maori TV from bidding on those rights, what would they be worth?

Very canny point.

The IRB rejected the TV3 and TVNZ bids for being insufficient. It's now in a much stronger position to command a price.

Hate to use the "R" word. But it seems to me this wouldn't have been an issue if it was TVNZ.

Actually, I'd really prefer you didn't waltz in here and use your first post to accuse me and others of being racist.

It "wouldn't be an issue" with TVNZ…

Well that would be a problem, if it was a fact.

MTV reaches 100% of viewers – via Freeview Satellite.
Which is more than could have been said about Prime up until last month.

Hate to…

Should TVNZ be allowed to bid for the RWC? They are after all just as much a state-underwritten, part advertising-funded broadcaster as Maori TV?

If the government could forbid both TVNZ and Maori TV from bidding on those rights, what would they be worth?

Got to love ambiguity.

Odd that you don't have time to moderate your comments, but it seems you do have time to follow all your track-backs.

You're responsible for your own actions, David. The commentary at Kiwiblog…

She suggests that to get school principals to understand the autistic child and their need for things to be predictable and unchanging, is to get to school early and park in the principal's car park.

What a brilliant suggestion!

Damn you Russell, you know my weakness.

Yet another case of Achilles' Liver.

DPF is being disingenuous. Me, I think he should be more concerned at the way he lets bigots like redbaiter run rampant all over his board.

As Idiot/Savant pointed out here a while back, it's effectively Redbaiter's house. While his talking points never rise above regurgitated Rush Limbaugh, he certainly…

Are you aware of the work of Sue Larkey

I've heard her speak a couple of times. She's is an enthusiast for the teaching and learning of autistic kids and all the diverse ways this happens, and is very child-centred. She comes to NZ quite regularly and is worth going…

A quick google search yields nothing. Got a link, DPF? I remember cancerous and corrosive, and Winston Peter's calling the Herald treasonous, and Chris Trotter calling Guyon Epsiner treasonous. And people accusing Helen Clark of treason, but the closest I get for Clark herself is Don Brash's uncyclopedia page :-)…

If government really wanted the RWC free-to-air at no cost to the taxpayer, they could pass a law preventing such events being shown on pay- or…

What they're "negotiating" is money that would otherwise go to real development initiatives, whose founders put forward proposals and presented a real case for the economic and social benefits that would flow from the finding they sought.

I"m reminded of the recent $5.8million gift to Weta digital..

All games are…

In the interests of community relations, I am willing to trade places with anybody living in an area with no coverage, for the duration of the contest.

Oh no Paul, I'm going to exist that you come to my house and be part of the fun. I will consider allowing…

Ross, I think urban liberal Pakeha will be happy to watch the rugby on Maori TV. I certainly would be.

I suspect Maori Television would be capable of producing better coverage than TV3's effort with Hamish McKay last time. But that's not the point.

Russell – You called someone a Quack!! :-)

And he's a so-called Doctor of Osteopathy!

You'll want to watch this week's Media7, for the first story up.

I've been doing the research today on a medical story that a lot of other journalists don't seem to have bothered with, and…

Rural Maori in Northland might not be so keen on missing out. Anyone heard from Hone Harawira on this? :)

From a coverage point of view, Maori TV would be a massive breath of fresh air.

However...

His expectation being, everyone can watch the All Blacks win in 2011, before they form a celebratory conga and head to the polling booths.

They do really good stuff on days like Anzac Day, Code and their coverage is intelligent and extended. They're like TV One used to be in the 70s, before it became…

And as someone who makes a very similar pizza, I can recommend his recipe wholeheartedly. Give yourself 2-3 hours on a weekend afternoon, and eat it with people you love.

Sorted.

Giovanni Tiso wrote a beautiful post about connecting with his daughter Lucia – who has been diagnosed on the autism spectrum – through the hands-on practice of making pizza. We republished it on Humans.

Are you aware of the work of Sue Larkey. She's an Australian I managed to…

So how exactly did they (in your words) "embarrass Murray McCully"?

By their mere presence, rather than any words or deeds, it seems to me.

“My focus is on how Te Puni Kokiri’s support might achieve outcomes I am responsible for. This bid creates huge opportunities to promote and profile Maori businesses across the spectrum, for example, and new jobs will be created. My Economic Development Task Force is certainly interested.

…

But have either of them really "played political silly buggers"? I can't see that they have.

So how exactly did they (in your words) "embarrass Murray McCully"?

A good place to start is the webpage "About Us' for MTS , which describes their intent and purpose. Their cultural brief is magnificent but I don't see how it fits with outbidding for exclusive rights on a global sporting event such as the RWC.

Or running (often bloody excellent)…

For a start, you'd want to look at the opportunity cost of taking that $3 million away from all the other development initiatives that might have a claim on it.

So would I be right in thinking the issue rests with the sum of money, effective oversight and where it…

And even if the case could be made that bidding for commercial rugby rights serves the brief of Maori development, I'd expect to see and hear the case made, not have taxpayers' money just handed over on the say-so of the minister.

For a start, you'd want to look at…

A good place to start is the webpage "About Us' for MTS , which describes their intent and purpose. Their cultural brief is magnificent but I don't see how it fits with outbidding for exclusive rights on a global sporting event such as the RWC.

And even if the case…

last night's "documentary" on the channel, Making a Killing , is a polemic produced by a Scientology front organisation, The Citizens Commission on Human Rights.

Perhaps so, but the story told – in that ten-minute clip, at least – is virtually the same as that in (the relevant parts of)…

Geoff – I'm genuinely curious about this – can you explain a little more for the stupid bloke with his Monday brain in ?
Or perhaps direct me somewhere I might learn more about the matter ?

A good place to start is the webpage "About Us' for MTS ,…

The fact that Maori Television only reaches 85% of viewers presents another obvious problem.

But wouldn't it make for a hell of a burning platform to encourage the analogue switch-off?

(FFS, David: if you really want to raise the tone of your comments, don't fanny about giving "20 demerit points". Just ban these people.)

That would be prescriptive nanny-blogism.

I'm not calling you disingenuous, but...

Can I suggest "mendacious" instead, then, Emma :P?

And I don't know how I could have gone any softer on Chris Carter. Three times I said I thought his motivations was good.

Followed by a 'but', every single time. I'm not calling you disingenuous, but...

And while you're here, would you care to actually address Russell's point about…

Remember she tended to label Opposition MPs who were ever critical of the Govt overseas as "treasonous".

A quick google search yields nothing. Got a link, DPF? I remember cancerous and corrosive, and Winston Peter's calling the Herald treasonous, and Chris Trotter calling Guyon Epsiner treasonous. And people accusing Helen…

And I don't know how I could have gone any softer on Chris Carter. Three times I said I thought his motivations was…

On the other hand I cannot imagine Miss Clark allowing the opposition to have done this in her time as PM, without a sharp comment or two

As it happens, she did. This has been going on for years. Bill English didn't just move to Wellington, and the Greens didn't…

PA reader Graham Leonard points out that last night's "documentary" on the channel, Making a Killing, is a polemic produced by a Scientology front organisation, The Citizens Commission on Human Rights.
...
the film ... occupied two hours of publicly-funded television time last night

It wasn't last night's documentary. It…

Or perhaps direct me somewhere I might learn more about the matter ?

Could grow to like the edit button....

But this certainly pushed the buttons

On the other hand I cannot imagine Miss Clark allowing the opposition to have done this in her time as PM, without a sharp comment or…

a significant tool for promoting Maori culture and language by drawing viewers to a channel so dedicated ?

No, it is a misdirection of the cultural brief and intent of MTS.