Hard News by Russell Brown

and frankly, the market for major media companies ain't that healthy right now.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the irrefutable economic argument against putting TVNZ on the block if you're not a purist Randroid who thinks the government has no business being in the media game at all. It might be hyperbole to say putting TVNZ on the block wouldn't cover the redundancy bill, but not by that much.

That's the argument for having a public broadcaster as well as funding public-good content on other platforms.

And NZonAir has been explicit about that by differentiating its funding of content and platforms (such as RNZ). Can't see why we would need another funding organisation to do the same tasks.

What was missing from Labour's high level screen industry policy was mention of growing the industry via interactive media like gaming, VR and AR. Maybe that falls under economic development instead.

It was people outside those demographics – largely older New Zealanders – who were disenfranchised when TVNZ 7 shut down.

I would also say younger ones too. The ad-free children's content was instantly missed in our house.

And NZonAir has been explicit about that by differentiating its funding of content and platforms (such as RNZ). Can’t see why we would need another funding organisation to do the same tasks.

Yeah, the stuff around NZ On Air is messy and presents a risk of interfering with some sound thinking that agency has done.

Although it would (a) seemingly extend funding to public-good journalism without TV-like content attached, and (b) theoretically provide a stronger and more independent voice to government on the actual level of funding necessary to maintain the system. NZ On Air has an independent board, but it’s very much beholden to the ministry.

What was missing from Labour’s high level screen industry policy was mention of growing the industry via interactive media like gaming, VR and AR. Maybe that falls under economic development instead.

It should really be treated as screen content though, you're right.

Labour and anyone else who thinks it's a good start will now have to wait and see whether a new goverment gets a chance to enact it.

And a bit further down the track another government to diseanact it. As with TVNZ 7.

And a bit further down the track another government to diseanact it. As with TVNZ 7.

The problem there was that Labour only established it for a five-year period. All National had to do was fail to renew it.

I would also say younger ones too. The ad-free children's content was instantly missed in our house.

And middle age ones too. It was missed in our household. We watch a lot of Maori TV now for the same non-commercial, non-mainstream type content reasons that we used to watch TVNZ 7.

I love what Labour is proposing. I got so sick of all that TVNZ charter wranglings of past governments that made no real difference because you can't be a commercial public broadcaster to my mind. Can't wait for the new public broadcast offering.

In any case, it seems easier to create a new BBC/ABC/PBS-style channel or channels, than attempt to retool the existing TVNZ channels. What I'd also like to see is a new Royal Commission on NZ On Air and the wider media industry, possibly taking after the Leveson and Finkelstein inquiries. When the 1986 one reported back, the Internet was still a university/military research project.

What was missing from Labour’s high level screen industry policy was mention of growing the industry via interactive media like gaming, VR and AR. Maybe that falls under economic development instead.

It should really be treated as screen content though, you're right.

They'll set up a Centre of Digital Excellence in Dunedin. Funding a Chair of Computer Gaming at Otago University, and will do some work with startups including a funding pool.

Don't know if they've got anything else on the cards for the industry.

Funding a Chair of Computer Gaming at Otago University

One of these?

I hope it's policy is coherent enough for the new minister to make it clear the new funding will require the likes of Hooton and Farrar getting kicked off the airwaves.