Maori broadcasting agency Te Mangai Paho (TMP) would be very concerned if the programmes they funded on Television One were moved to TVNZ's TV6 and TV7 channels, MPs were told today.
Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman is considering restructuring TVNZ to separate commercial and public service broadcasting roles.
Dr Coleman said last week decisions would be made this year on the future direction of public broadcasting, but he preferred to see TVNZ 7, and possibly TVNZ 6, turned into specialist public service-style channels, leaving TV1 and TV2 as purely commercial operations.
TMP spends $4 million for four programmes on TVNZ including the later afternoon Maori language programme Te Karere.
Parliament's Maori affairs select committee was told by TMP chairwoman Jacqui Te Kani that they paid commercial money to get Maori language news a spot on TVNZ's channel one.
"It's important that those programmes stay on main TV and they don't get shifted to channel 6 or 7. It would be about accessibility for our people to get free-to-view," Ms Te Kani said.
TMP's chief executive John Bishara said the funding for TVNZ's Maori language programming was cost effective though he was not happy about some of the time slots.
"They are certainly making an impact...and those programmes are rating highly," Mr Bishara said.
"We are getting bangs for bucks out of them (TVNZ) at the moment, but we would be very concerned when it comes to assess Te Karere, for instance, if it was moved off TVNZ's channel one."
The Culture and Heritage Ministry and Treasury's Crown Ownership Monitoring Unit are working with TVNZ over the restructuring proposal.
Dr Coleman has said while no more money would be made available to fund state broadcasting, it was hoped profits could be lifted and, ideally, money could be channelled to the public service broadcasting arm.
The Government is scrapping TVNZ's charter which attempted to lay out its public service obligations and Dr Coleman wants to make decisions on public broadcasting in the near future.
He also said it could be worth exploring the use of shared news gathering resources between Radio New Zealand, TVNZ 7's news programme and possibly Maori TV.
