Winston Peters to appear on tomorrow's Q+A

Winston Peters has committed to an appearance on TVNZ political show Q+A tomorrow morning.

This will be the NZ First leaders first public appearance since his defeat on the 2008 election night.

Q+A screens at 9.00am Sunday morning on TV One and is hosted by Paul Holmes, Therese Arseneau, and Guyon Espiner.

Breakfast found to be unbalanced

The Broadcasting Standards Authority has upheld a complaint about the unbalanced airing of "the reactionary views of an unqualified right wing individual" by TVNZ's Breakfast show.

A viewer lodged the complaint after an interview last December of Sensible Sentencing Trust's Garth McVicar.

During the discussion, Mr McVicar criticised the leniency of a 21-month prison sentence given to a gun collector convicted of illegally selling his large gun collection, saying the judge had "got it wrong".

Complainant Roger Brooking said: "No attempt was made to present the other side of the argument on sentencing and law and order issues."

The interview enabled Mr McVicar to "repeatedly air his right wing populist views about law and order, generally criticise judges for being too lenient on criminals and expound his belief this fails to send a message of deterrence to other criminals in the community".

Mr Brooking said a lawyer or a criminologist should also have been interviewed and it was inappropriate for the broadcaster to present "the reactionary views of an unqualified right wing individual as if he was the oracle of sentencing law". He also said the presenters expressed sympathy for Mr McVicar's views.

TVNZ refused to uphold his initial complaint, saying it had already balanced the story across its other shows.

However, in its decision, the authority said none of the items the broadcaster referred to offered any balance to the McVicar interview.

It found TVNZ breached the requirement for balance by providing only one viewpoint when discussing a controversial issue of public importance.

3 News reporter returns to NZ after being deported from Fiji

3 News political reporter Sia Aston has returned to New Zealand after being deported from Fiji by the military-led government.

Aston and cameraman Matt Smith were detained in a room by the military for five hours and had all of their footage confiscated after officials were not happy with their news reports.

"They wanted nothing but positive stories about the regime, the interim government. Anything outside that is just not allowed," said Aston.

The pair were guarded overnight by police and soldiers before being escorted to the airport and banned from the pacific country indefinitely.

ABC Australia's Sean Dorney was also deported from Fiji at the same time as the 3 News crew.

TVNZ's Barbara Dreaver was thrown out of Fiji in December last year.

The EU wants Internet Explorer unbundled

The European Union has decided that Microsoft including Internet Explorer with it's Windows operating systems violates it's antitrust rules.

"Microsoft's tying of Internet Explorer to the Windows operating system harms competition between web browsers, undermines product innovation and ultimately reduces consumer choice," the EU said in a statement.

Microsoft have been given a chance to respond, however they have said that they will conduct their business in "full compliance with European law".

An investigation by the EU found that including Internet Explorer in the Windows operating system makes the browser available on 90% of the world's PCs, therefore distorting competition.

Even though Microsoft is an American company, it must meet the EU's antitrust rules if it wants to do business within the 27-nation union. The rules are in place to prohibit companies from abusing a dominant market position.

More NZ content being watched in Australia

We are today seeing an unprecedented amount of New Zealand television shows being screened in Australia.

These include shows such as Orange Roughies, Police Ten 7, The Zoo, Coastwatch, Wild Vets, Bro'Town, Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby and Outrageous Fortune.

The NZ Herald reports that Coastwatch and Wild Vets were watched by 800,000 Australians last week, and that Police Ten 7 has drawn over a million viewers in the past.

But why is it now that Kiwi shows are popping up more and more across the Tasman?

One contributing factor is that the previous Howard Government in Australia allowed New Zealand-made shows to contribute to the "Australian content" quota required of all broadcasters.

Under the rule Australian networks are required to ensure at least 55% of their content are locally made shows. Last year the Ten Network met at least 20% of the quota by playing New Zealand shows.

Many Australians are up in arms and calling for the rule to be changed, as they believe that for every hour of New Zealand television that goes to air an hour is taken away from local production companies.

However Jane Wrightson, the chief executive of NZ On Air, believes that the sudden increase in Kiwi content in Australia is a great thing and that their presence is not taking away too much from the Australian industry.

Wrightson believes that our factual programming translates very well to Australian audiences and for this reason sees it more beneficial to screen these shows in place of the American content networks usually fill their schedule with.

"I know the Australian producers can get a bit twitchy about this but I don't think it's a matter of New Zealand content supplanting Australian content. I think it's more a case of New Zealand content supplanting American content."

New Zealand has been screening Australian-made television shows for many years to great responses, so it is about time that Australia gave our content the same opportunities.

One News reporter Barbara Dreaver detained in Fiji

One News Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver was detained at Nadi Airport in Fiji on Monday night when she flew in to cover the latest diplomatic row between Fiji and New Zealand.

Dreaver was detained while going through immigration and held in a detention centre overnight.

It is understood that she has now been put on a plane back to New Zealand.

"I'm not the first journalist to be sent away from Fiji and I guess I won't be the last," said Barbara Dreaver.

She had been sent to Fiji to cover Commodore Frank Bainimarama's threat to expel New Zealand's most senior diplomat in Fiji, acting high commissioner Caroline McDonald. Bainimarama has said this will happen if New Zealand does not grant a visa to the son of a top Fijian diplomat.

The only reason Barbara Dreaver was given for being detained was that she had been put on a watch list in July.

The rest of the TVNZ crew passed through immigration without any problems.

Pacific channel a priority for Labour

The NZ Herald reported today that Helen Clark's Labour party would make the establishment of a Pacific TV channel a priority if they are re-elected.

TVNZ and TV3 have both revealed that they have plans to launch new channels aimed at Pacific audiences. But is there room for two Pacific channels?

TV3 have said that they will look to both the Government and the private sector for funding for the channel, but as TVNZ is the national broadcaster it seems more likely that their Pacific project would be the one to get the Government funding. The Government gave TVNZ $79 million of funding for TVNZ6 and TVNZ7.

The networks have said that there is a potential audience of 250,000 for such a channel. But would a large enough proportion of this figure actually have access to a Freeview box - as the channel would presumably be launched on the digital platform.

I think that TVNZ (and the Government) should put more focus into establishing TVNZ6, TVNZ7, and TVNZ Sport before launching anything new, as these channels all currently need more work.

Even Helen Clark herself has pointed out the low audience numbers of the Freeview channels - citing it as the reason she refused to appear on the TVNZ7 election show Leaders on 7.

Dennis Plant's NZ Herald blog

Like many of us, the New Zealand Herald have been very impressed with TV One's political satire The Pretender, so much so that they have decided to give the fictitious leader Dennis Plant his own blog!

Plant's blog, which will run for the last two weeks of "his" campaign, is pretty much a mock of the campaign diaries both Helen Clark and John Key write for the NZ Herald website. And it is fantastic.

In his first entry Plant reveals that he didn't actually know what a blog was - so asked his daughter "who is in a wheelchair, and so knows about these sorts of things."

He then describes his reaction to the recent comments by National MP Lockwood Smith. Plant doesn't think anybody could be offended by stating a biological fact, but nevertheless tries to find out the opinion of some "actual Asians." However, the only Asians Plant could find in Christchurch were "dwarves" with "stubby fingers" - but even so, these Asians apparently held the same opinion as Plant.

The blog is just as controversial as the TV show, but in today's uber-PC society this is just the kind of humour we need.

Read more of Dennis Plant's NZ Herald blog here, and watch The Pretender online at TVNZondemand.

The "Five-headed Monster"

National leader John Key has described the possible Labour-led coalition as a "five-headed monster of the left". This came after recent polls showed Labour could pull together another government if it went into coalition with every party on the left.

While the comment from Key was entertaining enough, the true highlight of my day was the image 3 News through together for their report on the comment. Check it out:

Brendan Horan in NZ First's top 10

Former One News weather presenter Brendan Horan has been placed tenth on the NZ First party list for the upcoming general election.

Horan will contest the East Coast electorate against it's current MP - National's education spokeswoman Anne Tolley.

Tolley is also ranked at number ten on the National party list, meaning she will almost definitely be part of the next government regardless of the East Coast result. Labour's East Coast candidate Moana Mackey is ranked at number 25 on their list.

With support for NZ First hanging by a thread, Horan will probably have to win the electorate vote to get a seat in parliament. This is not completely impossible, as television personalities can sometimes draw a lot of attention and support.

In 2007 another former One News weather presenter Kay Gregory secured her place on the Hamilton City Council after beating her nearest opponent by more than 2000 votes. Gregory was new to politics but received more votes than any other existing councillor, showing that celebrity status can sometimes have an effect on the vote.

But is Brendan Horan enough of a celebrity to make a difference? We will have to wait until November 8th to find out.

More than a million watch TVNZ YouTube debate

TVNZ is reporting that over one million viewers tuned in to it's One News YouTube Election Debate last night.

The debate featured Helen Clark and John Key answering questions posted online by New Zealanders using video upload website YouTube.

The One News debate was the first time in the world that a head of government has appeared in an official live televised debate with their challenger answering questions submitted through YouTube.

Head of TVNZ News & Current Affairs Anthony Flannery puts the ratings success of the show partly to the brand new format.

"The incorporation of the YouTube technology helped to create an exciting event," said Flannery.

Official videos of the debate are available at youtube.com/debate.

Alt TV to hold minor parties debate

Alt TV have announced that after being shocked by the mainstream media's decision to cancel the leaders debate, they are holding their own debate for the minor party leaders.

The Alt TV debate will be held tonight at 8pm on SKY Digital 65 and will be presented by Sunrise and Let's Be Frank host Oliver Driver.

Alt TV said in their announcement that their leaders debate will "press minor parties on the real issues of the day (and not the Pepsi Dad and Coke Mum National/Labour coverage the mainstream media are dictating).

ACT leader Rodney Hide, Maori co-leader Pita Sharples, and Green co-leader Russell Norman are just some of the leaders said to be attending.

The Minor Leaders Debate - Wednesday 8pm on ALT TV.

The stern brows of Maori Television

This is the promotional image found on the website for Maori Television's 2008 election coverage - Kowhiri 08.

Is it just me, or are these three presenters some of the angriest and scariest looking people on television?

Especially the two on the left!

There is a difference between looking serious and thoughtful to looking like you are enraged at the thought of an election. Let's just hope they come across differently on screen.

Minor parties get their say on TV3

The minor parties were furious when TV3 announced that they were cancelling the Campbell Live leaders debate due to John Key and Helen Clark pulling out. However, today brings some relief to the leaders of parties such as ACT, the Maori Party, and the Greens as TV3 have welcomed them back on air.

The leaders of the minor parties will all appear individually on Campbell Live each night at 7.00pm. The interviews will begin tomorrow night with NZ First leader Winston Peters.

Helen Clark and John key have also got their wish - TV3 have announced a head-to-head leaders debate scheduled for Monday 3 November at 7:30pm. The debate will be hosted by John Campbell but will not feature a studio audience, meaning that 'the worm' will not be returning for this election.

Clark and Key snub TVNZ7

Helen Clark and John Key have brought the TVNZ7 show Leaders on 7 to an early end by both refusing to appear. The show consisted of one-on-one interviews with the political leaders and was hosted by Shane Taurima.

Clark and Key are saying that this decision was made due to both time restraints and the low audience numbers of the Freeview channel.

However, this is not a good look for Labour and National after they have already drawn much criticism for pulling out of the TV3 leaders debate. Also, Helen Clark's government put $79 million of funding into TVNZ's Freeview channels so to suggest that the channel isn't big enough for her to appear almost says that the funding was a waste and that her government is not committed to the digital television project.

Both the TVNZ7 interviews and the TV3 debate were supposed to screen tonight.

All the other political leaders have appeared on the TVNZ7 show. Tonight's episode will now be a highlight package of the interviews with the minor party leaders.

Oliver Driver may interview Barack Obama

Oliver Driver is ready to begin his Sunrise presenting role this week, and many are already singing him praises.

Media commentators are saying that replacing James Coleman with Driver could be the saving of the TV3 morning show. Driver has proven himself to be both funny and quick thinking, but has also shown he has a great journalistic quality to add to the TV3 brand.

In his role at Alt TV, Driver has performed successful interviews with Helen Clark, John Key, Robert Fisk and Phil Goff - he was the one who got Goff to reveal he would like to lead the Labour Party.

Rumour has it that if Barack Obama wins the US elections, Oliver Driver will get a one-on-one interview with the new President. It seems that an Alt TV staff member's mother is one of Obama's advisers and has pulled a few strings to get Driver the interview. If this interview does actually eventuate then it will be a big win for both Alt TV and Sunrise.

Oliver Driver joins Carly Flynn to host Sunrise tomorrow at the new time of 7.00am.

Minor parties write a letter to TV3

The Greens, United Future and ACT have written a joint letter asking TV3 to reconsider ditching the all-party-leaders' debate. The letter says the decision not to have the debate had robbed voters of an important source of information.

TV3 cancelled their leaders debate earlier in the week after Helen Clark and John Key made a a joint agreement to refuse appearing with the minor party leaders.

Before cancelling the debate, TV3 an TVNZ had sent a joint letter to Clark and Key saying that they believe it is fundamentally important to an MMP environment that debates take place with all the party leaders.

TV channels unite for Rugby World Cup

The NZ Herald reported this morning that peace has broken out between Sky and the free-to-air channels over the rights to the 2011 Rugby World Cup that is to be held in New Zealand.

The Herald stated that TVNZ, TV3 and Sky are jointly negotiating with the International Rugby Board to share the screening rights in 2011, which would mean more free coverage over a range of channels. Sky and TV3 confirmed they are negotiating over the rights, but would not comment on the joint approach. No word from TVNZ.

There has been tension lately between the free-to-air broadcasters and Sky due to the fact that a lack of Government regulation means Sky can use its financial superiority to outbid the other networks for major sports events.

The market dominance now held by Sky for national sporting events has prompted the Government to review broadcasting rules and look at placing controls over the way Sky can purchase programming.

There is no doubt that the sudden partnership between Sky, TV3 and TVNZ is in part an attempt by Sky to paint itself in a more positive light in front of the Government's review.

TV3 cancels leaders debate

TV3 have cancelled their Decision 08 leaders debate, scheduled for October 9, after John Key and Helen Clark made a joint decision not to appear in any debates with the leaders of the minor parties.

TV3 said today that a debate without the two main leaders was not viable and that they are considering screening a head-to-head debate between Key and Clark at a later date.

The leaders of the minor parties and other commentators are of course furious and believe that the move is both anti-MMP and anti-democratic.

ACT leader Rodney Hide says that TV3 should get tough and stand their ground as he believes the idea that anyone who wants to be Prime Minister can dictate to TV networks is "disgusting".

Sarah Palin's TV sports presenting past

Sarah Palin is the little-known Governor that U.S. presidential candidate John McCain has chosen as his running mate, meaning she could ultimately be the next Vice President of the United States.

In television footage from 1988 we see her as Sarah Heath - sports news presenter for KTUU-TV in Anchorage, Alaska.

Check it out: