The music industry has roundly condemned TVNZ this month for its decision to dump M2, the late-night music 'channel' on TV2.

In an uncharacteristically mobilised effort, the music community has been busy urging viewers to show their disapproval by phoning and emailing both TVNZ and Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey. Various internet petitions and suggested methods of lobbying are currently doing the rounds.

Meanwhile, New Zealand is once again left without any significant outlet for music on free-to-air television. TVNZ has previously proved itself to be the bane of music lovers, purchasing and then closing down the innovative Max TV in Auckland and making a short, failed attempt to pipe in MTV UK before cutting it just as it began to gain a following.

TVNZ spokesman Glen Sowry has said M2 was cut due to "significant cost" associated with playing music videos in the small hours. It will now play movies instead - apparently a cheaper proposition.

"With a finite pool of funding to spend on programmes we are always looking at our schedule and where we should be investing," Sowry told the NZ Herald.

Ironically, the dropping of M2 comes as international music video leaders, including Kiwi MTV boss Brent Hansen, are in New Zealand for the Resonate conference, and came just a day before the government trumpeted the launch of its TVNZ 'Charter' and a $12 million funding increase.

The charter's aim, says Maharey, is to "ensure the broadcaster makes a major contribution to the development of New Zealand's cultural and national identity".

He says TVNZ, as a commerical broadcaster, has achieved a lot - but "the government's view is that under a new public service model it can make an even greater contribution to national development.

"The primary value of broadcasters lies in their contribution to the cultural and social wealth of a nation. With a Charter to guide TVNZ I am looking forward to seeing more innovative and high quality programming on air. It will better reflect the expectations of all New Zealanders, rather than solely focusing on programmes which attract the biggest audiences.

The government has provided $12 million to TVNZ to support charter initiatives.

"Public broadcasting should clearly provide for the interests of all of its audiences, not just that audience preferred by advertisers. New Zealand viewers are not simply consumers, and the Charter makes explicit their entitlement to a quality of television programming - across all content, and in relation to both channels - that has previously been denied them."