Yeah I got the same e-mail.
//We are currently in discussions with the producers of m2 to see if there may be an alternative option for continuing m2 in an abbreviated form.

Hopefully something from this happens

//We are currently in discussions with the producers of m2 to see if there may be an alternative option for continuing m2 in an abbreviated form.

Sounds like they're really only trying to calm people down into hoping they will actually do this.

////We are currently in discussions with the producers of m2 to see if there may be an alternative option for continuing m2 in an abbreviated form

goddam,. i hope they do... kinda sucks to be a kiwi music video maker right about now ...

I got another e-mail, from "Diana Schnauer" , CC :

It was similar e-mail to the one above, but different wording

Dear Jamie

Thank you for your email addressed to the Minister of Broadcasting regarding the removal of m2 from TV2 that has been forwarded to the Chief Executive of TVNZ’s office for reply.

The decision to remove m2 was not made lightly. With a finite amount of money to spend on programming, we are always assessing our programming mix to ensure it caters to the diverse needs of our audience. We are grateful for the support many advertisers showed m2, however there simply wasn’t enough revenue generated from advertising to adequately fund the programme.

While the TVNZ Charter amongst other things, requires us to inform and entertain our audience, TVNZ, under its Act is also required to maintain its commercial performance.

TVNZ has a significant ongoing commitment to New Zealand music through Space, Squeeze, MaiTime, Smokefree Rockquest, plus the chart shows that regularly feature local content.

TVNZ’s support and promotion of the talents and creative resources of New Zealanders must extend across a vast range of local comedy, drama and other areas of the arts and culture. Minority audiences, young people and New Zealand music are very much a part of this brief and will continue to be catered to as we embrace our public broadcasting mandate.

The Charter requires TVNZ to try and strike a balance in its programming. While we understand that many of our viewers would like to see more New Zealand music screened on TV2, we must balance this against other demands on our schedule and resources from other genres of programming.

While we acknowledge that the removal of m2 from the schedule means there is a reduced outlet for less mainstream music video airplay, we are in dialogue with m2’s production company, Satellite Pictures, to investigate the feasibility of continuing m2 in an abbreviated form.

Please be assured that TVNZ remains committed to supporting New Zealand music, while also continuing to serve the many interests of our audience.

Yours sincerely
Glen Sowry
TVNZ Head of Public Affairs

c.c. Ms S Geary, Office of Minister of Broadcasting

I'd say by "Abbreviated" they'd be having an hour of Mulch, Alt, Full Clip, Stylus and maybe just a less mainstream new release show each night hopefully but hey just an idea

yep i got the exact same email to, load of crap i thought!

Perhaps someone in the Auckland area should go and hold the head of TVNZ to ransom...the ransom payment being to put m2 back on air. In the mean time I have nothing new to listen to - m2 was my main source of new music material. Not crap they overplay on the radio.

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