A memo to the TVNZ Board from then CEO Ian Fraser says the state broadcaster has become virtually indistinguishable from commercial channels and is giving no more than lip service to its Charter obligations, Green Party Broadcasting Spokesperson Sue Kedgley says.

The document, titled "A More Public Broadcaster" and dated "October 2005", was obtained by Ms Kedgley. It says TVNZ's local content will "shrink markedly" next year to 36 percent, the same level it was before the Charter, and that it will give priority to commercially driven Charter programmes that "deliver maximum commercial value and maximum audience share and protect our channel shares from competitive erosion." Further, he warns that TVNZ is faced with "the reality of having to can such Charter initiatives or consigning Charter programmes to inhospitable places in the schedule unless they are 'sure bets'."

"This memo shows that the man who was at the helm of TVNZ believed that its current mixed model is failing to deliver on its Charter goals because they are essentially incompatible with its commercial priorities," Ms Kedgley says.

"Fraser says 'the texture of our schedule is profoundly incompatible with any recognisable model of public broadcasting' and warns that the organisation has 'made a u-turn' away from its public service television mandate and is becoming almost totally focused on commercial objectives."

"Ian Fraser's bombshell suggests it's time to acknowledge that the present split focus of TVNZ has failed to deliver public service television and to begin a fundamental review of its mandate and direction.

Mr Fraser proposes three options for restructuring TVNZ to better deliver public service television - making TV One a fully funded, non-commercial public broadcaster entirely charged with delivering Charter values; making TV One a semi-commercial broadcaster screening no more than six minutes of advertisements an hour; or adding two new public service digital channels.

"I hope the Government, and Parliament, will seriously review the three models Mr Fraser has proposed for restructuring TVNZ to give it a genuine public service emphasis - in particular his proposal to convert TV One into a non-commercial public service broadcaster.

"With 13-14 minutes of advertising every hour, and a minority of New Zealand programmes screening on both channels, it is hard for viewers to accept that TVNZ is public service television," Ms Kedgley says.

Mr Fraser points out that TVNZ's level of local content is "much lower than what most similar public broadcasters world-wide deliver," while its level of advertising - 13-14 minutes an hour - is higher than comparable public service television channels around the world.

"This is an indictment on TVNZ and the Government for allowing this to happen." Ms Kedgley says.