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Aotearoa Television Network

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The Aotearoa Television Network (ATN) was the first, yet unsuccessful television station operating in the Māori language.

What would eventually become ATN started out in early 1996, when Te Māngai Pāho started looking for tenders for a trial service operating on a UHF licence in Auckland. The winner of the TMP contract, led by Puhi Rangiaho, Tawini Rangahau, Morehu McDonald, Robert Pouwhare and Tukuroirangi Morgan,[1] was announced on March 7 and broadcasting commenced on May 1. The pilot service became regular in October, becoming a normal regional station. TMP's budget only allowed a 500-watt transmitter which resulted in weak or no signal in the ATN catchment area.[2]

ATN was also the owner of Max TV for a short period in 1996, when Reston Griffiths sold production company Vidcom to the new network.[3]

Insufficient funding and related uncertainties resulted in the closure of this pilot service in early 1997.[4] One of the main examples was Tuku Morgan spending NZ$89 of the station's budget on a pair of underwear.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Taylor, Alister, ed. (2001). "New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa 2001". New Zealand Who's Who, Aotearoa. Auckland: Alister Taylor Publishers. ISSN 1172-9813.
  2. ^ Middleton, Julia (2010). "Television - Ka Rangona te Reo - The Development of Māori-language Television Broadcasting in Aotearoa New Zealand". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  3. ^ a b Bertram, Gavin (18 July 2014). "Max TV - Not given lightly". Audio Culture. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  4. ^ Dunleavy, Trisha (29 October 2014). "Television - Māori television". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 24 August 2015.