11 days til kick-off – time to turn on to Maori Television

With less than two weeks to go until Rugby World Cup 2011 kicks off, Maori Television CEO Jim Mather says now is the time for Kiwis to make sure they’re switched on to the lead free-to-air Rugby World Cup 2011 broadcaster.

Mather says for viewers who don’t have pay TV, Maori Television offers their only chance to see all 48 games, including all the big games and All Blacks matches live.

“For people with Freeview and Sky, it’s simple – Maori Television is available on Freeview channel 5 and Sky TV channel 19.

“However if you don’t have digital, Maori Television is also available through the old analogue TV network with a UHF aerial. If you receive Prime TV by aerial, you should be able to tune in to Maori Television.”

The 48 games are broadcast in English on Maori Television and will also be broadcast in 100% te reo Maori on Maori Television’s sister Te Reo channel – the biggest te reo broadcast in sporting history. Te Reo is on Freeview channel 24 (a Freeview satellite digital receiver plus a satellite dish are required) and on Sky TV channel 59.

“We’ve been inundated with calls from viewers saying how excited they are that they can see all 48 games for free on our network,” Mather says.

“However we don’t want analogue users to leave it until 9 September to turn on their TV and realise they haven’t tuned in. We’re encouraging people to make sure they know how to tune in now so they don’t miss a second of Rugby World Cup 2011.”

For further assistance, viewers can call the tune-in helpline 0800 MA TATOU (0800 62 82 868) or visit www.maoritelevision.com.

About Maori Television and Rugby World Cup 2011
Maori Television is the only free-to-air channel covering all 48 games and is putting forward New Zealand’s largest commentary team across the Maori Television (English broadcast) and Te Reo (te reo Maori broadcast) channels. The 27-strong expert team includes five former international team captains and a combined total of more than 200 international test caps.

The network has also compiled a unique programming schedule for the duration of Rugby World Cup 2011 with rugby at its heart – full programming details are available at www.maoritelevision.com.

Maori Television Rugby World Cup 2011 commentary team
Maori Television: Te Arahi Maipi, Glen Osborne, Wayne ‘Buck’ Shelford, Keith Quinn, Gavin Hastings OBE, Peter Fitzsimons, Mark Ella, Kees Meeuws, Pat Lam, Norm Hewitt, Tony Marsh, Karl Te Nana, Inoke Afeaki

Te Reo channel: Hemana Waaka, Julian Wilcox, Wairangi Koopu, Te Whetu McCorkindale, Tumamao Harawira, Te Kauhoe Wano, Bailey Mackey, Hohepa Mclean, Peeni Henare, Te Ori Paki, Brian Morris, Tame Te Rangi, Kotuku Tibble, Tamati Waaka

For more information on Rugby World Cup 2011, see www.maoritelevision.com