Public Address | Cafe | Hard News: TVNZ: Emptied out

Sacha

Thu, 30 Oct 2014 10:40:38 +1300

and remove long-term costs from the books by turfing claimants

Geoff Lealand

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 19:58:51 +1300

I agree with Russell's view of the current state of TVNZ. It is indeed a dark and dismal place to visit, and not just because of the renovations. One bright corner is the Media Take taping on Monday night (hope to get to it again next week).

Bart Janssen

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 16:50:49 +1300

Much like ACC when they tried in 2009.

And the response was to cut payments and make the "business" look more profitable – sigh.

Sacha

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 16:23:27 +1300

The only reason for not selling is they can’t find a buyer

Much like ACC when they tried in 2009.

Rob Stowell

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 11:57:36 +1300

TVNZ was officially assessed as being worth $211 million in 2010. It could conceivably fail to fetch half of that at the moment.
Turnover is pretty good for that capital value – and the $18m dividend also. But who'd bet on that continuing.
A buyer would need to strip out…

sandra

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 11:53:42 +1300

I saw this week's Native Affairs segment dealing with the changes at TVNZ but came away none the wiser. Te Uraroa Flavell says there was no reason he should have been informed (as Minister of Maori Development) and Mihi Forbes got nothing much out of him or her other guest,…

Russell Brown

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 11:43:57 +1300

The only reason for not selling is they can’t find a buyer.

More specifically, a buyer at a non-embarrassing price.

TVNZ was officially assessed as being worth $211 million in 2010. It could conceivably fail to fetch half of that at the moment.

sandra

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 11:41:30 +1300

I came home to New Zealand at the end of 1989, after almost a decade in the northern hemisphere. At the end of 1989 I watched the launch of TV3, and from January 1990 thoroughly enjoyed the "this is our country" television coming out of TVNZ to celebrate the sesqui,…

Stephen R

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 11:35:13 +1300

If you missed Media Take last night, it's here.
Enjoyed that Russell, but the video crashed for me about 19:05 several times, and I had to skip the end of the discussion about the Christchurch plan in the pub courtyard.

Toi Iti has a marvelous delivery of dry humour.

sandra

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 11:32:00 +1300

even an experienced free lance sub can only get around $30 an hour b4 tax

Tell me where – $30 an hour before tax, bliss. And I’ve been subbing for nigh on 40 years.

TracyMac

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 11:31:37 +1300

That makes sense PBS/NPR are not exactly govt-owned, because they're amazingly awesome resources despite the depredations of the last years.

I knew they got federal funding, though, thus the confusion. But I think an actual (small) public broadcaster mandated to create NZ content would not be a bad thing. Maori…

Bart Janssen

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 11:12:23 +1300

There’s public perception, which would likely run poorly for the govt selling it.

You can't be serious. This govt sold major assets that earned millions against overwhelming public opposition. The only reason for not selling is they can't find a buyer.

Bart Janssen

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 11:09:34 +1300

why TVNZ has not been put up for sale yet

Wasn't profitable enough. You need to cut costs to the bone by killing maintenance, halting any upgrades to modern technology, fire expensive staff. Then you get a bump in profits and sell quickly, hoping all the while that the buyer…

Bart Janssen

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 11:06:07 +1300

someone senior walking the floor and talking to people.

Good grief man that's crazy talk. They are managers, they look at spreadsheets and have lunch meetings with each other, none of that nasty communication with the staff, they have people for that.

Kumara Republic

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 10:39:31 +1300

The US fully funded propaganda arms, Voice of America, WorldNet Television etc is funded to the tune of about $US 700 million.

Isn't it tied to the Department of Defense for that to happen?

Russell Brown

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 10:23:59 +1300

If you missed Media Take last night, it's here.

Steve Curtis

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 10:23:34 +1300

The US fully funded propaganda arms, Voice of America, WorldNet Television etc is funded to the tune of about $US 700 million.

Alfie

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 09:33:26 +1300

... PBS and NPR are not owned or controlled by the US Government.
While PBS is not government owned Craig, they do receive $US445m in federal funding annually, although that is often under threat. For example in 2012 Mitt Romney declared that if he was elected he would eliminate all…

Craig Ranapia

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 09:10:49 +1300

Back to my original point, is there any govt that anyone can think of that doesn’t control a TV network and/or a radio network? Even the US has the PBS.

Sorry for being that guy, Tracy, but PBS and NPR are not owned or controlled by the US Government. (NPR…

Tinakori

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 08:55:35 +1300

No need for the OIA, it all gets included in the TVNZ annual report to Parliament. The main 2014 numbers are in a TVNZ press release and the latest annual report on line appears to be the 2013 version http://images.tvnz.co.nz/tvnz_images/about_tvnz/TVNZAR_FY2013_Updated.pdf. It includes fascinating set of ratings and viewer number for…

mpledger

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 08:36:32 +1300

Yea, my daughter is a little older and I would guess in the last year she has watched less than 10 hours of terrestrial tv – youtube/fan fiction is what she heads for.

It's quite good in a way because she's avoided a crap load of in-your-face advertising – youtube's…

Joe Wylie

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 07:34:45 +1300

My confusion was more as to why the government hasn’t decided to sell their stake in the broadcaster, given it has been fully commercial for sometime

Well y'know it's been a whole quarter-century since TVNZ employees were vandalising the outdoor advertising for the then upstart TV3, with apparent tacit approval…

Dan Horne

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 05:28:48 +1300

I'm curious to know TVNZ's viewing numbers. I occasionally watch TV3 news, but I watch no other traditional terrestrial TV. I know stations are fighting for a share of the pie, but is the pie getting smaller? My boy's 8 and has zero interest in television at all. Is there…

Marc C

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 02:13:02 +1300

Outsourcing, yeah, did Telecom not do this, did other large companies not shift some of their call centres and so off-shore? Maybe we will soon have Tangata Pasifica, Marae and other programs made at the other end of the Pacific, in Manila, or thereabouts?

That would save a lot of…

TracyMac

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 01:46:33 +1300

And to be really cynical, how many govts around the world don't control a broadcaster – propaganda has to come from somewhere.

not that I think NZ really aspires to Soviet-era levels of propaganda, but it's still handy to own a broadcaster that's a "trusted news source".

Back to my…

Ben Austin

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 01:17:44 +1300

You misunderstand my point, I think most people (myself included) here support a proper public broadcaster, but that is not what we have.

My confusion was more as to why the government hasn't decided to sell their stake in the broadcaster, given it has been fully commercial for sometime, when…

Myles Thomas

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 23:36:28 +1300

I haven’t really understood why TVNZ has not been put up for sale yet.

Selling off a govt owned television broadcaster is a BIG THING. Once sold we lose control of the airwaves. People assume TVNZ wouldn't get much worse than it is already but that really depends on who…

Rob Stowell

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 23:33:02 +1300

I haven’t really understood why TVNZ has not been put up for sale yet.
There’s public perception, which would likely run poorly for the govt selling it. But Myles is also onto it – who’d want to buy it?
We’ve poured a lot of money into TVNZ. Its paper assets…

Steve Barnes

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 23:30:28 +1300

fish'n'chip shops
Well, when they eventually faze out open fireplaces there will be no need for the herald at all. I think it was a health issue to wrap chips with our most famous tabloid for quite a while.
Now it is simply a mental health issue.

Myles Thomas

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 23:27:55 +1300

RNZ still appeals

more broadly than one wee suburb, judging by their limited ratings research

Radio NZ's existing survey is far more comprehensive then the commercial radio survey.

Sacha

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 23:06:05 +1300

As for the Harold, maybe fish'n'chip shops have a lot to answer for..

Sacha

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 23:05:23 +1300

Older televison sets used to default to TV1 every time you switched them on. Don't know what the excuse has been for the last few decades.

Steve Barnes

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 22:55:38 +1300

I would have though on the grounds of privatisation and general dislike of public broadcasters it would have been hocked off a long time ago.

Ah but traditional National voters really like TVNZ and the Herald, they "tell the truth"
which is really handy for those that "control" both of…

Sacha

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 22:49:32 +1300

Polling must say that older generations who vote have an irrational connection with the old brand.

Ben Austin

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 22:18:39 +1300

I haven't really understood why TVNZ has not been put up for sale yet. We've had several rounds of sales and it never seems to be seriously discussed, despite clear expectation that it should be commercial.

If it is all about ideology, why does a state broadcaster get a pass?…

Sam Smith

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 21:22:37 +1300

Call me radical, but I genuinely think it is time for a non profit "people" owned national news only broadcaster. Successive Govs under Labour and National have shown no real interest in funding public service content, and have expected TVNZ to return massive dividends to them, while National now pretty…

Sacha

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 21:18:39 +1300

the problem with editorial management

you mean that unit was isolated from the rest of the place?

Sacha

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 21:17:11 +1300

RNZ still appeals

more broadly than one wee suburb, judging by their limited ratings research

Steve Barnes

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 20:50:41 +1300

it was certainly something TVNZ management wanted to go away. But it's not the main driver.

Indeed but my main point was...
TVNZ seems to have no problem with National supporters being paid by them to produce actual programs that go to air.
And as illustrated by my post above…

Steve Barnes

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 20:43:13 +1300

the gutting of Maori Television’s News and Current Affairs department

.... proposed staffing changes were politically charged and being led by the former National MP and Chair of the MTS Board, Georgina Te Heuheu, Co-Vice President of the Maori Party and MTS Board Member, Donna Gardiner, and declared Maori Party…

Russell Brown

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 20:38:24 +1300

How much does this have to do with the revelation earlier this year that some staff in the Maori and Pacific unit were doing campaigning for the Labour Party using company resources, on company time?

Maybe nothing, maybe a lot.

I'm sure it didn't help — it was certainly something…

stever@cs.waikato.ac.nz

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 19:42:57 +1300

Yes!! This!!! Get rid!!!

How about changing the "A" in ABC to Australasian? I'm just about to leave the West Island again, and ABC will be what I miss most :)

No adverts!!!! Long interviews!!!

And the Aussies moan about how awful it's become...but it's nirvana compared to almost all…

Steve Barnes

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 18:15:54 +1300

How much does this have to do with the revelation earlier this year that some staff in the Maori and Pacific unit were doing campaigning for the Labour Party using company resources, on company time?

Maybe nothing, maybe a lot. The revelation itself is more likely to be the part…

Robyn Gallagher

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 17:58:40 +1300

How much does this have to do with the revelation earlier this year that some staff in the Maori and Pacific unit were doing campaigning for the Labour Party using company resources, on company time?

Are TVNZ wanting to remove the possibility of anything like this happening in the future?…

Steve Barnes

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 17:56:31 +1300

And with a little manipulation we reveal a White Elephant...

Robyn Gallagher

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 17:54:09 +1300

The news vans – some of them – have their own links, for those precious 'live' moments (where the reporter gazes earnestly at the camera, standing in front of something faintly news-worthy clutching their ear-piece and trying to stop the wind whipping their hair in their eyes, while the studio…

Ian Dalziel

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 17:46:11 +1300

…or equivalent Andriod device.
how about a lino half-cut…?
this one has a palm!

Ian Dalziel

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 17:39:22 +1300

looks like a doer-upper...
So, given that it’s broken, do we flog it or fix it?
How much for just the engine and the diff?
...and maybe the radials...

Steve Barnes

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 17:37:06 +1300

the TVNZ OB unit mostly does sport and events,

Yeah, well, its not as if they get advance notice of traffic accidents or missing dogs and lets face it, for any really important story they send the reporter into the street outside so all TVNZ really needs to own is…

Ian Dalziel

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 17:34:57 +1300

...our evolution from a society where the public good was considered important, to a society that's just a loose association of consumers and tax-payers.
We could form a guild of the gulled...

Kumara Republic

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 17:06:29 +1300

but local radio is being concentrated in Auckland and telly as you say is shrinking rapidly
And even then it only truly caters to a narrow subset of Auckland. With the exception of Grey Lynn, whom RNZ still appeals.

Sacha

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 16:58:40 +1300

the problem is that we as citizens generally expect something more from TVNZ, and it’s not really something they have been told to deliver us

true, it has always been a political decision.

Dylan Reeve

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 16:44:43 +1300

In my time at TVNZ (only a couple of years) I worked extensively with the Maori and Pacific department – I've cut every single one of the shows mentioned (except Fresh, which didn't exists when I was there, but I worked on it's predecessor I AM TV.

I certainly hope…

Dylan Reeve

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 16:37:45 +1300

And presumably a hell of a lot of news as well?

I wouldn't imagine so – the TVNZ OB unit mostly does sport and events, but given that they've not updated any of the fleet in a good long while (none have the capability to do HD for example) they…

simon g

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 16:30:48 +1300

I would march in the street to stop our public assets being sold. I wouldn't cross the street to save TVNZ. They can flog it for all I care.

It's not just the quantifiable dollars and cents (if the dividend is the strongest argument, we might as well have a…

Gareth Swain

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 16:05:46 +1300

a spandrel

Thank you, sir. That is my new word for the day.

Josie McNaught

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 14:52:24 +1300

Later in the show, I talk to three young journalism graduates about the realities of training for an industry where both employment and pay are shrinking.

This is the key issue: forget about TVNZ’s shrinking executive offices.( When I worked there it always amazed me that we had just 2…

Sacha

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 14:47:41 +1300

hindsight

didn't take that to see the flaws at the time

Rob Stowell

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 14:36:54 +1300

And presumably a hell of a lot of news as well?
Probably not. The news vans – some of them – have their own links, for those precious 'live' moments (where the reporter gazes earnestly at the camera, standing in front of something faintly news-worthy clutching their ear-piece and trying…

Idiot Savant

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 14:15:48 +1300

the decommissioning of its Wellington outside broadcast truck, the one that brings you Back Benches.

And presumably a hell of a lot of news as well?

Kumara Republic

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 14:00:51 +1300

Current govts may be forcing TVNZ to be rubbish, but that doesn’t mean future govts won’t turn it around.

Hoping against hope that a Leveson-esque Royal Commission will be held and eventually sort things out (and yet another reminder to sign the petition). Maybe dust off the [[http://www.eastonbh.ac.nz/1997/07/the_broadcasting_reforms/|1986 Royal Commission…

Myles Thomas

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 13:57:30 +1300

Certainly the govt seem to have stripped away all the functions wihin TVNZ that made it difficult to sell this asset – TVNZ 6 & 7, the archive and now the Maori and PI programmes dept. Although the govt has sworn to never sell it, many wonder why we still own…

James Littlewood*

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 13:54:00 +1300

why we do actually bother owning the thing

The Gvt established Maori TV precisely to let TVNZ (and its Gvt shareholder) off the hook to serve the same purpose: preserve & foster te reo, and thereby enable the sale of the asset.

But that was just a hurdle in the process…

izogi

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 13:52:20 +1300

which will see the decommissioning of its Wellington outside broadcast truck, the one that brings you Back Benches.

Does this mean the likely end for Back Benches, or just a transition to whichever entity buys the truck and gives it a new paint job? I've often thought of Back Benches…

Mark Graham

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 13:46:35 +1300

There are $18m good reasons to keep it I would say, although it would be nice to see some of that money going back to fund another TVNZ7-type channel.

Fat chance, of course, with this current govt who hide a scaly ideological bent behind an affable shrug and a 'don't…

Rob Stowell

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 13:07:17 +1300

why we do actually bother owning the thing
It's been hard to see any rationale for a couple of decades. TVNZ doesn't serve us – does little to educate or inform – and doesn't return a decent percentage on the investment.
It's a husk- a spandrel – left during our…

Public Address

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 13:07:17 +1300

Discussion from blog post.