Broadcasting
Accountability in question after MediaWorks review
A review of the working culture at MediaWorks released this week is by far the most comprehensive airing of the internal problems of any New Zealand media company. But its leaders and governors have… Audio
New journalism fund's first projects unveiled
The first tranche of the government’s $55m journalism Fund has been allocated - against a backdrop of criticism it could skew reporting of political issues. Māori journalism projects and a new… Audio
The Australian outfit rebooting 24/7 sport on the radio
More than a year after Radio Sport shut down, an Australian outfit wants to set up a new national network here - and it's hired some big names to get it off the ground. But who is driving this across… Audio
Coping with Covid chaos disrupting sport on screen
A core part of your business is screening the world’s sport to customers keen enough to pay for it. Then Covid stops almost all of it stone dead. What do you do? Mediawatch asks a Sky exec how they… Video, Audio
Cam Wallace - New broom fighting fires at MediaWorks
Cam Wallace has had a rocky start in charge at MediaWorks, the outfit that owns half the country's radio stations. Whistleblowers lifted the lid on a corrosive culture at the company that's now under… Audio
New public media entity 'off ice', Faafoi wants quick progress
The plan to create a new mega public broadcaster is now "off ice" with the strong signal from the Broadcasting Minister he wants progress made at pace.
Kris Faafoi's announced an eight person… Audio
Experts appointed to oversee new public media plan
The Government has appointed eight people to oversee a business case for a new public media entity to replace state owned TVNZ and RNZ. The minister of broadcasting and media Kris Faafoi says he plans…
Coming up
Banks’ blurts bring boot from broadcaster
MediaWorks has replaced former politician John Banks as a talkback host and apologised for his comments condemning "stone age" Maori culture and warning "these people will be coming through your… Audio
Global media giant set to be NZ's biggest private TV broadcaster
MediaWorks has agreed to sell its television channels to Discovery Inc. The global entertainment company will become the biggest privately-owned player in New Zealand free-to-air TV in 2021.
Coming up
Celebrating 60 years of NZ TV: 'It's very rarely seen footage'
Tomorrow marks the 60th anniversary of the first television broadcast in New Zealand. The first programming included an episode of Robin Hood, an interview with a ballerina and live music. Sounds like… Audio
New NZ on Air boss on pressure to fund journalism
Struggling news media companies hope the funding agency New Zealand on Air will bankroll more of their journalism, in addition to the local dramas and documentaries for TV it has funded from the… Audio
Struggling media get takeaways from government
On Thursday media companies learned some will take away more than others from the government's first targeted Covid-19 crisis package. Meanwhile, the minister of broadcasting has signaled he'll follow… Audio
What’s on the radio? It's not cricket
A bummer next summer for those who like the soundtrack of ball-by-ball cricket coverage: Radio Sport couldn’t cut a deal with NZ Cricket for the live rights to matches from next season. Whyzat? Audio
100 not out: broadcast radio - the mass-media 'cockroach'
Organised broadcast radio is 100 years old this year - and it's not just alive, but still kicking pretty hard. Some say surviving and even outliving other media and technological changes make it the… Video, Audio
Gordon McLauchlan: 1931-2020
Gordon McLauchlan - who died this week - cast a critical eye on New Zealand’s life (“boring”) and people (“smiling zombies”). He also zeroed in on our media and PR industry with wisdom gained during a… Audio
Govt delays decision on NZ's public broadcasting future
The National Party says the delay of a final Cabinet decision over public broadcasting is the latest broken promise in the government's so-called Year of Delivery.
Broadcasting Minister Kris Faafoi… Audio
A fresh survey of the worrying state of New Zealand media companies
Our Fourth Estate is "collapsing" according to Winston Peters. This week he set out what he wants as the coalition government ponders a new policy for the media - due to be unveiled any day now. But… Audio
Ian Cross: editor, broadcast boss, critic and conscience
Former public broadcasting boss and Listener editor Ian Cross died earlier this month aged 93 leaving behind a lasting legacy in New Zealand journalism. He also presided over the creation of TVNZ and… Audio
RNZ and TVNZ could be replaced with new entity
The fate of RNZ and TVNZ may soon be in the hands of Ministers. News today of a proposal to disestablish both broadcasters and create an entirely new public media entity. Audio
Could RNZ as we know it be a thing of the past?
A proposal to disestablish RNZ and TVNZ and replace it with a new public media entity, funded by both the tax payer and from commercial revenue, is to go before Cabinet ministers within weeks. The… Audio