Barrie Saunders comments on the government’s proposals for restructuring public broadcasting (based on what we have been told so far) …
TVNZ and RNZ are to be merged but absent is a credible rationale or even the end point. All that is being left to the yet to be appointed establishment board.
First, a bouquet to those journalists who have analysed the announcement and pointed out the information gaps. Pretty amazing when you think this is all about communication entities.
In summary, what we know is they will come under one company umbrella, the budget for which has yet to be announced. And yes, it will have a charter full of worthy objectives and will be required to cater better for minorities.
What will happen over the next year?
- Massive lobbying by many to be on the new board, including current members of the RNZ and TVNZ boards.
- Massive lobbying from the supporters of “public broadcasting”, some of whom are dismayed at the thought the commercial TVNZ culture will permeate their beloved RNZ.
- Massive time spent inside parts of RNZ and TVNZ as staff lobby for key roles and speculate on what may happen. A general loss of productivity.
- Current CEOs of TVNZ and RNZ, Simon Power and Paul Thompson respectively, expected to be preoccupied with the merger and how they might head it, all at the expense of their day jobs.
- Other media heads, including Discovery, to engage in the process to ensure they are advantaged or at least not disadvantaged.
- Lots of media speculation about what’s going on.
- General public confusion.
Continue reading “Broadcasting merger – why and what will it mean?”