More jobs go in New Zealand television
Last week Newshub, this week TVNZ confirms job cuts across the ditch.
- Published by David Knox
- on
New Zealand public broadcaster TVNZ plans to cut nearly 10 percent of its staff, a week after news rival Newshub said it was closing altogether.
TVNZ said it planned to axe 68 jobs from a staff of around 700 after posting an operating loss last week of NZ$4.6 million (A$4.29 million) for the second half of 2023.
The broadcaster did not identify the jobs to be cut but said a final structure should be in place by early April after “consultations” with employees.
TVNZ chief executive Jodi O’Donnell said, “We need to reduce the size of our team to bring our costs more in line with our revenue.
“There are no easy answers,” O’Donnell warned. “Media organisations locally and globally are grappling with the same issues.”
Last week, US entertainment giant Warner Bros Discovery said it planned to shutter New Zealand outlet Newshub in June, with a reported loss of about 300 jobs.
The double blow led to calls for government action to protect the media industry, serving a population of just over five million.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the TVNZ job cuts were “incredibly unsettling” for those affected.
“The media environment is tough and challenging,” Luxon told reporters in Wellington, stressing however that the “media play a very important role in our democracy”.
Former prime minister Helen Clark said the latest cuts show it is “increasingly hard for free-to-air public broadcasters to survive commercially”.
Simon Dallow opened 1 News at 6 with "Kia ora, good evening and kia kaha to our colleagues".
Confirms Fair Go, Sunday and late news bulletin Tonight facing an uncertain future. Re: News and newsroom content creators also affected. pic.twitter.com/WznevgAH8A— NZ Media News (@thetvnews) March 7, 2024
Warner Bros. Discovery emailed NZ advertisers today, reassuring them that even without news and barely any local content, they'll still have their highly acclaimed Australian slate.🙃 pic.twitter.com/8CVb5ERrJU
— NZ Media News (@thetvnews) March 7, 2024
Source: Yahoo
6 Responses
Could Network 10 be the first to lose its news room in Australia? I’m sure what’s happening in NZ is being watched closely as revenue dwindles.
Seems all of the 10 affiliate SCA newsrooms are closed. e.g. NSW “updates” are recorded in Hobart, as are all others. They closed the GTS/BKN newsroom recently. “Local” news seems to be what they can rip-and-read from local newspapers and radio online.
There is to many new services now. All 10 need are presenters at desks who read news provided ny another network or news provider like Sky. Better still just have news breaks like a radio station airs on the hour.
There were rumours Lachlan looked at putting SKY News on 10 when he was once CEO.
Surely that would still be a plausible option. I guess it would depend on how strong SCA’s deal is with SKY and if SKY would be willing to put up a 5pm news slot in each state.
Unlikely. ACMA rules state the primary channel needs 55% Australian content between 6am and midnight on their primary channel. News is a relatively cheap filler during the day to reach that.