Broadcasting
Mediawatch for 5 May 2024
One opinion poll prompts intense political pushback; new report urges sweeping changes to media, law and funding - and fast; Wairoa Star closes after more than a century in print. Audio
Competitive current affairs across the Tasman
While TV news and current affairs shows are becoming an endangered species here, they seem to be still going strong in Australia where broadcasters back the shows with big budgets. But intense…
Mediawatch for 28 April 2024
New media minister rolls in after PM's surprise reshuffle; TV news and current affairs on the way down here, but highly competitive across the Tasman. Audio
Mediawatch for 21 April 2024
Stuff is taking over Newshub's 6pm TV news. A bold move for an outfit that's never been a broadcaster before. Will it work? Also: Mediawatch talks to two editors about the latest survey showing… Audio
Mediawatch for 14 April 2024
End of TV news as we know it? TVNZ cuts back and Newshub closes down. Newshub's news boss responds; the minister plays for time; a former minister fights back Audio
Fair Go and daily news bulletins to close at TVNZ
TVNZ has confirmed Fair Go - on air for 47 years - and news shows Midday and Tonight will cease next month. The future of Sunday will be confirmed tomorrow. Meanwhile a decision on alternatives to a… Audio
Mediawatch for 7 April 2024
We talk to an editor keeping an eye on where public money for public services ends up and the government’s new political action plan gets the media’s attention. Audio
Mediawatch for 31 March 2024
Gabrielle review lessons for media; Dolphin drama fires up media. Audio
Can news media innovate to survive?
The future of news on TV is still in the balance after news of planned cuts at TVNZ and the complete closure of Newshub. The government’s working on a policy but the PM has warned that media companies…
Coming up
Mediawatch for 24 March 2024
Mediawatch looks at the fallout from Winston Peters' criticism of the media in his State of The Nation speech. Audio
TV news meltdown: what will government do?
The future of TV news and current affairs is in the balance at our two biggest TV broadcasters - both desperate to cut costs as their revenue falls. The government says it’s now preparing policy to… Video
Coming up
Mediawatch for 17 March 2024
What will government do about the great TV news meltdown?; Stuff deploys AI for DIY news. Audio
Apocalypse now for news - part 2?
TVNZ’s proposals to balance its worsening books by killing news and current affairs programmes mean New Zealanders could end up with almost no national current affairs on TV within weeks. It’s a…
Coming up
Mediawatch for 10 March 2024
TVNZ has proposed big cuts to news that could leave the country with only one daily TV news bulletin and almost no current affairs on TV within weeks. Audio
End is nigh for Newshub, while others worry
For years news media bosses warned the creaking business model backing journalism would fail at a major local outlet. It finally happened this week when Newshub’s owners proposed scrapping it. Then… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch
Midweek Mediawatch - Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Nights. Colin Peacock talked to Emile Donovan about the sudden and startling news of Newshub's impending demise in a 'proposal' from the global… Audio
Mediawatch for 25 February 2024
Government 'resets' immigration and welfare; another way to make Google and Facebook to pay for journalism; media milk Kiwi Swifties' stadium FOMO. Audio
Mediawatch for 18 February 2024
Auckland's transport turmoil reports lack full facts; publishers pitch to Parliament to make Google and Facebook pay for their news. Audio
Mediawatch for 11 February 2024
Waitangi tensions test politicians - and the media; Why is Sky screening more top-dollar sport for free? Audio
Mediawatch for 17 December 2020 - Horowhenua special
Covering news all over the country is a struggle for media companies dealing with rising costs and falling income. But some local outlets are surviving - and even thriving. Mediawatch's Hayden Donnel… Audio