Radio with glitches

The axing of the public broadcasting merger leaves a cash-strapped a fast-changing RNZ contemplating its future in media landscape.

- JANET WILSON

Like a jilted bride left waiting at the altar, RNZ is facing a future as uncertain now as it was four years ago when the government began playing matchmaker to bond the country’s two state-funded broadcasters in marriage.

With TVNZ, the reluctant bridegroom, now free to continue with its commercial strategy, where does that leave the public service radio broadcaster?

Although Prime Minister Chris Hipkins’ announcement on February 8 confirmed the wedding was off, the projected $10-$12 million sweetener Labour has pledged to RNZ will go some – but not all – of the way towards bolstering an organisation that is subsisting on the financial equivalent of gruel.

Myles Thomas, chair of the Better Public Media Trust, notes that whereas the British pay $81 per capita per year to fund their public media platforms, the Norwegians $110 and the Germans $142, New Zealanders pay just $27 to fund RNZ, TVNZ and NZ on Air. So, what new or improved services will listeners and viewers get from the RNZ funding boost?

“The money will allow us to ensure our staffing levels, technology and premises are where they need to be to keep current services strong,” says Paul Thompson, RNZ’s chief executive for the past nine and a half years and arguably the merger’s biggest cheerleader.

Is it enough? “It is a very good start, in that it will address current financial pressure,” he says diplomatically. “We are running deficits and our financial challenges were meant to be addressed in the new entity. Now that ANZPM [Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media] is off the table, we need that funding to keep doing the job we do for New Zealanders.”