Radio New ZealandFurther to recent posts and news about the financial issues facing Radio New Zealand, I doubt if anyone will be switching any transmitters off here within the near future.
In fact, RNZ receives NZ$34m in government funds + earns another NZ$4m each year and employs nearly 300 people to produce just 24 hours a day of programs on RNZ National and another 24 hours a day on RNZ Concert.
RNZ refuses to participate in radio industry ratings, claiming it's above such raw numbers, adding that it's quality not quantity that's critical. So no-one really knows how many people listen to them. RNZ Concert serves a very elite audience with the highest powered FM
transmitters they have whilst other listeners suffer poor FM service or none at all.
RNZ senior management and board members tried the old fashioned approach when asked to come up with ways to do more with the same budget. Do you want RNZ National switched off at midnight? Can we move RNZ National back onto AM and switch off the FM transmitters?
Can we stop our tiny advertising? Close our regional offices in marginal electorates? What button can we push? Where will it hurt you politically?
All silly petulant arguments designed to get 'mother of 3' and 'retired teacher' to furiously demand to their local member of parliament that civilization is about to disappear.
Unfortunately, this is 2010 and such pork barrel arguments hold no sway with a government still enjoying well over 50% public support after 18 months in power and a severe recession.
All they do is convince the government that RNZ has totally lost the plot. RNZ staff levels are reportedly up over 10% whilst hours produced remain much the same, their Sound Archives has closed its doors to 'save money', and still they slowly drift along in a public service state of mind, blissfully ignorant of recessions, new technology and how to achieve more with less.
In my view, chances are high that the existing board and some senior management will be invited to fall on their swords whilst new people with a positive mindset will appear and find ways to creatively expand services, not reduce them.
RNZI is completely unaffected by the turmoil, as it's separately funded by the Ministry for Culture & Heritage and its staff achieve small miracles with their resources and continue to expand their services. They get 'out & about' and are in direct daily touch with their audience, responsive to them, and display innovation and enterprise.
David Ricquish
Wellington, New Zealand
Radio New Zealand could cut overnight programs
Switching off Radio New Zealand (RNZ) between midnight and 6am could be part of a radical new plan to cut costs. On Wednesday ONE News revealed some of the proposals for the station and as more details emerge, the Broadcasting Minister is facing accusations of interference. RNZ bosses have been questioned by MPs about plans to cut costs and board chairperson Christine Grice says the board has a full range of options before it.
Another proposal is to scrap FM transmission for much of the country and to bring in sponsored programmes. “All organisations have to cut their cloth and our aim is to make sure the cloth is cut so as to preserve the dna of Radio New Zealand,” says Ms Grice.
Opposition parties claim RNZ is the victim of bullying by minister Jonathan Coleman. “I think the minister has a conscious policy of trying to starve Radio New Zealand so that it will ultimately become unviable as a public service broadcaster,” says Green Party spokeswoman Sue Kedgley.
Now it appears to be a question of who blinks first - whether RNZ bosses make major cuts or face the chop themselves.
(ONE News/TVNZ/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)
Gayle VH: Considering Radio New Zealand relays segments of domestic programming to their shortwave services, this could ultimately mean a cut in shortwave broadcast hours. Let's hope Radio NZ International does not resort to such.
