THE BUSINESS HERALD

This is the first section I read in the New Zealand Herald each Friday morning, and the first column I read within that section is John Drinnan's Media column. Drinnan (pic right)  is a Herald business writer and media commentato, an astute reporter and clearly has his ear close to the ground when it comes to media issues.

Today he looks at six major media firms and how they are changing as the industry shifts digital.
The following excerpt is of special interest to readers of this blog as both Radio New Zealand and TVNZ 7 are major players in  book reviewing in New Zealand.  Radio NZ with its daily book reviews on Kathryn Ryan's Nine to Noon show each weekday and TVNZ 7 with its screening of The Good Word fronted by Emily Perkins.

Marching ahead into brave new world
By John Drinnan
New Zealand Herald, Aug 13, 2010
RADIO NEW ZEALAND - RADIO WITH PICTURES
Non-commercial radio, online

 
Radio New Zealand faces a big makeover next year with the Government expected to merge the public radio operation with non-commercial TVNZ 7.
The plan is create a new public broadcasting institution. Labour is understood to be broadly behind the merger.
Such a move is being challenged by TVNZ, which wants to keep government funding within its otherwise commercial focus. But surprisingly the biggest sceptics are within RNZ management.
A merger would mean a revamp of RNZ which has been caught in the cross-fire with Government demands that it works within existing budgets.
It would require the transfer of some TVNZ staff, and possible pay rises for some at RNZ, sources say. The new body would provide both radio and TV, though it is understood the Government is not yet convinced TVNZ should not be allowed to continue to provide some TVNZ 7 content.
A combined radio and TV operation makes sense, removing public service from the increasingly commercial focus of TVNZ while injecting fresh energy into RNZ.
Chief executive Peter Cavanagh has done well to maintain a credible non-commercial service inside diminishing funding. But would he head the new body?


To read John Drinnan's interesting column in full link here to NZH.