Media Insider: TVNZ planning new morning business show, seeks presenter – job ad
State-owned TVNZ is looking for a new business show presenter, with applications open today and closing on Tuesday. It’s moving so fast that an early version of the job description still had a manager’s comment attached.
TVNZ is introducing a new morning business show, according to a job description posted on the company’s careers page today, in a further sign of a new battleground for breakfast audiences in 2026.
The state-owned broadcaster is seeking a business presenter/correspondent – a fixed-term role for the next two years. The job was opened up today and closes in less than three working days, at midday on Tuesday.
It says the successful candidate will work “alongside” the TVNZ Breakfast team.
“We are working at pace and timings due to the end of the year,” the TVNZ job ad said.
The pace is so fast that an early PDF file of the job description contained a suggested edit from a TVNZ manager.
“I do wonder if we need to mention here – deep understanding of local and global economics @Phil O’Sullivan,” the edit, referencing executive news editor Phil O’Sullivan, said
A clean PDF version of the job description was posted later.
TVNZ’s job ad states that the new role involves “fronting a new Business-focused show for TVNZ weekday mornings”.
“You’ll be a dynamic, visionary, credible presenter who will make content unmissable.
“This role demands a leader who inspires ambition, drives creative thinking, and delivers intelligent, compelling storytelling and business content that resonates with audiences across all platforms.
“You’ll set the tone for innovation, champion bold ideas, and create content that informs, entertains and connect [sic] every single morning.”
TVNZ previously had a half-hour business show, between 6am and 6.30am. It announced in December 2011 that it was scrapping that format and incorporating business shows into Breakfast from 2012.
Possible candidates for the role could be TVNZ 1News business correspondent Jason Walls and Business with Madison host Madison Malone, who now runs her own YouTube channel.
The new role is a further sign of the heating battleground for digital video news audiences in 2026, especially in the mornings.
TVNZ said it was looking for a high-energy, highly engaged presenter with an “informed manner”.
“In this role, you’ll conduct interviews that are informative and credible. You’ll be interested in global economics, the future of technology and be able to seek out local business success stories.
“You’ll create business content which helps to drive audience gains on 1news.co.nz and TVNZ+ and increases ratings and share for relevant age demographics on both linear and digital platforms.”
Media Insider revealed this morning that NZ Herald owner NZME and TV3/Three owner Sky TV are in discussions to expand the 7am-9am Herald NOW show to Three Now, TV3’s digital platform.
That may pave the way for the Ryan Bridge-hosted show to eventually screen on Three’s linear channel, in direct competition with TVNZ Breakfast.
Herald NOW, which already screens on nzherald.co.nz and YouTube, has a strong business emphasis, with regular appearances from senior BusinessDesk journalist Garth Bray, formerly of TVNZ.
TVNZ said it had seen the NZ Herald’s story this afternoon and had nothing further to add at this stage.
Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand’s most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME, including Managing Editor, NZ Herald Editor and Herald on Sunday Editor. He has a small shareholding in NZME.