RNZ warmer than TVNZ on merger in front of MPs

Wednesday, 3 March 2021

RNZ and TVNZ would be combined into a new public media entity, whose exact mandate has yet to be decided.

RNZ chairman Jim Mather has embraced a government proposal to merge RNZ and TVNZ, saying it was “strongly supporting” the development of the policy.

But TVNZ chief executive Kevin Kenrick indicated to MPs he felt it was valid to question whether a merger could increase public concerns about media bias.

Broadcasting Minister Kris Faafoi said the Ministry of Culture and Heritage was working on a detailed business case for the new media entity, which would consider its costs and preferred operating model.

He said he would report back to Cabinet later this year.

TVNZ chief executive Kevin Kenrick says how a new public media entity could ensure that its independence from the Government would not be questioned is a “great question”.

* Work has resumed on RNZ-TVNZ merger, briefing to minister confirms

* Partial business case for TVNZ/RNZ merger quiet on specifics of what they would do differently

“Final decisions on the proposal to establish a new entity will be considered at that time,” he said.

Mather told Parliament’s social services and community select committee that the new public media entity was a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to create a stronger public media system that would benefit all New Zealanders.

It would be critical to ensure the new media entity had a “strong public mandate and purpose” enshrined its charter, he said.

The new entity needed to have a mandate to “collaborate, not compete” with other media entities, he added.

But TVNZ appeared to strike a cooler tone with the select committee, making it clear it was not driving the proposal.

Irish broadcaster RTE could provide a model for New Zealand, TVNZ has suggested.

Its chairman Andy Coupe told MPs that while it was “keenly aware” of the plan and was providing information and support to officials, it was focused for now on operating as “a financially self-sufficient, commercial business, consistent with our charter”.

Kenrick said in response to ACT Party MP Karen Chhour that it was a “great question” how TVNZ could ensure that its independence from Government would not be questioned by the public in the event of the merger.

“I am not sure that TVNZ is best placed to answer that, because the definition of what this future public media entity is going to be is basically being progressed by officials at the Ministry of Culture and Heritage right now,” he said.

“This is something we are a very keen observer of, but we are not really the architect or the driver of,” he said.

RNZ chief executive Paul Thompson told the committee he did not believe there was a perception RNZ was politically biased overall, though there “would always be commentators who will have criticism”.

Kenrick said the impact of the merger would come down to what it created, which he indicated was not yet clear.

“If there was to be further consolidation of TVNZ and RNZ, that is going to come down to what is the mandate of that organisation – and what content it is expected to deliver to which audiences – and how that complements and/or competes with the other players.

“But at this point in time that hasn’t been defined.”

However, he did suggest there were models to follow with respect to how a new entity could straddle the public and commercial spheres.

“My understanding is that the intention is to have a new public media entity that has dual funding; both commercial and public funding.”

Examples of that internationally “would be something like RTE in Ireland”, he said.

“I think if that was the approach, there would be the opportunity to deliver to both the viewer and New Zealand businesses from an advertising point of view – but that detail is yet to be worked through.”