What we know about TVNZ's new 'Current Affairs unit'
Wednesday, 22 May 2024
After scrapping a number of flagship programmes, TVNZ is creating a new current affairs unit.
The broadcaster says it will produce long-form stories, and “keep the Fair Go brand alive.”
TVNZ says it needs to make changes, as more viewers go online.
Just weeks after four of its current affairs shows wrapped up, TVNZ is planning to launch a new “Current Affairs unit” aimed to “keep the Fair Go brand alive.”
The state-owned broadcaster’s new department was announced by former Fair Go executive producer Nicola Russell, who is joining the team in the same role.
“It’s been a tough time for my work whānau over the last little while so its nice to share some good news,” Russell wrote.
“TVNZ has created a new Current Affairs unit and I’m staying on to EP a new team.
“The team will produce long form current affairs and consumer stories (and keep the Fair Go brand alive). I’m really looking forward to working with this talented bunch of people, and really pleased they can continue their great work.”
Who else is in the team?
According to TVNZ, appointments include TVNZ Chief Correspondent John Campbell, and Sunday producer Paul Deady, who will join as a Supervising Producer.
Former Sunday and Fair Go journalists Mava Moayyed and Gill Higgins, as well as frequent Midday host Indira Stewart, have joined as Multimedia In-depth Reporters.
What will the Current Affairs unit bring?
TVNZ’s new newsmakers will “have a digital focus and are charged with delivering a range of consumer and current affairs journalism,” a TVNZ spokesperson has confirmed.
“The team is newly formed so the shape this work will take will evolve and change as it develops.
“We are pleased to have this talented team come together, and are looking forward to the stories they will tell.”
TVNZ chief operating officer Brent McAnulty had previously hinted at a digital return for 1News’ consumer affairs reporting.
“Personally, the decisions to cut Sunday and Fair Go were two of the most confronting decisions that I’ve had to make as a member of the TVNZ exec,” he said during a Better Public Media meeting in April.
He said the broadcaster is still dedicated to consumer affairs content, and that audiences will see that “content come up in other places.”
“We will need to find a way to re-purpose that type of content for digital audiences in the future.”
Why digital? I miss watching my news on the telly.
TVNZ has been setting its sights on a digital future for years now, with former CEO Simon Power announcing in the broadcaster’s interim report in early 2023 their future “is undoubtedly digital.”
“Broadcast television audiences will continue to move to streaming options and transitioning these audiences to our digital offerings and growing the accompanying digital revenue is critical for our future success,” he said.
In an email shared to staff ahead of proposals in May, TVNZ chief executive Jodi O’Donnell outlined the need for the broadcaster’s changes, also highlighting the move to digital.
“Unfortunately we’re now at the point where we need to reduce the size of our team to bring our costs more in line with our revenue and ensure we’re the right shape and size as we continue to transform to meet the needs of viewers in a digital world.”
A digital offering of the Current Affairs unit’s content may most likely come in written form, as stories shared to the 1News website in a bid to push its audience reach.
Depending on how tight TVNZ is clutching its purse-strings, a lower budget show could be aired on its streaming service TVNZ+, which currently hosts no streaming-only news content.