KEY POINTS:
Paul Henry returns to TV One's Breakfast on September 5 but has ambitions to front the evening magazine show, Close Up.
The Close Up presenter, Mark Sainsbury, is safe for now but it is understood TVNZ will consider options at the end of the year.
Henry returns from
a two-month break after what sources say was dissatisfaction with his Breakfast role at TVNZ with Pippa Wetzell.
It is understood Wetzell has been encouraging Henry to commit to the show. Yesterday, Henry rejected a suggestion widespread in the TV industry that he left an ultimatum for TVNZ to come up with a new role when he returned. He said yesterday he would not make such a demand.
"I have not spoken to them for a long time," he said.
On returning, he hoped to be filling in on Close Up and work as part of TV One's election coverage.
But he said: "It is no secret I have ambitions [to present Close Up].
"Seven o'clock is where I want to be," he said.
"I did not miss much at Breakfast during the Olympics. But it is good to be back, I'm looking forward to getting back to it," he said.
TVNZ insiders say that with stable ratings, TVNZ news bosses will walk carefully with any changes.
Sainsbury has a softly, softly interview style and has a genuine "everyman" appeal. He is a good counter to TV3's effusive and sophisticated John Campbell. Ratings for Close Up and One News have been solid.
Sharp witted and engagingly unpredictable, Henry is wasted on Breakfast but has an abrasive style that polarises the audience.
There is a danger TVNZ will lose a broadcast talent if he is left languishing on Breakfast.
HOSKING IN THE WINGS
The same goes for Mike Hosking, who has recently filled in for Sainsbury on Close Up and who is admired by the show's producer Mike Valentine, sources say. Loved by production crews for his intelligent broadcasting technique, his in-your-face, Paul Holmes-like style will alienate some viewers.
Hosking, who replaces Holmes as breakfast host for Newstalk ZB next year, is said to have indicated a lack of interest, in part because of his poor treatment from past TVNZ news management.
It is not clear whether his new role as gameshow host on the Kiwi version of Who Wants to Be A Millionaire will be a help or a hindrance for a current affairs role.
SECRET VEITCH REPORT
TVNZ is claiming that its report on its handling of Tony Veitch declaring his deal with Kristin Dunne Powell to provide compensation for "lashing out" will be kept secret between it and the Government.
Spokeswoman Megan Richard said it was an "internal report" which would be considered by the TVNZ board of directors and the TVNZ shareholding minister Trevor Mallard.
Asked if a state agency being aware of an incident that subsequently led to assault charges being laid against the staffer went beyond an internal report, she said it had already been found that staff at a TVNZ meeting with Veitch acted properly.
The staff at the meeting included head of communications Peter Parussini, head of television Jeff Latch, head of news and current affairs Anthony Flannery and TVNZ in-house lawyer Helen Wild. TVNZ hired Russell McVeigh to complete the report.
It is understood that independent from Anthony Flannery, TVNZ reporter for the Veitch story, Lisa Owen, has made a request for release of the report under the Official Information Act. The Herald has also made applications under the act, which were rejected by TVNZ.
AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE
Who will take over as chief executive of the New Zealand Film Commission now Ruth Harley is leaving for Film Australia?
The ultimate Wellington arts bureaucrat, Harley worked for 10 years and three chairmen Allan Sorrell, Barrie Everard and the incumbent David Cullwick and a period when the Labour-led Government has been free with taxpayer funding for film.
Harley is applauded for her role as an enthusiastic backer for the industry and a good rapport with Arts Minister Judith Tizard. The minister resisted calls for an overhaul of the commission. Under Harley, the commission managed some creditable film releases on limited budgets and scored big increases in taxpayer funding.
Chairman David Cullwick has depended heavily on Harley's expertise and apart from the respected but low-key deputy Mladen Ivancic, the commission has largely been her domain. In her new role, Harley will be a key player in the development of the Australian film biz.
Departure now may be good timing. With the election looming, National is understood to be considering a revamp of the legislation underpinning the commission changes that were elusive under Labour.
LONDON CALLING
Sky Television chief executive John Fellet says the company is talking to Sanzar, the rugby organisation of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, which controls the rights to Southern Hemisphere professional rugby. Faced with falling audiences for competitions like the Super 14, Sanzar is planning changes seven years into the 10-year agreement,
Sky, 44 per cent owned by Rupert Murdoch, will be negotiating the changes and an entirely new deal in three years.
Fellet says he is happy whether there are changes or not.
Meantime, Sky has been looking at the dos and don'ts of TVNZ coverage from the Beijing Olympics.
Sky has rights to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and the 2012 Olympics in London. Fellet confirmed Sky would work closely with its sister company, BSky-B, to co-ordinate London coverage.
TUMBLING DOWN
Women's magazines took a tumble in the latest Audit Bureau of Circulation results to June 30. ACP Magazines' Woman's Day was down 6.9 per cent, NZ Magazines' NZ Woman's Weekly down 7.8 per cent and New Idea down 9.37 per cent.
Australian Woman's Weekly was down 6.6 per cent, Cleo down 7 .1 per cent, and Girlfriend down 9.9 per cent.
WITHERS 'AGNOSTIC'
Fairfax Media New Zealand chief executive Joan Withers is "agnostic" over whether a New Zealander should take over the editorship of the Sunday Star Times. Cate Honore Brett has resigned to take on a media and research role for the Law Commission.
Brett, formerly with the Weekend Press, took over when Fairfax bought the SST from INL. Withers said that Brett had done a great job and that readership was on its way up.
But inevitably the arrival of a third paper in the market, the Herald On Sunday, limited its growth, notably in the Auckland newspaper market.
Who will replace her? Tim Pankhurst, the editor of Wellington's Dominion Post could be approached but industry players were sceptical he would be interested. Waikato Times editor Bryce Johns might be tapped. Among SST staffers, the most obvious would be deputy Donna Chisholm.
The other option is an Aussie import. One bandied about is Mitchell Murphy, managing editor of Fairfax's Brisbane-based online site, the Brisbane Times. A Fairfax website says Murphy has 22 years experience in the media. His cadetship on a local paper after high school led him to change plans to be a physical education teacher.
GOING UP
The Sunday Star Times glossy insert, Sunday has taken umbrage against an August 8 item in its Going Up, Going Down list which questioned whether a mention of a sale at an optician retailer was linked to an advertising deal.
The bad news is the magazine will feature yours truly in the Going Down list this week. The good news is the mention didn't cost a cent.
