Media: TAB odds on to win big at World Cup

It's unclear who will monitor Sky TV's gaming content during the Cup. Photo / Sarah Ivey

The TAB may be a big winner in the Rugby World Cup - if Sky TV coverage of a recent cricket test is anything to go by. The TAB is limbering up for a big marketing push around the World Cup and television will be an important part of that.

The Cup will be a major chance to establish sports betting as part of the mainstream.

But how will Sky deal with the interests of subscribers including purist rugby folk - the majority who want to hear about the game and not the gaming?

Judging by gambling-friendly coverage of the first test between Pakistan and New Zealand this month, those purists might like to keep their thumb close to mute.

The coverage was blasted by sports writer Richard Boock.

"Pro-gambling bias can't help but influence young and impressionable minds," he said.

"Mums and dads are right to be concerned, especially when the betting opportunities are being pushed by former sporting stars, greats and role models."

Sky TV chief executive John Fellet took a quick look at the coverage and said he did not think commentator chatter about betting and odds was excessive.

But he would not like to see it increasing.

Sky and the TAB both say that the commercial deal did not incorporate discussion by Sky commentators.

The TAB is aiming to make more money from sports betting, And as the overwhelmingly dominant player in sports rights - with technology to make bets from the Sky remote - Sky is in the box seat.

New Zealand Cricket could be expected to have a key role ensuring integrity of the sport, especially while there is so much controversy about spot-fixing in cricket.

But the sports body - which receives a cut of the TAB's cricket betting revenue - had no problems with Sky's coverage.

And in the run-up to the World Cup what is the oversight of editorial standards at Sky Sports?

SUITS YOU, SIR JOHN

The Government has extended Sir John Anderson's tenure as chairman of TVNZ for 12 months, adding to rumours of change at the state TV company if and when National is elected to a second term.

Deputy chairwoman Joan Withers had been tipped to replace Sir John, but as chairwoman of Mighty River Power she may have a lot on her plate preparing the state-owned power company for partial privatisation.

TVNZ has not been included in the list of proposed part-privatisations - it has an emotional cachet that might draw controversy in an election year and financial gains would be small.

But the Government is trying to ensure there is stability at the top of the company.

As chairman, Sir John ended years of upheaval from loose governance and political meddling, but insiders say he has seldom shown much interest in the broadcaster.

This fits with the attitude of the Government - that TVNZ has a commercial focus but nothing else. But the attitude has led to an ethical malaise.

Meanwhile, the Government announced yesterday that Wayne Walden and Alison Gerry will be appointed to the board. Both have a background in business. They will replace June McCabe and Bryan Gould.

TWO GEOFFS

Radio New Zealand's Morning Report returned this week with Simon Mercep as co-presenter with Geoff Robinson - a kinder, gentler version of the show co-hosted last year by Sean Plunket.

RNZ says the news programme is in good shape and did not lose listeners when Plunket left in September. It's full steam ahead for an election year.

Mercep is solid and took to National Radio like a duck to water.

It sounded this week as though the two broadcasters had been working together since Marconi was a boy.

But you'd hope National Radio is not wholly averse to change.

With its key breakfast appointment made you might think RNZ would take a few risks amending some of the formats that have become predictable.

With a few exceptions it has struggled to initiate change.

It suffers from a stifling culture that encompasses smugness about its product and a fear that it is loathed by politicians and must avoid engagement with them at all costs.

It's true there is scant support for public broadcasting in this Government. But change does not have to be all bad.

Last year the Government told the board of governors to stop complaining about budgets and find ways to make it go further.

A report from management delivered at the end of last year found cost savings that could avoid cuts to programming and staff.

Less advanced is a management study of how to bring innovation to RNZ.

Chief executive Peter Cavanagh could be excused for believing that the pressure is off in an election year after Government attacks on the board prompted a Facebook campaign to "Save Radio New Zealand".

It began as support for public broadcasting but became hijacked by the Labour Party who used it to attack the Government, but ignored Labour's role in reducing funding for public radio.

Reaction may have been biased, but some of the support was honest and much of it was strong.

In an election year this Government is even more risk-averse than usual.

RNZ's critics - former private radio executives Murray McCully and Steven Joyce - will be wary about coming down hard on the state-owned broadcaster, in public at least.

IDLE THOUGHTS

There are some fine professionals at Radio New Zealand but they work in a culture of caution, believing that the product is beyond reproach.

This view was backed by some people writing to the Save Radio New Zealand campaign that everything can be fixed with more money.

But I would argue that there are issues about the one-dimensional view of its audience. It goes beyond its unhealthy concentration on Wellington and is reflected by the survival of Chris Laidlaw's moribund show on Sunday mornings - prime time for public radio.

RNZ seems to miss opportunities. Why were the extraordinary acclaimed radio programmes the History of The World in 100 Things played in the overnight programme?

During the holiday break National Radio ran the commercial style Matinee Idle programme for the seventh year. The show meets RNZ charter obligations to reach a part of the audience that does not normally listen.

I am no fan - but surely the answer for a public broadcaster is to deliver through the whole year, rather than squeezing shows in during the summer break schedule so it does not have to bother the rest of the year.

COME TOGETHER

Integration is on the agenda for companies that run the two newspaper chains and dominate online news.

APN News & Media and Fairfax Media are both forging closer relationships between profitable print and online operations whose business plans are still being developed.

Both started the year with new leadership. Brett Chenoweth replaced Brendan Hopkins at Herald publisher APN, and Fairfax is still in the midst of management upheavals.

Managing director Brian McCarthy stepped down from Fairfax at the time the role of online was restructured out of existence. Non-executive director Greg Hywood is acting chief executive.

Meanwhile, radio has been surprisingly resilient through the depths of the recession but advertising revenue slumped last year.

Like New Zealand newspapers, commercial radio is a duopoly split between The Radio Network, a joint venture between APN and Clear channel, and MediaWorks, owned under a complex private equity structure controlled by Ironbridge Capital.