MediaWorks’ interim CEO Wendy Palmer said it was “an emotional day” for Today FM staff after the company decided to close the Auckland-based talkback and news radio station.
Palmer said it was a “difficult decision to close Today FM from tomorrow”.
“This is an emotional day for the talented team who put everything into building a new talk platform in Aotearoa,” Palmer’s company-wide message to staff read.
“They have worked tremendously hard to build the brand and there have been great successes along the way.”
Palmer said Today FM “needed time and significant ongoing investment in order to grow its listenership”.
“Unfortunately, given the current market conditions, the funding is not there to support this level of investment.”
In a statement, Palmer reiterated the tough financial conditions impacting the business.
“MediaWorks, like the whole advertising sector in New Zealand and internationally, continues to be impacted by an environment with lower revenues and higher costs,” the statement read.
“At the request of the MediaWorks board we have undertaken a review of the entire business to identify further areas of potential cost saving and to reshape the business for the market conditions.”
Palmer said this led the board to take the “difficult decision to take Today FM off air” and to explore options for a digital content offering.
“This is a hard day for this talented team who put everything into building a new talk platform in Aotearoa. They’ve worked tremendously hard and we’re incredibly proud of the work they have done.
“We’d also like to thank everyone who supported Today FM over the last year, from our regular contributors, to our advertisers and especially our listeners.
“We’ll be working with the team to identify other opportunities within MediaWorks where possible and to support them in their next steps.”
A message from the head of Today FM’s digital team was posted to its social media accounts, saying “we were robbed”. The post has since been deleted.
Today FM’s Twitter account was locked and the tweets “are protected” with only approved followers able to see the messages. The station’s Facebook page now appears to have been deleted.
“Hi everyone. Head of Today FM digital here. What a ride,” the Twitter post read.
“As I type this, David, Duncan Garner’s producer is crying in my arms as the harsh reality of cold corporate decisions set in.
“Like David, many of our team feel like they have failed you. But, I can confidently say that they have done something like no one else has in the media space.
“We were robbed. You were robbed.”
Mediaworks' interim CEO Wendy Palmer sends company wide email to staff pic.twitter.com/2BaFzhoOYr
— NZ Media News (@thetvnews) March 30, 2023
In a broadcast on the frequency at about 5pm a message said: “This station is no longer Today FM.”
It said a new station will be launching on the frequency in April.
Black Caps Radio will still be on this frequency with live cricket coverage of the New Zealand versus Sri Lanka one-day and t20 series.
“The next live game will be the third ODI starting at 2pm tomorrow. REX, Rural Exchange will still play on this frequency at usual times for now.”
A stunned Today FM host earlier described colleagues’ fear of “not knowing how they will make their next rent payments and how they will feed their kids” after the embattled news radio station dramatically had the cable pulled.
Liz Fraser, MediaWorks' commercial director has sent the below email to advertisers re Today FM pic.twitter.com/kAlaeBcnw6
— NZ Media News (@thetvnews) March 30, 2023
Today FM host Wilhelmina Shrimpton was candid on social media about the end of the station, saying that “devastated is an understatement”.
“Heartbroken doesn’t even describe it, and unexpected only begins to scratch the surface,” she wrote in a Facebook post.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d wake up this morning, and that Today FM would be gone by lunchtime.”
She said the station helped her grow and flourish as a person and had a positive outlook on the situation despite the grim circumstances.
“The broken-down person I arrived as, was slowly pieced back together and shone brighter than ever before,” she wrote.
“Don’t be sad that it’s over, be happy that it happened.
“I’m so happy that it did, but I still think I’ll be sad for a while yet.”
Alongside the post, she shared a group photo of the Today FM from today.
Marc Peard was a part of the sports team at Today FM and shared his anguish over the announcement in a Facebook post today.
“It’s heartbreaking, it’s devastating, it suxs that it’s ended [sic],” he wrote.
“Today as the news was delivered to the team I watched people I care about deeply burst into tears. People not knowing how they will make their next rent payments and how they will feed their kids.”
He described radio as an “intimate job” that you pour your soul into. He explained he now feels “embarrassed I was open and vulnerable”.
“I feel embarrassed I cared so much . . . I feel bad as I’ve let my family down.”
Peard revealed he’s struggling to find strength through this difficult time.
Stunned Today FM staff earlier headed to the pub after being told today the station will close and given mere hours to make submissions on the decision.
Hosts Leah Panapa and Tova O’Brien and her producer Carol Hirschfeld were among staff who headed to a nearby bar.
“Let’s go nuts,” a staff member could be heard saying, as cheers and whistles sounded on their arrival at the venue.
Today FM abruptly abandoned its scheduled programming this morning – but not before O’Brien and host Duncan Garner revealed on air that the MediaWorks-owned station’s future looked grim.
Devastated. Love our strong Today FM whanau. Thank you for your messages.
— Tova O'Brien (@TovaOBrien) March 30, 2023
Music is now playing as the scheduled programme remains off-air for the rest of today.
Wellington-based night host Polly Gillespie, who clocked off her shift at midnight, said she had woken to 200 missed calls.
“TODAY is now yesterday. Sad but alive. Time to pivot. Much love to all my listeners and co-workers,” she posted on Facebook.
Garner earlier today revealed during his show the struggling station’s hosts had been asked to attend an all-staff meeting.
The station then abruptly abandoned its scheduled broadcasting.
Farewell Today FM, daughter or Magic Talk, daughter of Radio Live where I had such a great five years of Sunday nights. pic.twitter.com/5U5PvcSAmp
— Vaughn Davis (@vaughndavis) March 30, 2023
O’Brien’s line producer Tom Day said the MediaWorks board “have made a proposal to shut down” Today FM. Speaking to media outside after the meeting, he said he had had “better days” and that he was absolutely “gutted”.
“We received notifications that there would be a meeting at 12.15pm but it was brought forward. They told staff to start playing music.
“Wendy Palmer [acting MediaWorks chief executive] said at the meeting MediaWorks’ board had decided to shut down Today FM.”
The staff have been given until the end of today to make submissions towards the proposal, Day said.
“It is very little time. I am pretty gutted. We have a really good team who work hard.
“We will lose a news outlet and that’s bad.”
The meeting came as a bit of a shock but also wasn’t a surprise, Day said.
“We passionately believe we have done amazing work. We are frustrated the board doesn’t see that . . . it was a five-year plan but we have only been on-air for a year.”
Day said at this stage he had not been informed whether or not he would come back tomorrow.
He said he will take his time to make submissions.
“The board’s decision will be made following the submissions. I believe the decision could come today.”
In an extraordinary few minutes of radio, Garner was joined on air by fellow host O’Brien, who said the company had “f***ed us”: “We are all going to lose our jobs,” she said.
“We’ve been on-air for just a year, we were told we had the support of everyone from chief executive to the board to the executive.”
Garner said: “This is betrayal.”
He also told listeners: “Broadcasters here at Today FM have been called in to see the boss. We don’t know what’s going on. Tova’s asked for assurances that we are safe and hasn’t received them. Certainly some concerns in the background about the finances for the company overall.
“We were last on board you see as a station here. Could it be that we are first offloaded? I hope not. But that’s the axe hanging over us.
“It’s going to be a pretty difficult show but I am going to give it my best and be as honest as I can be with you. As news may or may not come through.”
Garner said: “We’ve been pulled off air right now.”
O’Brien, who joined Garner in the studio, added: “Without even being given a chance.”
She told the host, “it sounds like it’s over”.
NZME chief executive Michael Boggs said despite NZME and MediaWorks being fierce competitors, the two companies also have a strong relationship, working together for the betterment of the media industry.
“Our thoughts are with the Today FM team and those MediaWorks staff who are impacted by these changes.”
Today’s developments follow the departure of Today FM radio boss Dallas Gurney, who quit the fledgling network this month.
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