By LOUISA CLEAVE
Radio New Zealand has refused to tell a parliamentary select committee how many people tune in to individual programmes.
RNZ chief executive Sharon Crosbie says the research by ACNielsen is commercially sensitive and programming ideas could be stolen by competitors.
RNZ pulled out of the national survey of radio station
ratings at the end of 1999.
Some results comparing last year and this year were issued yesterday.
The Saturday Morning show hosted by John Campbell has lost just over 10 per cent of its audience.
RNZ's overall audience rose from 517,000 to 540,000 listeners, but the Concert FM audience dropped from 188,000 to 162,000.
Audience numbers for programmes were withheld, but RNZ said Morning Report increased its audience by 2 per cent, Kim Hill's show was up 1.5 per cent and Checkpoint was down 12 per cent.
People who "deliberately turn on" to the Saturday Morning show dropped from 38 per cent to 29 per cent.
In a letter tabled in Parliament Ms Crosbie said RNZ had obtained legal advice from the firm Buddle Findlay on the commerce committee's request for more information about its audience figures.
"Our current research information contains programme-specific data which would be valuable to those market competitors who would welcome the opportunity to identify Radio NZ's strengths and weaknesses, and programme competitively in those slots," Ms Crosbie said.
Opposition broadcasting spokeswoman Katherine Rich said that without the full information, it was impossible for New Zealanders to judge whether the money spent on public radio was worthwhile.
"Despite financial reviews or cross-examination, Radio NZ cannot be held to account."
