KEY POINTS:
TVNZ is back in the news once again for all the wrong reasons.
Staff who lost their jobs under former TVNZ news boss Bill Ralston claim his outrage over the company's latest plan to shed news staff is hypocritical and say the "rot set in" during his
time.
And Television New Zealand is under fire for paying an Australian company several hundred thousand dollars to change its logo and graphics package.
Here is the latest selection of your views:
Nettie
You can enter into all the political arguments you like about the downfall of TVNZ but the problem is that "they" have no idea what people really want. The place has, in the past, been run by intellectuals who are basically out of touch. It's now run by marketers and PR spin-doctors who try and convince the general public that what they want is the tat they've produced. Listen to the people! Why is it that Coronation Street features in the top 10 programmes week after week after week? It's because it's what people want. Why is it that 'Dancing With The Stars' may not pull in the audiences they're hoping for? It's because most people are too bloody tired to stay up till 10.30 to see all the couples dance. Cut the advertising, cut out Jason Gunn and his impersonations of Bruce Forsythe, (have you noticed, he's even copying his hairstyle?) and reduce the programme to an hour and then the figures might be acceptable. I could go on and on, but then, what do I know I'm only the consumer and anyway I've got "My Sky" so I run my own TV station, just like the ad said I would be able to.
Alistair Stewart
The problem is the 1 network snooze -er, news. All they do is recap the morning's newspaper stories with predictable pictures and lazy shallow voice-over. Does this need 300 "journalists"?
Ray
Mike Hosking is right on the money. Bill Ralston has no right blaming other people. I could not believe that Ralston allowed a runaway otter to dominate the headlines for what seemed an eternity. Who gives a stuff! Surely he must have sat there watching the 6 o'clock news thinking, "What a load of complete rubbish!"
Brett
The rot set in when TVNZ were set up initially as a cash cow without a solid charter to guide them in delivering intelligent and proactive news and current affairs, quality drama and worthwhile documentaries. The extravagance of their building (grand piano etc), the ever increasing numbers of people paid in excess of 100k (see tabled annual reports), the monopoly of good transmission spots and circuits (setup under NZBC days) currently run by BCL are all indicators. Many players simply gave up waiting for the eventual second network licence (Brierly etc) and the self serving boards and management at TVNZ since have lined their pockets and massaged each others egos at the expense of quality TV.
TVNZ also run one the most expensive pieces of business software in the world (SAP)and have shows paid for by NZ On air sitting on shelves not deemed ratings worthy whilst cliched drivel like "Rude Awakenings" gets the friday night deadzone by way of examples. The logo and new TVOne commercial are symptoms of this continued culture of style over substance. Serious journalism is at odds with the personality driven network you see before you and giving Fraser/ Ralston power was like giving a pyromaniac a flamethrower....they're journalists not managers of money and people. I'm neither surprised nor expecting change as just like Telecom the setup from public service days was all wrong and the fix is neither quick nor painless as quality TV takes time and money with skilled craftspeople, most of which departed TVNZ long ago.
Goby
Gee Ralston can talk can't he! Make TVNZ like ABC Australia and then we'll have something we can all watch. What's up with Hosking and that photo, its looks as if he is yearning for the 60's again.
NeillR
Ralston is another classic case of a journalist who thought that being able to critique instilled in him the ability to tackle any job.There is little doubt that the ratings nosedived during his tenure, with management disasters such as the sacking of Judy Bailey, the removal of Holmes, the failure to renew Richard Long's contract and others occuring on his watch. The final straw for me was two "dumbed down" features - the first news item invariably was a scripted leading to a current affairs show screening after the "news", the second being the appointment of the overwraught Wendy Petrie. At that point One News should have changed their logo to that of Play School and saved themselves the $300k. Hosking may not be everyone's cup of tea (most probably because he has a brain), but he's pretty much on the mark in this case.
Sarah K
TVNZ seem to be doing a lot of advertising for situations vacant - seems strange given the certain circumstances. My view is they should broadcast more informative television programmes and leave the smut, like Shortland Street and that awful show with Danielle Cormack to die a natural death. It is insulting / shocking acting and script writing. How embarrassing.
Richard
Well you know what they say. There is a sucker born every minute. In Australia there will be a company laughing at what idiots TVNZ were to cough of that much money for something as pathetic as changing the colour of an already awful logo. Seems about time the govt got involved with the way TVNZ wastes money. It wont do anything for them, not while they continue to put awful NZ shows on in prime time, and shows that rate, like Blue Healers on at midnight.
Ollie
More importantly, is Mike Hosking receiving any advice on his personal style and appearance from anyone? If not, he should be, judging by that photo!
Dave OBrien
It is interesting to note your article on TVNZ's rebranding of TV One. Easter is certainly a good time to change their branding. New life and all I suppose. But, not only do I hate the campaign, it seems environmentally irresponsible. One campaign, far too many lights used.Who on earth lights up the sky like that? Is the already overloaded national grid not suffering? What about the non-hybrid cars with lights left on for SFX? Or those torches that should be used for Civil defence purposes? I'd hardly call this wasteful display 'dramatic effect.' TVNZ certainly got the 'warm' bit right when they justify the use of orange for their new campaign. Colour is a powerful thing. Jaffas anyone? Or is it subconsciously celebrating Global Warming? I blame those Aussies for the campaign. I suppose TVNZ will too. Warm me up this winter TV One!
Ben McIntyre
I think both Hosking and Ralson are delusional regarding 'when the rot set in' in TVNZ. As far as I am concerned we lost quality television news reporting in New Zealand the night of the Aramoana massacre. Both channels were shamelessly tripping over each other in excitement to report this tragedy with the tactlessness of an American shock jock. I'm sure we can put the saved 30 million to better use and if you are really news hungry listen to National Radio.
Ray Eyre
I find it impossible to believe that TVNZ is cutting jobs because of loss of profit. C'mon, with the volume and frequency of advertisements TVNZ should be rolling in cash. The best thing that could be done is to get rid of the rubbish programmes and the constant ads and put some thing worth watching on our screens. The news that is broadcast is utter crap, day after day we are treated to the same old, same old. The answer to TVNZ's crisis is simple. Ask the people what they want to see on their screens and then give them what they want. It is not a management problem, it is state control from our wonderful Communist leaders.
