Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: A cog in the Mediaworks machine

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  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Alfie,

    over a barrel...
    ...and I note at the Terra Sancta site that Weldon doesn't mention his current high-flying role at Mediaworks...

    ... is an Olympic swimmer, studied at Columbia University, worked at McKinsey & Company in NYC, and was CEO of NZX for quite a while. Introduced to and seduced by old world Pinot Noir, (amongst other things) in his time in New York, Mark sees Terra Sancta as a lifetime committment, a lifetime of learning, and lot of hard hard work!

    also according to the site, Terra Sancta translates to Kiwi as Special Dirt - a much more accurate name for what Scout was attempting I'd have thought...
    an opportunity dying on the vine perhaps?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie,

    Google translates the phrase from latin as Holy Land, or from Chinese as T and RA S Ann couch. Just saying.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • chris, in reply to Alfie,

    Following on from the success of Heather’s fraudulent gun purchase, it was announced on Thursday's Story that this week one of the reporters will be breaking the rules for cellphone use on planes.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to chris,

    Heather’s fraudulent gun purchase

    Band name going begging...


    It also seems The Block has de-levellised the playing field for some contestants...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Sean Plunket to be replaced next month.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • simon g,

    Plunkett's decline has been rather sad. He was once a rigorous interviewer and before that, capable reporter. But whenever I've heard him on Radio Live he's been practically begging people to call, and trying to sound Outraged because it's talkback and that's what you do. He seems like a classic case of trying to fit into the wrong job, and degrading himself in the process.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to simon g,

    He was once a rigorous interviewer and before that, capable reporter

    Spoke recently with an ex-colleague of Gower who made the same observation about him, saddened at his decline.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to simon g,

    Plunkett’s decline has been rather sad. He was once a rigorous interviewer and before that, capable reporter. But whenever I’ve heard him on Radio Live he’s been practically begging people to call, and trying to sound Outraged because it’s talkback and that’s what you do. He seems like a classic case of trying to fit into the wrong job, and degrading himself in the process.

    How is it that Russell Brown and John Campbell manage to 'keep the faith', but Sean Plunket doesn't?

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie,

    Despite TV3's current race to obscurity, MediaWorks' chairman Rod McGeoch is standing behind Weldon.

    I also want to state to you all very clearly that Mark has the owner and board's full commitment and full support to lead the business through this period of change, and well beyond. While we had no intention of making a public announcement on this, it is, in this context, important to note that Mark has agreed with the Board and the Owner for a meaningful contact extension, which was recently signed.

    Contact extension? What's that? Extra long arms perhaps.

    Or did he perhaps mean contract?

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Alfie,

    Natty dreads?

    Contact extension?
    What’s that?
    Extra long arms perhaps.

    I was thinking maybe they were gonna kick him into ‘touch’…
    ‘cos, surely a ’contract extension’ is an oxymoron…
    (if I ignore one whole meaning of the word)
    Sounds more like they are prepared to throw more good money after bad!

    Poor Mark, I was gonna mention ‘heat intolerance’ and ‘kitchen vacating’, but apparently they are moving away from Master Chefs in favour of more unpalatable fare…

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • bob daktari, in reply to Alfie,

    can't imagine the board who oversee the company and Wheldon, who probably signed off on all/most of the changes that have been implemented, in doing anything more than most business people do in these situations - double down on their decisions (bets)

    as long as radio stays profitable then they're sweet

    auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 540 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to bob daktari,

    can’t imagine the board who oversee the company and Wheldon, who probably signed off on all/most of the changes that have been implemented, in doing anything more than most business people do in these situations – double down on their decisions (bets)

    Yes – the board's in deep on all this. The 100% owner, Oaktree, might be getting a bit antsy about destruction of value though.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • bob daktari,

    overheads + production costs are probably down, offset these against possible lose of earnings from advertising and TV3 might just be doing better on the books than they were and all the physical assets are still in place if there was a desire to hock em off... if thats oaktress focus (the books) ???

    auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 540 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    I saw the news today, oh boy…
    For all the talk about the ‘dumbing down’ of TV3,
    WTF was TV One News thinking tonight?
    with some overly long sub- Seven Sharp fatuous magazine piece about looking for Taylor Swift in Auckland chewing up screen time.
    Then Liam Neeson clips for a cyber crime intro, cringe…
    It’s. The. News. Dammit!
    there are other outlets for those urges!

    If they want to be taken seriously
    - Show some respect…

    please

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to bob daktari,

    double down

    exactly the phrase that came to me. pure bluster, with a harsh Aussie accent in this case

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    If they want to be taken seriously

    they want income, that's all

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie,

    We all knew it was coming. As soon as the sham (sorry, consultation period) was over, Mediaworks has officially axed 3D.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Alan Perrott,

    no, not a great year to be a journo. damned good year to be a drinker but.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 438 posts Report Reply

  • Rosemary McDonald, in reply to Alfie,

    In the 'Entertainment' section rather than 'Politics' ?

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie, in reply to Rosemary McDonald,

    In the ‘Entertainment’ section rather than ‘Politics’ ?

    Almost everything TV3 touches these days qualifies as entertainment. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised to see Weldon & Christie relaunch the channel as Bottom-feeder TV.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    RNZ cites the underlying rationale.

    Mediaworks closed down TV3’s current affairs show Campbell Live earlier this year, in spite of a public campaign to retain it. Mediaworks chairman Rod McGeoch told the New Zealand Herald the company had responsibilities to shareholders, which had lost hundreds of millions of dollars.

    "We put news on, but only because it rates. We sell advertising around news. This is what this is all about," he said

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Rosemary McDonald, in reply to Sacha,

    the company had responsibilities to shareholders,

    We should maybe keep a running total on how many times that line is trotted out...

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report Reply

  • Trevor Nicholls,

    So what will they replace 3D with? I have a suggestion:

    Scnut - a reality TV show tracking the life of a beleaguered gossip columnist who has burned so many bridges that nobody will gossip to her ever again. The show follows its antiheroine's desperate attempts to stay relevant and in the public eye.

    It will be cheap to make, honest.

    Wellington, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 325 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Goss !
    Hayes and Farrier have left the building. For how long? Nobody knows.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie, in reply to Trevor Nicholls,

    So what will they replace 3D with?

    The possibilities are endless. How about…

    "Underestimating the Audience" – wherein somebody famous for copying others’ reality formats is promoted beyond her capabilities, then mistakenly trusts her gut feeling that intelligent tele is dead with disastrous and hilarious results.

    "Fuck my Channel" in which a well-connected man with no broadcasting experience does his utmost to destroy an existing television company in the shortest possible time. Bonus points are awarded for keeping the board onside… until it’s too late.

    The anticipated success of these shows will spawn inevitable spinoffs including Product Placement 101: Degrading Audience Expectation and Undervalue your Staff.

    And on it goes.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

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