Hard News by Russell Brown

Read Post

Hard News: The digital switch-off

223 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 5 6 7 8 9 Newer→ Last

  • Sacha, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Berlusconi stupid

    Hey, that film has an invisible opposition too

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • JackElder, in reply to Sacha,

    with some facial hair and a bicycle

    That's facial hair and a fixed-gear bicycle, thank you. Or a BMX.

    Wellington • Since Mar 2008 • 709 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Withers, in reply to Sacha,

    Urlich of First New Zealand Capital says Sky is under-leveraged with an inefficient balance sheet. Profits had boosted Sky's asset levels but there were no apparent acquisition targets and little prospect of a boost in dividends or a share buy-back.

    In other words...they just provide a service with no quick fixes for market speculators.

    We need more businesses like that....and especially ones that don't involve Rupert Murdoch in any way.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 312 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie,

    Late to this one too - been out filming the demise of public service TV.

    I mean who’s to say we can’t have a few good but marginally less profitable programmes in the schedule and make up for it with, I don’t know, Jersey Shore?

    I think that could work great in theory, but a) you need someone at the top who's all about that, rather than someone who really just wants to do what the owner tells them to do ("maximise profit, return big dividend") and b) it assumes it's easy just to make a bit more money. Having been at TVNZ during a continual series of cutbacks, lay-offs and restructuring these past 7 years, I can only assume it's not :)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Damian Christie,

    b) it assumes it's easy just to make a bit more money.

    I guess what I'm asking is: does TVNZ have to return a profit, or does it have to return the maximum possible profit short of broadcasting hardcore porn? Because surely it could return a bit less of a profit in exchange for funding one hour and a half a week of current affairs programming pitched at people with an IQ in the human range.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    broadcasting hardcore porn?

    Which, it seems proper to note, makes plenty of money for Sky -- the religious beliefs of its chief executive notwithstanding.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Light relief from the 'stroking a grudge' file. Our old friend Mr Siataga from his exile at The Standard manages to make this topic all about our host's todger. What a silly little fella.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Sacha,

    I'd rather be a sycophant than a psycho-phant

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    What a silly little fella.

    Yup. The whole thing seemed to cut him to the quick. So he's following his own metaphor, that blogs should be like ruffneck bars, and is lurching like a drunk from one to the other, hoping to ingratiate himself with the publicans by slagging off the competitors, which works right up until they realize he's a customer they don't really want either.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    I guess what I’m asking is: does TVNZ have to return a profit,

    Well yes, it does. Otherwise we couldn't afford things like this... $43m lifeline to TV3 owner

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    Well yes, it does. Otherwise we couldn’t afford things like this… $43m lifeline to TV3 owner

    Well knock me over and fuck me to a gentle rumba beat. National gives it’s right wing hate radio supporters a $43 million taxpayer bailout to keep up the good work?

    Oh, and didn’t the current minister of communications once own this company? Corruption, is thine name Steven Joyce?

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Too quick to deny?.
    Government denies MediaWorks loan

    "All I can tell you is that the Crown has not advanced any cash to MediaWorks at all, that the Crown has offered a deferred payment option to all of the frequency holders who were due to renew at that time, which involved them paying interest and getting in their payments over five years."

    Mr Joyce said MediaWorks had been keeping to the terms of deferred payment.

    Bugger, I thought we had him there.
    Seems it's just the Herald getting it wrong again.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    What is the difference between a loan and a deferred payment?

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    What is the difference between a loan and a deferred payment?

    Not all that much, really.

    Tbh, I think it's the right move. It wouldn't make sense to kill off Mediaworks by demanding immediate payment.

    Even though Mediaworks' problem is basically that it was acquired by a greedy, stupid private equity firm.

    But it would be nice to see the government treat public broadcasting assets as kindly as it treats the private ones.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    What is the difference between a loan and a deferred payment?

    Transferring cash to the borrower.

    But it still stinks. Eg, why don't the owners of MediaWorks pony up? They're fully capable.

    I'd be interested to know who the other eight broadcasters who have taken up the deferred payment plan are. That might or might not make it look a lot better.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Even though Mediaworks’ problem is basically that it was acquired by a greedy, stupid private equity firm.

    russel, russell, russell... please refer to page 57, stanza 12 of the Market Manual.

    there are no greedy or stupid private firms.

    "And lo, the Market did create unto Man the perfect means of Life, and it was good [sic]"

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Russell Brown,

    But it would be nice to see the government treat public broadcasting assets as kindly as it treats the private ones.

    I'm curious what MW's interest rate would be if it'd borrowed from commercial funders. 11.whatever % sounds pretty steep to me, especially in light of an almost-certain OCR cut.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    What is the difference between a loan and a deferred payment?

    I'll have to try this one out if I ever see him down the pub. 'Ey, Steve-o my old chum, any chance you could deferred payment option me $20 to tide me over to pay day? No, no, no. Not a loan. Perish the thought.'

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Rich Lock,

    ’Ey, Steve-o my old chum, any chance you could deferred payment option me $20 to tide me over to pay day? No, no, no. Not a loan. Perish the thought.’

    If you had borrowed the $20 last week on the proviso that you were to pay it back this week then deferring the payment to next week is not a loan but an extension on an existing loan. In the case of MediaWorks we are talking about a deferred payment of its broadcasting licence fee. If the Govt were to say "We will pay your fee and you can pay us back" that would be a loan, that is not what is happening here.
    Damn, that is so not like me to say that.
    ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Rich Lock,

    ’Ey, Steve-o my old chum, any chance you could deferred payment option me $20 to tide me over to pay day? No, no, no. Not a loan. Perish the thought.’

    uh, no. More like 'Ey, Steve-o my old chum, any chance you'd let me repay that $20 I owe you for last week's dinner over, oh, four weeks?'

    Deferred payment is not just another name for loan, and Granny's headline was pretty shocking. The Government never had the money that it is now owed by MediaWorks, which is the normal requirement for a loan. A loan implies retained ownership but transferred possession. No money changed hands, MW just gets to pay off an incurred obligation over a period of time, with interest.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Tarry a moment if you will and email me clever questions for the PA bloggers at the Orcon Great Blend in Wellington tomorrow:

    http://publicaddress.net/hardnews/reply/

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby, in reply to Russell Brown,

    are pithy questions of morality and fidelity excluded?

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Tarry a moment if you will and email me clever questions for the PA bloggers at the Orcon Great Blend in Wellington tomorrow:

    How about…
    “What are you wearing under that?”
    Best said in a low gravely voice whilst rubbing your thighs.
    :-P

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    are pithy questions of morality and fidelity excluded?

    Only if you're expecting pithy answers.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby, in reply to Emma Hart,

    you're taking the pith, right?

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

First ←Older Page 1 5 6 7 8 9 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

Please sign in using your Public Address credentials…

Login

You may also create an account or retrieve your password.