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@voodoo Tou were dramatically personally affected.
I still contend that most Kiwi's were complacent and largely on board with all the govt decisions in 2020.
Nothing really changed until the Delta lockdowns and we discovered how tardy our vaccine programme had been. Even then the govt had to effectively bribe large swathes of the population to get jabbed.
They really lost support when the majority had been vaccinated but the country stayed locked down to "protect the vulnerable".
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@dogmeat said in Newshub closing down:
@voodoo Did you not read the criticism of David Clark, the slowness of purchasing vaccines, the rollout programme of same, the economic impact of the lockdowns, the confusing traffic lights system and the unnecessary severity of Akl's last lockdown?
The first 3 are examples of the media criticizing the government for not following it's own narrative, the last 3 when public discontent became so high you couldn't ignore it.
There was precious little questioning of the government's narrative (and in fact a consolidated effort to surpass or at the least discredit any opposing views) and an enormous amount of fawning praise.
One could almost be lead to conclude there was bias there.
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@dogmeat said in Newshub closing down:
Back on topic Lelissa Lee is under increasing pressure to 'do something' about the Newshub closure. Quite what that is supposed to be who knows, but so far, her best effort was to say we still have Sky News - who get their Kiwi content from .... Newshub
The reality is, unless there's a fundamental shift in tehir business model, pumping money into it just extends their life. They are not sustainable in the current format. You have to find a model that works reliably.
I don't know what that is. Linear TV seems dead - when's the last time people on here actually watched TV news at 6pm? Literally years for me, and it may be a single episode. The demographic who religiously watch it every night are dying off.
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@nzzp said in Newshub closing down:
when's the last time people on here actually watched TV news at 6pm
Maybe in the 70's. Certainly before I started working full time.
I agree bailing out Newshub is totally impractical, but the Minister should still have some sort of understanding of the landscape.
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@Bovidae said in Newshub closing down:
It's not just about the 6 pm news. There are a lot of other people employed to make local content that will be looking for jobs soon.
TVNZ won't continue to survive on (diminishing) advertising revenue either.
They don't have to though do they?
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@canefan said in Newshub closing down:
@Bovidae said in Newshub closing down:
It's not just about the 6 pm news. There are a lot of other people employed to make local content that will be looking for jobs soon.
TVNZ won't continue to survive on (diminishing) advertising revenue either.
They don't have to though do they?
technically they're meant to return a dividend to the crown. Hasn't happened for a few years.
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News is a very expensive product. Just on wages alone, if you take a very conservative guess of 90K per staffer for 300 people you are looking at 27 mil. But, we need it to be made. I keep on hearing the likes of Sean Plunket saying that the model has changed (which it certainly has), but a lot of the punditry from the likes of Plunket and the other requires a news article to base their content on.
By my maths Newshub, at its full schedule was providing around 35 hours of news, which reflects well over a hundred interviews, articles, promotional ops and investigative pieces. Most of which would be shared again through online channels and used by the agencies involved, or developed as starting points for pundits.
The problem is that while linear tv is the starting point and where the advertising needs to come from, the product is ubiquitous. When networks like Three are doing well financially, there is a Corporate Social Responsibility to maintain a news service for the area you are operating in. When they are going poorly, it is their most expensive liability. It simply can't be justified.
The Government's response has been disappointing. Not due to their refusal to do anything, but more due to the complete lack of knowledge around how the industry works.
In terms of the 'go woke go broke', label. From a political reporting stand point you hear the likes of Jenna Lynch get called a Labour mouth piece, in the pocket of the Act Party, the Nats biggest supporter. It has been wide and varied. If accusations are flying around from all sides, generally the product is ok. Sure there have been some mistakes, especially around commentary on gender issues, treaty discussions and probably the end of the COVID response.
The only way some of the Newshub reporters/products can be saved in my mind is through Sky TV. Even if that is to occur it would be a much reduced option. Half an hour bulletin, significantly reduced newsroom, a short and sharp breakfast programme and maintaining some political programming.
Whether people like Newshub or not, going to one main broadcast provider is not a good thing.
Newshub closing down