Mark Jennings: Former Newshub Head of News on TVNZ axing 1News website

TVNZ has today announced plans to axe its 1News website as part of a bid to save $30m. 

It will invest in news for TVNZ plus as well as creating a new centre for data and AI. 

Former Head of News at Newshub Mark Jennings joins Jack Tame. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
And TVNZ plans to acts its one news website as
part of a bid to say thirty million dollars. The
state owned broadcaster told staff and internal meeting. It also
wants to consolidate some areas of the business to align
with its new strategy, change roster patterns and outsource some
areas of the business. It will invest in news for
TV and Z plus and they will create a new

(00:20):
center for data and AI. There is a two week
consultation process before any final decisions have made, and former
News Hub head of News Mark Jennings is with us
this evening.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
Kilder Mark, Yeah, Cure Jack, Are you.

Speaker 1 (00:31):
Surprised about the website? Call?

Speaker 2 (00:34):
I am a bit to be honest. It must have
been losing a lot of money, I think for this
to happen, because I can't think of another major news
organization or major broadcaster anywhere around the world that doesn't
have its own dedicated website and app. So yeah, I'm surprised.

Speaker 1 (00:57):
Well, I think in recent months TVNZ has started to
put more of its news content on its streaming service
because the TVNZ Plus has been a real success over
the last few years. But is it as simple as
moving audiences to that platform.

Speaker 2 (01:13):
No, I don't think it is, and you, as you
described that it is a streaming video site TVNZ plus,
I don't know that that's where people will naturally go
when they want to find out the latest news story,
and it's certainly that sites. I don't think it'll be
able to send you a notification either. So it feels

(01:36):
to me like this really is a bit of a
setback or one News.

Speaker 1 (01:42):
Yeah, yeah, it's I mean thirty million dollars they've got
to save, and they've been really open about that. Do
you think it is viable for a broadcaster like TVNZ
in twenty twenty four to be making high quality local
content that goes out on linear TV and is streamable
online and returns a profit.

Speaker 2 (02:04):
No. I think the freedomware industry is really struggling. And
I listening to you earlier and you made the point
that it's got to be about more than money. I
think in terms of its news service, I mean we've
seen news Hub now three news really eviscerated. Really the

(02:27):
stuff bulletin is really nowhere there. What news Hub was
doing and now where I think was that we're going
to see the start of that process at TV and
Z because look, getting rid of the website and probably
it's digital team that produced content for that site is

(02:49):
not going to save thirty million. It's not going to
save anywhere near it. Now. I know they've suggested other things,
but some of those other things look like increasing costs
rather than saving them to me.

Speaker 1 (03:04):
Like the new ai is and data center. Well, I
suppose you know, if you to cover a thirty million
dollar hole, you can cut costs. You've also got an
option to try and increase revenue. But doing those two
things at the same time is never easy.

Speaker 2 (03:19):
No, and we've seen if we go back I think
twenty twenty one, you know, Chip and Z it was
a three hundred and forty million dollar revenue company. Now
it's a two hundred and eighty eight million dollar company,
and it might end up at a two hundred and
fifty million dollar revenue company. So the revenue side is

(03:42):
not going well at all.

Speaker 1 (03:45):
I'm sure they're hoping that things are going to turn
around as their economy bounces back. Thank you very much
for your time, Matte, We appreciate it. There's the former
head of news for news Hub Market Innings for more
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