AXE ALL FUNDING TO RNZ

As much as we enjoy listening to Sean Plunket on Morning Report, we dont like the idea of forking out tax dollars to prop it up.

We have new and younger Ministers in parliament and surely they must realise that the new generations of kiwis are not listening to Radio NZ, they get their information from the net.

Now Fran O'Sullivan proffered the suggestion a couple of weeks back that NZ On Air should be funding no just broadcasting but print and online media. They are all playing to information hungry audiences and its difficult to see why Radio and TV continue to be singled out for special privileges.

So if you were looking at what RNZ's core service is - its news. So really they should only be funded to provide that, if at all. But we reckon that there isn't an appetite to cut RNZ funding altogether, so the least the government could do is give it a good shave.

And frankly we are a bit past the handouts to one media over another. ( Except in the case of Maori TV of course and they too need to shape up for the day when they operate on a purely commerical model)

If there is to be any funding it should be contestable.

But if you stick with some funding then gone would be Jim Mora and the midnite to dawn sessions. And apart from Kim Hill, the stunningly mind numbingly boring weekend shows.

RNZ should be forced to release its audience figures so we can all see with some clarity who is listening to what and axe the bits that don't get any listeners.

And its not a commercial entity so it should be much much more transparent than it currently is.

NO REWARDS FOR RNZ STAFF BUT PLENTY FOR THE CEO

How bloody mean can you get. RNZ decides that because of budgetry cuts they wont be entering the NZ Radio awards this year. KiwiBlog has the stupid email from CE Peter Cavanagh. The same CE who has just represented NZ at the International Broadcasters conference in Amsterdam a couple of weeks ago.

A sweet little junket that would have cost about $25k. We reckon that a dork like Cavanagh should be hauled before the Minister and issued with a please explain. After all - he is happy to spend taxpayers money promoting himself but not his hard working staff.

What a dick.

Hat tip Kiwiblog..

GARRY WARD

Gary Ward passed away today - He was a friend, one of the nations finest broadcasters, funny, generous and a good bastard.

We will miss his wit and wisdom.. We reckon he will be sitting up above somewhere, chuckling at his mates having a bit of a wake today at Zicos. He will probably have a mike in his hand giving a commentary to those he now rests with.

Go in Peace Garry Ralph.