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TVNZ Abandons Plan To Axe Its 1news Website

Tuesday, 29 October 2024, 10:33 pm
Article: RNZ

TVNZ has announced a number of key strategic changes to help it reach financial targets, including a plan to bring news capabilities to TVNZ+.

The state broadcaster announced earlier this month that it would be closing the website in February next year, however, it has since reversed the idea.

On Tuesday, a TVNZ spokesperson confirmed it would retain a reduced version of the 1News website, as it works to build audiences for TVNZ plus.

Specific strategic changes include:

Creating a new Creative Hub.
Creating centres for excellence for data, analytics and AI
Bringing news and content together into a new division to drive audience and digital growth
Investing in news on TVNZ+ progressively to build audience and capability
Retaining a reduced 1news.co.nz while it built news audiences on TVNZ+ and develop news capability on TVNZ+

Currently there is no information on exactly what these strategic changes will look like.

"Outsourcing decisions around our content workflow and technology functions will be deferred to allow further time to work through the impacts." the spokesperson said.

TVNZ said it would enter into the second stage of consultation with staff next week, which would include proposals for a restructure to help it reach its savings target.

Union still concerned over outsourcing

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E tū union said it was pleased that TVNZ would be retaining its 1News website, but remained concerned about restructuring implications for staff.

The union's negotiations specialist Michael Wood said TVNZ's backtracking on an earlier proposal to axe the website was a pragmatic one.

"It's probably just a rational commercial decision for TVNZ to make and we are still very concerned about some of the other proposals on the table such as the possibility of outsourcing much of the work that is currently performed by TVNZ staff."

It meant further jobs at the broadcaster could be at risk, he said.

RNZ

New Zealand's public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.

Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.