Media Insider: Sport Nation owner plans to contract out radio station – job losses feared; Jami-Lee Ross v Bo Burns in new newspaper war; NZ media’s Meta AI fight

“There’s a lot of anxiety,” one said. “A lot of people are coming to the realisation that they probably won’t have long-term employment with the station, due to there needing to be considerable change if this is to become financially viable.”

Another said: “The only way to monetise it would be to reduce staff and bring in Australian content … otherwise you’d be taking over something which is a liability and trying to turn it into an asset which would be virtually impossible.”

Confidential documentation obtained by Media Insider reveals Entain/TAB are proposing to contract out the sports network.

Entain began formal consultation with employees this week and separately advised contractors that the proposal, if confirmed, could affect their own service arrangements.

Workers have also been told to keep the “commercially sensitive” plans secret, with some reminded of their contracts to “keep absolutely secret and confidential at all times all confidential information”.

Sport Nation’s former owner, Australia’s Sports Entertainment Group (SEG) – which has just taken control of New Zealand’s biggest radio network, MediaWorks – is understood to be preparing to take over the sports channel again as early as December.

Media Insider understands Sport Nation is more likely to fall directly under SEG’s Australian operation, rather than MediaWorks, because of perceived content and advertising synergies with SEG’s Australian sports channels.

The fact that Sport Nation employees are being consulted over a proposal suggests bigger structural and employment changes, with the likelihood of costs being stripped out.

That would also allow SEG/MediaWorks to inject some of their own content and talent into the station.

Multiple sources believe, for example, that MediaWorks’ Martin Devlin could be in line for a new role at Sport Nation.

Many of the hosts, producers and other employees at Sport Nation fear losing their jobs, insiders say, although another source said the proposal was better than first feared. Concerns had been raised earlier that the entire station might be scrapped.

According to the latest GFK radio survey ratings, Sport Nation has a total audience of 32,900, up from 30,300 in the previous survey. That makes it the 23rd most popular station in New Zealand, of 25 surveyed.

Entain confirms contracting proposal

Staff and contractors were called to meetings at Sport Nation on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Entain spokesman Matt Smith told Media Insider: “Thanks for your interest. We’re unable to comment on matters that are commercially sensitive or subject to an open consultation.”

In a further statement yesterday, in response to a list of Media Insider questions, Entain NZ managing director Chris Haigh said that the company had “refocused on its core business as a wagering operator” in the past year.

“As part of that work, we are reviewing how Sport Nation is operated.

“Sport Nation has built a strong and growing audience, particularly in digital. However, operating a single standalone station is financially challenging.

“Sport Nation is not for sale. We are in discussions with parties that have the scale and expertise in sports radio to support its operation and secure its long-term future in New Zealand.

“We are currently consulting with potentially affected staff and won’t comment further until a decision has been made.”

The statement did not address other questions and source assertions, including the likelihood of job losses and the possibility of SEG injecting its own talent.

All change

Sport Nation has various commentary rights, including Black Caps and White Ferns cricket, the Warriors and NRL, and major international events, including the Rugby League World Cup.

In addition to commentary, it offers sports talk, interviews and podcasts. Its weekday line-up includes Scotty & Izzy at breakfast, Sport Nation Mornings, Sport Nation Afternoons and Millsy & Guy in the drive-time slot.

Some of the SENZ originals before the station’s launch in July 2021: From left, Mark Stafford, Rikki Swannell, Israel Dagg, Brendon McCullum, Kirstie Stanway, Ian Smith and Stephen Donald. Photo / SENZ

Sport Nation was previously known as Senz, which was owned by publicly listed SEG group with its majority shareholder Craig Hutchison, before it was sold and became part of the TAB/Entain media operation in 2024.

It was rebranded as Sport Nation in November 2024.

Hutchison and SEG have subsequently taken ownership of New Zealand’s biggest radio network, MediaWorks, home of music brands such as The Rock, More FM and The Breeze.

Media Insider spoke to multiple sources on Wednesday about the Sport Nation proposal presented to employees.

Some sources believe SEG would be demanding major changes to talent and content on the station before it is handed over by Entain.

“With Hutchison coming back into Sport Nation, after already having got out and sold it once, you would imagine there will be considerable change,” one source said.

The source was hopeful Hutchison had learned that the Australian model of putting high-profile former sportspeople into hosting roles did not work in New Zealand. He had tried that the first time around, when the station launched as Senz in 2021.

The source said Sport Nation had also been held back by not having an FM frequency – and more recently, not even an AM frequency – in Auckland.

With SEG now owning MediaWorks, a music station’s frequency might be freed up – but given MediaWorks’ music stations were rating well, which one? Another source said options might be Humm, although its FM frequency was strongest only in South Auckland, or Channel X.

In Australia, SEG, through its SEN brand, has a national network of owned and syndicated radio stations and holds broadcast rights across major sporting codes including the AFL, NRL, cricket, the NBL and the Australian Open.

One possibility is that SEG could run the New Zealand network with a slimmed-down roster of hosts, balanced with content coming from its Australian network.

However, one source questioned that potential recipe. “I think if it’s to work, he [Hutchison] has to go predominantly in New Zealand. I think the biggest mistake that Australian businesses make is thinking we are Australia.”

‘We’d like to do more sport, clearly’

Hutchison has not returned calls or messages this week, but in an interview with Media Insider in August, when SEG was announced as MediaWorks’ new owner, Hutchison said SEG and Entain were great partners.

“We’ve got opportunities to review the strategy, but we’re really supportive of our fabulous partner in Entain, who we represent in the ad sales market and we’ll continue to do so,” Hutchison said at the time.

As Media Insider reported, the obvious question was whether we might see a new sports radio network emerge out of MediaWorks.

“Our sports strategy will be reviewed down the track, and we’ll work through what works for everybody.”

He said plans – whether that was “in partnership with others, whether that’s in live rights, whether that’s in more shows” – would be reviewed.

“We’d like to do more sport, clearly. In what guise that comes, we are yet to consider. MediaWorks is already doing some great sport, through podcasts and streaming.”

SEG chief executive Craig Hutchison.

He confirmed plans to build a sports content strategy in New Zealand.

“We’re a sports entertainment group as a business, so sport is clearly our product, as is entertainment. MediaWorks has done entertainment especially well.

“Clearly we’d like to do some more sport along the journey. We’ve got to work through that strategy.

“We’re really committed to sport. It’ll be part of our growth journey in New Zealand, it’s fair to say, but we’ll work through that and all the different ways that can be done over the coming months.”

In its annual report, released last week, Sport Entertainment Group talked up its $130 million acquisition of MediaWorks.

“The acquisition is expected to generate positive ebitda from year one with several cost synergies and significant avenues for growth across Australia and New Zealand.”

And in a statement earlier this month, Hutchison said the acquisition was a “landmark moment” that would transform SEG “into a truly scaled, transtasman media group reaching more than five million listeners across Australia and New Zealand”.

“This is exactly the kind of strategically important and value-driving transaction we have been building toward.

“Both businesses are performing strongly into Q1 FY27.

“We are well positioned to deliver our identified synergies, reduce leverage toward our 1.2x target within two years, and extend SEG’s sports, events and entertainment capabilities into New Zealand.”

Jami-Lee Ross v Bo Burns in newspaper battle

New York, London, Sydney … Howick?

A good old-fashioned newspaper war is brewing in some of Auckland’s more affluent eastern suburbs, led by two outspoken political characters: former MP Jami-Lee Ross and current Auckland city councillor Bo Burns.

Former MP Jami-Lee Ross, left, and Auckland councillor Bo Burns are now both publishers of competing East Auckland community newspapers.

Ross, a controversial former National MP who ran an escort agency for a period, launched his new Howick & Eastern Post news website and newspaper last month, a 16-page tabloid-format newspaper delivered to about 15,000 letterboxes each fortnight.

Burns, meanwhile, saved the long-running Howick and Pakuranga Times from oblivion in 2024, and now produces the Eastern Times news website and paper. It’s in a smaller, A4 format, with more pages (generally around 80) and is available at about 40 pick-up locations in about a dozen suburbs, also fortnightly.

Suddenly, there’s a battle for readers’ time and attention – and advertisers’ money.

And while Rupert Murdoch might be nowhere to be seen, signs of some feisty tactics are already emerging.

Media Insider understands there has been unhappiness on Burns’ side at seeing advertising, for example from some real estate agencies, popping up in the new paper.

“There’s definitely some games at play, in certain parts – ‘Are you aware of who you’re supporting?’, and of that nature,” one local businessman told Media Insider.

But he believed that was all in the spirit of competition, rather than any personal “stab”.

Burns did not return a call, text or email with questions about any conversations she or her team might have been having about the new paper.

Ross says competition is healthy and he’s not spending any time focusing on his opposition.

“I don’t know anything about what the other newspaper or magazine is doing, and I’m not entirely all that interested. We’re just trying to put together a large-format community newspaper for East Auckland and … to provide advertisers an affordable option.

“The feedback’s been really positive from members of the public and from advertisers. I’m aware that it will take time to build up the advertiser support; it was never expected we would be printing 40 pages on day one.”

The latest edition of Jami-Lee Ross’ Howick & Eastern Post.

His latest edition – last Thursday – carried a front page image of the big annual Howick HOP event, with pointers to other stories inside. On October 8, it reported a front-page story about council plans to scrap nine local playgrounds.

The latest edition of Bo Burns’ Eastern Times.

The Eastern Times, meantime, carried a main image last Friday of the Diwali Festival, with pointers inside to local news stories such as the sale of a Howick shopping mall and a local school’s new classroom block.

From Parliament to print

Ross, who was elected National MP for Botany at a by-election in 2011, saw his political career implode following a bitter and spectacular fallout with then National Party leader Simon Bridges in 2018.

He took medical leave for several months, returning to Parliament as an independent MP in early 2019. He was charged – and later acquitted – of electoral donations fraud and set up the right-wing, short-lived Advance NZ party ahead of the 2020 general election. Ross was not re-elected.

His post-Parliament career has taken some unusual turns – he ran an escort agency and unsuccessfully attempted a return to local politics in 2025.

“I am not hiding who I am,” Ross told Media Insider.

“My name’s been in East Auckland for well over 20 years now. I may not be a local representative anymore, but I still feel I have a lot to contribute to East Auckland. And if providing a news publication that informs readers in East Auckland means that I get to do some of the work that I really enjoyed about politics – being involved in the community – then it’s a win-win as well.”

Former National MP Jami-Lee Ross. Photo / RNZ, Simon Rogers

He did have one slight dig at the opposition.

“I think there’s a real value in a local newspaper covering what local ratepayers are spending money on. I’m quite enjoying following the local board meetings and, I think, we’ve had a number of stories that otherwise wouldn’t have got airtime without us following the local board.

“Having a good mix of community arts and culture and local decision-making, I think it is important.

“As someone who has a background in local government, before Parliament, I think I’m able to get my head into it quite a bit too. And being someone who doesn’t have a current role in local government, that means I can come at it from a neutral perspective as well.”

Asked if he was referring to Burns’ role on the council, Ross said: “I think they’ve got a professional team there. I know the journalists who are there, and they’re professionals. I guess as a different publication we can come at it from a different angle.”

Eastern Times’ owner Bo Burns: A firm believer in a local voice.

While Burns hasn’t returned messages this week, she spoke in 2024 of saving the then Howick and Pakuranga Times.

“I’m really, really excited and I haven’t felt excited about something like this for a long time, to be honest,” she told Media Insider.

“When I heard last week it had gone into liquidation, I thought I just couldn’t let the legacy go; I love this community. I was sitting there saying, ‘Oh my god, there’s no voice or platform’.

“I thought, I don’t think people actually realise how it’s connected the community, the groups, the community leaders, the schools … everything.”

She said her political background – at that stage, she was on the local Howick board and became a city councillor later – would not play a part in content decisions, she said.

She was well aware of the need for the community title to carry a range of views and news, and there would be no bias. “I will have a team to ensure all voices are heard.”

Meanwhile, Ross is hoping for more advertising support, as businesses pin down their longer-term marketing budgets.

“At the moment, we’re enjoying putting together a newspaper, and I’m enjoying reconnecting with a whole lot of people that I hadn’t really interacted with for a few years.”

He hoped to print more than 15,000 papers one day. “It’s not economic to do the entirety of the Howick ward, but 15,000 gets us a good chunk into many of the suburbs in the area.”

He said a “small team” produced the newspaper and website. “We are also using some contract writers, and we’ve put a call out for anyone in the local community who wants to contribute some stories in the future.”

Ross said many people had missed getting the paper in their letterbox.

“I’m sure as we continue to produce more editions, there’ll be more visibility. These things take time to build up, but I’ve been buoyed by the positivity so far.”

News deserts and ‘zombie papers’: Stuff hits back

If Howick suddenly has an abundance of local newspapers, much of the rest of New Zealand faces the opposite problem.

Many regions and communities have been devastated by the loss of their local newspapers or cuts to newsrooms, with both NZME and Stuff implementing savings in recent years.

An earlier Koi Tū think-tank paper, authored by former NZ Herald editor-in-chief Gavin Ellis, highlighted the prospect of “news deserts” emerging in New Zealand.

Stuff owns and publishes a suite of regional newspapers. Photo montage / Paul Slater

Stuff is currently proposing to cut 18 roles from newspapers and newsrooms in Taranaki, Manawatū, Wairarapa, Nelson, Timaru and Southland.

It’s sparked an outcry from the E tū union, which has this week published an open letter, written by Stuff journalist members, and which has so far gathered almost 600 signatories, including mayors, businesspeople, educators and other readers.

The letter calls for Stuff to scrap its cost-cutting plans, describing them as an “existential threat to the country’s media ecosystem”.

“For a company which speaks often of trust, we are struggling to trust there is a plan for the future that prioritises journalism. We are concerned we will lose the trust of our audiences and advertisers who will notice their zombie papers exist in name alone,” says the letter.

It says signatories understood that Stuff was a private company that needed to be commercially viable.

“We hear that the price of print and delivery is skyrocketing. Yet the plan is not to cut pages or days of print, but people.

“In the last few months, Stuff Ltd has also begun giving away news for free through 18 new webpages for Neighbourly News, including bits of content found behind the company’s own paywalls and press releases seemingly chucked through AI.

“What was the point in spending money on creating three paywalled websites three years ago for Stuff’s metros? Why not just keep us on the one Stuff.co.nz website with an NZ Herald-type partial premium model? Where is the strategy?”

A Stuff spokeswoman told Media Insider in a statement that no news organisation wanted to cut journalism roles, saying the firm was “dedicated to providing the high-quality local and national journalism which is critical for a functioning democracy”.

“But the support of local newsrooms cannot fall to news organisations alone. If you want local newsrooms, you must subscribe and advertise in your local media.

“There are several errors in the union’s open letter, and if they wanted to direct their ire in a more productive way, they would challenge political parties to produce policies which create a level playing field for local media with the global platforms who continue to steal our copyright, profit from our work without payment and invest nothing in journalism nor local communities.

“And it may also like to tackle the many councils and local organisations who continue to not subscribe, and place their advertising with those global platforms instead of local media, some of whom have been quoted by the union or are signatories to this letter.”

She said in a fast-changing news environment, Stuff continued to “reshape our news products to sustain the levels of local journalism we do, but we need local people, businesses and local and central government to share that aspiration”.

WPP Media NZ CEO stepping down, another big name in

WPP NZ’s John Halpin is stepping down.

One of New Zealand’s most influential and thoughtful advertising leaders is leaving his role.

WPP Media NZ chief executive John Halpin and his family had decided to return to Australia, the firm said yesterday.

“As a result, he’ll be stepping down as CEO in January. John has brought excellent leadership, strategic thinking and commitment to the business over the past few years. We’re incredibly grateful for everything he’s done.”

Georgina McKinnon is joining WPP.

WPP said Georgina McKinnon would join WPP Media New Zealand as CEO in November.

“Gina has over 20 years’ experience in the NZ market, having worked both agency and client side. Most recently, Gina was CEO, Content at Omnicom Media Group Asia Pacific, leading the region from New Zealand and delivering growth and innovation.”

Media debate

All seven political parties take the stage tonight for the News Publishers Association’s Future of Media debate.

The debate, in front of an audience of media executives, editors, journalists, communications experts and other invited guests, will be livestreamed on the NPA website from 6.30pm.

The debate features National’s Paul Goldsmith, Labour’s Reuben Davidson, Act’s Simon Court, NZ First’s Jenny Marcroft, the Greens’ Hūhana Lyndon, Te Pāti Māori’s Oriini Kaipara and Opportunity’s Holly Knill.

I’m looking forward to moderating – if you’d like any of your own media-related questions to be considered, please email shayne.currie@nzme.co.nz

‘Our journalists’ work is not Meta’s to take’

One of the biggest questions facing each candidate tonight is how they will address the behaviour and actions of tech giants. Successive Governments have been slow to act.

New Zealand news publishers have taken aim this week at Facebook owner Meta over proposed new terms that would give the tech giant broad rights to crawl and collect content from publishers’ websites for their AI models.

News Publishers Association general manager Brook Cameron said the use of news content should be based on permission, transparency and fair commercial agreements.

“Professional journalism is not free raw material for AI systems.

“New Zealand publishers are willing partners in innovation, but they are not willing bystanders while others determine how their journalism is collected, used and monetised. News publishers invest significant time, expertise and resources in producing trusted news and information. They must retain the right to decide how their content is accessed, used and licensed.

“If Meta wants to use publisher content, it should seek permission, negotiate fair commercial terms and compensate the creators of that content.”

Meta has said it will delay introduction of the new terms, but only by three weeks.

“We are extending the effective date of our updated commercial terms and self-serve ad terms to November 20 to allow more time for us to explain to our partners and stakeholders what’s changing and what’s not, including how Meta uses web crawlers and the fact that content owners will still be able to use robots.txt to signal preferences,” Meta told Nieman Lab.

Cornell Law School professor of digital and information law James Grimmelmann told Nieman Lab: “I don’t think that repeating the same non-explanations for another three weeks will make much difference. But maybe they’ll use the time to come up with better explanations.”

Stuff owner and chief executive Sinead Boucher. Photo / Michael Craig

Stuff owner and publisher Sinead Boucher described Meta’s move as “copyright theft” and an “extraordinary abuse of market power”.

She called on the Commerce Commission to investigate.

“For too long, Meta has operated with impunity as an unregulated, monopolistic business, building a revenue model on the back of others’ work while contributing little to society.

“When I withdrew Stuff from Facebook in 2019 following its streaming of the Christchurch terror attack, we were cheered on by New Zealanders who could see the harm it was causing in our communities. We believed then that it was a morally bankrupt company, and that view has not changed in the ensuing years.”

Finance Minister Nicola Willis and NZME chief executive Michael Boggs at the recent NZ Herald Mood of the Boardroom event. Photo / Michael Craig

NZME chief executive Michael Boggs said Meta’s moves would be “a clear breach of our copyright”.

“Our journalists’ work is not Meta’s to take – we own the copyright, and we invest heavily in creating it. As one of the most powerful companies in the world, Meta is using its market power to impose conditions it could not achieve in a fair negotiation.

“We are working to engage Meta and several AI companies, but to date we have made little progress as they have been unwilling to discuss commercial arrangements. Meanwhile, our journalism and broadcasting content continues to be accessed and used without our permission and without compensation.

“We are looking at all our options to ensure that publishers who invest in content have their rights protected.”

Earlier this month, the international News/Media Alliance described Meta’s new commercial terms of use as “outrageous and probably illegal”.

“The company’s decision to withhold access to its audience unless businesses allow Meta to scrape content from their websites is an appalling, bad-faith policy, and a clear abuse of the company’s market power. It cannot be allowed to be implemented …

“News publishers aren’t the only ones at risk – every publicly hosted word, song and image is up for grabs if Meta gets away with this.”

Meta has not responded to Media Insider questions.

RNZ meets its deadline

RNZ board member Richard Dellabarca has successfully played the equivalent of an accounting “bomb squad”, coming off the bench to help complete RNZ’s financial results.

RNZ confirmed yesterday that its board had met this week and approved its annual report, including the 2025-26 financial statements, subject to completion of an audit.

Dellabarca has been helping to finalise the accounts after the unexpected and abrupt departure of RNZ chief financial officer Hilary Parker on October 2.

RNZ chair Brent Impey.

No reason has yet been given for Parker’s sudden resignation, but it led to chairman Brent Impey calling an emergency board meeting and Dellabarca being called in to help with the financial reporting before the end of the month.

“EY audits RNZ on behalf of the Auditor-General,” an RNZ spokeswoman said. “The 31 October statutory deadline applies to the auditor’s report on the accounts.

“Richard Dellabarca has been working with RNZ’s finance team and EY to complete the year-end accounts, and RNZ will be meeting this deadline.

“Once RNZ receives the audit report, which will be on or before 31 October, it has 15 working days to provide the annual report to its responsible ministers.

“RNZ will provide the annual report to its responsible ministers, alongside relevant stakeholders, and publish it on Monday 9 November, well before expiration of the 15 working days timeline.”

NZME, The Spinoff commercial changes

NZME has promoted Sarah Yetton to the role of sales director, agency.

Yetton, who has been the general manager of NZME’s Auckland agency sales team since 2023, will work with NZME’s senior commercial leadership team on strategy, while retaining her own leadership role.

“Sarah is one of the most respected operators in the industry and has been instrumental in the success of our Auckland agency team. She combines real commercial expertise with strong leadership, and this promotion reflects the contribution she continues to make to NZME,” said NZME chief commercial officer – agency Greg McCrea.

Meanwhile, The Spinoff has announced two new appointments to its leadership team.

Elisa Rivera, The Spinoff’s head of commercial for the last three years, moves into the head of audience role. Ella Gribben joins The Spinoff as the new head of commercial – she was previously Nielsen’s commercial director.

The pair join chief executive Amber Easby and editor Veronica Schmidt on The Spinoff’s senior leadership team.

“Elisa has done a fantastic job running our commercial operations over the past few years, and her background in marketing, technology and social makes her the perfect person to lead our audience and product work,” Easby said.

“Bringing Ella on board as head of commercial is a huge win for us. Her depth of experience across local and international media gives her incredible insight into what works for brands and audiences alike.”

Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand’s most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME, including Managing Editor, NZ Herald Editor and Herald on Sunday Editor, and has a small shareholding in NZME.