READ THE FULL STORY ON TVNZ\u2019S FINANCIAL RESULTS HERE.<\/a> <\/p>\nTVNZ boss on Tova start date, TVNZ+ relaunch, football World Cup pay-TV plans<\/p>\n
Chief executive Jodi O\u2019Donnell has also announced new Breakfast host Tova O\u2019Brien will start her role on Monday, March 30, and a super-powered TVNZ+ will relaunch in April.<\/p>\n
![\"New]()
New TVNZ Breakfast co-host Tova O’Brien.<\/p>\n
While TVNZ+ viewers are unlikely to notice too much change immediately, the platform\u2019s new backend technology is a critical component in TVNZ\u2019s five-year digital strategy, with stronger personalisation of content for individual viewers, and greater engagement and revenue opportunities for TVNZ.<\/p>\n
One of the biggest changes will be TVNZ\u2019s capacity to offer subscription television through the new platform \u2013 that is, pay TV for major events.<\/p>\n
That will start in earnest in June, with the football World Cup – TVNZ has the exclusive New Zealand rights for all 104 matches.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Donnell said once the new TVNZ+ platform had launched in April, the company would announce and launch its World Cup subscription package in May.<\/p>\n
The tournament offers TVNZ the opportunity of two major revenue streams \u2013 22 games, including all All Whites games, will be screened live and free, an important menu of content for advertisers. <\/p>\n
TVNZ says it has sold all of its commercial packages for the tournament.<\/p>\n
For true football fanatics, all 104 games will be offered in a tournament pass package \u2013 another important revenue stream, although TVNZ has yet to announce the price.<\/p>\n
Some media observers are picking a price of about $50 for the six-week event.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Tova O\u2019Brien\u2019s arrival as Breakfast co-host on March 30 comes two weeks before senior TVNZ correspondent John Campbell starts as co-host of RNZ Morning Report, heralding a new era of competition in morning broadcast media. <\/p>\n
At NZME, Ryan Bridge\u2019s NZ Herald video show is now available on Three Now and will soon be available on Three\u2019s terrestrial channel. Mike Hosking, meanwhile, reigns as the king of breakfast radio at Newstalk ZB.<\/p>\n
Will TVNZ snap up HBO Max content? <\/p>\n
Jodi O\u2019Donnell has hinted TVNZ might yet do a deal with Warner Bros Discovery for co-exclusive rights to HBO Max content such as The Pitt and The White Lotus.<\/p>\n
Sky TV has suffered a big blow in losing exclusive rights to HBO Max from its Neon platform from the middle of the year.<\/p>\n
Warner Bros Discovery says it\u2019s planning to launch a direct-to-consumer HBO Max service in New Zealand, as it has done in dozens of other countries. <\/p>\n
Sky walked away from a potential co-exclusive deal.<\/p>\n
That leaves the way clear for TVNZ to potentially jump into bed for those co-exclusive rights.<\/p>\n
![\"Noah]()
Noah Wyle and Katherine LaNasa in The Pitt.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Donnell would not say whether TVNZ was talking to Warner Bros Discovery.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe talk to lots of people all the time. I think that we\u2019ve proved that [exclusive rights are] not so important for us anymore. There was a time when it was really important, but actually not anymore. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got content at the moment that sits on our platform and it sits on Netflix \u2013 The Rookie is a really good example of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brodie Kane on podcast break-up: \u2018We wanted different things\u2019<\/p>\n
![\"Let]()
Let Her Finish podcast hosts Tegan Yorwarth, Brodie Kane and Gracie Hitchcock and (inset) former The Girls Uninterrupted host Caitlin Marett.<\/p>\n
Broadcaster Brodie Kane has given more details about what lay behind the mysterious and abrupt break-up of one of the country\u2019s most popular podcasts, saying the trio of hosts \u201cwanted different things\u201d.<\/p>\n
Kane this week launched a new podcast, Let Her Finish, to a backdrop of controversy. <\/p>\n
Let Her Finish has taken over the Instagram platform – and its more than 30,000 followers – of her former podcast, The Girls Uninterrupted. <\/p>\n
The Girls Uninterrupted was hosted for seven years by Kane, Gracie Hitchcock and Caitlin Marett.<\/p>\n
The new hosts of Let Her Finish are Kane, Hitchcock and MediaWorks broadcaster Tegan Yorwarth. <\/p>\n
Before the first episode of Let Her Finish was released this week, a follower posted a plea on the Instagram page, asking the hosts to explain why Marett was no longer involved.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really hope your first episode addresses the Caitlin situation,\u201d wrote the follower.<\/p>\n
\u201cLove you girls, but this all smacks as very unfair that her being MIA [missing in action] has not been addressed since your initial name change and announcement, despite many comments about it. It also seems wild to me that TGU has been rebranded into this page and Caitlin effectively culled from the platform and following that SHE helped create.\u201d<\/p>\n
The follower said it had left a sour taste.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think this has been handled well … it must have been in the pipeline for months already.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said it explained why Marett was \u201cso off\u201d on the final The Girls Uninterrupted podcast last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not get in front of the PR mess by addressing the parting well ahead of now. Be girls, girls, and front foot this stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n
Later in the week, Kane front-footed it, saying she had been in the comments section and \u201cjust wanted to address a few things from there\u201d.<\/p>\n
She apologised that the end of The Girls Uninterrupted and the launch of Let Her Finish had \u201ccaused some confusion, and that you have some questions about that\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cBasically, at the end of last year, we got to a point [with] The Girls Uninterrupted \u2013 myself, Gracie, and Caitlin \u2013 where we wanted different things in terms of the direction of where the podcast was going, which is totally fine. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe have had the most amazing seven years with you as well … it had been a truly, truly special seven years, some of my best memories ever.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we did want different things, so the best logical thing to do was to go our separate ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said her company, Brodie Kane Media \u2013 with its \u201cstaff of one\u201d \u2013 signed a new partnership with MediaWorks. <\/p>\n
\u201cI still really wanted to do a podcast, and that\u2019s where Let Her Finish has come in. Three women in the same city, which is really, really exciting, and wanting to do a few more different things \u2013 video offerings, some extra offerings that will be coming very soon as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marett is based in the South Island, while Kane, Hitchcock, and now Yorwarth are in Auckland.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t speak for anyone else, and out of respect… I won\u2019t speak on anyone else\u2019s behalf, other than to say my love and respect for Gracie, Caitlin, and Tegan is always going to be there, and my love for what we did as The Girls Uninterrupted will always be there,” said Kane.<\/p>\n
Marett told Media Insider by text: \u201cThanks for reaching out again, I still have no comment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kiwi journalists hit the books<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone loves Paddy,\u201d says Allen & Unwin boss Michelle Hurley as she reflects on the plethora of books written by New Zealand journalists in recent years.<\/p>\n
Amid a backdrop of newsroom shake-ups \u2013 or, in the case of Newshub, its complete annihilation \u2013 some journalists have branched into longform writing, with the bonus of some reasonable side-hustle coin.<\/p>\n
Some, like Paddy Gower with his 2024 book This is the F#$%ing News, have bared all, opening up on personal demons. In Gower\u2019s case, he wrote candidly of being bullied in his younger years and his later alcohol addiction.<\/p>\n
![\"Paddy]()
Paddy Gower bared all with his 2024 book This is the F#$%ing News.<\/p>\n
It has been one of the most successful non-fiction titles in recent years.<\/p>\n
On Thursday night in Auckland, TVNZ Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver launched her new memoir, Be Brave. Like Gower\u2019s book, it gets personal quickly \u2013 covering the torment of her younger brother\u2019s suicide, dealing with racism and being locked up for simply doing her job as a journalist.<\/p>\n
![\"Barbara]()
Barbara Dreaver has released her first book. Photos \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
Journalist Charlotte Glennie\u2019s new book Every Second Counts is released next week, a book that delves into her own international career and a near-tragic fall that caused horrific injuries in Croatia. <\/p>\n
A similar theme is the basis for a new book, The Crash, to be published next month, by radio journalist Sally Wenley. <\/p>\n
Wenley became a paraplegic after a 1987 school bus crash that killed five other people. Publicity for the book states: \u201cShe looks back at the angry, defiant, risk-taking younger self who used alcohol and arrogance to mask physical pain and trauma. And, for the first time in 40 years, she also looks squarely at the accident.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Sally]()
Sally Wenley’s new book is released in April.<\/p>\n
Newstalk ZB political correspondent Barry Soper\u2019s new book, One Last Question, Prime Minister, covers his career at Parliament across 12 prime ministers. <\/p>\n
Publisher Harper Collins says it\u2019s \u201cpacked with entertaining yarns from the hallways, back-rooms, and hotel bars where New Zealand\u2019s chosen leaders – for better or worse – created their lasting legacies.\u201d It is also released in late April.<\/p>\n
![\"Barry]()
Barry Soper’s new book covers the tenures of 12 Prime Ministers.<\/p>\n
And on shelves right now are recent books from the likes of Herald journalists Jared Savage and Gregor Paul, Listener and Newsroom columnist Steve Braunias, independent journalist Dylan Cleaver, as well as memoirs from Mike McRoberts and Lisette Reymer.<\/p>\n
\u201cLisette\u2019s book has done really well \u2013 it just keeps on selling, and it has been out for eight months now,\u201d says Hurley.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think hers worked because a) she had an incredible story to tell \u2013 the only New Zealand journalist to go to Ukraine that many times and b) she\u2019s a fabulous, funny storyteller, so it was a terrific read.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"No,]()
No, I Don’t Get Danger Money by Lisette Reymer. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
Booksellers Aotearoa NZ association manager Renee Rowland agreed Gower and Reymer\u2019s books had been big successes. <\/p>\n
Rowland notes New Zealanders\u2019 obsession with books about the two world wars. She said Reymer\u2019s book title, No, I Don\u2019t Get Danger Money, was clever and different. \u201cShe\u2019s definitely been in people\u2019s minds because of Ukraine. It was good timing, and it\u2019s a really good book.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to sources, journalists can be offered anywhere between $10,000 and $25,000 as an advance on a book, depending on how well a publisher thinks it will sell.<\/p>\n
A good sale might be anywhere between 2000 for a smaller publisher to 20,000-plus. <\/p>\n
There had \u201cabsolutely\u201d been an increase in books from New Zealand journalists and media identities, said Rowland.<\/p>\n
She highlights broadcaster Toni Street\u2019s successful memoir in 2021 as a title that started a new tide.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt really appealed to readers and it seemed like \u2013 as a bookseller \u2013 it was just a never-ending [trail of new titles]. We thought maybe there was a bit of saturation going on, publishers had exhausted this genre, but it just keeps giving. <\/p>\n
\u201cReaders still want them. When a journalist\u2019s memoir comes out, it goes straight to the bestseller.\u201d<\/p>\n
She also highlighted Gower and Reymer\u2019s books, and thinks Dreaver\u2019s book will be \u201camazing\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s pretty savvy work from the publishers, recognising that there\u2019s this group of people who can tell a story, who can communicate pretty well, and have quite interesting stories to tell.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople want to feel a connection and generally journalists are very, very good at creating that connection and telling a story that people want to hear.\u201d<\/p>\n
She says the media was \u201cunder attack\u201d, with redundancies and other changes. \u201cIt\u2019s a ripe group for story picking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Savage, author of Gangland, Gangster\u2019s Paradise and Underworld, says each of his books were between 70,000 and 80,000 words, and took six-12 months to write, mainly in evenings and at weekends as he balanced the demands of his day job.<\/p>\n
![\"Underworld]()
Underworld by Jared Savage. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom a personal perspective, I was never someone who aspired to write a book.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe opportunity came up because I had been reporting on gangs and organised crime for the Herald over a long period of time.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the stories in my books are based on stories I originally broke for the Herald, so I had an existing body of work and research to draw upon. Journos have to write tightly for news, so the books gave me more time and space to expand on the stories and join up all the dots.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn turn, writing the books boosted my knowledge and credibility in that organised crime space, which has opened up new doors for my Herald journalism.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s been a real win-win.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Gregor]()
Gregor Paul ghostwrote Ian Foster’s book, Leading Under Pressure.<\/p>\n
Rugby writer Gregor Paul – whose titles include Steve Hansen\u2019s biography and the ghostwriting of Ian Foster\u2019s memoir – made similar comments, saying that for him, writing books was a \u201clabour of love\u201d for which he was grateful for the support of publisher Harper Collins and his family.<\/p>\n
Hurley, meanwhile, loves working with journalists. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey (usually) respect a deadline, aren\u2019t precious about being edited and know how to tell a good story,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
How well a book does will depend on the topic.<\/p>\n
\u201cA more worthy topic may sell fewer books but I still think it\u2019s worth doing as it allows journalists to dig deeper and is a more permanent record than stories often are. Guyon Espiner wrote an excellent book on New Zealand\u2019s drinking culture a few years ago, for example. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut yes, books by journalists on crime, gangs, politicians, the All Blacks often do sell more strongly, as what they are writing about has wide appeal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rowland thinks some best-sellers are waiting in the minds of some of our biggest broadcasting and journalistic names, citing John Campbell, Mike Hosking, Ryan Bridge and Heather du Plessis-Allan.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Ryan wrote a book, I think that would be huge. And do you know, whenever Heather du Plessis-Allan is on the cover of the Woman\u2019s Weekly, we always sell out.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"She's]()
She’s an occasional magazine cover face – could a book be next for Heather du Plessis-Allan?<\/p>\n
Career twists<\/p>\n
And while some journalists and broadcasters are turning to books as a side hustle, others are moving into new content-adjacent business careers.<\/p>\n
Former Newshub sports presenter Andrew Gourdie – now head of communications for NZ\u2019s richest horse race, the NZB Kiwi – has played a key role in bringing the event to a broader audience this weekend.<\/p>\n
![\"Andrew]()
Andrew Gourdie and partner Rebecca Wright at Ellerslie Racecourse.<\/p>\n
The race – which offers stakes and bonuses of $4m – will screen on Sky TV on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe NZB Kiwi\u2019s a concept that\u2019s designed to engage new audiences,\u201d says Gourdie.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first running of the race last year laid the platform, but my main aim for 2026 was to create a complementary broadcast of the NZB Kiwi that was distinctly different to what the Trackside team produces for an engaged racing audience – one that appeals to casual sports fans and focuses on the entertainment and the on-course spectacle around the race. <\/p>\n
\u201cI pitched the idea to [Sky TV head of sport] Gary Burchett last year and he got it straight away. He\u2019s been brilliant to deal with, and I\u2019m excited to see the Sky team bring this idea to life. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe want the NZB Kiwi to be New Zealand\u2019s Melbourne Cup and this is a really important step towards that.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Robert]()
Robert Scott.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, broadcaster Robert Scott has been dabbling with AI technology to write and produce a new song, Take Me Back to the 80s. It features iconic New Zealand images from that era and Scott\u2019s own voice, super-powered by AI. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s gone nuts,\u201d says Scott, a musician and former host of the Breeze radio station. \u201cLocal radio stations have added it to their playlists. I\u2019ve been interviewed by some, and it\u2019s racking up the views.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was not expected at all! Seems to have resonated and the process was fascinating. I wrote the lyrics and then melody recorded them into my phone. Uploaded that demo to AI, which then arranged it for me\u2026 so this is an AI version of my voice. Crazy technology.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Janine]()
Janine Fenwick.<\/p>\n
And after more than 14 years at Stuff, senior editor and journalist Janine Fenwick has joined Christchurch-based AI start-up Contented.<\/p>\n
The start-up – Contented AI records meetings and creates documents with actions – has hit headlines recently, with a $4.1m seed raise<\/a>.<\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019ve joined as head of brand and content. It\u2019s a unique role for an ex-journo, but for a business like Contented – where the product is content – I\u2019m there to apply editorial rigour to everything we make,” says Fenwick.<\/p>\n
Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Herald had applied for the report under the Official Information Act, arguing a strong public interest in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":314686,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[489,7054,95809,55914,138,3500,3937,7794,6147,29804,3938,1888,5213,2070,2936,296,88972,26502,809,5829,1073,111,43,139,69,148619,90,17286,1523,89084,2171,26108,3800,155554,13120,1560,762,9095,4497,42327,3057,427,116401,6445,4276,1533,377,64460],"class_list":["post-314965","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-books","tag-breakfast","tag-breakup","tag-brodie","tag-business","tag-ceo","tag-chief","tag-contentious","tag-crime","tag-date","tag-executive","tag-first","tag-football","tag-full","tag-insider","tag-into","tag-journalists","tag-kane","tag-keep","tag-many","tag-media","tag-new-zealand","tag-news","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-obriens","tag-on","tag-operation","tag-over","tag-paytv","tag-plans","tag-plus","tag-podcast","tag-relaunch","tag-remain","tag-report","tag-review","tag-secret","tag-start","tag-stepped","tag-steps","tag-story","tag-tova","tag-tvnz","tag-why","tag-will","tag-world","tag-writing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/314965","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=314965"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/314965\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/314686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=314965"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=314965"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=314965"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}