\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of anxiety,\u201d one said. \u201cA lot of people are coming to the realisation that they probably won\u2019t have long-term employment with the station, due to there needing to be considerable change if this is to become financially viable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another said: \u201cThe only way to monetise it would be to reduce staff and bring in Australian content … otherwise you\u2019d be taking over something which is a liability and trying to turn it into an asset which would be virtually impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Confidential documentation obtained by Media Insider reveals Entain\/TAB are proposing to contract out the sports network.<\/p>\n
Entain began formal consultation with employees this week and separately advised contractors that the proposal, if confirmed, could affect their own service arrangements.<\/p>\n
Workers have also been told to keep the \u201ccommercially sensitive\u201d plans secret, with some reminded of their contracts to \u201ckeep absolutely secret and confidential at all times all confidential information\u201d.<\/p>\n
Sport Nation\u2019s former owner, Australia\u2019s Sports Entertainment Group (SEG) \u2013 which has just taken control of New Zealand\u2019s biggest radio network, MediaWorks \u2013 is understood to be preparing to take over the sports channel again as early as December.<\/p>\n
Media Insider understands Sport Nation is more likely to fall directly under SEG\u2019s Australian operation, rather than MediaWorks, because of perceived content and advertising synergies with SEG\u2019s Australian sports channels.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
That would also allow SEG\/MediaWorks to inject some of their own content and talent into the station. <\/p>\n
Multiple sources believe, for example, that MediaWorks\u2019 Martin Devlin could be in line for a new role at Sport Nation. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Entain confirms contracting proposal<\/p>\n
Staff and contractors were called to meetings at Sport Nation on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the day, Entain spokesman Matt Smith told Media Insider: \u201cThanks for your interest. We\u2019re unable to comment on matters that are commercially sensitive or subject to an open consultation.\u201d<\/p>\n
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 \u201crefocused on its core business as a wagering operator\u201d in the past year.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs part of that work, we are reviewing how Sport Nation is operated.<\/p>\n
\u201cSport Nation has built a strong and growing audience, particularly in digital. However, operating a single standalone station is financially challenging.<\/p>\n
\u201cSport 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are currently consulting with potentially affected staff and won\u2019t comment further until a decision has been made.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
All change<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
It was rebranded as Sport Nation in November 2024. <\/p>\n
Hutchison and SEG have subsequently taken ownership of New Zealand\u2019s biggest radio network, MediaWorks<\/a>, home of music brands such as The Rock, More FM and The Breeze.<\/p>\n Media Insider spoke to multiple sources on Wednesday about the Sport Nation proposal presented to employees. <\/p>\n Some sources believe SEG would be demanding major changes to talent and content on the station before it is handed over by Entain.<\/p>\n \u201cWith Hutchison coming back into Sport Nation, after already having got out and sold it once, you would imagine there will be considerable change,\u201d one source said.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The source said Sport Nation had also been held back by not having an FM frequency \u2013 and more recently, not even an AM frequency \u2013 in Auckland. <\/p>\n With SEG now owning MediaWorks, a music station\u2019s frequency might be freed up \u2013 but given MediaWorks\u2019 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n However, one source questioned that potential recipe. \u201cI think if it\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018We\u2019d like to do more sport, clearly\u2019<\/p>\n Hutchison has not returned calls or messages this week, but in an interview with Media Insider in August<\/a>, when SEG was announced as MediaWorks\u2019 new owner, Hutchison said SEG and Entain were great partners.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got opportunities to review the strategy, but we\u2019re really supportive of our fabulous partner in Entain, who we represent in the ad sales market and we\u2019ll continue to do so,\u201d Hutchison said at the time.<\/p>\n As Media Insider reported, the obvious question was whether we might see a new sports radio network emerge out of MediaWorks.<\/p>\n \u201cOur sports strategy will be reviewed down the track, and we\u2019ll work through what works for everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n He said plans \u2013 whether that was \u201cin partnership with others, whether that\u2019s in live rights, whether that\u2019s in more shows\u201d \u2013 would be reviewed.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019d 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.\u201d<\/p>\n He confirmed plans to build a sports content strategy in New Zealand.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re a sports entertainment group as a business, so sport is clearly our product, as is entertainment. MediaWorks has done entertainment especially well.<\/p>\n \u201cClearly we\u2019d like to do some more sport along the journey. We\u2019ve got to work through that strategy.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re really committed to sport. It\u2019ll be part of our growth journey in New Zealand, it\u2019s fair to say, but we\u2019ll work through that and all the different ways that can be done over the coming months.\u201d<\/p>\n In its annual report, released last week, Sport Entertainment Group talked up its $130 million acquisition of MediaWorks.<\/p>\n \u201cThe acquisition is expected to generate positive ebitda from year one with several cost synergies and significant avenues for growth across Australia and New Zealand.\u201d<\/p>\n And in a statement earlier this month, Hutchison said the acquisition was a \u201clandmark moment\u201d that would transform SEG \u201cinto a truly scaled, transtasman media group reaching more than five million listeners across Australia and New Zealand\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cThis is exactly the kind of strategically important and value-driving transaction we have been building toward.<\/p>\n \u201cBoth businesses are performing strongly into Q1 FY27. <\/p>\n \u201cWe are well positioned to deliver our identified synergies, reduce leverage toward our 1.2x target within two years, and extend SEG\u2019s sports, events and entertainment capabilities into New Zealand.\u201d<\/p>\n Jami-Lee Ross v Bo Burns in newspaper battle<\/p>\n New York, London, Sydney … Howick?<\/p>\n A good old-fashioned newspaper war is brewing in some of Auckland\u2019s more affluent eastern suburbs, led by two outspoken political characters: former MP Jami-Lee Ross and current Auckland city councillor Bo Burns.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Suddenly, there\u2019s a battle for readers\u2019 time and attention \u2013 and advertisers\u2019 money.<\/p>\n And while Rupert Murdoch might be nowhere to be seen, signs of some feisty tactics are already emerging.<\/p>\n Media Insider understands there has been unhappiness on Burns\u2019 side at seeing advertising, for example from some real estate agencies, popping up in the new paper.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s definitely some games at play, in certain parts \u2013 \u2018Are you aware of who you\u2019re supporting?\u2019, and of that nature,\u201d one local businessman told Media Insider. <\/p>\n But he believed that was all in the spirit of competition, rather than any personal \u201cstab\u201d.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Ross says competition is healthy and he\u2019s not spending any time focusing on his opposition.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know anything about what the other newspaper or magazine is doing, and I\u2019m not entirely all that interested. We\u2019re just trying to put together a large-format community newspaper for East Auckland and … to provide advertisers an affordable option.<\/p>\n \u201cThe feedback\u2019s been really positive from members of the public and from advertisers. I\u2019m 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s new classroom block.<\/p>\n From Parliament to print<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n His post-Parliament career has taken some unusual turns – he ran an escort agency and unsuccessfully attempted a return to local politics in 2025.<\/p>\n \u201cI am not hiding who I am,\u201d Ross told Media Insider.<\/p>\n \u201cMy name\u2019s 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 \u2013 being involved in the community \u2013 then it\u2019s a win-win as well.\u201d<\/p>\n He did have one slight dig at the opposition.<\/p>\n \u201cI think there\u2019s a real value in a local newspaper covering what local ratepayers are spending money on. I\u2019m quite enjoying following the local board meetings and, I think, we\u2019ve had a number of stories that otherwise wouldn\u2019t have got airtime without us following the local board. <\/p>\n \u201cHaving a good mix of community arts and culture and local decision-making, I think it is important. <\/p>\n \u201cAs someone who has a background in local government, before Parliament, I think I\u2019m able to get my head into it quite a bit too. And being someone who doesn\u2019t have a current role in local government, that means I can come at it from a neutral perspective as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked if he was referring to Burns\u2019 role on the council, Ross said: \u201cI think they\u2019ve got a professional team there. I know the journalists who are there, and they\u2019re professionals. I guess as a different publication we can come at it from a different angle.\u201d<\/p>\n While Burns hasn\u2019t returned messages this week, she spoke in 2024 of saving the then Howick and Pakuranga Times.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really, really excited and I haven\u2019t felt excited about something like this for a long time, to be honest,\u201d she told Media Insider.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I heard last week it had gone into liquidation, I thought I just couldn\u2019t let the legacy go; I love this community. I was sitting there saying, \u2018Oh my god, there\u2019s no voice or platform\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought, I don\u2019t think people actually realise how it\u2019s connected the community, the groups, the community leaders, the schools … everything.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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. \u201cI will have a team to ensure all voices are heard.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Ross is hoping for more advertising support, as businesses pin down their longer-term marketing budgets.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the moment, we\u2019re enjoying putting together a newspaper, and I\u2019m enjoying reconnecting with a whole lot of people that I hadn\u2019t really interacted with for a few years.\u201d<\/p>\n He hoped to print more than 15,000 papers one day. \u201cIt\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n He said a \u201csmall team\u201d produced the newspaper and website. \u201cWe are also using some contract writers, and we\u2019ve put a call out for anyone in the local community who wants to contribute some stories in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n Ross said many people had missed getting the paper in their letterbox.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure as we continue to produce more editions, there\u2019ll be more visibility. These things take time to build up, but I\u2019ve been buoyed by the positivity so far.\u201d<\/p>\n News deserts and \u2018zombie papers\u2019: Stuff hits back<\/p>\n If Howick suddenly has an abundance of local newspapers, much of the rest of New Zealand faces the opposite problem.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\nSEG chief executive Craig Hutchison. <\/p>\n
Former MP Jami-Lee Ross, left, and Auckland councillor Bo Burns are now both publishers of competing East Auckland community newspapers.<\/p>\n
The latest edition of Jami-Lee Ross’ Howick & Eastern Post.<\/p>\n
The latest edition of Bo Burns’ Eastern Times.<\/p>\n
Former National MP Jami-Lee Ross. Photo \/ RNZ, Simon Rogers<\/p>\n
Eastern Times\u2019 owner Bo\u00a0Burns: A firm believer in a local voice.<\/p>\n