The Nation

There are a couple of peculiar things about today’s press release from NZ On Air:

NZ On Air is pleased to announce support for Q + A for TV ONE and The Nation for TV3 in 2013.

Both programmes are supported through the Platinum Fund – a special contestable fund supporting programmes with something important to say about New Zealand.

“NZ On Air is committed to funding quality current affairs and we’re pleased to be able to support both The Nation and Q + A” says NZ On Air chief executive Jane Wrightson. “These programmes have proven track records for discussing important and timely issues and contributing to mainstream current affairs.”

The Platinum Fund supports content that may be currently difficult to find on our screens.

Yesterday we published some figures about how 2012 has fared for our investment.  On average The Nation cost 6.6 times more per viewer per episode than Q+A and also delivers TV3 revenue via advertising due to the time and day it is broadcast.

It would be very easy to understand why NZ On Air could choose to not fund the show based on those figures.  However, fund the show, it has.

What I find most interesting is the final sentence of their press release:

The Platinum Fund supports content that may be currently difficult to find on our screens.

Are current affairs shows that difficult to find on our screens now?  Or is their statement an indictment on the performance of supposed current affairs shows whose role it would be assumed is to hold politicians to account and demand better performance?  If that is the case, are we now on a slippery slope where broadcasters could suggest dropping their current affairs shows in the hope of getting funding in order to keep them on air?  How long before we see Campbell Live and Holmes 3.0 being at least partially funded by NZ On Air?

NZ On Air announces their platinum funding decisions this week.  Both Q+A and The Nation eagerly await word as to whether or not they’ve been funded for 2013.

• David Shearer looks back at the week, talks about David Cunliffe, Helen Clark and the future.
• Matt McCarten and Colin James on the Labour Party.
• Auckland real estate agent Graham Wall and Professor Lawrence Murphy from the UoA Business School on house prices in Auckland.
• Brian Edwards and Bill Ralston look back at a tumultuous year in the media.

The Nation airs on Saturday at 9:30am and at 8:00am on Sunday.

- John Key in an extended interview with Rachel
- The Labour Party — what its rule changes will mean for the future of David Shearer’s leadership and the party itself. Natasha Smith and Colin James report from the annual conference.
- That NZ should become a Republic — Lewis Holden from the Republican Movement. The Monarchists have refused to join in a debate because it would “demean democracy” would be “undignified” and would “bring negativity when there is so much positivity around”! Continue reading »

Damien O’Connor on why successive Governments allowed Pike River to happen.

Police and Corrections Minister Anne Tolley in an extended interview with Rachel.

What’s wrong with the way the Electoral Commission administers MMP — we investigate a glaring hole in the Commission’s regulation which could mean that at least one political party is illegitimate.

Colin James on the week in politics

Susan Wood joins Brian Edwards on the Media Panel. Continue reading »

- Does saying yes to Hobbits also mean we surrender our sovereignty under the Trans Pacific Partnership — NZCTU President, Helen Kelly; NZ – US Council director, Stephen Jacobi; Professor Jane Kelsey and representatives from the film production industry debate this issue.

- An investigation into the troubled state of the University of Canterbury. The University’s Vice Chancellor is live with Rachel.

- Brian Edwards is finally back from Italy! So he’s back on the Media Panel — this week, with Susan Wood. Continue reading »

The Manufacturing Crisis.

- Jenee Tibshraeny reports from Kawerau — once the Government’s manufacturing showpiece now the country’s welfare capital on the latest redundancies at the paper mill.
- Natasha Smith reports from Whangarei on the bright future facing one of the country’s super yacht builders — part of the marine industry, now our biggest manufacturing industry.
- Kawerau Mayor Malcolm Campbell is with Rachel.
- EPMU National Secretary also with Rachel
- Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce is with Rachel.
- The Media Panel is Bill Ralston and NewstalkZB’s Susan Wood. (Brian is still lost in Italy). Continue reading »

- Hamish Bohannan, CEO Bathurst Mining on the future for coal mining in NZ. Can Bathurst succeed where Solid Energy appears to be failing?

- Maori – Pakeha water management in practice. In advance of the big water hui ext week, Natasha Smith, investigates how the co-management of the Waikato River works.

- Southland Mayor, Frana Cardno; Clutha District Mayor, Bryan Cadogan and Ashburton Mayor, Angus McKay on why Gerry Brownlee was wrong last weekend on “The Nation” on funding for provincial roads. Continue reading »

Diana Crossan — retiring Retirement Commissioner with Rachel, Alex Tarrant and John Hartevelt

Shelley Nahr investigates the squeeze on roading funding and how its impacting across the country.

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee with Rachel, Alex and John.

Saturday September 1 9.30am and Sunday 8.00am on TV3

- Labour’s response to Steven Joyce’s economic development plan.

- David Cunliffe with Rachel — his first in depth TV interview this year.

- On the eve of Romney’s nomination as Republican candidate for the presidency Jennee Tibshraeny has a unique inside look at the usually secretive Mormon Church in New Zealand and looks at its political connections here.

Saturday August 25 9.30am and Sunday 8.00 on TV3