Throng

TVNZ has decided to dispose of hundreds of its employees’ company credit cards in order to avoid “misleading” publicity.

Chief executive Rick Ellis has put in place the change which will see hundreds of credit cards cut up in order to change the image of the state broadcaster after bad publicity regarding spending over recent times.

Big-name presenters and senior executives will be hit by the change which will reduce the number of company cards to around 50.

Currently more than 470 of TVNZ’s 900 or so staff hold company credit cards including Ellis himself who racked up more than $140,000 on his card over two years, $32,000 of that on entertaining.

The new system will have staff applying to receive work-related expenses reimbursed, with only a select few holding company plastic.

TVNZ spokeswoman Megan Richards said that the change will not affect what staff could charge to the company.

"We've had absolutely no concerns about improper or reckless spending, contrary to popular opinion. We've had it under very tight controls," Ms Richards said.

Live TV is simply awesome. Unpredictable, dangerous and often times, funny.  Perhaps it's due to the ever-present cameras in our lives that we easily forget they're rolling and that at the other end of the cable are literally thousands of eyes watching.

As was the case yesterday when TVNZ's Ruth Wynn-Williams stood outside the Birdcage in Auckland as it was rolled up the street in preparation for the new Victoria Park Tunnel. Completely relaxed and seemingly oblivious to the fact that anyone might be watching, Wynn-Williams casually dropped an F-Bomb before flirting with One News' Rawdon Christie. 

Word has filtered through that Francesca Mold has quit her role of Deputy Political Editor at TVNZ in order to take up a position currently held by another ex-TVNZ staffer Kris Faafoi.

Mold will reportedly replace Faafoi as the Chief Press Secretary to Phil Goff and his Labour party.

Faafoi meanwhile is in the running for the Mana electorate in the upcoming by-election.

Television New Zealand today reported underlying earnings1 of $12.9 million for the financial year to 30 June 2010, a $2.8 million (28%) increase on the previous financial year.

TVNZ Chief Executive Rick Ellis said today that the company would be paying a dividend to the Shareholder of $4.87 million, an uplift on the previous year dividend of $1.47 million.

Mr Ellis said the performance of the company, in the middle of the media industry’s greatest international downturn, had been very pleasing.

“The hard work of management and staff to respond rapidly to the downturn in advertising revenue, to reduce costs and maintain advertising market share have produced this great result.”

Former One News reporter Kris Faafoi has announced he will run for the Mana seat north of Wellington in the upcoming by-election.

Faafoi, who is currently the Labour press secretary, said he would quit his role should he be successful in his campaign.

The date of the election depends on when incumbent MP Winnie Laban leaves her post, as she has accepted a role already at Victoria University.

Faafoi has said he will continue in Laban’s footsteps should he be successful.

"I personally want to continue the kind of politics that Winnie has used over the last 10 years, she's been a really community spirited person in there and I am excited about getting into that kind of politics as opposed to the parliamentary side of politics which I know well," he said.

Paul Henry is in hot water again after an exchange with Guyon Espiner on last Tuesday’s Breakfast programme where Henry made comments regarding prisoners of war in Afghanistan.

Human rights group Amnesty International has lodged an official complaint against the TVNZ presenter over the comments he made regarding New Zealand SAS soldiers being linked to handing over insurgents to Afghanistan’s National Security Directorate which is known for its use of torture.

TVNZ's website tvnz.co.nz has taken out Best Media Site at the 2010 NetGuide Web Awards.

The website beat off its two major competitors, nzherald.co.nz and stuff.co.nz for the prestigious award last night in Auckland.

The NetGuide Web Awards are voted on by the public, and more than 200,000 votes were received across the categories.

“I’m still buzzing as there’s no greater accolade than winning an award that’s voted for by our users”, said TVNZ’s General Manager of Digital Media Tom Cotter.

“Thank you to everyone who voted for us, it really means a lot. For us it’s all about providing the best multiplatform media experience possible and it’s a great thing to have those efforts recognised."

TVNZ’s iPad application has become the number one free app at the iTunes Store following Apple’s approval of the app yesterday, New Zealand Time.

"Our first priority was to deliver dedicated news content so the iPad app is all about news, sport, weather and what's on TV", said TVNZ's Digital Media General Manager Tom Cotter.

"We have basically launched tvnz.co.nz in one free downloadable iPad app, so there's up to the minute information from ONE News, including instant access to breaking news and news video plus more coming in the next few weeks".

"Upgrades with extra functionality and features will continue to be rolled out to the iPad and iPhone apps plus more news video and live streaming of news features are in the pipeline."