Media: TVNZ top job beckons as Paris departs

Jason Paris' resignation leaves a vacuum of television knowledge at the top of TV3 and Four. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Jason Paris will be dusting off his CV. Rick Ellis - his old boss and former mentor - is expected to step down soon from Television New Zealand.

Paris, MediaWorks TV chief executive, resigned yesterday after just one year running TV3 and Four. As a young, ambitious marketing and new-business director at TVNZ, Paris was an acolyte of Ellis and regarded as his heir apparent.

At MediaWorks, Paris will work out his notice and is believed to be subject to a restraint-of-trade clause that stops him working in the media for six months.

Ellis is expected to resign this year.

But when appointing a new chief executive, what weight would TVNZ give a glowing reference from the outgoing CEO?

When Ellis does leave, there may be competition for his job.

Touchdown TV founder and Lifestyle channel owner Julie Christie has been suggested as a contender.

Meanwhile, Paris' departure leaves a vacuum of television knowledge at the top of TV3 and Four at a time when much of MediaWorks' overseas programming has become tired and it faces a fight with Sky TV to keep its deal with 20th Century Fox.

Arch rival TVNZ signed exclusive deals with media-buying firms that shut out TV3 and Four - but boosted market share for TVNZ and Sky TV, sources say.

MediaWorks has some good second-tier management - and is maintaining good operating profits. But it is still weighed down with interest payments relating to its private-equity structure.

Managing director Sussan Turner will take over from Paris at TV3.

Paris has found the tight costs and direct relationship with TV3 and Four staff invigorating.

But he would have arrived to find a company facing gruelling challenges.

Sources say that the issues confronting the company are different from those when Paris took the job.

MediaWorks is controlled by the Australian private-equity company Ironbridge.

WHO'S THE BOSS?

Paris is leaving after a sometimes-tense relationship with group managing director Sussan Turner.

His appointment to the job running TV at MediaWorks was shambolic. It only became apparent late in the piece that Paris would report to Turner, who has a background in radio and lacks experience in television.

MediaWorks has struggled to retain its share of increased TV advertising revenue, though it would be hard to sheet home any blame to Paris.

MORNING GLORY

Act leader Don Brash is a staunch advocate for the private sector - and a politician who insists on fiscal rectitude.

So he is a surprising white knight to champion the cause of public broadcasting.

The right-wing politician is a big fan of Radio New Zealand and wants to keep TVNZ7 or replace it with a new entity.

"I'd hate to see Radio New Zealand sold off. The cost of a decent public broadcaster is minuscule compared to the government's total expenditure," he said.

"Radio New Zealand plays an important role in the overall radio scene. I don't always agree with the editorial line ... but that is not the point," he said.

"Programmes such as Checkpoint, Morning Report and international coverage give a dimension commercial radio does not. It may be the lack of commercial interruption, but RNZ is able to focus on serious issues more substantively than commercial radio.

"I'd be very sad indeed to see the disappearance of Radio New Zealand," he said.

Non-commercial television was a bigger problem. But the sale of Television New Zealand could provide the foundation for a new channel.

"For the life of me I can't see any logic keeping TV One and TV2 in state ownership," he said, in a more familiar tone.

"TV2 could be sold and TV One turned into a non-commercial channel," he said.

Alternatively both could be sold and TVNZ7 resurrected, he said.

MARKETING NATIONAL

Brash is new to the job as Act leader and his championing of public radio may be anathema. It has never been considered as party policy.

But it is plausible that Brash will be in Cabinet next year and his views are a reminder for National that concern for public service broadcasting values are not a preserve for the left.

National's abandoning of public television is understandable - there is no history of it in this country and it does not have much mainstream appeal.

But in my opinion, the Government approach to Radio New Zealand seems like hubris - particularly where it concerns Morning Report.

Well-placed sources at the Beehive say that in a policy co-ordinated by the Prime Minister's office, National has avoided fronting-up on Morning Report because it is not seen as politically valuable.

John Key's chief press secretary issued a statement: "Media requests are dealt with by individual ministerial offices.

"Our office deals with all media requests for the Prime Minister on a case-by-case basis."

But three sources familiar with the situation say that RNZ is on the outer.

Why? It's tempting to think the Nats think of RNZ listeners as liberal lefties and trade unionists, but chief executive Peter Cavanagh says if anything the audience is made up slightly more from Nat voters.

And a source familiar with the tactic says that it comes down to demographics - the RNZ audience was older and listeners were unlikely to change their voting patterns, compared to a 22-year-old skipping off to work on his mountain bike and listening to Key on The Edge.

It was viewed as more productive to reach younger or commercial radio audiences.

Politicians often tailor media appearances to fit an electoral marketing strategy. But even seasoned political observers are surprised at the way this Government has sought to shut out the state radio company.

RING OF CONFIDENCE

Cavanagh said he was not aware of any difference of opinion with politicians.

Critics say that RNZ does itself no favours with its handling of politicians and its confidence that Morning Report is on the right track.

Two well-placed sources said RNZ believed the difficulty in getting ministers to appear was evidence of success because they thought politicians were wary of tough questioning.

This might have carried some weight if Sean Plunket were still on Morning Report. Key is used to shmoozy interviews - and even when she was polite and on a chain on Checkpoint this week, Mary Wilson's straightforward interview style exposed his vulnerabilities.

But facing up to Geoff Robinson or Simon Mercep would be like being savaged by an elderly labrador.

Cavanagh insists RNZ's latest cumulative ratings surveys show listenership is well up - though you would have to say it has been an extraordinary time for news and that would boost numbers.

In my opinion, confidence in RNZ - and in the Morning Report line-up - is misplaced.

Rightly or wrongly, politicians appear to be avoiding RNZ because it is deemed irrelevant. You can argue whether that is an acceptable approach by the Government to the public broadcaster in an election year but it seems that is the way things are being run.