TVNZ executive defects to MediaWorks

Jason Paris

Australian private equity firm Ironbridge Capital has poached top Television New Zealand executive Jason Paris to run TV3 and C4 under the latest management restructure.

He is head of digital media and marketing at TVNZ - the closest lieutenant to chief executive Rick Ellis in his push towards new technology - and is predicted to revive MediaWorks' digital programme.

The revamp comes just months after a shake-up in November that coincided with the resignation of group chief executive Brent Impey.

Impey had negotiated a sizeable exit package and is understood to have a restraint of trade limiting him from working in media through 2010.

Back when he resigned, Ironbridge announced an unorthodox structure where the radio division run by Sussan Turner and TV operations would report independently to the Brent Harman-chaired MediaWorks board.

The role of group chief executive was disestablished.

Yesterday it was changed back.

The role of group chief executive has been revived and will be taken by Turner. Her No 2 at MediaWorks radio - Belinda Mulgrew - has taken over Turner's role running radio.

MediaWorks' radio holdings - such as The Edge, The Rock, RadioLive and More FM - amount to half the country's commercial stations.

At the end of last year Australian television executive Ian Audsley was handed a 12-month contract to handle the television arm.

Under the new arrangement he will move on in June, when the role will be handed to Paris, and he will take a role as a director.

MediaWorks' radio and television interests deliver a similar share of revenue.

But it is understood TV was hit worse by the advertising slump.

MediaWorks says its radio division has increased its share of radio advertising revenue.

Paris was a surprising appointment. He played a key role in the development of TVNZ's digital strategy such as TVNZondemand.

During tough economic times MediaWorks has taken a cautious approach to its digital expansion but that could change.

Harman said Paris' appointment would signal a revitalised digital programme at the company.

It has one digital channel - a low-cost option which screens TV3 one hour later the normal programme.

But under its agreement with Freeview it is required to launch a second digital channel in June - about when Paris starts.

In December, MediaWorks owner Ironbridge Capital said it had restructured finances, giving MediaWorks a $70 million boost.

The company had been struggling because of interest on debt from when Ironbridge bought the company in 2007.

The debt payments coincided with a severe decline in advertising revenue last year that led to the debt restructuring.

Harman rejected a suggestion that the unorthodox management structure announced late last year was always likely to change.

He said it could have worked.

RESHUFFLE

Sussan Turner: Ambitious head of MediaWorks radio operations. Takes over as group chief executive.

Jason Paris: Key player behind new media developments at TVNZ. Will run TV3 and C4 at MediaWorks.

Belinda Mulgrew: Has worked with MediaWorks radio since 1995. Will take over Turner's job running radio.