Ratings swung axe, but salary sharpened blade

Judy Bailey

The short meetings are the worst in a place where there have been a lot of meetings lately. On August 19, a five-minute meeting with head of news Bill Ralston sent former One News executive producer Melanie Jones out the door.

On Monday this week, another short meeting ended Judy Bailey's 18-year career as newsreader. The Bailey decision was made after poring over viewing research.

In July, TVNZ chief executive Ian Fraser asserted Judy Bailey's negotiations would be done in "a considered way ... and I'm hoping we can retain Judy Bailey."

The difference between that statement and the October announcement was the ratings, which had been sliding for months. Bailey's fate was part of a broad review of news and current affairs that began in mid-August.

The decisions are made in Mr Fraser's office on the fourth floor of TVNZ. Hanging outside its window is a large banner with NZ Idol contestants. Each week, another face is whited out as the singers are eliminated. The same gimmick could be used to keep the world informed of the progress of TVNZ's review.

Bailey was told on Monday and asked that the news be kept quiet until after the bulletin the next day. Soon after 7pm, staff were told. Some, especially contenders to the presenter's chair, were contacted by Mr Ralston and asked not to speak to the media. At 7.34pm the press release was sent out headed: "Judy Bailey stepping down".

Outsiders suspect research shows Bailey's salary issue last year tainted her more than TVNZ would let on.

National's Murray McCully, a regular TVNZ critic, said her brand was effectively ruined from the moment the salary was made public. He said Helen Clark then "fed her to the media wolves" rather than hold the managers accountable.

"And from that moment onwards, Judy Bailey's days as news anchor for TV One were numbered. All of which, the sisterhood-friendly Mr Fraser was far too polite to mention this week."

An ex-TVNZ staffer said TVNZ had set Bailey up for a fall. "It was a campaign for the destabilisation of an icon. Every step along the way is incredibility deliberate. They couldn't just sack her because there would be a public outcry."

Mr Fraser sees it differently. "I'm not saying there has been a turn off. But we've got a job of renewal to do and it's a judgment call about whether you can do that job with the same face. Our judgment is that we can't."