Dark day for NZ media brings a political dilemma into focus

Dark day for NZ media brings a political dilemma into focus
The lights are going out at Newshub. (Image: Getty)
Daniel Dunkley
Back in 2022, in headier times, staff at Discovery NZ were optimistic about their owner’s merger with entertainment giant Warner Media. Hopes were high the deal would bring extra firepower to the Discovery channels, including Three, and brands like Newshub after years of austerity under private equity-backed MediaWorks.How naive those hopes were. Yesterday, Warner Bros. Discovery, as the parent group is now known, pulled the trigger on Newshub, its news broadcasting brand, and much of its free-to-air TV business, retrenching into a &ldquo...

More Opinion

Wellington's blue sky boondoggle
Infrastructure

Pattrick Smellie: Wellington's blue sky boondoggle

Is the capital's airport serious, or is Infratil just trying to pump value?

Pattrick Smellie 22 Nov 2024
Govt’s arms flailing, with little cohesive direction
Economy

Ganesh Nana: Govt’s arms flailing, with little cohesive direction

A tight-fisted Government is hobbling its own ambitions. 

Ganesh Nana 22 Nov 2024
It’s time for a national conversation on productivity
Economy

Cameron Bagrie: It’s time for a national conversation on productivity

Bold action needed as a further downgrade to Treasury's forecasts looks likely.

Cameron Bagrie 22 Nov 2024