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Sunday, February 28, 2010

Swamped

How amazing was Radio NZ coverage of the Tsunami today? Wasn't it interesting to be reminded that when you hear a major event within NZ is occurring that you turn straight away to Radio NZ to know what is happening. All the other 'free media' were jammed full of bee pollen adverts and deer horn aphrodisiac jingles. What a time to be reminded of this as the Government seeks to cut back a service which only costs the NZ taxpayer $34 million and the 2007 report on their funding found them to be already 27% underfunded.

This isn't a drive for efficiency, this is a shot across the bow of one of the few bastions of critical media in this country while a wide ranging hard right agenda is rammed through mostly under a misuse of urgency.

11 Comments:

At 28/2/10 11:41 pm, Anonymous Jacob Tait said...

Yeah Radio NZ was great.

Although one funny thing I noted was that they kept saying listen to your radio, or watch TV for updates.

Whenever I turned on the TV to check it was just normal broadcast. Which is to put it bluntly absolutely dire!

Something like this that goes on and on - you can't sit around watching the TV for a brief snippet. With Radio you can leave it on, and carry on with your day's activities whether around the house or out and about.

Radio wins hands down. TV blow's.

 
At 1/3/10 1:41 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

it is terribly easy to spend other people's money. Ballpark figure estimates put $30 mil of taxation causes one person to die in the country (through making the country poorer and other avenues). It is ok if you do, but instead of putting it in money if we put it in lives are you willing to let one person die to keep radio NZ going? I'm not, but maybe putting it in ppl terms (rather than money terms) will make the tradeoff clearer.

 
At 1/3/10 7:45 am, Blogger Graeme said...

"the few bastions of critical media in this country "
You are joking right?

 
At 1/3/10 7:48 am, Anonymous Boxey said...

huh? Are you saying funding RNZ kills people?? That's probably the weirdest argument I have heard yet. Maybe I missed your point....

 
At 1/3/10 8:12 am, Anonymous maureen said...

An odd day for Anonymous to make that particular comment. The companion question is: how many lives are/could be saved through having great continuous (ad-free) public broadcasting during an emergency? There is a lot of other spending that that particular ruler could be run over, but in this case it merely indicates how essential to keep Radio NZ going strong.

 
At 1/3/10 8:16 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh I get it.
Lie to make a political point.

TV1 had all the times when the tsunami would hit.
You knew that, but that doesn't fit your argument does it

Pathetic.

 
At 1/3/10 8:32 am, Blogger Bomber said...

GRIN - I like our anonymous TVNZ staffer above, yes Anon TV1 were doing 5minute half hour updates weren't they, they weren't doing continued coverage, if you want to rush around claiming that is the ultimate in public broadcasting during an emergency, knock yourself out tough guy.

 
At 1/3/10 8:32 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Its actually some of my tax money and Im happy to pay for a quality public broadcaster.

 
At 1/3/10 10:13 am, Blogger Bomber said...

Ooops, my bad Anon isn't a TVNZ staffer, they work at Mt Eden Prison and lists their hobbies as posting online smears. Shouldn't you be a little more worried about prison privatization than TV1's tsunami coverage anon?

 
At 1/3/10 2:20 pm, Anonymous MandyPandy said...

On Sunday morning I was on Takapuna beach completely oblivious to the impending Tsunami that was due in 15mins, until a lady from the posh house on the beach came to tell us and others about the warning. So we moved to higher ground and in the car turned on our radio to listen to an update. First station we dialed was RNZ - and all there was for ages was an american man being interviewed about something that I can't even recall as I was intent on finding out about the tsunami warning. In fact the station that actually had some live commentary (if you can call it that) was BFM! IN the end we went home and got on the internet. It wasn't until the news at 12 that RNZ mentioned the warning and from then on had fairly good coverage. A bit late for me however. And I am a touch concerned that when I logged onto the metservice website in the morning to check the high tide, there were no warnings posted - otherwise I wouldn't have gone to the beach!

 
At 1/3/10 8:06 pm, Blogger Bomber said...

Well I'm not sure when you were listening, but when I was listening it was Sean Plunket all over the issue with National Radio coverage going out to all the Pacific Islands as well! I think the moment you hold up as an example is an ill considered one that doesn't do justice to the service they provided.

 

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