How did Simon’s first day go? Being perfectly honest I haven’t listened to More FM for a long time now - but did anyone hear it? Was it all good (hopefully)?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360553215/simon-barnett-returns-breakfast-radio-after-six-years
He is rejoining his colleagues, including Lana Cochrane-Searle, Adam Percival, and Paul Ego.
I guess they must have missed the memo that Paul Ego left already eh?
Of the breaks I heard of Simon on More, he sounded great. Almost like he never left! But I expected that to be the case. There were a few technical/teething issues but I’m sure those will be ironed out in no time. The overall sound of the station and branding, and the addition of Si, has aged the station I feel. Perhaps this is intentional though? The new brand colours/font aren’t vibrant or exciting, lacks energy, feels dull and is overall, uninspiring.
Yes, I agree. I mean this as no slight on Simon as he is such a good operator and one of New Zealand’s greatest ever broadcasters (and loved him on ZB too), but it feels like a back to the future move for him (understand why he has done it though) but also for More. He slipped back into it like an old pair of shoes - and I’m not sure that is what More needs, after aging down with Adam previously.
If I was Mediaworks, I would have put him on network Breeze drive - with or without a co-host I’m not sure. The money is in breakfast, sure but I feel like that would be a slot they could really grow.
It does seem like it, but I have really enjoyed what I have heard from Simon so far. I can definitely see why he would want to go back to More FM instead of the format and content that drives the ZB audience.
I know there was discussion on here at the time about his days and hours but is it confirmed that Simon will be doing 5 days a week? I wouldn’t be surprised if Adam ends up doing at least 1 day a week in the not too distant future.
Good to hear he’s settling in okay, but I can also see why some might feel it’s kind of a step backwards for More FM - which it kind of is, in a way; however I do agree that he is extremely talented (I remember when he used to be on Radio Nelson back in the 80s and he was quite good then).
Then again, was the previous More FM breakfast show rating okay last year?
Agree, I think I said when they announced Simon was returning to More that The Hits were starting to win the younger demos, seemed a bit of an odd move for MW. Even at drive going for Sarah Gandy over somebody to try and match a massive personality like PJ… but as you say nothing against Simon (or Sarah) they’re both great and personally I prefer both shows over the ones before it. But it is interesting to hear two competing stations sound so different eh
It’s late but NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB could be in risk of losing jobs in a meeting today.
More info on proposed cuts:
I might be asking a stupid question here (as a Brit, I’m not often paying attention to all the ins and outs), but how has the media ended up in a position of having to make such massive cuts over the past year or so? I understand that the economy isn’t in the best place and advertising revenues have been impacted as a result, but it seems to me as an outside observer that things were relatively stable, until they suddenly weren’t.
I’m curious about this too, as an Australian.
I suspect that ultimately it’s the small size of New Zealand’s population. A country of 5 million, which is roughly the same population as Sydney or Queensland. I often wonder at how that population can actually support so many stations and media outlets generally with that advertising revenue.
Even in places like the UK and Australia jobs are being slashed.
I believe a large part of it has to do with a huge portion of advertising revenue going offshore to likes of Facebook/Meta (I read somewhere something like 90c for every $1) and the government seemingly sitting on its hands and doing nothing about it.
There was a bill put forward to help with this but it’s paused while they “observe” how Australia’s new legislation to combat this shakes out.
Aotearoa’s population has increased significantly in recent years so it has nothing to do with population size (Aotearoa supported the same number of traditional media outlets with a much smaller population).
These are newspaper and radio station journo jobs we are talking about here. Aotearoa has an internet speed twice that of Australia and is a land notoriously made up of early adopters (just look at the innovations in agriculture for example). While NZME only suffered a 6% drop in advertising last year, there is a ‘big bang’ approach on how to fix things - as their annual report says Strategic transformation continues at pace. Hence mass redundancies.
It’s the way that things are done in Aotearoa, as Sir Roger Douglas once said:
Once you have defined your objectives clearly, implement reform in quantum leaps. If you advance one step at a time, the interest groups will have time to mobilise and drag you down
I think the major cuts and losses were always inevitable but economic challenges really accelerated these changes. It’s bad, yes, but on the outside it possibly looks worse because so many media businesses in New Zealand have had to adapt all at once. It will stabilise - almost every company is going through a “digital transformation” at the moment. But that transformation should’ve happened many years ago and now media companies are trying to play catch up (along with having reduced budgets to invest in digital infrastructure/development).
In the case of NZHerald/Newstalk ZB, this is the biggest restructure in a decade (according to Media Insider column). So it’s probably about time they refocused efforts and deploy people into positions that actually add value and growth. From what I understand ZB is only losing two news reporters (vacant roles that won’t be filled).
I am informed that, from next Monday (27 January), Magic will replace Sport Nation on 92.4FM in Whangarei. Sport Nation is moving to the low power frequency of 107.5FM and can also be heard as a live stream via the Sport Nation and rova websites and apps.
When did the 891AM frequency in Wellington get switched off? Is The Breeze (or Magic) not on AM there anymore?
That’s such a shame there’s no more 891 kHz. Such a part of history. Gone.
I wonder if it has been sold to Radio Aotearoa, like the Radio Dunedin frequency was. They do want to get rid of their remaining AM frequencies.
It appears that the two Wellington frequencies, 711AM and 891AM, are now decommissioned during 2024/25. Magic is now heard on one frequency, 98.9FM (from the Kaukau and Haywards transmitters), and The Breeze are on 94.1FM (from the Kaukau transmitter) and 98.5FM (from the Fitzherbert transmitter). Sport Nation has moved to its new home on 1233AM (from the Horokiwi transmitter).
Thats quite funny and clever marketing…
