

The Fold
The Spinoff
Conversations about the intersections of media, culture and technology in New Zealand, hosted by Duncan Greive, founder of The Spinoff.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 18, 2025 • 45min
Lightning round: Six quick takes on Grenon-NZME, Stuff vs the cops, RNZ’s troubles + more
Glen Kyne rejoins The Fold to smash through six of the biggest stories in media, all in six minutes or less (at least in theory). Kyne and Duncan Greive discuss the much larger shareholding Jim Grenon has in NZME, continuing drama for RNZ, the end of the NZFC-NZOA merger, a potential breakup of Mediaworks, a standoff between Stuff the the Police – and the new global media behemoth being built by the Ellisons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 15, 2025 • 51min
Charlie Kirk and Tom Phillips show boundary collapse between the internet and real life
Anna Rawhiti-Connell joins Duncan Greive on The Fold to discuss two violent deaths, one driven by the internet, the other digested by it. They discuss how each shows in different yet profound ways how treating the internet as a separate sphere of life is increasingly impossible – rendering the libertarianism of one incompatible with the laws and mores of the other. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 2, 2025 • 39min
Results season! Breaking down and picking a winner from TVNZ, Sky and NZME
Glen Kyne returns to The Fold to analyse the annual or half-yearly results from TVNZ, Sky and NZME. TVNZ surprised with an unexpectedly healthy profit, NZME emerged from a bruising board battle and Sky (finally) got its rugby deal. Kyne has it all covered – and picks a clear winner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 1, 2025 • 35min
System1's Andrew Tindall on myths and truths in modern advertising
Andrew Tindall and System1 have assembled some of the most massive and comprehensive databases of advertising effectiveness, running the gamut from creative to medium. Tindall joins Duncan Greive on The Fold, in partnership with JCDecaux, to discuss the story all that research tells. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 28, 2025 • 56min
Sky CEO Sophie Moloney on the NZ rugby and Three deals and the depth of its moat
Sophie Moloney has been CEO of Sky NZ for five years. For much of that time she’s been dealing with downsides – a failed acquisition of Mediaworks, Spark Sports gifting their rights to TVNZ and prolonged satellite issues. But lately, things have been looking up. They successfully brought NZ Cricket rights back, scooped up Three’s assets for $1, and just last week lengthened their rugby deal under very buyer-friendly terms. She joins Duncan Greive on the Fold to dig into all those issues and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 27, 2025 • 47min
RNZ’s Paul Thompson on that bombshell radio report
The longest-tenured leader in New Zealand media joins Duncan Greive on The Fold for a frank discussion about the state of RNZ. They discuss the sharp decline in radio ratings which prompted him to commission a brutal report from former RNZ news boss Richard Sutherland, while also addressing the growth of digital news and lifestyle content. They also address RNZ’s Auckland problem, the strength of Newstalk ZB and whether RNZ really needs a statement hire, or just to deploy its talent on air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 25, 2025 • 45min
Monopod: on the Sky-NZ Rugby deal, RNZ’s radio challenges and the Substack exodus
Duncan Greive goes solo to dig into some fascinating recent media stories. The details of the Sky-NZ Rugby deal give all parties a chance to plausibly claim a win. The Sutherland report into RNZ National is one of the most challenging and interesting of its type in years. Two of the country’s biggest Substackers have left the platform. And Paramount looks to be building a manosphere streamer with a gigantic UFC deal for the US. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 18, 2025 • 38min
The one local media form defying gravity
Duncan Greive is joined by Phil Eastwood, GM of JCDecaux NZ, and Paul Maher, chair of OOHMAA, to discuss the rise and rise of out-of-home media. Once a backwater of the industry, it’s now the only locally operated sector showing robust growth. Partly a result of digital screens, partly a response to the hyper-saturation of ads in digital contexts, out-of-home has become what Eastwood calls “the last true broadcast medium”.
This episode is in partnership with JCDecaux. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10 snips
Aug 12, 2025 • 43min
Neil Finn on the broken promise of the internet – and why he won’t give up on it
Join renowned singer-songwriter Neil Finn, the creative force behind Crowded House and Split Enz, as he delves into the internet's broken promises and his ambitious community projects like MUFGAL. He reflects on the early utopia of the internet, shares his unique experiences with live streaming, and discusses why he distanced himself from social media. Finn critiques algorithmic systems and AI's threats to music while advocating for independent platforms. This conversation sparks joy and insights about building community through music and creativity.

Aug 11, 2025 • 34min
NZ on Air funds reality TV now?
Glen Kyne joins Duncan Greive on The Fold to discuss the shock revelation that NZ on Air will support Celebrity Treasure Island and The Traitors NZ’s return to our screens. They assess the potential moral hazard, the function those shows perform for networks, and the more profound challenges lurking down the road. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


