The Fold

Glen Kyne, a media and entertainment expert, dives into the recent strategic win for Sky with the addition of Max to its Neon platform, discussing how it impacts the New Zealand streaming landscape. He explores the competitive edge gained by taking a potential rival off the table and the associated risks. The conversation also touches on Amazon's new ad tier launch and its implications for TVNZ and Three. Additionally, they discuss the shock resignation of NZ Rugby's commercial head and its effect on broadcasting negotiations.

Hamish McKenzie, co-founder of Substack and a key player in US media, discusses Substack's bold evolution from paid newsletters to a multifaceted creator platform. He delves into the launch of live streaming, competitive dynamics with social media giants, and the significance of creator autonomy. The conversation highlights Substack's potential for transforming the creator economy while confronting challenges in content moderation and traditional media relationships. Expect insights on fostering healthy discourse and the future of journalism.

Toby Manhire, Editor-at-large of The Spinoff, joins Duncan Greive to delve into the vibrant media landscapes in New Zealand and Australia. They discuss SXSW's shift from music to technology and the looming impact of AI on creativity. The launch of Auckland FC sparks excitement about sports’ role in city culture. They also navigate New Zealand's challenging production landscape and the emotional farewells to popular radio shows, all while envisioning a dynamic future for New Zealand radio.

Glen Kyne, an expert commentator on the New Zealand media landscape, dives into TVNZ’s recent proposal to merge news with entertainment. He discusses the implications for editorial independence and the future of journalism. The conversation also explores TVNZ’s search for $30 million in savings amidst financial pressures and evolving audience expectations. Kyne reflects on the debut of Stuff's HOW:TO and what it signals for the media landscape in New Zealand, emphasizing the need for innovative audience engagement strategies.

Sam Stuchbury founded Motion Sickness as a brand and advertising agency in a flat in Ōtepoti. 10 years on, it has become known for powerful campaigns like 'Proud to be Māori' and 'Rep your Suburb' for Whānau Ora. The company dominated the Axis Awards and picked up silver in the Global Agency of the Year awards in London. Stuchbury and Motion Sickness head of strategy Hilary Ngan Kee join Duncan Greive to talk about the company's unconventional journey, the radically changing nature of the ad industry, and how local independents compete and often win against giant multinational groups. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Friday afternoon, Google published a post to its little-read New Zealand blog, one which immediately sent shockwaves through the local news media. It confirmed what had been rumoured – that if the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill passes in its current form, Google will pull news from all its systems and services, and cancel all its agreements with local news media. It sets up an enormously high stakes staredown with the government, with a weakened and embattled news media squeezed between. Glen Kyne joins Duncan Greive to set up the stakes, and suggest a possible compromise. Then they look at the end of Stuff Audio, and why it makes sense, even if Stuff staff must be exhausted by all this change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Bain spent a career working across prestige brands in digital contexts before returning to New Zealand to become Data and Marketing Director (CMO in all but name) of the telco-turned-digital services provider that is Spark. It's one of the biggest marketing jobs in the country, with a budget to match – but figuring out what Spark is and how it sells itself isn't easy, especially given its recent market travails. Matt joins Duncan to talk about the difference between brand and retail, reflect on Spark's recent Game Arena event, and explain why a live show can replace a TVC at the heart of a modern marketing campaign. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anna Rawhiti-Connell, head of audience for The Spinoff and former social media strategist, dives into the evolving landscape of audience engagement. She analyzes what led to a decline in referral traffic from social media and discusses the challenges of adapting content strategies amidst changing algorithms. The conversation also touches on Stuff's recent pivots, including the end of Newsable and the shifting dynamics at RNZ regarding content removal. Anna highlights the complexities of maintaining visibility for publishers in today's digital ecosystem.

James Hurman is a globally recognised expert in advertising effectiveness – and believes many businesses have become transfixed by generating present day sales through social and search, at the expense of those in the future, generated by brand building on other surfaces. Together they examine what New Zealand's large advertisers and media agencies are doing with their advertising spend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joining the discussion are Glen Kyne, a veteran commentator on New Zealand broadcasting, Shayne Currie, a seasoned journalist, and Jodi O'Donnell, the CEO of TVNZ. They tackle TVNZ's significant cost-cutting measures and the rapid growth of RNZ, suggesting a potential newsroom merger. The conversation probes the challenges of transitioning to digital media, the rise of sponsored content, and how independent talent is reshaping the landscape. They also contrast New Zealand's centrist media with the polarized U.S. environment.