The impact of the boycott on TV3 in the wake of the political killing off of Campbell Live hasn’t just damaged ratings, it’s also forced management to rescind the light and fluffy crap that Seven Sharp has sunk to.
The desire to get Duncan Garner and Heather du Plessis-Allan to front the new show at 7 suggests that MediaWorks have had serious second thoughts, remember originally it was a Ben and Jono sort of thing, Garner and du Plessis-Allan are not that.
While no one can ever forgive the awful story du Plessis-Allan did on Cameron Slater just before Dirty Politics came out, she has redeemed herself on Q&A and Garner was the target of Slater trying to trawl brothels.
It’s no Campbell Live, but the decision to put these two together as hosts is a damned sight better than a mix of 7 Days and the Rock drive show.
We shall see, we shall see…
[…] are facing a bitter boycott backlash for killing off Campbell Live that has hurt them, having their comments about the Roastbuster […]
While this seems to be a realisation of sorts within Mediaworks’ and TV3’s management, that they better offer something better in competition to “Seven Sharp”, I do not think that this duo will be all that much to cheer about.
I have over the time on and off listened to Duncan Garner on his Radio Live Drive Show, from 03 pm to 06 pm, and I am not that enthused about his “journalism”. He picks the odd good, timely topic, ok, but at the same time he seems more of a salesman of the many ads that interrupt the program. And he also often presents rather emotive and sensationalised reports, and also presents trivial “lifestyle” kind of components of his show.
He is certainly not as “neutral” and “unbiased” as he so often makes out he is, I have come to the conclusion, he is quite happy with what we call “neo-liberal” politics that this government follows, although he loves to go on about the housing issues in Auckland.
Garner is a prototype of the newer, “modern” media approach, loving hitting headlines and sensationalised bits of news. Yet with ‘3D’, he and his female co-presenter seem to have so far been picking rather good topics on Sunday nights on TV3.
So I am not so sure whether Garner hosting a show at 7 pm will be quite what some readers here may expect. Perhaps he can pleasantly surprise, should he be one of that duo, perhaps we get more of a light-hearted approach from him, like at times on his Drive Show.
Heather d.P.A. is not one I feel comfortable with, she is also one, who loves to pick topics that may appear to be of substance and interest, but she tends to dramatise and dress her reporting up, to please her bosses, as this may get viewer attention and ratings. She has too often gone into “petty topic” territory in my view, and is rather mainstream, and pays little attention to social issues. Also does she love to quote stuff out of context, which I think is not fair, good journalism.
Bother are strong supporters of the system as we have it, which is favouring the ones in the wider middle class, who generally do reasonably well, have their homes and careers sorted, and just like their news to be sprinkled with a bit of “excitement” rather than substance.
Politically both are rather right of centre, when we can even talk like that, I’d say conservative in the sense, where they are happy with our actually rather flawed economic and social system, seeing only a need for some little bit of tweaking here and there.
We get little prospect of investigative journalism, and Heather d.P.A. may have revealed bits about a Saudi farm deal, she was at times on Seven Sharp simply too much on the “entertainment” side of presentation.
Then again, the above, like others, may all mature and improve, making better use of their skills and potentials, and may perhaps surprise it more pleasantly.
They will be NO replacement for Campbell Live and his team, that is for sure, given a totally different approach and outlook.
All very good points Mike.
But this is more to do with where you get your news. Everything you’ve described is what comes from the commercial model. RadioLive or TV3.
I like to get around this by getting my news from RNZ and sources like the BBC. Still tainted and wobbly but not commercial.
I also think, let’s see what they come up with before deciding. Words and promises are meaningless; it’s what they actually do that measures them.
Yes, ok, I also rather get my news from RNZ, from the BBC, from Al Jazeera, from other overseas news services from various countries and continents, same as various online sources not so much known here.
The concern is that most people out there, the ones who do not read such blogs as this, who do not use the media and sources we better informed people may use, most people rely on TV3, TVNZ, Prime, Sky, and also the commercial radio stations, which includes Radio Live.
Having more of the likes like Garner run shows on commercial media, that means having yet more promotion of commercial interests (advertising, promos, chitchat and drivel, besides of very superficial news bites).
We need people and media to counter-act this trend, we need such urgently, but of course, we cannot hope for the vested interests behind the commercial, privately run media, to listen to us.
Trouble is that Garner of Radio Live is firmly under control of J Key’s master propagandist S. Joyce.
Joyce owned Radio works which amalgamated with Media works.
He as Communications minister loaned Media works a whopping $25 million of Taxpayer money to secure optional licences for NZ wide transmission of the radio networks, and sits on the board of Media works also.
Hence Garner and is trapped inside this control network of the Key puppet master Propagandist S. Joyce like Goebbels did, and Garner is then solidly silenced about virtually saying anything negative about J. Key our “Dear leader”.
This was patently obvious when J.Key was caught lying about repeated pony tail pulling of a waitress for six months, and now the Saudi sheep gate saga, so as Frank says “we shall see”. “Hope springs eternal”
Come on, its awful.
Duncan Garner, if not wanting to bear John Keys children, is a big admirer of him. I listened to him enough especially leading up to the pointy end of the election last year to realise that Garner is a National man’s man, and a lightweight ZB – Larry Williams. The only difference between him and his mini-me Patrick Gower is that Gower has long since given up the pretence of objectivity, he’s overtly pro National.
Laughably Gavin Ellis, ex Herald editor and now media commentator thinks Mediaworks needs someone of Garners calibre to hold the politicians accountable. Whilst I am sure Garner will hold the opposition accountable I expect nothing but patsy pre scripted crap to Key and his government.
As for du Plessis-Allan, her magazine piece on Slater was enough for me.
It is no accident that the PM’s bestest buddy is now running Mediaworks and that John Campbell was axed and Duncan Garner installed. And there is no way on Gods green earth that anyone would be fronting a media show on that network would hold Key, (who is utterly and embarrassingly hopeless when put on the spot), to account. Cynically though I expect something a little challenging to start with before reverting to situation normal.
Whatever Mediaworks put up under its current management, its got no credibility and I am certainly not going to be watching it.
As long as the powers that be believe that what people want is entertainment only, then that is what we will get. Definitely not information, as in JC’s case, because then the politicians get upset and hard hitting, in-your-face journalism is ruffling their feathers.
Who remembers Muldoon and how he manipulated the media?
Me! I remember the little dictator well…
Garner is as infatuated with Key as is Gower.
So as far as any political motive involved, it will still be mission accomplished.
Gotta be better than come dine with me! I will probably get a few negative ticks but TV3 news has not been backward in coming forward the past few weeks with stories that hold the government to task. Ducking now.
but TV3 news has not been backward in coming forward the past few weeks with stories that hold the government to task.
Yeah, it’s getting harder and harder to totally ignore the underlying economic and social chaos as the boil begins to come to a head.
Just as I expected they have put all their ducks in a row to quack, quack, quack ‘key’ national spin at us. These people are as interesting as dead fish.
I am amazed that every blar, blar, blar show in town is run by the same stagnant pool of FJK cheer leaders, the same heads on three shows and radio each? Really! Why are they on so many shows with the same dull presenters?
That creepy sweaty guy on “Newsworthy” (yeah right) and the breathy, overly sexual put on creepy voice of Samatha Hayes is enough to freak me right out, how is anyone supposed to take that weird shit seriously? Freak News show spoof isn’t it? It would all be hilarious if it wasn’t such a really serious reflection of our dumb arse country.
Where are the facts on Global Warming? What are we doing to save our butts? Nothing! Nothing! Nothing! I haven’t even seen the Pope’s encyclical on climate change. Usually the media couldn’t get enough of him before, now silence, they don’t like this subject I expect, good example of cherry picking. I urge anyone who wants to know what is really going on about the most serious story known to us look up the Robert Scribbler blog.
https://robertscribbler.wordpress.com/2014/01/21/awakening-the-horrors-of-the-ancient-hothouse-hydrogen-sulfide-in-the-worlds-warming-oceans/
This new ‘news’ show (with the same people from other ‘news’ shows) will be more of the same rubbish. I have my popcorn ready to watch how stupid the news will be while life on earth crashes around our ears. This is a disgusting disgrace, and they will all be sorry oneday for their shallow take on what is ‘newsworthy’.
Mediaworks have seriously underestimated the amount of aroha that is felt towards John Campbell. The boycott remains.
I’d rather have Jono & Ben every night than Duncan Garner. He’s pretty far right except for the occasional populist crusade.
It’s tactically good to point out the obvious aka the political killing off of John Campbell however this article is just part of the spin to try and position two right wing national party approved hacks to be something other than what they really are. What NZ will get with these two is exactly what is expected “right wing national party approved light and fluffy crap”.
It depends, if that is what it descends into, let’s crucify it then – but the boycott has managed to force TV3 away from the crap they were originally aiming
The thing is we might well never know if they have put a positive spin on any particular issue that embarrasses the government or, worse yet, simply choose to not cover it all. We can no longer trust MediaWorks to be impartial, which is why I for one won’t watch it with anything other than a gigantic grain of cynical salt.
Whether the boycott has done that or not is purely hypothetical. The premise of your column that these two right wing hacks are better than what was being pitched before and this was attributable to the boycott are both moot points and conjecture. A right wing hack is a right wing hack in my books and this is in no way shape or form a gain to the boycott against the political killing off of John Campbell’s show. Maybe Jono and Ben is more honest in that it makes no pretence at being any kind of television except dubious entertainment. Maybe the strategic change was to not be so overt with their removal of good journalism and replacement with “light and fluffy crap” as you call it but put in something that kind of looked like journalism but was fronted and backed by people who are known to live in the pockets of this government (propaganda) which would ensure the programme never makes the national government feel uncomfortable or challenged. Your article (and your reply) seem to suggest or recommend we should give it go and see how they perform. There is no reason why I would want to watch right wing hacks or anything a channel that so obviously and crassly bows to the political agenda of this government puts in front of me. The boycott and public response to this kind of abuse of power is unprecedented in NZ journalism. The people that want the boycott to stop, do so from their own political agendas and is seems to me, you’re trying to say to people that continue to boycott TV3 – isn’t is great you didn’t get Jono and Ben as now you’ve got known right wing propaganda which is better and which just doesn’t wash with me. Your reply recommended we give it a go before crucifying it whereas in our household we have no interest in watching government propaganda in the guise of journalism and hence will continue maintaining the boycott of TV3.
I agree with everything you say here and if it is exactly as you describe it will be, then I say the boycott needs to go harder and deeper using the new line up as an example of why CL was so important.
Actually, do you not think the reported ‘Jono and Ben type show’ being JC’s replacement was not all part of the plan? I mean… How better to get the public to accept the original plan which was ALWAYS a Garner/d.P.A fronted show as a compromise? In that way, the general public are thankful for something leaning more towards a CL type show except it won’t be, it will be nothing like it, a lesser evil type situation. Make no mistake, with TV3, Christie, Weldon, Garner, d.P.A and #FJK at the helm there is evil aplenty! I’ll also tell you something for nothing too. That weird story on the weekend about d.P.A being in a room with a TV3 executive when ‘unwittingly’ her TVNZ boss was let into that very room… What BS!!! All part of the plan people. So for what it’s worth. The boycott of TV3 for my house and family remains in place, so should yours…
So now Key is pushing for Joyce’s boy Garner to spread the misinformation on his behalf, mouthing off on TV3, along with the Hosking git on TV ONE!
Neither channels are worth watching!
Our TV news and current affairs broadcasting has become a NatzKEY plaything, to toy with and manipulate at will!
FJK …. and the whole damn lot of them!
Heather dPA has only done the one story that really digs, Garner is not unbiased. The question remains, They already had a great current affairs programme at 7, he was shafted and removed. Now this??? I don’t trust it and won’t be watching as when I say I boycott something, I farking mean it, it’s dead.
The boycott hasn’t achieved that. Replacing Campbell Live with a Jono and Ben show was made up by the Herald
Friday, 10 April 2015 MediaWorks Corporate Counsel, Alex Nicholson “The statement in John Drinnan’s articles in relation to the Jono and Ben show, which is attributed to “TV3 bosses”, is a complete fabrication and is not based on fact. Jono and Ben has never once been mentioned in any MediaWorks management forum, discussion or document as a possible replacement for Campbell Live. ”
It was a Jono and Ben styled show
Hah, maybe that is the kind of “theme” and style for the program, that Garner and Heather are meant to present?!
Garner does his “Drive Show”, and to “relax” afterwards, he runs a silly fun show with Heather, at a level lower than “Seven Blunt”.
At least Jono & Ben do not attempt to be ‘Newsworthy’. To me, they present simply as unadulterated quaintness.
I’m not buying it.
It looks like 7 Blunt Mach 2 to me.
Garner is too vain , too lightweight and about as insincere as they come, and while Heather came across as a good journalist a few years back, in recent times she has become fluffy and puerile like the rest.
I don’t get a feeling of any real, (not faux), empathy emanating from them and without that , they will not have any true ability to ask the hard questions of an out of control Government.
When I see either of them nail Key, English or Joyce to the wall with hard hitting interviews and really drill down on issues, then I will sit up and take notice.
Until then I’m not holding my breath!
The TV3 boycott will continue in this household. We have enough right of centre supposed current affairs hosts (eg Mike the tossKing) already. I know it’s too much to ask for someone who is at left of centre to front such a show, when the “non-political” sacking of JC was clearly about removing any balance on our National televisions. We will continue to switch off all channels at 7pm until Jonkey and his cronies relinquish their control over all media.
same
Ever noticed how Garner waves his arms around as he speaks?
He looks like a spastic Thunderbird puppet because the movements of his hands and arms (to provide emphasis) are only ever vaguely related to whatever is coming out of his mouth at the same instant.
It is obvious the entire TV3 stable of presenters have been trained to do this, probably by some birdbrain who believes that such animation adds to the gravitas or “feeling” of their news delivery.
It has proven impossible to even get up the patience to watch TV3 anymore.Right now I have the tv on for TV3 but the sound if off. It’s like TV3 just doesn’t have that interest for many viewers.The hasty destruction of Campbell Live has completely and irretrievably ruined TV3 as a suitable television station.
The political influence by John Key has shown to us how much he has Christie and Weldon under his control.
I am also finding it impossible to watch the Paul Henry Show and especially on Monday mornings when the John Key Mutual Admiration Society MUST make an appearance. And all on first name basis as well.
And so I will probably prefer to watch Prime, Maori TV or even Choice instead of any association with a television channel that treats viewers as dumb idiots.
Besides we have more than enough dumb idiots in the Key government. And TV3 is showing itself as the National Government Television Station.
What a crock TV3 has ended up being thanks to the hasty actions of its management to make one insecure unstable PM happy.
Of course anything is better than Come Dine with Me.
That’s how they getcha ….
Rob you (of Campbell Live)
Starve you (of John Campbell or anything meaningful)
Dumb you down (Come Dine with Me, Road Cops)
Throw you a crumb (H d PA + D Garner)
Even though the crumbs are stale, you feel weirdly grateful because it’s better than starving = Come Dine with Me.
Do those boycotting TV3 think about the impact they may be having on the staff still there (producers, reporters, editors, camerapeople, graphic artists)? I have seen one person there ask others not to boycott because of implications it may have down the track.
More job cuts for the industry won’t help anyone.
“A” – the old argument that boycotts will affect workers; the poor; vulnerable, etc, is usually a point lost on those that are being targetted. In simple words, I doubt if the management/Board care one whit about their staff.
That argument was used against boycotting the South African apartheid regime and had we heeded it, apartheid would be with us today.
Pray tell us what alternative(s) you have to offer us? I’d love to know.
[…] first glance the pairing up of Garner and du Plessis-Allan had potential and suggested the backlash to the political killing off of Campbell Live had forced a […]
Corrupt ole boys network behind the scenes making foolish decision after insane decisions about our media. Most thinking people have already abandoned the pro-government media outlets here in NZ and have tuned into more open minded alternative media outlets online – especially RT.COM ; The Intercept ; The Guardian ; The Daily blog ; Truthdig ; Infowars.com – etc.
We have even stopped watching Q & A and The Nation because they are mostly devoid of any good commentators anymore and just plain boring and pro-National for the most part. Mouthpieces for the status quo and now they are suffering with low ratings and many are just not tuning in anymore. Better and more reliable info online.
MONEY MONEY MONEY and there goes our good shows like Campbell Live and others. No wonder people are moving away from TV media and TV shows as they are mostly just boring fluff ( or violent garbage ) meant to put us to sleep and keep us brainwashed into believing their load of BS. Shout out a big thank you for Stephen Joyce and is horrific contribution to the destruction of so many good things here in NZ. He is the puppet master for the corporate elite and when he says jump – then donkey jonkey says — ” How high master ? “
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