Radio closure another blow for sport
The shock closure of Radio Sport has provided a ‘‘numbing reality’’ to the impact of Covid-19, says Sport NZ chief executive Peter Miskimmin.
With effectively all sport suspended for the foreseeable future, NZME announced on Monday it was shutting down the radio station with immediate effect.
The decision was met with disappointment from Radio Sport’s ardent listeners, and Miskimmin echoed their sentiments by saying it was another blow for sport in New Zealand.
‘‘I think it will have an impact and for many people it was their radio of choice,’’ he said. ‘‘It championed all of sports from elite through to the grassroots.
‘‘They dug deep on lots of good issues, they kept people informed and created a strong sense of community among all those people who are obsessed about sport and love sport.
‘‘It allowed them to participate in talkback and those things will be missing which is sad. Sport is a really important ingredient in connecting people together. It’s social connection for the fans.’’
With limited sport to report on during the Covid-19 pandemic, Miskimmin said he understood why the decision was made by NZME to cull Radio Sport. But he hoped the station would be revived in some form when sport eventually resumes.
‘‘Everyone is trying to dimension what the impact of Covid-19 will be and that’s what we’re trying to do, from grassroots to elite sport,’’ he said. ‘‘The media needs that content to drive all those things; to share with the fans, to involve the fans and keep them informed. When that’s not happening I can understand why these sorts of decisions are being made.
‘‘People are trying to work out what the new normal is for them and hopefully this is a temporary thing and at some stage we will get back and there will be news and it will flow. But without stories of competition, it’s hard for the media to present those.’’ SPORTING CHANCE