‘Very inefficient’ Concert was in line to be axed

RNZ originally considered axing radio broadcasts of its Concert channel altogether, not just shifting it from FM to AM, a business case released by the state-owned broadcaster has revealed.

Documents released by RNZ under the Official Information Act appear to stress how small a contribution RNZ believed Concert was making to its objective of being listened to by half of New Zealanders by 2023.

RNZ later proposed switching RNZ Concert from FM to AM and axing presenters, before a backlash resulted in the Government intervening and offering RNZ an additional FM frequency to keep both Concert and its proposed new youth music service on FM.

A December presentation said Concert was adding fewer than 70,000 people to RNZ’s total audience because most of the 165,000 who tuned into Concert also listened to RNZ National. A business case suggested diverting resources from Concert to the new youth music service, to broaden RNZ’s overall reach.

With 18 full-time staff, Concert was ‘‘very inefficient compared to other music stations in NZ’’, its presentation said. Concert was ‘‘under-performing’’ and would need a new direction ‘‘irrespective of whether or not RNZ elects to launch a new music based service for new audiences’’, it said.

The business case envisaged Concert’s staff would be cut to two and that it would continue to be available via Sky TV, Freeview and over the internet. It said giving Concert an AM broadcast frequency was also an option to mitigate the impact on listeners.

RNZ chief executive Paul Thompson told a select committee last month that RNZ had been given a clear steer from the Culture and Heritage Ministry during their talks that an additional FM radio slot was unlikely. The Culture and Heritage Ministry has repeatedly declined to confirm RNZ’s account of their discussions, saying it had no comment.