Media Releases
RNZ and Mediaworks to collaborate
Released at 3:00 pm on 21 February 2024
A content sharing agreement between RNZ and MediaWorks comes into effect this week, with RNZ news stories available to run on MediaWorks radio stations and MediaWorks sports content soon to be available for use on RNZ’s channels.
The organisations' signed a mutually beneficial agreement late last year that allows for the sharing of specific content (subbed news and sports reports and audio clips but not voiced reports) between RNZ and MediaWorks. Any use of content will be attributed, meaning listeners might hear “RNZ News reports” or “MediaWorks Sports reports”, while listening to their favourite station.
RNZ Chief Performance Officer Glen Scanlon said the agreement, like all content sharing arrangements RNZ enters into, was non-exclusive. RNZ’s strategy was to maintain its content sharing programme and look for further opportunities to collaborate.
“We always keep an open mind about entering into new content sharing agreements and we now have more than 60, ranging from small community operations to most of New Zealand’s large media organisations. We are deliberately not precious about sharing because as public media we see the benefit in all New Zealanders having access to the great content we produce where they like to spend their time.”
“Content sharing also helps keep the sector strong and a diversity of media outlets is important to a healthy functioning democracy.”
RNZ remains the most trusted media organisation in Aotearoa and Scanlon said the content sharing agreements required a high standard from partner organisations.
“All of our agreements have to be consistent with RNZ’s Charter and role as a public media organisation. RNZ’s people work tirelessly to deliver high- quality, trusted content and we want to make sure those same high standards apply when our work is shared.”
MediaWorks Director of Content Leon Wratt said this was about offering more to audiences, complementing their existing news and sport offering.
“Our hard-working journalists are highly valued by our stations and their audiences, but they can’t make every council meeting or court case across the country. This agreement with RNZ will mean we can bring even more news to our listeners.
“MediaWorks is blessed with decades of sporting experience in its news team, and this will now be shared with RNZ’s audience through this content-sharing agreement.”
About RNZ
RNZ is New Zealand’s independent non-commercial public media organisation and we’ve proudly been so for almost 100 years.
RNZ delivers a diverse range of content that reflects New Zealand’s culture, social and regional diversity. It serves as a platform for quality journalism, creating a space for open dialogue and informed discussion on topics that matter to New Zealanders.
RNZ has more than 60 content sharing partnerships and collaborations in place. It means RNZ content is available to many online media, print, radio and television services in New Zealand and the wider Pacific. This improves the accessibility of RNZ content for New Zealand and overseas audiences and provides a valuable source of unique local content for other media.
About MediaWorks
MediaWorks is New Zealand's leading radio and outdoor media company with over 2.4 million weekly listeners and over 5,000 outdoor touch points nationwide. The company owns and operates radio brands The Edge, The Rock, More FM, The Breeze, The Sound, Mai FM, George FM, Magic, Humm FM, Channel X and rova. MediaWorks brands and people are household names with local, highly engaged audiences. www.mediaworks.co.nz