Disastrous radio ratings demand accountability

Radio New Zealand's senior management must take responsibility for the network's ratings plummet over the last 12 months, says National's Broadcasting spokesperson Katherine Rich.

AC Nielsen's annual survey shows that from 2001 to 2002 the number of National Radio listeners fell from 535,000 to 502,000. Concert FM declined by 15,000, and the average time spent listening to that station dropped by just under two hours a week.

"If this was a private radio network heads would roll. There shouldn't be a different standard of accountability simply because Radio New Zealand uses taxpayers money instead of shareholders," said Ms Rich.

"The key performance target for Radio New Zealand hardly inspires confidence - their aim is to lose no more than 10% of the previous year's listeners. If they stick to this target then their audience will be halved within six years.

"Crying poverty is no excuse for the problems and low morale facing Radio New Zealand. RNZ need to lift their game before expecting the taxpayer to bail them out," said Ms Rich.

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