TVNZ profit slumps by two-thirds, CEO looks beyond abandoned merger

{Extracts from the NZ Herald — behind a paywall]

TVNZ has reported a net profit of $4.8 million for the six months to the end of 2022.

That was a two-thirds fall from its net profit of $15.2 million in the first half of the 2022 financial year, which itself was less than half the $33.9 million booked for the first half of the state broadcaster’s 2021 financial year.

Revenue fell 2 per cent to $180.3 m as income from advertising dropped 1 per cent to $171.3 million. CEO Simon Power told the Herald a fall-off in government Covid advertising was a factor.

And TVNZ warned in a statement: “Inflationary pressures and interest rate increases are likely to deliver a softer domestic advertising market through the remainder of 2023.”

“Digital revenue also grew 16 per cent year-on-year. These are big numbers, and we are focused on growing our reach further by expanding our content catalogue and continually improving the user experience.”

TVNZ refuses to provide a breakdown of broadcast vs digital revenue.