MediaWorks loses TV chief as brief Parisian fling comes to an end—UPDATED
MediaWorks has announced that television chief executive Jason Paris, who has been in the role for just over a year after shifting across from TVNZ, has resigned.
MediaWorks group managing director Sussan Turner said at the company’s request Paris will be working through his notice period to ensure the smooth transition of all projects across the television business. And also to show that Paris made the decision himself and wasn’t pushed.
She will now assume, as part of her group managing director role, head of television responsibilities and senior television management will report to her.
“I am very confident that we have, in our current television management team, the skill and expertise required to guide MediaWorks Television’s future development and growth,” she says. “The Board of Mediaworks want to acknowledge the contribution that Jason has made to the television business.”
Paris, whose main achievements have been greying up the demographic targets of TV3 and launching the new, slightly more mature, more commercial channel FOUR to replace C4, couldn’t be contacted for comment. But he said in a statement: “The television team has achieved a huge amount in a challenging commercial environment. I thank all of them for their hard work and support and wish them all the very best in their ongoing endeavours.”
UPDATE: Jason Paris returned our call but was unable to add much more to the information contained in the release and enlighten us as to the reasons behind the decision, which he “hasn’t taken lightly”.
“It’s more of a courtesy call,” he says. What a nice chap. Must be that Southland upbringing.
Paris, who did say he hasn’t had any overtures from his old employers, seemed genuinely excited about the opportunities in his new role when we spoke to him earlier in the year. And, given what’s been a fairly successful few months, with audience levels up 18 percent, revenue up significantly and Firstline establishing itself as a morning news option, it seems a strange time to leave when things were just starting to pick up.
While Paris was remaining coy, it’s not hard to deduce the reasons for his departure. The parlous financial situation of MediaWorks’ owners Iron Bridge has been well-documented in the media. Cash has been in short supply and cost cutting was the name of the game, as evidenced by the government ‘loan’ for the relicensing of its radio frequencies.
The NBR quoted a dastardly insider as saying the reason for his departure comes down to a bit of a stoush between Paris and IronBridge, which promised to fund a local version of the X-Factor but then tried to back out of the deal.
Thingee
June 16, 2011
Has Rick given him the unofficial heads up??? Seems a good lead in time for taking the reins of TVNZ. They still lament his departure… that's what happens when all the charisma in your company disappears with one person
Researcher
June 16, 2011
He's had a good run to be fair. I was always a little surprised he had managed to blag it for this long. He probably forgot where he came from and what he was. Thats what happens when you start believing the hype.
Maybe McDonalds will have him back. I always forget, was he "The Marketing Manager" or a marketing manager there. It is easy to get confused.
Smithy
June 17, 2011
@researcher…I hope you speak from a position of 'doing the hard yards' yourself and not another knocker who's never stuck his own neck out.
the observer
June 17, 2011
He's a growth guy (his own words) but it sounds like Ironbridge want to slash and burn to save $'s short term.
It's already a lean operation and not investing in key programmes reduces overall audience levels and therefore revenue.
get a life researcher
June 17, 2011
Researcher. You obviously don’t know Paris. The guy is good. He’s a big loss from MW. Just another tall poppy basher.
All change
June 17, 2011
Jason, made an immediate impact and the changes he made were obvious. I know he'll go on to drive change and success in a company wanting to move forward.
Think ahead
June 17, 2011
Bet his restraint of trade runs out about when Rick Ellis retires, Paris will now be a stronger candidate because he has seen the inner workings of the competition.
Researcher
June 17, 2011
The 'free to air' model is broken and not even your hero Jason Paris is going to fix it. NZ doesn't do destination TV. The budgets are just not there to produce the quality of programme. Ironbridge were right to laugh out those X Factor ideas. A programmer he is not. A marketer of TV, burgers and digital, he is.
Ironbridge want to milk the last few drops from the cash cow before disposing of it. That will happen when cyclical (ad revenue) situation improves. The structural situation will never improve.
'Done the hard yards', anyone who uses that sort of terminology doesn't even know what they are.
No puppet
June 18, 2011
Years of cost-cutting and no new investment has obviously left him with nowhere else to go. At least he's fought hard for the frontline staff and resigning without a job to go to shows he's a man of principle.
Thingee
June 21, 2011
Let's be a little more down to earth. He produced a $14million+ hole with Tivo at TVNZ … because he's not afraid to spend money. Trouble is it isn't his money, and he's not calculated enough about ROI. Kenny Rogers is a better gambler
Smithy
June 21, 2011
@researcher…..yawn.
Kenny Rogers
June 21, 2011
A good gambler knows when to hold, fold and walk away. Given the success that 3 and 4 have had over the last 12 months Paris might be a better gambler than you think – time will tell. Also didn't he leave TVNZ nearly two years ago – bit of a stretch to connect the dots on Tivo to him on this.