All New Zealand television networks are toning down their shouting commercials in response to viewer complaints, with TVNZ adopting the new standards from Sunday.

Television New Zealand reportedly faced "internal opposition" in its newsroom over proposals to offer Paul Henry a role fronting the replacement to Close Up.

Enthusiasm for Paul Henry to liven up current affairs output conjures memories of John Hawkesby fiasco, writes John Drinnan.

On TV, there is a shady mystique to the job of a private investigator. The reality is one of hard work and sometimes operating at the edge of the law.

"In my opinion, if you relied on free to air television, TV3's local coverage of the US election was better," writes John Drinnan.

TV3 was the big winner in news categories at last night's annual TV awards - taking out the hotly contested best scheduled news programme for the first time in five years.

The author of the popular right wing blog Whale Oil has been appointed as the editor of the Truth newspaper.

A merger of publishing giants Random House and Penguin could lead to large-scale job losses in New Zealand and reduced competition.

Debt-for-equity deal along lines that is keeping Channel 9 on air in Oz is looking more likely for MediaWorks in NZ, writes John Drinnan.

TVNZ is considering killing its flagship current affairs show Sunday next year, having shortened it this year to make room for New Zealand's Got Talent, writes John Drinnan.

Foreign television shows are to be steered away from filming sheep and Maori culture after complaints from tourism bosses it's a negative image.

Hollywood is determined to succeed. "The movie and music industries are the two most powerful copyright lobbies in America," writes Jane Kelsey.

Veteran Aussie broadcaster Alan Jones says "21st Century cyber bullying'' is the reason all commercials have been pulled from his radio breakfast show.

John Drinnan's media column looks at Paul Henry's chances of a TVNZ close up, and the fallout from a Kiwi newsman's 'Gotcha' tape of Alan Jones.

After 31 years with TVNZ, Mark Sainsbury is tipped to receive a golden handshake of more than $500,000 when Close Up ends on November 30.

Alan Jones's comments about the Australian prime minister's father are costing his radio station dearly.