“This is betrayal,” New Zealand’s Today FM presenter Duncan Garner uttered live on air moments before the station was shut down during his morning show. NZ’s Stuff reports: In the stunning turn of events, the pair of Today FM presenters revealed to listeners that the station was being closed down, with crying members from the newsroom joining them in the studio.
The pair hurriedly thanked listeners for all the “love and support” before they were pulled from the air, with music replacing Garner’s show.
Update: MediaWorks has shut down its news radio station Today FM after eight hours of consultation with staff, with a new station launching on the same frequency in April.
Here is the full transcript of how the situation played out on air
“I’m Duncan Garner. Welcome to Duncan Garner Today, and Tova [O’Brien] has just walked into the studio with me. We’re doing this live. Tova has just walked in,” Garner starts.
“The newsroom is coming in as well. We’re being, well not rolled, but I believe we are. They are rolling into the studio.”
“Guys, come into the studio. We’re bringing in our Today FM news team. I don’t know how much longer we are going to be on air.
Everyone grab a mic,” O’Brien says as she joins Garner.
“What’s the deal?” asks Garner.
A voice in the studio can be heard saying they “will be all herded in at quarter past 12” for a meeting.
“So basically what has happened now is the whole crew from Today FM has come into the studio with me here. There are people crying and really upset and shell-shocked,” Garner says.
Soon after when taking calls from a listener expressing their best wishes for the Today FM presenters, O’Brien cuts in to tell Garner they have to go.
“Duncan, we’ve got to interrupt. We’ve been instructed to play music. This is it, guys,” O’Brien says.
“Thank you for your phone calls. Thank you for all your support and love. This looks like it is the end of us. We’re being pulled off air right now,” says Garner.
“Without even being given a chance. Thank you for listening,” O’Brien interjects.
“Thanks, folks,” Garner finishes.
This article was originally published on Stuff and has been reproduced with permission
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