All media - is a business. They are in it to make money. It was in their best interest to maintain that there was a possibility of survivors. Until police announced there were no survivors; they were in a position - damned if they do, damned if they don't. If they were to say no survivors, and the next media reporter was to announce that there could be survivors - which one (think about it from the perspective of someone who has never been underground) would they choose to watch.
I hate the rubbish in the media, don't get me wrong. That Koche bloke gives me a headache, literally. I find ABC / SBS media to be less ridiculous like 7/9/10 - the hype and tear jerking they prey on make me puke.
I am in underground mining, but don't consider myself all that experienced in this particular industry. I ignore all the media hype and spoke to friends and work colleges with more experience than I do - for the truth.
It's an absolute tragedy and great loss, Greymouth is a lovely sleepy little town, I've been there a number of times. My thoughts to the deceased friends and family.