NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather forecasts

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
    • The Great NZ Road Trip
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
    • Cooking the Books
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • What the Actual
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Business / Companies / Media and marketing

Campbell Live to be axed? TV bosses place show under review

John Drinnan
By John Drinnan
Columnist·NZ Herald·
9 Apr, 2015 06:03 AM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

John Campbell is facing an uncertain future. Photo / Greg Bowker

John Campbell is facing an uncertain future. Photo / Greg Bowker

John Campbell has thanked fans for the support they've shown following news his current affairs programme may be on the chopping block.

The veteran journalist has posted a message on the Campbell Live Twitter page; saying: "Thank you all so much for your support. Please watch tonight.''

TV3 bosses told Campbell Live staff the channel is thinking of canning the current affairs show for a daily entertainment show, with some speculating a Jono and Ben-style show could be a replacement.

That is one of the options in a "consultative document" handed out yesterday, which left Campbell Live staff shell-shocked.

Jono and Ben have tweeted they had no idea their show might be in to replace the Campbell Live timeslot.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"We've read that we're rumoured to replace @CampbellLiveNZ. Just want to say on record this is honestly the first we've heard of this.''

The move follows a period of poor ratings at the show and TV3's drift away from news and into entertainment.

READ MORE: Are Jono and Ben ready for a shift to prime time?

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

A TV3 source said Campbell Live staff turned up at the regular editorial meeting and were met by the head of news and current affairs, Mark Jennings, and a human resources legal representative.

FROM THE ARCHIVE: John Campbell - Mr Conscience

One TV3 staffer told the Herald that while the document suggested options, staff felt closure was inevitable because the programme did not have the support of chief executive Mark Weldon and MediaWorks director Julie Christie.

The document asked: "Is the 7pm slot still the right time for hard-hitting current affairs in the changing landscape of media consumption?"

Discover more

Entertainment

John Campbell: Mr Conscience

13 Jun 08:00 PM
Opinion

Paul Casserly: TV's best quotes - 'Her ovaries will turn into testicles'

30 Nov 10:00 PM
Entertainment

Pregnant & changing channel

05 Mar 04:00 PM
Entertainment

Campbell's tearful reaction

12 Mar 09:17 PM

It listed as one of the options bringing back Campbell's show in its present format, or an amended one. Other options were for a Jono and Ben-style entertainment show or a tabloid-style factual show akin to Hard Copy.

Insiders said that Campbell has been visibly stressed in recent weeks.

While staff said the initiative came out of the blue, the show has been under intense pressure since the arrival of Weldon, who is a big fan of Paul Henry.

Christie has indicated that she is not a big fan of Campbell, though the show has survived thanks to strong advertiser support.

The consultative document said no part of the MediaWorks schedule was outside the gamut of the review and staff approached by the Herald believed MediaWorks is looking at implementing changes this year, not next.

MediaWorks has denied the Jono and Ben show had been considered as a possible replacement for Campbell Live. MediaWorks corporate counsel Alex Nicholson issued a statement today saying:

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Jono and Ben has never once been mentioned in any MediaWorks management forum, discussion or document as a possible replacement for Campbell Live. "Mark Jennings added: "Campbell Live is one of the mainstays of New Zealand media and has been at the forefront of New Zealand's news and current affairs landscape for a decade.

"John Campbell and Campbell Live have won every award possible, broken some of the most important stories of the decade, repeatedly been voted most popular current affairs presenter and programme, and made a real difference to Kiwis' lives."

But Herald media columnist John Drinnan, who helped break the story yesterday, said that the option of a Jono and Ben-style or Hard Copy-style show came up in a discussion of the document released to staff yesterday led by the TV3 head of news and current affairs, Mark Jennings.

It was one of the options canvassed. "There may be other options to make a Jono and Ben-style show."

The #SaveCampbellLive tag has taken off on Twitter:

We've read that we're rumoured to replace @CampbellLiveNZ.Just want to say to say on record this is honestly the first we've heard of this.

— Jono and Ben (@JonoAndBen) April 9, 2015

Don't jump straight to outrage. Campbell Live 'ratings' story YEARS old, since Close Up days. Deemed a very impt part of the overall 3 mix.

— Wallace / Walesi Chapman (@wallacelchapman) April 9, 2015

Ratings might be down but still making a difference...everyday Kia kaha te whanau o Clive. @JohnJCampbell @CampbellLiveNZ

— Mihingarangi Forbes (@Mihi_Forbes) April 9, 2015

John Campbell is your voice. He's there when you need to be heard. He helped so many. Now John needs you. Spread the word: #SaveCampbellLive

— Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) April 9, 2015

I live for the day when current and affairs and news isn't based on ratings and popularity. #nzmedia #nzpol #SaveCampbellLive

— Sam[uel] Smith (@samuelsmith1988) April 9, 2015

. @CampbellLiveNZ spills over with kind-heartedness. All the best.

— 95bFM News (@95bFMNews) April 9, 2015

If only everyone on Twitter had a ratings box... #saveCampbellLive

— @damianchristie (@damianchristie) April 9, 2015
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Media and marketing

Premium
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: Willis’ film industry backing shows Budget's focus on economic growth

16 May 09:00 PM
Premium
Business|companies

The big lessons for NZ in Australia's under-16 social media ban

14 May 05:32 AM
Entertainment

'Very sorry': Crushing news for Grand Theft Auto fans

04 May 10:28 PM

The Hire A Hubby hero turning handyman stereotypes on their head

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Media and marketing

Premium
Fran O'Sullivan: Willis’ film industry backing shows Budget's focus on economic growth

Fran O'Sullivan: Willis’ film industry backing shows Budget's focus on economic growth

16 May 09:00 PM

OPINION: Balancing growth and fiscal prudence will be a tough task for the Govt, though.

Premium
The big lessons for NZ in Australia's under-16 social media ban

The big lessons for NZ in Australia's under-16 social media ban

14 May 05:32 AM
'Very sorry': Crushing news for Grand Theft Auto fans

'Very sorry': Crushing news for Grand Theft Auto fans

04 May 10:28 PM
Premium
Roger Partridge: How asset recycling could solve NZ's infrastructure woes

Roger Partridge: How asset recycling could solve NZ's infrastructure woes

19 Apr 03:00 AM
Gold demand soars amid global turmoil
sponsored

Gold demand soars amid global turmoil

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • What the Actual
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven CarGuide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP