TV3 hopes to overturn terrible ratings

MediaWorks says Heather du Plessis-Allan and Duncan Garner will be a formidable team at 7pm.

The future of TV3 news and current affairs rests on the success of the new current affairs show called Story.

MediaWorks said yesterday Heather du Plessis-Allan and Duncan Garner will host the TV3 project.

The replacement for Campbell Live carries the hopes of the channel and those of us who want TV3 to maintain its commitment to news and current affairs.

TV3 is battling dire ratings at the start of the day with Paul Henry, and worrying figures for the late news programme Newsworthy, fronted by Sam Hayes and David Farrier.

3 News has been in the doldrums since it lost the 5.30 lead-in programme Home and Away in 2013.

After the cut to a half-hour 3 News show on Sundays many expect 3 News to be cut back to half an hour for the rest of the week, though MediaWorks has not confirmed that is under consideration.

The encouraging news is that Mark Jennings - the embattled news and current affairs director - has hired two newshounds to front the Campbell Live replacement.

Du Plessis Allan is rumoured to have been paid a generous package to make the shift. She has the potential to deliver the star appeal the show needs and Campbell took with him. Garner has more challenges. The former 3 News political editor has made a big noise on his Radio Live show but he might not have the necessary star appeal fronting the 7pm show.

Garner will continue to work his 3pm to 6pm show on RadioLive, which may offer good security of income.

TV3 has mis-stepped by focusing on morning TV with Paul Henry.

The challenge is to bring back former Campbell Live viewers and break the runaway dominance of TV One's Seven Sharp, which is recording record audiences since Campbell left.