Campbell and Holmes 'to go head-to-head ' at 7pm

John Campbell. Picture / Northern Advocate

John Campbell is apparently set to front a new 7pm TV3 current affairs show.

Industry sources say the network has been on a hiring binge in preparation for the programme's launch, which will see Campbell go up against Prime's Paul Holmes slot and TVNZ's as-yet-unknown new incarnation of Close Up at 7.

The new programme could be produced by Campbell's newsreading colleague Carol Hirschfeld.

TV3 news boss Mark Jennings remained tight-lipped about whether the network was going in to battle, saying they were considering all the options.

A decision was likely by the end of the year, said Jennings.

"Obviously we are looking at our options in this. But I do not know whether we're going to end up doing this show."

Campbell said if there were ever a time for the network to "re-invent" itself, it was now.

"I think TV3's probably in the strongest position it's ever been in. We'd be foolish not to think about what to do with ourselves."

If TV3's half-hour current affairs bulletin does get the nod, the country will see the most competitive news environments in its broadcasting history.

Television chiefs will be hoping New Zealanders have a healthy appetite for current affairs over dinner time, with viewers only having Shortland Street and music videos as alternatives in the prime-time slot.

TV3 currently fills its 7pm slot with popular cartoon The Simpsons, which rates very well with a young, mostly male, demographic, eyed by advertisers as an ideal audience to ply their wares to.

Whether to stay with the relatively cost-efficient cartoon or spend millions on starting up a local current affairs show was a major factor in the decision to join the news war, said one senior TV3 source, as was the potential over-saturation of news at 7pm.

First mooted almost a decade ago, the introduction of a hard-hitting current affairs show with Campbell at the helm has long been talked about.
Industry sources say Campbell is becoming increasingly bored reading the news, a suggestion both Jennings and Campbell deny.

TVNZ is also on the cusp of announcing plans for its 7pm show, hastily relaunched last month as Close Up at 7 after Holmes' shock departure.
Radio show host Paul Henry, who currently fronts TVNZ's morning current affairs show Breakfast, is likely to have a role on the show, along with Close Up at Seven presenter Susan Wood.

As TVNZ looks to vamp up its image to appeal to a younger audience, man about town Hugh Sundae is widely tipped to be the third presenter for the show.

As the news war escalates, TVNZ head of news Bill Ralston has been frantically working to keep his staff from being poached by Prime, and is said to be offering generous bonuses to employees.

Prime is believed to be offering journalists about $15,000 more to jump ship.

TVNZ bosses are still not giving away any details about the new show's format, but the broadcaster has sent a confident message to advertisers about the slot.

It increased its rate card - the price it charges for advertising slots - by 30 per cent for the prime-time slot, compared to a 10 per cent rise for its other time slots. Currently advertisers pay close to $12,000 for a one-off 30-second promotion during the show.

This will compare to about $1800 for the same during Prime's soon-to-be launched Holmes show.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY