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

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • 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
  • Politics
  • 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
    • Herald NOW
    • 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
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • 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 / New Zealand

Campbell Live supporters promise to rally in four cities

John Weekes
By John Weekes
Senior Business Reporter·NZME.·
22 Apr, 2015 04:13 AM3 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. Photo / Greg Bowker

John Campbell. Photo / Greg Bowker

Supporters of embattled TV host John Campbell promise to rally in four cities this week to support his primetime TV show.

At least 82,800 people have signed petitions on the Toko and Action Station websites in support of Campbell Live.

Rampant speculation about the TV3 show's axing has triggered an outpouring of anger from the show's viewers and supporters.

Journalist and former TVNZ head of news and current affairs Bill Ralston said it was possible a big public demonstration would dissuade TV3 owners MediaWorks from plans to ditch Campbell Live.

"It depends how many people turn out. I suppose if there are scores and scores of people it might make TV3 think about what they're doing."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Mr Ralston said only a public movement in support of 1930s social justice campaigner and commercial radio pioneer Colin "Uncle Scrim" Scrimgeour compared to the support voiced for Mr Campbell.

"You have to go back a long way in history to find this kind of public response."

Rallies will happen in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"The response has been overwhelming," Auckland Save Campbell Live rally organiser Ruth Crichton said this afternoon. "I wasn't sure what to expect."

She said New Zealanders would miss out on an important source of information if Campbell Live was axed.

Ms Crichton, a student, said she was constantly receiving messages and phone calls from people who wanted to support the current affairs show.

The Save Campbell Live Facebook group, Action Station, Scoop Media and the Coalition for Better Broadcasting supported the rallies.

Discover more

New Zealand

NZ's Facebook status: Kiwis #love Lorde

22 Apr 05:00 PM
Opinion

Duncan Greive: Campbell Live fans rally to save the show they never switched on

28 Apr 08:30 PM
Entertainment

From chopping block to death row

30 Apr 05:00 PM

The current affairs show was often cited as being locked in a ratings war with TV One's Seven Sharp but a senior media studies lecturer said the threat to drop Campbell Live epitomised "a deeper structural malaise" in New Zealand's media sector.

"MediaWorks' concern is not primarily Campbell Live's rating lower than Seven Sharp but its marginal returns and capacity to deliver audience flow to subsequent programmes," Victoria University's Dr Peter Thompson wrote in The New Zealand Herald this week.

"Even if Campbell Live were out-rating Seven Sharp, the relentless drive to maximise returns from every slot could make it economically rational to replace it with a programme that is cheaper or more popular," Dr Thompson said.

"...If commercial logic is allowed to drive the entire television sector, we will likely be left without any regular, substantive current affairs in prime time. That would be a tragedy for democracy."

MediaWorks bosses reportedly told Campbell Live staffers the current affairs programme could be dumped for a daily entertainment show.

Yet MediaWorks has denied the Jono and Ben show was considered as a replacement for Campbell Live.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Mr Campbell said he wasn't able to comment at this point in time.

MediaWorks did not immediately respond to a message for comment.

The Auckland rally on Friday would start on the corner of Karangahape Rd and Symonds St at 11.30am. Those in attendance planned to march to TV3 owner MediaWorks' headquarters in Flower St, Eden Terrace. There, Campbell Live supporters planned to present a petition to the broadcaster.

The Wellington rally would start at 4.30pm at Te Aro Park, with a noon rally in Christchurch at Hagley Park, and the Dunedin rally in the Lower Octagon at 4.30pm.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Napier man arrested after military-style guns found in children's bedrooms

08 Jul 07:17 AM
New Zealand|crime

Robber stole woman's $2k pokie winnings and left her unconscious outside bar

08 Jul 07:00 AM
New Zealand

'Avoid the area': Pedestrian injured after accident with car in Blenheim

08 Jul 06:30 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Napier man arrested after military-style guns found in children's bedrooms

Napier man arrested after military-style guns found in children's bedrooms

08 Jul 07:17 AM

The man is facing 14 charges, including unlawful possession of prohibited firearms.

Robber stole woman's $2k pokie winnings and left her unconscious outside bar

Robber stole woman's $2k pokie winnings and left her unconscious outside bar

08 Jul 07:00 AM
'Avoid the area': Pedestrian injured after accident with car in Blenheim

'Avoid the area': Pedestrian injured after accident with car in Blenheim

08 Jul 06:30 AM
'Terrified': Father and daughter hostages speak of Nelson standoff ordeal

'Terrified': Father and daughter hostages speak of Nelson standoff ordeal

08 Jul 06:16 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

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
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • 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