Paul Henry forced to quit radio show

TVNZ host Paul Henry has been forced to resign from Radio Live after the state broadcaster told him to stop working for the competition, says the radio station's owners Canwest.

Henry, who fronts TVOne's morning current affairs show Breakfast on weekday mornings and hosts the drive-time slot for Radio Live, which is owned by the same media organisation as TV3, will leave the radio station in two months.

Canwest Mediaworks spokesman Roger Beaumont said Henry's resignation was due to TVNZ's duress.

"TVNZ pressured Paul Henry into resigning his radio job. It's very unfortunate Paul is being treated in this way just because of state television's competitive issues with TV3."

Henry would not comment but it is understood TVNZ offered him an expanded role and more money, if he left Canwest and made himself available exclusively to the state broadcaster.

TVNZ public relations spokesman Robin Field said TVNZ had discussed the sharing of talent with Canwest/Radio Live but TVNZ's discussions with Henry "in no way constituted pressure to resign from his radio show".

TVNZ had talked with Paul Henry regarding increasing his involvement in TVNZ programming and he subsequently decided to leave.

It is understood TVNZ news boss Bill Ralston has his eye on British-born Henry for bigger things than Breakfast on TVOne.

Another Radio Live contributor, TV3's political reporter Duncan Garner, is also in TVNZ's sights.

It is understood he was recently sounded out by Ralston and editorial and production manager Stephen Rowe to take over as political editor from Mark Sainsbury.

The move is said to be in anticipation of Sainsbury's move to replace Susan Wood as host of Close Up early next year.

But Garner says he has signed a new contract with TV3. "I'm entirely happy with the position I'm in at TV3 because I think we're dicking them."

The news comes a week after TVNZ's embattled news boss Bill Ralston came under fire for his dismissal of One News executive producer Melanie Jones and told staff drastic measures were needed to stop the ratings slide.

Ralston has also been heavily criticised by his staff about the way he runs the newsroom.

Meanwhile, TVNZ's position as the number one broadcaster took a hit last week with TV3 taking top spot in key audience demographics for the first time since the channel began 16 years ago. TV3 won out in the crucial demographics of 18-49 year-olds, 25-54 year-olds (TVNZ's target market) and household shoppers with children.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY