NZ Newshub facing closure
Warner Bros Discovery has proposed the closure of NZ's Three news service, potentially ending 35 years of news.
- Published by David Knox
- on
35-years of broadcast news on New Zealand network Three is at risk after Warner Bros Discovery, which owns the news service Newshub, signalled a proposed shut down of the newsroom.
The closure of its newsroom operations, television news broadcasts and website from June 30, will result in the loss of up to 200 media jobs.
Under New Zealand law, a proposed restructure or redundancies must be consulted on before a final decision can be announced.
“Free-to-air and news are expensive businesses to run. Put simply, the economic headwinds means the returns are not there,” said Glen Kyne, a senior vice president, at Warner Bros Discovery in Australia and New Zealand.
He added, ““These proposed changes will be hard if they are implemented, but we think they are necessary.”
Warner Bros Discovery reported said it plans to continue operating digital platform ThreeNow and network channel Three with programming from the network’s library and local programming, where funding could be obtained.
Long time journalist Mike McRoberts said the news was “heartbreaking”.
“We’re a pretty good newsroom, if we can’t make it work, who can?”
A final decision is expected in early April.
Source: The Post
7 Responses
I’m sorry to hear this. I enjoy watching their channel on You Tube.
Can’t think of any element of either business the merger of WB and Discovery had improved.
As a kiwi living here in oz, everytime I go back home to nz, I prefer newshub over tvnz news. Then its going to be bad news for network 10 here if the rumour paramount & warner bros discovery merger? If its gets the go ahead?
Really sad news and to only have one free to air news show in NZ is not a good thing. I remember seeing the first TV3 news show when that channel first came on air.
Interesting take.
Tv in Australia is adding more news bulletins everywhere rather than invest in new shows etc and Warner Brothers seem to be doing the opposite.
The difference is ACMA require 55% Australian content between 6am and midnight on the primary channel. AFAIK, NZ doesn’t have the same quota rules.
NZ does have Irirangi te Motu (NZ on Air) which offers funding to production companies to produce content that otherwise isn’t commercially viable. Things like children’s content, dramas and docos. It doesn’t cover news or reality content on FTA.
How devastating for everyone at Newshub and Three.