Newshub will end programming and shutter its newsroom by July, Warner Bros Discovery has confirmed, with close to 300 jobs to go.
Journalists and producers were told at an all-hands meeting this morning.
A possible deal between Warner Bros Discovery and another media company has not been ruled out, however, "at this stage there is no deal," according to management, and the newsroom will be fully closed in a matter of months.
Newshub's final day will be July 5. The closure would involve shuttering the publisher's flagship 6pm bulletin and online news website.
After 34 years on air, the cancellation of news on TV3 would likely leave television viewers with only one choice for local news — state-owned TVNZ.
Staff could be seen walking to an event venue for the meeting just before 11am, alongside high-profile news presenters Mike McRoberts, Samantha Hayes, Patrick Gower, Rebecca Wright, and others.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Paddy Gower said "250 amazing people have lost their jobs" while bulletin host Samantha Hayes said it was a “really sad day”.
Gower said; "They are good friends of mine but they are also good friends of all Kiwis. Everybody that has worked for TV3 since 1989 in news are friends of all Kiwis.
"We’re losing something amazing today."
He said the key thing now was those who are talking about providing a lifeline to journalists, needed to get onto it, in order to save jobs and news for New Zealanders.
Hayes said: “We all love doing the news, and I think all the Newshub staff in there would love to keep doing that.”
Mike McRoberts said he just felt sad, not just for the staff, but for their loyal audience.
Warner Bros Discovery NZ boss Glen Kyne said in a media release: "We are deeply aware of the effect this is likely to have on the plurality of media voices in New Zealand.
"Having just one TV news operation in New Zealand – that is state-owned – will be an ongoing issue until it is solved. But as we noted on the day, it is simply impossible to continue operating in our current form.”
Journalists and producers on the current affairs programme Sunday are also waiting to learn the fates of their jobs as TVNZ announces its plans later today.
Earlier this week, there was speculation that Newshub's newsroom operations could be kept in some form, but significantly scaled back.
In his speech to staff today, Kyne said conversations were "continuing to take place".
"You may have read some news about rumours of a deal with another media company. As we said, we would listen to all parties, internal and external," he said.
"Our door has been open to discussions, and some conversations have taken place. They are continuing to take place in confidence and at this stage there is no deal.
"If there is to be a deal, it is my promise that we will let you all know directly about anything that happens as soon as we are able to."
The head of Warner Bros Discovery's Asia-Pacific division James Gibbons said an expected "bounce-back" in the advertising markets had not happened.
There's also unease over what it might mean for other well-known Kiwi programmes. (Source: 1News)
"When we announced the proposed restructure six weeks ago, we explained that there was nothing anyone in our New Zealand networks business could have done better – it was a combination of very strong economic headwinds both in New Zealand and the global market.
"As we said at the time, the downturn has been severe, and the bounce-back has not materialised as expected."
The downsizing would reduce Warner Bros Discovery's footprint in New Zealand to 120 staff, having cut 294 roles as part of proposed cuts across the business.
Staff could be seen walking to an event venue for the meeting just before 11am, alongside high-profile news presenters Mike McRoberts, Samantha Hayes, Patrick Gower, Rebecca Wright, and others. (Source: 1News)
Gibbons said the paired back offering would continue to provide "a mix of local programming in conjunction with funding partners, acquisitions across drama, comedy, sport, reality, and factual, and key titles from Warner Bros Discovery's extensive library."
The fate of local shows like The Block and Married At First Sight NZ remains unclear.
Original proposal cut 75% of company's staff
Staff have been waiting over a five-week consultation period after Warner Bros Discovery proposed significantly cutting back on local production.
The February announcement sent shockwaves throughout the news and media industry.
Shortly after, TVNZ announced it proposed to axe daily news bulletins, aside from 1News at Six, alongside current affairs programmes Fair Go and Sunday.
It has since confirmed the Midday and Tonight bulletins will end, while Fair Go will stop being broadcast but it will be potentially staying on as a digital brand.
Sunday will learn its fate today.
The major cuts for Newshub and Three have come only around three years after the company bought it for $20 million.
With a recessionary economy, news publishers have faced a precipitous decline in the advertising market. In February, select committee MPs were told some news publishers are "clinging on by their fingernails" and that the sector is in "grave peril".
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