Hundreds of journalists are expected to lose their jobs and award-winning TV programmes will end as TVNZ and Newshub have confirmed proposals to drastically slash their newsroom offerings.
The proposals, made over late February and early March, have been undergoing consultation for the past several weeks, where staff had been invited to provide feedback.
Programmes and services affected include TV3's AM, Newshub Live at 6pm, Fair Go, Sunday, 1News Midday, 1News Tonight, and Re: News.
Almost 300 positions to go in Newshub closure, TVNZ calls time on Sunday show. (Source: 1News)
On screens across the country, there are currently six daily news bulletins on weekdays.
By July, there will be only two — both from state-owned TVNZ.
With a recessionary economy, news publishers have faced a precipitous decline in the advertising market. In February, select committee MPs were told some media companies were "clinging on by their fingernails" and that the sector was in "grave peril".
Newshub
After 34 years, Newshub will end programming and shutter its newsroom by July, Warner Bros Discovery has confirmed today, with close to 300 jobs to go.
The closure, announced earlier this morning, meant the end of TV3's morning show AM, Newshub Live at 6pm, and the Newshub website. A possible deal between Newshub's owner and another media company had not been ruled out.
However, "at this stage, there is no deal," according to Warner Bros Discovery NZ boss Glen Kyne, and therefore the newsroom would air its last show on July 5.
"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," Kyne said.
There's also unease over what it might mean for other well-known Kiwi programmes. (Source: 1News)
The ultimate fates of the newsroom's most prominent stars — Mike McRoberts, Samantha Hayes, Ryan Bridge, and Patrick Gower — remained unknown.
The scaled-down presence of Warner Bros Discovery in New Zealand, with 75% of staff expected to go, also meant a shake-up for TV3's local production of shows.
The fate of local shows such as The Block and Married At First Sight NZ also remained unclear.
TVNZ
TVNZ has confirmed it will end production of 1News Midday, 1News Tonight, Fair Go, and Sunday, while also cutting staff at Re: News.
The broadcaster confirmed the full extent of the cuts today.
The Fair Go brand continues with a new team within News and Current Affairs proposed, with four new roles and a focus on long-form consumer and current affairs for digital platforms. (Source: 1News)
Fair Go and Sunday were some of the broadcaster's longest-running programmes, and represented a significant part of its current affairs offering.
The end date for the axed television shows was May 17.
However, the union covering many of the affected TVNZ staff has filed a claim with the Employment Relations Authority against the broadcaster.
A statement from E tū said it was the union's view that the company did not follow its consultation requirements, as guaranteed for workers in their collective agreement.
In a tweak to the original proposal, TVNZ revealed yesterday it would retain a consumer current affairs team of four and keep the Fair Go brand for use on its digital platforms.
"We’ve listened to our people and we’re pleased to propose a new team to take the lead on long-form consumer and current affairs reporting for TVNZ’s current and future digital products," chief executive Jodi O'Donnell said yesterday.
TVNZ also confirmed the Re: News team would be reduced from 10 staff to six. The youth news publisher attracted an audience of tens of thousands through social media.
"Despite being reduced in number, our team will do our best to continue to provide you the quality news and current affairs content you know and love," the team wrote.
Is this the end of media cuts?
The cuts by Warner Brothers Discovery and TVNZ were the most significant in years for the New Zealand media industry, however, it was unlikely they would be the end of changes for news consumers as media companies battle to adapt to digital.
There has been significant restructuring across news media companies in the past year, including at Stuff, NZME and others.
Before the announcement of cuts at Newshub and TVNZ, MPs were told in February that some publishers were "clinging on by their fingernails" and the media was in "grave peril" during a select committee hearing over new digital bargaining legislation.
If made law, it would force the tech companies to the bargaining table or be penalised. (Source: 1News)
News Publishers Association chairperson Sinead Boucher, also the owner of Stuff, told MPs at the time: "Our members asked us to really emphasise the utter urgency of this legislation. They are clinging on by their fingernails.
"In some cases, they feel like they are really losing that battle in the near future."
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