Just as a further thought for now - we have seen Newshub try their best to make it work with bulletins through the day + Eden at 8 briefly. Even the amortisation of costs through the day with extra bulletins hasnt helped
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6pm will go ahead as usual tonight, this will most likely be their top story.
I know it’s wishful thinking but I do hope there is an 11th hour reprieve with the consultation process.
It sounds like from what I’m hearing that there might be only 50 FTEs or thereabouts left at WBD NZ.
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How many make up the newsroom atm? Must be a couple hundred at least?
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I am utterly shocked and dismayed to learn that Newshub, through its parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, will be shutting down by mid-2024.
This decision was made after Glen Kyne, the senior vice president and head of the networks at the company, realised that free-to-air television and the provision of news and current affairs are costly ventures.
Sending my support and solidarity to the entire Newshub staff, including those who have come and gone and those who remain for years.
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I’m not entirely sure but when you add in off.camera talent etc it’ll all add up to about that.
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Newshub report:
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I can’t believe this. It fucken sucks.
RNZ broke it for me…
So there’ll be no in-house production at all, by the sounds of it, just commissioned stuff through NZ On Air and third-parties. Knock-on effect will be no news on Sky Open (Prime), unless they’ve got something else in the pipeline.
As a viewer since 1989, this is shithouse, absoutely shithouse.
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Just another example of an international entity coming into New Zealand with nothing but money on their minds. When they saw money flying out the door they jumped ship instead of trying to save it. Warner Bros prioritised profit over investing in the sustainability of local media, and this is the result of that. This will change the entire trajectory of New Zealand media for a long time.
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It’s almost at the stage where WB would be better off selling Three. With no local production, it’s hard to see where the viewers will come from, they’ll probably lose more than they gain. Would have thought Newshub at 6pm would have been one of the higher rating shows on 3.
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So a TV news monopoly for TVNZ? Not good at all
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This is just devastating.
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The ad revenue must be way down. There were definetly less ads on all channels leading up to Christmas 2023… even TVNZ1 were putting multiple trailers on the end of each break, in prime time.
Surely this is the wake-up call the chumps in Wellington need to sort out social-media content policy.
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My thought as well. TVNZ will definitely become complacent.
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Pretty much. We’ll be back to TVNZ, RNZ, and a handful of Newspaper newsrooms (in the old-media, anyway. I’m not sure what’s there in digital-only land, never had any reason to go find out, until perhaps July this year).
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Problem is, I’m not sure who would be in the market for a linear channel and with a desire to create news.
Newshub rates not bad at all - but it’s about the cost of putting news together. Not defending the decision at all but not cheap. NZ’s economy is small - I’d suggest the ad spend in NZ would be probably less than Sydney for example.
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Newstalk ZB newsroom and Mediaworks (albeit much thinner) still operating.
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A very sad day for many Kiwi friends and colleagues.
WBD should get the hell out of the market.
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Wow this is shocking news but sadly it didn’t come without surprise as the lack of information about the new ‘Bridge’ show and Newshub Nation not returning before the announcement.
I have to feel for the people that have really put the work in making Newshub what it is today.
You could really link it back to the rebranding to ‘Newshub’ as it never really took a foothold from the more iconic 3 News in 2016. It was always a second choice/option compared to 1 News but it always had some different viewpoint on stories that was refreshing.
The on-screen talent has always been absolutely impeccable and it is shame that we are going to lose some amazing faces on our screens.
It is a really sad day for the NZ Media landscape.
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