There goes the last vestiges of investigative and critical journalism in this country.
John
Campbell leaves Campbell Live
21
May, 2015
John
Campbell will leave Campbell Live,
with a new current affairs show continuing in his time slot four days
a week, with two presenters.
Campbell
has rejected the chance to co-host a revamped version of his
television show and quit MediaWorks, the company says.
According
to the 3News website,
group head of news Mark Jennings said Campbell was asked to co-host
the show, which will have two presenters, but decided to leave the
company.
"John
has decided he wants to take a break from the job and we respect his
decision," Jennings said.
The
announcement ended a six-week review of this show.
MediaWorks
chief executive Mark Weldon and Jennings told staff today, 3News
reported.
Two
security guards are patrolling the premises and media have been told
to stay out.
It
is believed staff have been given a directive not to speak to media.
Multiple
taxis have been spotted ferrying staff away from the building.
A
source has said staff were shocked and upset by the news. "John
is a great guy to work with, he will be missed."
There
was no answer at Campbell's Grey Lynn home when an NZME. News Service
reporter visited shortly after the announcement this afternoon.
Jennings
said the review of the show assessed a series of options, and an
"evolution of current affairs at 7pm emerged as the best option
for improving commercial performance of the prime time 7pm slot on
TV3".
"As
much as anything, this was a review of the viability of current
affairs at 7pm," Jennings said. "We went in without any
preconceived idea of the outcome, but with a clear goal to turnaround
the ratings decline.
"The
review has clearly shown us what's most relevant to our audience at
7pm is current affairs, but not Campbell
Live
as we know it.
"We
will be bringing the best of Campbell
Live
over to the new show, but will be looking at a wider mix of stories."
Media
commentator Bill Ralston, former TVNZ head of current affairs, said
the decision was "eminently foreseeable".
"The
review had its mind made up from the start," he told the Herald.
"The
collective bile of Campbell fans will be rising rapidly. The real
challenge for TV3 is developing a new programme that appeals to
viewers ... we'll have to see what they replace it with and what it
looks like in content."
When
told the show would be reduced to four days, Ralston said: "And
then three, and then two and then one - that's the way these things
go."
And
as for Campbell's future - Ralston said he would make a "fantastic"
radio host or presenter on another show.
"What
they had was an apples and orange situation there. Campbell was
apples and the show was oranges ... I wish John well for the future."
3News
said a new entertainment show would screen at 7pm on Fridays and
MediaWorks expects the revamped current affairs show to launch in 6-8
weeks.
According
their website, Weldon said MediaWorks' senior management team was
unanimous in its decision and believed the new show was the most
relevant option for audiences and advertisers.
"Mark
Jennings recommended we review Campbell
Live
because, despite the quality of the show, Campbell
Live
had lost viewers every year for 10 years, to the point where the show
was unsustainable.
"Mark
has conducted an extremely rigorous review, and the analysis clearly
shows current affairs is our best option at 7pm.
"MediaWorks
is 100 per cent behind the new current affairs show, and we are
determined to make the programme a success."
Weldon
told 3News
he wanted to pay tribute to Campbell.
"He
has made a huge contribution to TV3 and MediaWorks over the years,
and I was hoping this would continue - which is why last November I
offered John a three-year contract, which he did not sign. I respect
John's decision not to continue at MediaWorks and wish him well."
US fund poised to take 100pc of Mediaworks
US
based vulture fund Oaktree Capital is expected to soon be announced
as taking 100 per cent ownership of Mediaworks, owner of TV3 and half
the country's commercial radio stations.
Oaktree
took a majority 77.8 per cent stake at the end of last month after
buying out Westpac and Royal Bank of Scotland and look to have bought
remaining private equity shareholders - TPG at 15.69 per cent and
Bain Capital subsidiary Minot Light APAC at 6.49 per cent.
Watch the last Cambell Live HERE
Watch the last Cambell Live HERE
A fine tribute from Jane Bowron
The sad end of John Campbell
JANE
BOWRON
OPINION:
With
cynical timing MediaWorks lowered the boom on John Campbell
effectively giving him his marching orders at the same time as the
Budget came out.
Obviously
hoping the axing of Campbell
Live
would be eclipsed by Bill English's Thursday afternoon Budget,
MediaWorks announced the decision when the focus was elsewhere. But
the news hit hard. Elvis had left the building, and a
four-day-a-week show with two co-presenters would replace
him.
He was offered a co-host position, but Campbell said no. Who can blame the host who has been at the helm for more than a decade? It would have been too humiliating to stay on in a show that previously bore your name on it, the Campbell brand having stood for something as it fought for the underdog and took on a Government that over the last few years consistently turned down numerous invitations to appear on the show to battle it out with the passionate host.
He was offered a co-host position, but Campbell said no. Who can blame the host who has been at the helm for more than a decade? It would have been too humiliating to stay on in a show that previously bore your name on it, the Campbell brand having stood for something as it fought for the underdog and took on a Government that over the last few years consistently turned down numerous invitations to appear on the show to battle it out with the passionate host.
Michael
Bradley/ Fairfax NZ
Recent
moves by MediaWorks to become the emperors of reality TV meant that
Campbell Live became a strange fit for them.
Six
weeks ago, when the axing of the show was first raised, fans rushed
to its aid, parking bums on seats and demonstrating their loyalty as
the ratings started to top the 6pm news bulletin. But the writing was
on the wall as the show was rumoured to be too pink in its persuasion
by friends of John Key, high up in the echelons of MediaWorks.
The
review was led by TV3's current affairs boss, Mark Jennings. Senior
management were unanimous in the decision to side-line Campbell. By
opting for co-hosts - the search having already started for fresh
presenters - it indicates the new format may try and give Seven Sharp
(and its signature blathering, banter and editorialising by their
boy-girl presenter line-up) a run for its money.
Campbell's
passion for the job can never be doubted, as he crusaded for so many
causes and issues that faced everyday New Zealanders; kids' lunches
in school, child poverty, changing the drink-driving laws, raising
money for the victims of natural disasters, and tirelessly battling
away for the quake-affected in Christchurch.
MediaWorks,
having recently gone all out on the multimedia Paul Henry show that
is failing to gain traction, has ditched a household name and angered
Campbell Live's loyal fan base who won't take this lying down.
Ten
years ago, Campbell Live entered the scene as a
compassionate, deeper thinking alternative to TVNZ's more staid
current affairs and stood its ground. Recent moves by MediaWorks to
become the emperors of reality TV meant that Campbell
Live became a strange fit for them.
What
is sad is that the host leaves without a well-deserved, decent send
off for his services to the nation.
Some
found his over-the-top sincerity irksome, but he could not have
retained that front for a decade without it being the real deal. No
doubt he will resurface elsewhere. If I was Kathryn Ryan, I would be
very afraid.
Wendy Lester
"We will be bringing the best of Campbell Live over to the new show"
So so so much stupid in that statement, "the best" part is LEAVING
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