TV3 Sunrise FINALLY Sunsets

Sunrise, ASB Business canned
Staff at TV3 have been told that ASB Business and Sunrise are getting the axe, resulting in at least 20 redundancies. The morning news shows launched two and a half years ago, but the cost of producing the programmes had proven unsustainable, a statement from Mediaworks said. "We have not taken this decision lightly, and it has been the subject of a lot of debate and discussion at both a board and management level. Ultimately, it has been the board's decision," said MediaWorks TV executive director Ian Audsley. The decision will result in at least 20 job losses across the board but Audsley said TV3 would be able to offer "redeployment" in some cases. "Today's announcement is not a reflection on the calibre of the people involved in the production of the programmes. They're as good and capable a team as any I've seen anywhere," Audsley said. The final editions of the shows were aired this morning.

COME ON - this was sooooooo on the cards. Sunrise cost a bundle, and hemorrhaged ratings. With corporate pruner and playboy Ian Audsley given his chop chop orders it is no surprise whatsoever that this failed experiment failed.

When it launched, it fell flat, James Coleman as the lead host was a mistake and the tone of the show was deeply flawed. Why would I watch conservative lite opinion when I can get the full bodied creamy flavour from Paul Henry? TV3 never set out to offer an alternative to what was already being offered, which is why initially the appointment of Oliver Driver (after his amazing work doing 30minute political interviews on Alt Tv) had such a ratings reaction, finally a liberal alternative to Breakfast. Sadly once I stopped writing the questions for Oliver, he quickly fell back into the dumb TV that saw Sunrise bleed away to nothing.

Perhaps there will be a new position for him at the new digital channel TV3 are launching but with no better strategy being offered from TV3 other than 'we are slightly less conservative than TVNZ' it suggests they still don't understand why Sunrise didn't work in the first place.

So what will replace Sunrise? Well, maybe Campbell live will be moved there as part of the TVNZ and TV3 duopoly decided decision to cut the 6pm news to 3Ominutes.

TVNZ
6pm - News
6.30pm - Paul Henry's new political show
7pm - Close Up (less political more folksy interview - so no actual difference)

TV3
6pm - News
6.30pm - Campbell Live
7pm - some imported high rating sitcom

UPDATE
Dear old David at Kiwiblogh is taking pot shots at me, of all the things he decides to challenge me on (like the climate denial crap he spouts - but then again when he gets spanked on climate change I can see why he avoids the issue) he must be feeling brave after ducking any scrutiny is his role in the Hager emails. To be precise, I was producing, researching and writing Driver's questions for his current affairs show on Alt Tv and his sharpness during Sunrise's 2008 election coverage came from his 30 minute interviews on Alt, once that fell over he was much less sharp, stopped being an alternative to Paul Henry and viewers left in their droves. Not such a difficult conclusion to draw for anyone other than Farrar.)