Newshub at 6 presenters Samantha Hayes and Mike McRoberts. Photo: Supplied
The proposed "remodelling and restructure" of Warner Bros. Discovery's free-to-air business in New Zealand will bring major changes to the Newshub brand.
Under the plan, the multiplatform news operations and output will close, meaning all news production - including the Newshub website - will stop from 30 June.
The proposed new model includes a transition to a "digitally led business".
ThreeNow - the brand's online streaming service - would be at the core of that model, supported by free-to-air linear channels, the company said.
Media commentator Duncan Greive founder of The Spinoff, told Midday Report: "What we're going to see, as I understand it, is that Three will be a brand in New Zealand in name only."
While the company has reiterated that no final decisions about individual shows had been made, Warner Brothers Australia/New Zealand boss Glen Kyne said under the proposal, any show related to news and current affairs would be gone.
Commentators say the statement from the global conglomerate suggests it would include the likes of:
- Newshub at 6pm, presented by Mike McRoberts and Samantha Hayes
- Married at First Sight New Zealand, which was believed to be in production
- the AM Show, with hosts Lloyd Burr and Melissa Chan-Green
- Paddy Gower Has Issues
- Newshub Nation, which had not returned to air since late last year, with co-hosts Simon Shepherd and Rebecca Wright
- the new 7pm current affairs show which was set to replace The Project on Three and would have been hosted by Ryan Bridge,
- The Block NZ, with host Mark Richardson.
The new 7pm current affairs show that was set to replace The Project recently had its host announced. But Kyne said they had not signed people up to new shows knowing what they know now.
Asked specifically about the Hui and Newshub Nation, he said "where we have funding partners in place, they will all be reviewed down the track post the final consultation decision.
"They are all part of the newsroom operation and I just want to reiterate no decision has been made, but yes, they are all part of the Newshub operation as part of this proposal."
The plan could also affect Sky TV as Newshub has the contract to provide the Sky Open (formerly Prime) channel's 5.30pm bulletin daily.
Kyne said they would be in talks with Sky over the next 24 hours.
Asked about taxpayer-funded programmes like Newshub Nation, Kyne said their plan was to either continue such programmes, or return the money if not.
"We will not at all take taxpayer funding inappropriately.
"The commitment is that anything that we have funded continues to play on air. Outside of New Zealand On Air funding, we're reviewing our broader content portfolio and as I said, no decision has been made yet and won't be until post the consultation period."
It is proposed ThreeNow and Three's shows would feature local programming in conjunction with funding partners, including drama, comedy, sport, reality and factual, and "key titles" from Warner Bros. Discovery's library.
Bravo, Eden, Rush and HGTV would continue in their current form with the same content slate.
New local programming would only be in collaboration with local funding bodies and other partners.
"I'm guessing that involves things like documentaries by Patrick Gower, and occasional other documentaries under the Newshub brand," Mediawatch's Colin Peacock said.
Kyne said they were planning to have as much local content on the channel as possible "in conjunction with either funding partners or co-production partners", but could not say what percentage that would be.
"The three core content pillars for the business will be local programming in conjunction with either our co-production partners or funding partners. There will still be third-party acquisitions as we do today. So things like what's on screen right now, the likes of Married At First Sight Australia, et cetera," he said.
The consultation process runs until mid-March.
A final decision is expected early April after feedback has been considered.
All other Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ operations are not part of this consultation, including Theatrical Production and Distribution, Content Licensing, Affiliate Partnerships for Pay TV Channels, and independent local production business, WBITVP NZ.
