TV3 Announces 7pm Current Affairs Show

10 December 2004

TV3 Announces 7pm Current Affairs Show

TV3 has announced a new 7pm weeknight current affairs show hosted by John Campbell will go to air in 2005.

Following after 3 News at 6pm, the show is yet to be named and scheduled to begin in late April.

After 7 years hosting 3 News, John Campbell and Carol Hirschfeld will continue their successful on-air relationship. While John will host the new show, Carol will take a key role as senior producer and specialist interviewer, with a high profile in the programme.

John Campbell and Carol Hirschfeld have signed a multi-year deal confirming their long-term commitment to the network.

Two of 3's most experienced presenters Hilary Barry and Mike McRoberts will take over presenting 3 News weeknights at 6pm.

3's Director of News and Current Affairs Mark Jennings believes the channel will now provide the best hour and half of news and current affairs in the market.

"We have always wanted to add a daily current affairs show to our line-up and now the time is right. We have the right host, the right team and, we believe, the right format. Unlike anything else in the market, this will be a hard-hitting, contemporary and entertaining current affairs show," says Jennings.

"This will be the ideal vehicle to showcase John's unique talents as the country's number one interviewer. There will also be a significant live component and this will be particularly important in an election year. John's skills are unmatched and this programme will provide a unique and important forum.

From another perspective, we believe there are a large number of viewers in their 20s and 30s that were not catered for by Holmes when he was at TVNZ. We are keen to draw this audience back to watching current affairs."

The Executive Producer will be Mike Brockie. He is currently the 6pm news producer and has been with TV3 since day one. Prior to joining 3 15 years ago, he was at TVNZ and is one of the most experienced television news producers in the country.

John Campbell says he is "thrilled that Carol and I are making this programme together and I'm delighted that Mike Brockie is joining us. We have 35 years at TV3 between the three of us and I am proud to be part of a team with such experience, talent, energy and unity. We know that Hilary and Mike will do a great job at 6pm. And we can hardly wait to begin our 7pm show."

" We're looking forward to developing a new style of nightly current affairs on 3," adds Carol Hirschfeld. "Over the last 2 years John and I have produced a number of other programmes while fronting the news. We've learned a lot from that experience and I think it has made us both better presenters and programme makers. I think the combination of the bulletin and the 7pm show will provide a truly comprehensive service for our viewers and we're grateful for the opportunity to make this show."

Both Mike McRoberts and Hilary Barry acknowledge John and Carol have left them big shoes to fill, but with more than 30 years first class journalism and presenting experience between them, the pair are ready to step up to the front-line.

Hilary Barry has presented the 6pm weekend bulletins for 6 years and says she "looks forward to being part of the new weekday team delivering what I consider to be the best news product in the country."

Mike McRoberts says "it’s an exciting time for me, an exciting time for John and for TV3. Like John I feel I bring to the job a strong and respected reporting background which I’m sure will hold me in good stead.”

Mike McRoberts will continue to host 60 Minutes on TV3.

"The combination of 3 News, a nightly current affairs show and 60 Minutes gives us all-round strength and depth, completing a balanced portfolio of news and current affairs, " says Jennings.

ENDS

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