Throng

Official data detailing August’s viewing behaviour shows 3 News has lost to ONE News in its own target demographic for the first time since the Beijing Olympics.

The average audience across the month of August 2010 shows that ONE News had 205,190 viewers aged 18-49 watching the main 6pm bulletin every evening compared to 198,650 viewers in the same age group watching 3 News.  July data showed ONE and 3 News were neck and neck with ONE News just slightly behind in TV3’s own target demographic.

The last time ONE News beat 3 News in 18-49 age group was in August 2008 (during the Beijing Olympics).

Total viewership data for all news and current affairs television programmes during August on FTA is detailed below.

AVERAGE TELEVISION NEWS VIEWERSHIP FOR AUGUST 2010

Stories from Campbell Live, 2nd of September, 2010:

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Stories from Campbell Live, 1st of September, 2010:

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Stories from Campbell Live, 31st of August, 2010:

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Stories from Campbell Live, 30th of August, 2010:

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Further to speculation in this morning’s New Zealand Herald regarding John Campbell’s long-term relationship with TV3, the Company wishes to unequivocally stand by its host of the programme Campbell Live.

“John Campbell is an outstanding broadcaster and New Zealand’s leading television interviewer.  He has been a part of TV3 for the last two decades.  He is integral to the TV3 brand and family.  We have no intention of changing that long standing and excellent relationship,” said MediaWorks Group Managing Director, Sussan Turner.

“We value John’s excellence, commitment, hard work and steadfast loyalty to TV3,” she said.

Stories from Campbell Live, 27th of August, 2010:

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Campbell Live is reportedly being kept under a close watch by TV3 owner MediaWorks with questions raised as to whether the show is sustainable on its current ratings figures.

There is talk of a shake-up on the nightly current affairs show hosted by John Campbell due to performance-related issues and the fact it is getting beaten comprehensively each night by competitor TVNZ’s Close Up.

Insiders have said that Campbell Live is not meeting expectations and that its “sustainability” was unclear. There have also been rumours that a second presenter may be introduced in order to spice things up.

Meanwhile, TV3 chief executive Jason Paris is full of praise for Campbell, who he deems to be a far better interviewer than Close Up’s Mark Sainsbury.

What are your thoughts on the future of Campbell Live?