Throng

NB: This post will be updated shortly. In the meantime, feel free to leave your thoughts on tonights stories below.

ONE News:

3 News:

Commentary:

Verdict:
TBA

ONE News:

1. National assessments bureau (Exclusive, live cross, Guyon Espiner)
2. Banker sentenced for fraud (Kim Vernell)
3. Spy base trial (Live cross, Abby Scott)
4. Church response to spy base trial
5. Government leak (Francesca Mold)

3 News:

1. Banker sentenced for fraud (Tony Field)
2. Government leak (Patrick Gower)
3. New party drug (David Farrier)
4. Drugs bust
5. Dairy farmers report (Melissa Davies)

Commentary:

I don't know about you but the newly named intelligence agency story bored me so badly.

Actually, pretty much the entire list of stories seemed incredibly boring tonight.

Verdict:

Tie

It was reported in the Dominion Post this morning that up to 75 jobs are about to be lost across TVNZ's News and Current Affairs division as part of another round of cut backs aimed at reducing a further $5m from their budget.

TVNZ told us that the Dom Post story was the usual mix of fact and fantasy and that the 75 job figure was a mystery as they themselves won't know how many jobs will be affected until the end of April.

TVNZ's news division is aiming to contribute $5m towards bridging the $40m gap between what the state broadcaster has budgeted and what it needs to remain profitable but it's a cross company process that all departments are contributing to.

ONE News:

1. 3 men cleared in spy trial (Breaking news, live cross, Abby Scott)
2. Kerikeri fire (Breaking news)
3. Ministry job cuts (Live cross, Guyon Espiner)
4. Fiji aid (Donna-Marie Lever)
5. Queensland cyclone

3 News:

1. Fiji cyclone (Michael Morrah, with exclusive footage)
2. Duck shooters banned (Exclusive, Patrick Gower)
3. Spy base trial (Breaking news, live cross, Charlotte Tonkin)
4. Ministry job cuts (Duncan Garner)
5. Plane crash in North Carolina kills man listening on ipod

Commentary:

ONE News broke the spy trial before 3 News - at 6:18pm NZ Herald and Stuff still didn't have it up.  3 News had footage from inside the spy base trial.

3 News had comprehensive footage from in Fiji, thanks to having Michael Morrah and cameraman there.

ONE News:

1. Cyclone devastation (Live cross, Sarah Azam)
2. Failed Commonwealth Games bid (Francesca Mold)
3. SuperGold reassurances
4. ACC cost cutting (Exclusive, Live cross, Heather du Plessis-Allan)
5. Drought impact (Amy Kelley)

3 News:

1. Paralympic gold medal (Jane Luscombe)
2. Auckland Museum chief quits (Live cross, Simon Shepherd)
3. Failed Commonwealth Games bid (Tony Field)
4. Cyclone devastation (Michael Morrah)
5. Cable company job cuts

Commentary:

Hmm, big "exclusive" by Heather du Plessis-Allan tonight.  So, wait, there are people who don't get their claims approved by ACC?  *Shock*

ONE News:

1. Cyclone fury (Sarah Azam)
2. Cyclone fury - weather update
3. Mining review (Live cross, Guyon Espiner)
4. Quincey update (Melissa Stokes)
5. Boating near-misses (Joy Reid)

3 News:

1. Fiji cyclone (Kate Lynch)
2. Chile power cut
3. Mining review (Rebecca Wright)
4. Great Barrier Island mining proposal (Bob McNeill)
5. Bingle/Clarke update (Dan Parker)

Commentary:

I really didn't see the need for a Quincey update in the Top 5 tonight.

Ugh at the Bingle/Clarke update "no comment, sorry guys!  No comment, sorry guys!  No comment, sorry guys!"

More soon - what did you think of tonight's news bulletins?

Verdict:
TBA

ONE News:

1. Trans-Tasman rower (Live cross, Melissa Stokes)
2. Trans-Tasman rower (Amy Kelley)
3. Trans-Tasman rowing history
4. Phoenix game fallout
5. Fatal car crash in Auckland

3 News:

1. Trans-Tasman rower (Jane Luscombe)
2. Trans-Tasman rower (Melissa Davies)
3. Mining in conservation land (Bob McNeill)
4. Internet filter (Dave Goosselink)
5. Fatal car crash in Auckland

Commentary:

Great achievement but I thought both networks went a little overboard with their coverage of the Quincey's Trans-Tasman rowing feat.  ONE News spent about 9 minutes on it, 3 News about 7 minutes.

Verdict:

Tie