It’s over for Newshub. As the countdown for ThreeNews is underway, the existing programmes closed down on a high note by remembering some of their most important moments, including the reunion of some old personalities. In AM, they were able to get back the hosts of Sunrise (TV3’s first morning show) and Firstline (a straightforward news show which followed Sunrise’s axing due to… budget cuts even though they developed an audience). They were even able to get a link with TVNZ Breakfast:
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www.1news.co.nz
In the evening, the Newshub-produced News First at 5.30 for Sky Open was much lower key. However, as with Mike McRoberts, it also signaled the retirement of Eric Young from NZ TV news; Young’s son made an appearance in his farewell speech.
www.youtube.com
www.youtube.com
And now, Newshub’s final 6pm show, which led with the story of cancer treatment waiting delays, before going to the UK election and other news; the A block was rounded off with the story on the closure of the news service, and a farewell montage aired at the end of the show. The show overran and was beset by automation gremlins over at WBD:
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From tomorrow, AM on Three will be replaced by reruns of HGTV, Food Network and TLC shows and infomercials, and News First on Sky Open will be replaced by more reruns, this time from Pawn Stars.