Warner Bros. Discovery plans to close all Newshub operations
Warner Bros. Discovery plans to close its Newshub operation on 30 June, ending its TV news broadcasts and online news. The company has blamed an economic downturn and decline in advertising.
About 200 journalists and staff are affected and it could mean the end of a legacy in local news and entertainment programming that stretches back to the introduction of commercial TV in 1989.
Warner Bros. Discovery statement says the proposed restructure of freeto-air business in New Zealand “includes the closure of all Newshub’s multiplatform news operations and output”.
That would mean Newshub at 6, Newshub Late and the AM show will cease on or before the end of June.
“New local programming would only be in collaboration with local funding bodies and other partners,” it says, casting doubt in the future of local factual programmes and popular entertainment shows like The Block and Married at First Sight.
The shutdown was announced at an all-staff meeting fronted by Warner Bros. Discovery’s Australia and New Zealand chief Glen Kyne yesterday morning.
Newshub staff told Mediawatch the meeting had been scheduled for some time, but most workers hadn’t understood its importance until emails were sent out this morning saying attendance was mandatory and it would affect their jobs.
Several people were in tears after the news was announced, staff said. They described a general air of devastation — though not necessarily surprise — at the move, as most knew the company’s news operation had been losing money.
“We’re a pretty good newsroom, if we can’t make it work, who can?” Stuff quoted long-serving TV3 and Newshub news anchor Mike Mcroberts as saying.
James Gibbons, President, Asia Pacific, Warner Bros. Discovery said it is “not a proposal the business arrived at easily”.
“There was no single trigger that caused this, rather it was a combination of negative events in New Zealand and globally. The impacts of the economic downturn have been severe, and the bounce back has not materialised as expected.
“Advertising revenue in New Zealand has disappeared far more quickly than our ability to manage this reduction, and to drive the business to profitability.
Delays in new programmes such as Newshub Nation and a new 7pm current affairs show Bridge prompted some commentators to ponder the possibility of cuts to programmes, job losses and roll-backs in production plans — but no-one predicted the closure of the news operation.
Mediaworks closed its talk radio station Today FM and its radio news operation in June 2023. Bauer Media closed its entire magazine publishing operation in April 2020 early in the first Covid Level 4 lockdown. But this would be the biggest and most farreaching news closure in the postcovid era. It would also leave stateowned TVNZ as the sole national broadcaster of TV news programmes.
Discovery Warner Bros says its proposal is to make the Threenow online app “the core of the model, supported by free-to-air linear channels” such as Three, Bravo, Eden, Rush and HGTV.
The consultation process runs until mid-march. A final decision is expected early April once feedback has been carefully considered. If this proposed model went ahead, the changes would not take effect until after 30 June 2024. —RNZ