'Devastating': Newshub set to close in June, staff told

Newshub is set to close at the end of June, staff have been told this morning.

Staff at one of New Zealand's largest media companies were called to a 11am meeting. There was speculation beforehand that there would be a major announcement that would impact the company's future.

Warner. Bros Discovery, which runs both Three and Newshub, asked Auckland staff to attend the meeting in person and others to dial in.

It would see the closure of all Newshub's TV and online news platforms.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was briefed about the move shortly before the announcement.

Presenter Ryan Bridge told reporters he was "thinking of all of our colleagues at the moment," as he walked from the meeting alongside 6pm presenter Mike McRoberts.

"We've got a news show to put out," McRoberts added.

Newshub journalist Perry Wilton told reporters that the mood was "pretty grim" following the announcement.

"I just think everybody is trying to take it a step at a time, and we're all just gonna do it together. It's an amazing team, and everyone's been working really hard the last couple of months."

Newshub Wellington bureau chief Caitlin Cherry said on LinkedIn that the news was "very sad" and that there were a lot of "pretty devastated staff."

In a statement this morning, Warner Bros. Discovery said that it had began consultation on a "proposed remodelling and restructure" of free-to-air business in New Zealand.

"The proposal includes the closure of all Newshub’s multiplatform news operations and output, and new local programming would only be in collaboration with local funding bodies and other partners."

'Digitally-led business'

Warner Bros. Discovery Asia Pacific president James Gibbons said that the proposal was not arrived at easily and that there was no single trigger.

"We are acutely aware of our position in the local media landscape and what this means for our people, and for the country as a whole.

"Advertising revenue in New Zealand has disappeared far more quickly than our ability to manage this reduction, and to drive the business to profitability."

Gibbons said that the proposal was a result of a review of its New Zealand business.

The new model would be focused on a "digitally-led business", with ThreeNow at its core supported by free-to-air linear channels.

Bravo, Eden, Rush and HGTV channel would continue with the same content slate, he said.

Warner Bros. Discovery NZ boss Glen Kyne said that it was a hard day and that the proposal was not a reflection of the efforts of staff.

He said if the proposal was implemented, the company would be committed “to retaining a local presence, albeit with a much smaller operating model and lower cost base”.

”We know that Newshub has been such an important and central part of TV3 since day one, and is a crucial part of a functioning media sector in New Zealand.

"Free-to-air and news are expensive businesses to run. Put simply, the economic headwinds means the returns are not there. These proposed changes will be hard if they are implemented, but we think they are necessary, which is why we have commenced consultation."

The consultation process will run until mid-March, with a final decision expected in early April once feedback has been "carefully considered."

Changes to programming

Over the past year, the company has seen dramatic changes to its news and current affairs programming.

In August 2023, both the AM Early show and the 11.30am Newshub bulletin were axed. An 8pm news bulletin on Warner Bros. Discovery's Eden channel was also dropped.

In October, the 7pm current affairs The Project was announced to be ending its six-year run on December 1.

It was to be replaced by a new show hosted by AM Show host Ryan Bridge, but that show was delayed due to an ongoing hiring freeze, it has been reported.

Newshub Nation and Paddy Gower Has Issues also haven't started this year.

It's the second high-profile media company to announce its closure in as many years, with Today FM and its news service abruptly pulled off air last March.

"They've f***** us," host Tova O'Brien told listeners at the time.