Nightline (New Zealand TV series)

For other uses, see Nightline.

Nightline
Country of origin	New Zealand
Production
Running time	30 minutes
Release
Original network	TV3
Original release	April 1990 (1990-04) – 20 December 2013 (2013-12-20)
External links
[{{#property:P856}} Website]

Nightline was a New Zealand late night news show on TV3 hosted by Sacha McNeil. Nightline ceased to air in early 2014, replaced by controversial broadcaster Paul Henry's new show, The Paul Henry Show. In 2015, a new late night news bulletin called Newsworthy premiered with Samantha Hayes & David Farrier at the desk.

Format

Nightline, hosted usually in the 10.30pm to 11.00pm timeslot, had a high focus on the arts and current events. It competed directly with TVNZ's Tonight show. Nightline generally ran the entire year, its timeslot being pushed later on some occasions to cater to long-running shows, but traditionally took a short break over the Christmas period. Previous hosts have included Rachel Smalley, Samantha Hayes, Carly Flynn, Carolyn Robinson, Leanne Malcolm, Sarah Bradley, Joanna Paul and Belinda Todd (the latter two being the show's original hosts in 1990).

Cancellation

In early 2014, MediaWorks confirmed that The Paul Henry Show would replace Nightline.

A release from Mediaworks said: "The Nightline brand remains a valued part of the 3 News stable and will sit in reserve." According to Rachel Lorimer, group communication manager for news and current affairs at Mediaworks, this means, "that the [Nightline] brand will be available for use in future years."

Over the last few years the show had struggled to maintain its viewership, and Mediaworks felt that it was time for change. According to Nielsen, the show’s average audience per episode declined by 29% over the last five years of its life, with viewers dropping from 155,000 in 2009 to 110,000 in 2013.

In the release, Mark Jennings, director of news and current affairs at Mediaworks, said, "Nightline has been a great programme for us over many years and produced some of our best broadcasters, but the landscape is due for change and Paul Henry will lead that change in later evening viewing."

TV3 cancelled The Paul Henry Show at the end of 2014 and broadcast a temporary bulletin in the slot known as 3 News Late Edition with rotating anchors hosting. News show Newsworthy now airs in the former Nightline slot.

External links

• 3news.co.nz/nightline