TV3’s current affairs show 3D, which has existed in various guises since the channel’s founding in 1989, was shut down today. UPDATE: scroll down for statements from MediaWorks and the 3D team.
The Spinoff has learned that staff at TV3’s flagship current affairs show 3D were today told that the show was officially cancelled and will not return in 2016.
The programme’s staff were informed at a meeting, which took place at TV3’s Flower Street headquarters at 12.30pm today. It lasted for half an hour, and those who attended characterised its mood as heated.
Sources say that any staff not retained through the process will be taking a personal grievance case to MediaWorks over the way the affair was handled.
The show, which was deemed uneconomic by MediaWorks despite receiving over $500,000 of 2015 funding from NZ on Air, has been moved around the schedule, and changed both in duration and name this year.
Its absence, coming less than six months after the axing of Campbell Live, means that TV3 has for the first time in its 26 year history, no dedicated* home for longform current affairs – previously considered a core strength of the channel.
The final episode will air on December 14.
4.58pm UPDATE: A press release has confirmed the show’s axing. It reads:
8.57pm UPDATE: 3D posted this message to the show’s Facebook page:
Earlier updates:
4.50pm UPDATE: We originally reported that the final episode of 3D aired on Monday night. This was incorrect and The Spinoff apologises for the error, the final air date has been updated to December 14.
Further reading from Duncan Greive on the MediaWorks saga:
– On TV3’s year of swapping news for reality
– On the 3D’s staff taking legal action to resist shutdown
– On the inner workings of gossip site Scout
* The Nation‘s Tim Watkin has been in touch to point out, correctly, that TV3’s excellent politics show The Nation often does longform current affairs pieces in within its remit. Long may it continue.
The Spinoff will update this story as more information comes to hand. Anyone wishing to contact the story’s author can email duncan@thespinoff.co.nz