Campbell Live’s average audience for the month of May was ahead by 13.8% in the 25-54 demographic compared with the April figures, with both audience and share trending up across the course of the month.

In the Auckland 25-54 demographic, Campbell Live enjoyed an 11.6% lift in share month-on-month with a corresponding 34% audience gain.

Director of News and Current Affairs, Mark Jennings, says the audience growth is a reflection of the Campbell Live team’s top-notch journalism, and their understanding the stories and issues that matter to New Zealanders.

“From the performance of the Earthquake Commission, to the price of milk, to bullying in schools, to this week’s coverage of jailed Kiwi drug mule Sharon Armstrong, Campbell Live consistently breaks stories and investigates the issues of the day,” he says.

“It is particularly pleasing to see Campbell Live picking up in the Auckland market, and continuing to build its share of the 25-54 audience throughout New Zealand.”

Further to speculation in this morning’s New Zealand Herald regarding John Campbell’s long-term relationship with TV3, the Company wishes to unequivocally stand by its host of the programme Campbell Live.

“John Campbell is an outstanding broadcaster and New Zealand’s leading television interviewer. He has been a part of TV3 for the last two decades. He is integral to the TV3 brand and family. We have no intention of changing that long standing and excellent relationship,” said MediaWorks Group Managing Director, Sussan Turner.

“We value John’s excellence, commitment, hard work and steadfast loyalty to TV3,” she said.

“We also believe Campbell Live is on top of its game editorially and is a demonstrably stronger show than its competition. Both John and Campbell Live are multiple finalists in the Qantas Television Awards – and this acknowledgement from the industry speaks volumes about the quality of the programme,” said Ms Turner.

“Previous media speculation about Campbell Live’s longevity declared it would be off-air by Easter. That was five months ago. Campbell Live still is and remains our 7pm programme on weeknights,” she said.

- MediaWorks

(Can you spot what is wrong with the report on pay equality with Australia?)

Here is a sneak peek of the new look Campbell Live which launches tonight:

As well as a new logo and a revamp of its website, the show will also have new titles and a “pulsating, newsy” new theme which you can check out on TV3 tonight at 7pm.

Here is a look back at how the show looked on its first night:

- Dan News

For the week 8-12 March, Campbell Live averaged a 20.9% audience share 18-49 compared with Close Up’s 17.6%

In Close Up’s target audience of 25-54 year olds, Campbell Live also won with a 21.1% share compared with Close Up’s 20.7%.

Even more pleasing; Campbell Live is winning the year-to-date against Close Up in the 18-49 demographic. Campbell Live is averaging a 17.4% share against Close Up’s 16.7%.

“It’s good to see Campbell Live’s strong start to the year has maintained its momentum. John and the team are continuing to get the right mix of stories which seems to be appealing to viewers,” said TV3 Director of News and Current Affairs, Mark Jennings.

- TV3

In the 18-49 Auckland Urban audience, Campbell Live won a 24.6% share, four times greater than Close Up’s audience of 6%. Campbell Live’s figures showed a significant win, with an audience share more than double that of Close Up in TV One’s own 25-54 year-old target audience in Auckland (22% – 10%).

Campbell Live had all the key players in the power cut furore, while Close Up didn’t manage to cover the story at all.

Aucklanders responded well to this, tuning into TV3 in their droves for more information about the power cut situation that affected 20 areas around the city.

In fact Campbell Live dominated in all main centres. In the 18-49 Metro audience (Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin) the programme enjoyed a 19.5% share, nearly double Close Up’s 10.8% share with that audience.

Mark Jennings, TV3’s Director of News and Current Affairs, said “such a one-sided victory in the main centres and Auckland in Campbell Live’s first night back was a richly deserved result of their outstanding.

- TV3

The Award-winning current affairs show Campbell Live returns to 3 this week for a whole new year of daily news – locally and abroad. Campbell Live screens weekdays at 7pm, returning Monday, January 25th.

After a successful 2009 season, John Campbell and the team of journalists are back for 2010 to take a daily look at the local and international issues touching the lives of New Zealanders.

Featuring its combination of hard-hitting news pieces and entertaining feature stories Campbell Live returns on Monday, January 25th at 7pm on 3.

- TV3

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CAMPBELL LIVE has increased its ratings share by 30.1% in 18-49 bringing the series up to an 18% share and closing in on Close Up’s 19% share.

CAMPBELL LIVE, which was the only current affairs series to send journalists from New Zealand to broadcast live from Washington for the Obama inauguration and to report from the Victoria bushfires, also grew its audience share in 18-49 Metro by 11.8% and in Auckland Urban by 16.6%.

In Close Up’s key demographic of 25-54, CAMPBELL LIVE showed a huge share gain of 30.7% against Close Up’s
negative -4.5% loss of share.  CAMPBELL LIVE also grew its share in Close Up’s key demographics of 25-54 Metro and 25-54 Auckland Urban by 5.4% and 6.2%, respectively.

SUNRISE has shown some of its strongest ratings growth to date in the year-on-year figures to the end of February, showing positive growth against Breakfast’s decline in many key demographics. In the 18-49 demographic SUNRISE grew by an enormous 89.3% against Breakfast’s decline of negative -8.1%.

In 18-49 Metro and 18-49 Auckland Urban SUNRISE grew its share by 192.2% and 227.4%, respectively. Breakfast’s shares in both these demographics fell by negative -26.5% and -29.5%, respectively.

In Breakfast’s key demographic of 25-54, SUNRISE audience share grew by 55.9%, against Breakfast’s decline
of -6%. SUNRISE grew its share in 25-54 Metro by 112.9%, against Breakfast’s decline of -24.5% and in
25-54 Auckland Urban SUNRISE increased its share by 160.1%, against Breakfast’s negative growth of -19.7%.

Mark Jennings, Director of News and Current Affairs comments, “With 3 News continuing its lead in the 6pm battle in 18-49, it’s great to see Campbell Live and Sunrise have started the year in fine form and viewers are rewarding them for some very solid reporting on the big stories.  With TVNZ cost cutting to the tune of $25 million, Close Up and Breakfast are bound to lose resources and this is likely to impact even further on their ratings.”