Nightline is New Zealand’s most watched late night news programme and prides itself on providing viewers with the most up-to-the-minute news stories from New Zealand and around the world.

The late-night news show also features a stimulating blend of arts and cultural content, giving voice to rising artists as well as the industry’s more well known and established faces.

So if you’re not home in time for the award-winning 3 News at 6pm, then Nightline provides a more suitable time to sit back, relax and enjoy the latest news and entertainment from around the world.

Make sure not to miss Nightline when the late-night new show returns to our screens on Monday, January 9th at 10:30pm on 3.

…and if that isn’t a big enough 90′s news fix for you, then here is some more from Ice TV:

The late night news show was pulled in 2008 but returned in November last year.

According to reports, the  host Kellie Connolly has been offered a redundancy package, but it is not known if she has accepted the offer.

SKY News CEO Angelo Frangopoulos told The Australian that SKY News might be interested in picking up Kellie Connolly.

“We’re investing in news and current affairs; I thought Nine said they were, too. What happened to that commitment?’’ ’’ he said.

The decision leaves Channel 9 without a late night news programme with a Federal Election just around the corner.

- Dan News

“Nightline was started 20 years ago by the then head of News and Current Affairs, Rod Pederson,” explains Nightline Executive Producer Mark Graham.

“His directive to Susan Baldacci, the producer who first got it off the ground, was that he wanted a show that was a bit ‘off’,” Graham continues, recalling the history of the show.

“With the original team of Joanna Paul as the presenter, Belinda Todd with her quirky, humorous and sassy style and Bill Ralston with his no holds barred political satire, Rod Pederson certainly got what he wanted.”

Now 20 years later Nightline is turning 20; “We are having an hour long birthday special, screening on Friday May 7th at 10.30pm,” Graham explains.

“As well as talking to all of the original team in our live broadcast from an Auckland hotspot, we will also be interviewing other members of the Nightline team who’ve contributed both in front of and behind the camera over the last 20 years.”

When asked about the familiar faces audiences can expect to see, Graham reveals: “Former presenters Leanne Malcolm, Carolyn Robinson, Carly Flynn and Samantha Hayes will all be joining our current presenter Rachel Smalley.”

As well as this, the Special will also be looking back at all the cutting edge Nightline moments from over the last 20 years.

“We will also be looking at all those moments that just scrapped past the Broadcasting Standards Authority with the likes of David Farrier and current Arts and Entertainment reporter Ali Ikram,” Graham continues, adding: “Legendary music journalist Dylan Taite will also be remembered for his substantial contribution to the show.”

Make sure not to miss this when Nightline celebrates its 20th birthday in style with an hour-long 20th Anniversary Special screening on Friday, May 7th at 10:30pm on 3.

Check out this ‘Before and After’ video of Nightline:

And a problematic start to Nightline in 1996 for Leanne Malcolm:

3 News held its lead over ONE News nationally during the January period from December, ending the month in the 18-49 demographic with a 28.9% share, versus ONE News and their 25.4% share.

In the 18-49 Auckland Urban demographic, 3 News increased its share by 1.6% to 31.6, whereas ONE News ended the January period significantly lower at 16.2%, down 26.0%.

And in the key ONE News 25-54 Auckland Urban demographic, 3 News remains significantly ahead with an increase of 2.9% to 31.7, with ONE News lagging behind on 19.7%, down 21.5%.

Campbell Live also grew its ratings share in the key 18-49 demographics during January compared to December, with a healthy 7.1% increase to a 16.5% share. This is compared to Close Up’s negative -8.0%, down to 16.1%. In TV ONE’s key 25-54 Auckland Urban demographic, Campbell Live increased by 41.2% to a 16.8 share, leaving Close Up trailing with a 9.6% share, down by 30.4%.

Mark Jennings, TV3’s Director of News and Current Affairs comments, “Campbell Live kicked off the year with some superb coverage of the Auckland power crisis, a story which Close Up ignored until the next day. The show also gained exclusives with key players in the developing story involving Robin Brooke. Viewer feedback has been very strong and we continue to out-rate Close Up in our key demographic.”

Nightline also continued steady growth in all key demographics, easily winning the all important 18-49 demographic nationwide with a 22.7% share, up 7.6% month on month. Tonight lagged behind with a 16.3% share. Nightline also beat Tonight in its own target demographic of 25-54, ending January at a 23.1% share, up 5.5% – compared with Tonight’s 18.4% share.

Nightline’s win in the 18-49 demographic gives them a lead by an impressive 39% margin against Tonight. Nightline is also ahead by a margin of 26% in Tonight’s own demographic of 25-54.

Nightline enjoyed strong growth in the 18-49 Metro, 18-49 Auckland Urban, 25-54 Metro, and 25-54 Auckland Urban demographics.

- TV3

The former TV3 London correspondent took over from Samantha Hayes who finished last week.

Hayes has moved to a reporting position on 3 News at 6 to cover environment and conservation.

Nightline is New Zealand’s most watched late night news programme and prides itself on providing viewers with the most up-to-the-minute news stories from New Zealand and around the world.

The late-night news show also features a stimulating blend of arts and cultural content, giving voice to rising artists as well as the industry’s more well known and established faces.

So if you’re not home in time for the award-winning 3 News at 6pm, then Nightline provides a more suitable time to sit back, relax and enjoy the latest news and entertainment from around the world.

Make sure not to miss Nightline when the late-night new show returns to our screens on Monday, January 11th at 11pm on 3.

- TV3

[ad]

NZHerald.co.nz is reporting former London correspondent Rachel Smalley is returning to New Zealand and will be the new anchor for TV3′s late night news when it returns next year.

Samantha Hayes is moving to a reporting position on 3 News at 6 to cover environment and conservation.

It is understood Hayes will also cover for Carolyn Robinson and Hilary Barry when they are away.

Other changes at TV3 include the departure of Sia Aston from the press gallery. Aston is understood to be taking up a job within parliament. A source told Dan News she will be the new Press Secretary for Paula Bennett. Rebecca Wright will be her replacement.

- Dan News

[ad]

3 News online has launched www.3news.co.nz/climatechange which enables users to get the most up to date information about how conference is progressing, and what key decisions are being made amongst the world’s leaders.

Some of the key components of the site include:

• Detailed background information explaining the Kyoto Protocol and Copenhagen summit
• Samantha Hayes will be blogging regularly from the conference with daily news and updates
• Sam Hayes section will also have a link to her twitter page from the site
• Broad political section
• Detailed environment section
• Wide-ranging business section
• New Zealand section
• Sunrise’s Eco-watch segment
• UNICEF Children’s Climate Forum section
• Your Opinion – an opportunity for readers to express their views

Along with 3 News Online, 3 News is investing a significant amount of resource to the climate conference, sending over two journalists who will be based in the nerve centre.

“We will have journalists Samantha Hayes and Kim Chisnall on the ground and reporting back with daily updates from the crucial climate talks taking place in Copenhagen,” says Director of news Mark Jennings. “They will be right in the thick of it with some of the world’s leading broadcasters and able to report back on any breaking news throughout the talks.”

Footage from Copenhagen will also be broadcast on 3 News at Midday, Sunrise and Nightline.

Siobhan McKenna, General Manager, Mediaworks Interactive says TV3 is taking the summit very seriously and aims to give online users and viewers the most broad and complete coverage possible.

“3news.co.nz will be leading the way in providing New Zealanders with the richest and most relevant coverage of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference. We view it as an event of compelling significance. Here’s hoping they reach some meaningful and binding agreements,” she says.

- TV3

[ad]

TV3′s Nightline had 230,620 viewers last night up from September’s average of 172,210.

On TV One’s Tonight there was a similar jump from September’s average of 153,000 to 221,640.

TV3 crossed live to Henderson through out the evening, including breaking into regular programming to broadcast a road side press conference live.

TV One had live chopper shots during Close Up and updates from reporter Jack Tame.

Which channels coverage did you prefer? Comment below.

Ratings figures are sourced from AGB NMR and is for all people 5 years and over.

- Dan News

[ad]