Samantha Hayes is now the sole host of 3D after Duncan Garner began presenting Story.
Samantha Hayes is now the sole host of 3D after Duncan Garner began presenting Story.
Media insiders are questioning the future of TV3's current affairs series 3D after it drew the lowest ratings in its three-year history on Monday.
The series, hosted by Samantha Hayes, returned from hiatus this week, after it was removed from its Sunday prime time slot.
Screening at 9.30pm on Monday, the programme saw 49,200 viewers (aged 5+) tune in. That represents less than a quarter of its average Sunday night audience, which clocked in at 204,000 viewers (aged 5+).
It's a move which could see the programme cancelled, according to media commentator and former TVNZ head of news Bill Ralston.
"I think any programme that cannot make sufficient ratings to generate good revenue will, inevitably, find itself axed," he said.
While he praised the programme for generating "some great stories" and the calibre of its reporting team, he said things were looking bleak for the programme.
Another insider mirrored Ralston's concerns, saying: "The 9.30 timeslot will never draw the same audience - it's no reflection of the show ... It would attract even fewer viewers if they ran it on a Sunday morning."
He said he suspected the programme "will be shoved around the network until it dies and is replaced by titillation TV".
A MediaWorks spokesperson said it was too early to comment on last night's ratings.
The series has undergone several incarnations since it first launched in 2013, hosted by Duncan Garner and Guyon Espiner.
Duncan Garner and Guyon Espiner were the original hosts of 3rd Degree
Last year, Hayes replaced Espiner as co-host, before becoming the sole presenter this year when Garner moved on to host Story.
Originally screening for a full hour on Wednesdays at 8.30pm, TV3 moved the programme to Sunday nights this year, experimenting with a half-hour news bulletin ahead of the 30-minute current affairs programme.
At the time, news boss Mark Jennings hailed the move as positive saying the programme would become "appointment viewing".
"We know that Sunday night is a good place for current affairs," he said in April. "People are increasingly time poor and we believe 30 minutes of news plus 30 minutes of current affairs is a winning formula for this popular timeslot."
However, the move failed to boost ratings, which remained consistent with 2014's average audience.
It's understood staff have serious concerns for the future of the show, after they were told the Sunday night experiment was "make or break" for the show.
MediaWorks declined to comment on speculation that 3D may not return next year, instead focusing on next week's episode.
"In the next episode of 3D, Paula Penfold and Eugene Bingham investigate serious allegations at Gloriavale, which we expect to attract a large audience," said a spokesperson.
The programme, originally called 3rd Degree, launched in 2013 and attracted an average audience of 230,000 viewers (aged 5+) throughout the year. The following year, its average audience dropped to 204,000 viewers (aged 5+).
