Paul Henry to host new breakfast show

Paul Henry. Photo / Mediaworks

The end of The Paul Henry Show is nigh with Henry returning to a breakfast slot in a new show which will be broadcast on both TV3 and RadioLive.

MediaWorks today announced what the company calls the country's "first cross platform show" which will replace the current early morning offerings on both the television channel and the radio station.

The new show will replace both Firstline on TV3 and the breakfast show on RadioLIVE.

The company hasn't commented on what will happen to the presenters and teams of TV3's Firstline - fronted by Sacha McNeil, Michael Wilson - and RadioLIVE breakfast's show which is hosted by Marcus Lush.

MediaWorks says The Paul Henry Show will also finish but wouldn't say when or what its replacement would be.

Henry is to "reveal full details" at a MediaWorks new season announcement on October 30.

The breakfast show will be starting as part of TV3's new season, most likely to be late January or February.

MediaWorks Group Head of Communications Rachel Lorimer say it was too early to say if the move would involved redundancies among TV3 or RadioLive staff. MediaWorks would be talking to the presenters about new opportunities within the group.

Lorimer denied the change was due to the ratings of The Paul Henry Show or RadioLive's breakfast show.

"The Paul Henry Show has been a success for TV3, delivering strong ratings in the evening, and RadioLive's breakfast show will end on a high after the recent survey, where it grew its Auckland listeners by 31%, and overall listeners by 19%."

It's the first major change at MediaWorks since Mark Weldon took over as group CEO.

Quotes from Weldon featured prominently in the initial statement announcing the change.

Said Weldon: "The new show will integrate our capabilities in radio, TV and digital, creating a unique product with a unique audience proposition.

"Hosted by one of the country's most talented and popular broadcasters, Paul Henry, the format will allow viewers/listeners to move effortlessly between their bedrooms, living rooms and cars in the morning, with uninterrupted access to news, information and entertainment wherever they are.

"No other media company can offer this type of seamless experience, organised around the audience rather than the platform."

"I would like to acknowledge and thank Marcus Lush, Sacha McNeil, Michael Wilson and the entire Firstline and RadioLive breakfast teams, for their valuable contributions to our current breakfast shows."

Managing Director of NZME. radio Dean Buchanan, said it was a dynamic time within the media.

"The integration of NZME. publishing and radio combined with our collaboration with TVNZ, means Mike Hosking and consequently Newstalk ZB and the New Zealand Herald are 'the' multi-medium news brands, so we're not surprised with the move.

"It is a shame that it comes at the expense of Marcus Lush - he's a well-respected, seasoned broadcaster."

Mediaworks hopes the cross-platform programme will have a combined reach of 3.8 million New Zealanders.

The new breakfast show will be broadcast live from a purpose-built studio at MediaWorks' Flower Street offices.