Road Cops confirmed as Campbell Live's replacement

NZ reality TV series Road Cops is replacing Campbell Live in the 7pm time slot, as a permanent replacement for the long-running Current Affairs show is sorted out.

Reality television show Road Cops has been confirmed as the interim replacement for embattled current affairs show Campbell Live.

MediaWorks confirmed yesterday that Campbell Live will end this Friday, and that it will be John Campbell's last day on air.

According to TV3's online TV Guide yesterday, Road Cops - a reality television programme - will screen on Monday June 1 at 7pm.

John Campbell. Photo / Jason Oxenham

A MediaWorks spokeswoman said yesterday that Road Cops was playing in the time slot because Monday was a public holiday.

She would not be drawn on what would play from Tuesday.

However, she has now confirmed Road Cops will be the interim replacement until a new current affairs show takes over the 7pm timeslot from Mondays until Thursdays.

"That decision happened earlier today," she said.

Mediaworks announced a shake-up of TV3's 7pm show last week: it will be screening four nights a week with two hosts, with the changes taking place in around six weeks.

The news came after a six-week review period that saw ratings climb and fans take to the streets to protest against the possible cancellation of Campbell Live.

Friday night's show was TV3's highest-rating show that night, earning 330,830 viewers. Campbell Live averaged 294,056 over the week, Throng.co.nz reported.

In its announcement of the changes, TV3 said the recent ratings improvements were unsustainable long-term.

Sources say the changes mean Campbell Live's cast will be cut from 22 to 16. Rachel Smalley and Paul Henry are among the names rumoured to be in the running for co-hosting duties.