Social media's heated response to Campbell Live axing reports

John Campbell gets emotional. Photo / TV3

Campbell Live began trending on social media with a heated response from fans following news the TV3 current affairs show is facing the axe.

MediaWorks confirmed it is undertaking a review and deciding on its future.

Social media went into bat for the show and host John Campbell. It is understood a new daily soap opera will replace it.

Here's how it played out online.

An activist group started a social media petition

They have 22,000 signatures and counting. Sign it yourself

here

.

Songbird Hollie Smith wondered which petition to back

Alot of save @JohnJCampbell petitions doing the rounds. Any know which are worth signing etc?

— Hollie Smith (@Holliejsmith) April 9, 2015

This woman had a backup plan should the petitions fail

Ok, my backup position is @JohnJCampbell 4Auckland Mayor if #SaveCampbelLive doesn't work #WeLoveJohnCampbell @CampbellLiveNZ @ryanmearns

— 💚 Nicola Patrick 💚 (@NicolaPatrickNZ) April 9, 2015

Former rival Mark Sainsbury, who was dumped as Close Up host, offered empathy

Thinking of all our mates at Campbell live and remember the support you gave us, hang in there you have so much to be proud of

— MARK SAINSBURY (@SAINSO) April 9, 2015

Alison Mau, who was dumped from Seven Sharp, offered love

John, you look, sound and feel marvelous tonight. Much love. @JohnJCampbell

— Alison Mau (@Alisonmau) April 9, 2015

Labour MP Chris Hipkins weighed in with his views and made it about poor kids and comparisons

Campbell raises money to feed poor kids, Hosking says poor people shouldn't have them. Campbell the one facing the chop!! #SaveCampbellLive

— Chris Hipkins (@chrishipkins) April 9, 2015

Art historian Hamish Keith likened it to terrorism in France

Je suis @CampbellLiveNZ

— Hamish Keith (@hamish_keith) April 9, 2015

Kim Dotcom blamed the National party

The axing of @CampbellLiveNZ is the desire of the Govt. Investigative journalism isn't popular with them & Campbell digs deeper than others.

— Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) April 9, 2015

Born-again Christian Dave Dobbyn blamed Satan. Or the Nats

@toby_etc Yes, weeping all round eh. I would guess Satan is behind this stupid move. He or the Nats. Woe betide us either way.

— David Joseph Dobbyn (@davidjdobbyn) April 9, 2015

This Fairfax journalist wondered if reality TV was to blame

Not sure who to blame over @CampbellLiveNZ shit. NZ public for watching too much X Factor or the NZ public for watching too much Bachelor?

— Ashleigh Stewart (@Ash_Stewart_) April 9, 2015

This Herald journalist wisely wondered whether Campbell Live has more social media friends than viewers

@CampbellLiveNZ in serious danger of having more people express support for it in social media than watching it in real world.

— Winston Aldworth (@WinstonAldworth) April 9, 2015

This former Campbell Live reporter acknowledged ratings are down but said the show can make a difference

Ratings might be down but still making a difference...everyday Kia kaha te whanau o Clive. @JohnJCampbell @CampbellLiveNZ

— 🌺Mihingarangi Forbes (@Mihi_Forbes) April 9, 2015

James McOnie, whose sports show The Crowd Goes Wild is on at the same time as Campbell Live, said ratings aren't everything

Ratings aren't everything. And they're not that accurate. #SaveCampbellLive

— James McOnie (@JamesMcOnie) April 9, 2015

His colleague Andrew Mulligan kept the faith

If CGW can survive not one but two time shift changes for our crappy show then Campbell Live will piss this in.

— Andrew Mulligan (@Andrew_Mulligan) April 9, 2015

David Cunliffe, who knows how to lose a popularity contest, wondered if Campbell's demise meant, 'Mike Hosking is the new normal'. Whatever that means

Tory MP Todd Barclay made his affiliations clear. Then deleted his tweet. But it was screengrabbed

Labour's spokesperson for broadcasting, Clare Curran, let rip and is ready for a fight

FFS Mark Weldon. If u think yr going 2 replace our only regular TV current affairs show w light entertainment you've got anothr think coming

— Clare Curran (@clarecurranmp) April 9, 2015

Others calmly offered help

And loyalty

If 'CampbellLive' goes where will I get quality TV news breaking & follow-up stories every night? SevenSharp? Nup!

— Keith Quinn (@KeithQuinn88) April 9, 2015

Then Jono and Ben entered the fire to extinguish the flames that they are to replace the show. They denied all knowledge

We've read that we're rumoured to replace @CampbellLiveNZ.Just want to say to say on record this is honestly the first we've heard of this.

— Jono and Ben (@JonoAndBen) April 9, 2015

And the man himself, John Campbell, had these words

Thank you for your support. Thank you.

— John Campbell (@JohnJCampbell) April 9, 2015