The ThreeNews bulletin went off the air five minutes before finishing. Photo / Supplied
The ThreeNews bulletin went off the air five minutes before finishing. Photo / Supplied
Stuff’s new ThreeNews bulletin has been cut short this evening after experiencing “technical difficulties” that Warner Bros Discovery has admitted were due to a “human error” at their end.
Viewers were deprived of a full weather forecast as the broadcast ended abruptly with the screen replaced by a test pattern.
“We are experiencing technical difficulties. Stay tuned, the telecast will begin shortly,” an on-screen statement read.
By 6.57pm the channel had started its broadcast of The 1% Club Australia.
The ThreeNews bulletin went off the air with a message about "technical difficulties". Photo / Supplied
“Correct me if I’m wrong ... No weather segment as part of tonight’s 3 news? Less than a few weeks into the new branded 3 news on tv3 this appears during the commercial break before the weather segment,” one viewer wrote on X.
The ThreeNews bulletin went off the air five minutes before finishing. Photo / Supplied
Another noted the news was “all over the place tonight”.
“The first commercial break was earlier than usual, the sports news was also earlier than usual and quite short, there was more news items after sport, then there was no weather due to technical problems!” they said.
Stuff took over TV3′s 6pm news after Newshub’s closure earlier in July and produces their bulletin for Warner Bros Discovery.
In a statement tonight, Warner Bros Discovery said they had caused the bulletin’s impromptu ending.
“In early July Warner Bros. Discovery made a technological change to the way our content is distributed. While viewers would not ordinarily have noticed this change, today a human error resulted in the wrong piece of content going to air at the end of the ThreeNews broadcast,” a spokesperson said.
“This was an error on our end, and was unrelated to the Stuff-produced ThreeNews bulletin. We apologise to viewers for the interruption to the bulletin and will be working closely with our team to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
The show is presented by Samantha Hayes, after her 6pm co-host Mike McRoberts announced his retirement from newsreading.
Other ex-Newshub staff hired include political editor Jenna Lynch, reporter and presenter Laura Tupou, sports reporter Ollie Ritchie, Christchurch reporter Juliet Speedy, reporters Zane Small, Lisette Reymer and Lucy Thomson, and weather presenter Heather Keats.
The executive producer is television veteran Claire Watson.
The bulletin started airing on July 6 - the day after Newshub was shut by Warner Bros Discovery with the loss of up to 300 jobs.
“Some television experts have questioned whether a digital publishing company has the skillset to produce consistently excellent bulletins, with high production values,” wrote Currie.
“Based on Saturday’s opening bulletin, it clearly can – the challenge now is to do it day in, day out. That includes a full hour-long bulletin on weekdays.
“The first of the ratings will emerge in the next few days – they will give us a better understanding of how much interest there is in the new-look proprietor. The more interesting ratings will be those in a month’s time, once audience patterns and interest have settled.”
