TV3's Rachel Smalley announces resignation

Rachel Smalley. Photo / Herald on Sunday

TV3's Rachel Smalley announces resignation: by John Drinnan of the NZ Herald

Interviewer Rachel Smalley has resigned from TV3 where she has been presenting the morning news show Firstline.

An announcement that she has been appointed for an early morning role at The Radio Network was expected tonight.

A TV3 source said Ms Smalley would continue as the presenter of the weekend current affairs programme The Nation, which screens on TV3 but is made by an independent production company.

TV3 has made a big push into current affairs programming this year with John Campbell and Campbell Live taking a starring role.

But Smalley - who was a presenter on TV in Ireland and the UK before returning to New Zealand - has also had a strong performance this year.

TV3's plans for Firstline are not clear, but parent company MediaWorks is in receivership and has been looking to develop a more commercial format.

A TV industry source said Firstline had a tiny but loyal following.

However it is understood that new owners at TV3 are aiming to make the channel's lineup more commercial, and have been looking at returning to a light breakfast show format to compete with TV One's Breakfast.