Radio beckons after Sunrise

Oliver Driver and Carly Flynn.

No one would accuse them of having faces for radio.

But former Sunrise hosts Carly Flynn and Oliver Driver are close to making the switch from TV.

They're among staff weighing up options after Mediaworks bosses axed the TV3 breakfast show because of low ratings and advertising revenue.

Insiders said Flynn, who is pregnant, had been talking with a music radio station from the company's stable, although all parties are staying tight-lipped on the details.

Driver is set to fill in for breakfast host Nick D, on George FM, another of the company's brands. Nick D (real name Dwyer) will be overseas filming a new TV show. But a source said Driver's radio stint was unlikely to mark the end of his TV career because he was "floating ideas" for other shows.

It is understood other Sunrise staff have until tomorrow to decide whether to apply for eight reporting, producing and technical vacancies within the company or take redundancy.

Sports presenter Rod Cheeseman is believed to be the first to jump ship from TV3 and will host a new sports programme at TVNZ.

TV3 news boss Mark Jennings said ASB Business host Michael Wilson and reporter Sacha McNeil were less affected by the show's cancellation than some of their colleagues because they would remain as hosts of the noon news bulletin.

Jennings said he could not confirm much of the talk about the Sunrise staff, but many were still shocked by the show's cancellation.