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TVNZ and TV3 are gearing up for breakfast wars - though the hosts of the new Sunrise show insist they aren't feeling the pressure.
With just three days until TV3's new breakfast show goes to air, hosts Carly Flynn and James Coleman said they were feeling confident about the launch and did not feel any pressure to compete with TV One's Breakfast, hosted by Paul Henry and Pippa Wetzell.
"It hasn't crossed my mind, not since day one," said Flynn, who first learned she would be co-hosting the programme in July this year.
"We're just focusing on getting up on time, getting to the studio and having a bit of fun," she said yesterday.
Rival network TV One will definitely be treating the new programme as competition, according to TVNZ spokeswoman Megan Richards.
"Obviously we see it as competition and we'll be doing everything we can to make sure our show is the preferred option for viewers," she said.
The Sunrise presenters were up at 4am every day last week, rehearsing.
Though Sunrise promises to be a lighter look at the news, the programme would still strive to provide serious news content, said Coleman.
"It's not going to be as light as people might imagine.
"There will be music and music reviews ... and a fantastic entertainment man with all the Hollywood gossip. And a couple of good doctors on health and lifestyle.
"We want to be informative as much as newsy," the 29-year-oldformer Nightline presenter said.
University of Canterbury head of political science and communications Jim Tully said it was good TV3 was introducing competition in the breakfast television market.
"Having nothing in that morning segment has been quite a noticeable gap in the TV3 news provision," he said. "I think it will be good for viewers to have a choice. I don't think it will ever be a huge market but it's one of those things that you have todo."
Competition aside, Coleman's main concern is getting camera-ready.
The former radio host is adjusting to life as a television presenter, complete with cosmetics and beauty products.
