KEY POINTS:
One News is eyeing up TV3's talent as it looks to fill the sports presenter role left open by Tony Veitch.
The Weekend Herald understands that TV3 presenters Shaun Summerfield and Howard Dobson have thrown their hats in the ring, and Olympic roving reporter Toni Street is also
said to be keen.
Veitch's departure left an unexpected gap at TVNZ. Veteran presenter Peter Williams stepped in to front the Beijing Olympics, but Veitch's One News sports spot is still up for grabs.
Summerfield is understood to be the top contender for the TV One job.
Media strategist Michael Carney said the loss of either Summerfield or Dobson would be a blow to TV3. Summerfield is a sports presenter and the motoring reporter for Campbell Live, and Dobson presents Sports Tonight on weeknights after Nightline.
But Mr Carney said there would be plenty of people eager to take their places if either man left TV3.
Veitch quit his One News role amid allegations he paid former partner Kristin Dunne-Powell to keep quiet about a serious assault in 2006.
Now TVNZ is said to be finding its ranks a little thin as it hunts for a replacement.
Mr Carney said the broadcaster had let its stable of sports presenters shrink over the years as it won fewer rights to broadcast sporting events.
He said he was not ruling anyone out of the running for Veitch's role, but industry insiders say the job is likely to go to a male.
Street was criticised by commentators for asking "silly" questions of Olympic athletes. She attracted the attention of viewers after she asked an embarrassed Paul Hession how the Irish sprinter prepared for running against mostly black men.
"You're surrounded by them," said Street, to which Hession replied that he didn't really think about the colour of his competitors.
Meanwhile, TVNZ is refusing to shed any more light on the circumstances of Veitch's departure.
The state broadcaster has declined Herald requests under the Official Information Act to see its report to Broadcasting Minister Trevor Mallard. Mr Mallard said this week he had not yet received the report. Any decision on whether to release it would depend on whether it might affect the court case against Veitch, he said.
Senior TVNZ managers have admitted they knew about a "fracas" between Veitch and Ms Dunne-Powell months before the allegations became public.
However, they did not tell chief executive Rick Ellis.
Veitch now faces charges over a number of alleged attacks on Ms Dunne-Powell over a period of fouryears.
