Save Campbell Live

John Cambell is the very last bastion of investigative journalism on NZ televsion. What we have is 'entertainment' (I won't even deign to all it 'infotainment') We have a PM who prefers to appear on right-wing chat shows

Video: Al Jazeera news presenter (and former TV3 journalist) Kamahl Santamaria urges people to join the Save Campbell Live campaign

A personal plea from Al Jazeera news presenter (and former TV3 journalist) Kamahl Santamaria for people to join the campaign to #SaveCampbellLive. He urges you to share on your social media networks.

Viewers show their loyalty to Campbell

Presenter and staff thrilled as ratings rise after news that TV3’s long-running current affairs show may be taken off the air.

Our PM prefers right-wing chat shows

Campbell 'entertainment': Key

MSN Entertainment,

14 April, 2015

Prime Minister John Key has dismissed current affairs show Campbell Live as "entertainment" that doesn't hold the government to account.

The show, which has been praised for its journalism and fighting for little people but is struggling for viewers, is facing the axe by its owners MediaWorks after 10 years and its impending demise has supporters up in arms.

Mr Key was quizzed about the show when he was interviewed by NewstalkZB on Tuesday.

"Well, its role in life is not to hold the government to account. It's to entertain its viewers and basically follow news stories, but a great many of those don't involve the government. Some do."

Viewers were more interested in light entertainment, such as Campbell Live's rival Seven Sharp, Mr Key said.

Seven Sharp has been criticised for its lack of serious investigations and light-hearted infotainment approach.

Mr Key has appeared on Campbell Live infrequently in his time as prime minister, despite numerous requests.

He said he did not know anything about Campbell Live "other than what I read in the paper".

'But if you look at what you read in the paper, it's rating badly and it's been rating poorly over the last while."

Asked whether the programme's work in highlighting earthquake-recovering Christchurch was worthwhile, Mr Key said: "I don't know, I don't see enough of it to be honest".

Television website Throng says since news broke last week that Campbell Live might be axed, its audience has risen 14 per cent to 333,960 viewers, still short of Seven Sharp's 504,790.