Campbell live to go and a second hair incident

Written By: - Date published: 2:42 pm, May 21st, 2015 - 59 comments
Categories: john key, national - Tags: ,

The timing is fascinating.   On budget day while all media focus is on what is happening in Parliament two other stories have broken.

Firstly John Campbell Live is to end.  I do not know the details but reports are that he was offered to co host a show and refused.

Secondly there is another report of John Key playing with a woman’s hair.  TVNZ released a statement at 2:14 pm suggesting that he played with a presenter’s hair two years ago.  The story as presented by TVNZ sounds innocuous but the timing is fascinating …

59 comments on “Campbell live to go and a second hair incident ”

  1. Joy Clark 1

    fingers in (pie) holes next… just wait and see…

  2. Charles 2

    I asked John Key to style my hair.
    He did.
    We laughed about it.
    Huh?

    OH right now I get it TVNZ are running a “it’s all just big game that everyone does” story just before the next real mess appears. In 3…2….1…

  3. From the press release:

    In the interest of transparency, we can advise a TVNZ presenter dared the Prime Minister to help style the presenter’s hair and the Prime Minister briefly accepted the challenge.

    “The presenter was completely comfortable about what has been described as ‘a mutual joke between friends’.”

    How many TVNZ news presenters are friends with the PM? Isn’t it just a wee bit unprofessional to a) be his friend and b) use the friendship to protect him?

    • tracey 3.1

      That is nothing like the other incident. It appears to involve consent for a start…. or is that why they are releasing it to show that Bailey just can’t take a joke

      • ianmac 3.1.1

        Wonder if the TVNZ one is the one that was alluded to on The Daily Blog? There it referred to a Department didn’t it?

        • tracey 3.1.1.1

          IF this is what TDB was referring to they have missed the mark, imo.

          • Rosie 3.1.1.1.1

            Agreed. And maybe TVNZ have made this statement at this point in time to neutralise speculation? (and still a good opportunity for payback on behalf of their “friend”)

      • Rosie 3.1.2

        Thats completely plausible tracey – payback at Amanda Bailey. This incident does sound consensual and it doesn’t sound like harm. What other relevancy would such a story have?

        Like Mickey says, the timing is fascinating. Why now, why not closer to the time the PPP was in the media spotlight?

  4. Maui 4

    That’s a perfect fit for Hosking being the new victim, that tantalising mop of product, he practically admits to it here http://www.hauraki.co.nz/listen/radio-hauraki-audio-vault/jeremy-wells-like-mike-hosking-rant-john-keys-ponytail-pulling/

  5. Dave_1924 5

    “Campbell has rejected the chance to co-host a revamped version of his TV show and quit Mediaworks, the company says.

    According to the 3News website, Group Head of News Mark Jennings said Campbell was asked to co-host the show, which will have two presenters, but has decided to leave the company.

    “John has decided he wants to take a break from the job and we respect his decision,” Jennings said.”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11452468

    Guess its lattes, school runs and op-ed pieces for the daily blog for John for the next year or so..

    And then I predict JC will turn up fronting an investigative once a week show on TV1….. I might even watch a decent in depth one a week show fronted by John….

    • One Anonymous Bloke 5.1

      Why fill your little brain with facts you’ll deny without thinking? It’ll just make it harder to deliver your litany.

      • Dave_1924 5.1.1

        OAB your almost but not quite humorous. Whats the point of your post apart from having a dig? Campbell Live has run its course. It happens to shows…. suck it up….

        • One Anonymous Bloke 5.1.1.1

          What was the value of your snide remarks other than “having a dig”? I repeat: what is the point of exposing you to facts that contradict your beliefs?

          Messenger-assassination training?

  6. Puckish Rogue 6

    finally

  7. tracey 7

    Doesn’t seem to be a commercial decision given the show made money with only 150,000 viewers and it has increased that number substantially in the last month. Could be they just don’t want an influx of thinking kiwis to their channel.

    • Puckish Rogue 7.1

      They made money yes but they wern’t making enough money for the timeslot they were in, they had ten years and for the last couple of years the ratings were falling

      But you know all this

      • tracey 7.1.1

        it will be interesting to see if the replacement can attract 250,000 to 300,000. Well, by your logic, well in excess of that, cos that is not enough to make the kind of money TV3 wants.

        • Puckish Rogue 7.1.1.1

          Depends on the type of show they produce as well I guess but really its their company, their products so, in the end, they can put on whatever show they like

          • One Anonymous Bloke 7.1.1.1.1

            Let’s face it, the Right suffers from BBC-envy.

            • Puckish Rogue 7.1.1.1.1.1

              and the left see conspiracies everywhere

              • One Anonymous Bloke

                Conspiracy is a serious allegation.

                For example, when sworn police stood by while John Key assaulted Amanda Bailey, no-one on the Left said they’d conspired to assault her.

                However, for example, when Simon Lusk said that he was conspiring to undermine the democratic process with a group of National Party MPs, what was the Left supposed to do? Pretend he’s a harmless delusional fuckwit?

  8. Saarbo 8

    This is pretty ugly stuff from the Board of TV3, its a political decision…Phil Wallington was scathing and excellent on RNZ…worth a listen.

    I just cant understand why these people (TV3 Board et al) are obsessed with serving the non thinking viewers…what is that about???

  9. dv 9

    So is Campbell staying for the 6-8 weeks its going to take to get the new show running?
    I would be inclined (if it was me) to say sorry gone this weekend.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 9.1

      Yeah, I’d weigh up the pros and cons f’sure.

      No doubt he has people bidding for him right now. No doubt also they would have to pay a substantial fee for him to break his contract, if that’s something he’d contemplate.

      However, I suspect Mediaworks are the ones acting in bad faith – given the Mazda sponsorship sabotage.

  10. mac1 10

    How the hell, two years ago, way before the pony-tail incident became an issue, did the topic of pretending to do hair-dos come up between a TV presenter and the PM?

    • tracey 10.1

      fascinating what some people can remember… and some can’t.

    • ianmac 10.2

      Hey Mac1. Hope that you don’t think that Mr Key has some sort of long term fetish? We all know it was just a one off with Amanda. Really and truly! 🙂

  11. Stephen Dickson 11

    So reporters are all friendly with the PM. If they at hey are NOT doing their job.

  12. Clemgeopin 12

    If John Campbell goes, I will NOT only not watch ANYTHING again on TV3, I will also stop using any of the media works’ other outlets such as Radio Live too. Yes, I can live with that.

    The Media Works management seem like a crooked bunch of despicable RW arseholes.

    Thank you John for the great meaningful worthwhile show you have produced for over ten years.

    I hope John Campbell will soon get some other avenue to host a show. Fingers crossed.

    • Clemgeopin 12.1

      Sure, my solitary action will not affect them much, but just imagine if 50% of their regular clients take the same action on principle! Then it will be the crap biased useless management that will get end up getting the sack. That would be just desserts and sweet revenge. We are not beholden to the idiot managers there. They are to us!

    • Chooky 12.2

      +100 Clemgeopin….a nationwide boycott of TV3 is clearly called for

      …this has been a political axing/squeeze on a journalist and team who were fearless when necessary and asked the hard questions of politicians …as well it was a very humanitarian show and showed the lives of ordinary New Zealanders

      …Campbell Live exposed what jonkey wanted hidden …….jonkey and mates are running scared….the management of TV3 is pretty contemptible…turn off TV3 !

      • sckiwireddevil 12.2.1

        Exactly Chooky. Could not have put it any better. This Fascism is getting worse by the day. What does it take for this dodgy govt. to understand that it will possibly come a time where some don crash helmet’s and revisit ’81. This government and all its cronies, are getting out of hand.

        • Colonial Rawshark 12.2.1.1

          That’s why they have avoided austerity in this Budget, and in fact quite the reverse, in limited areas. They are positioning to take Labour’s ground away from Labour, in this pre-campaign period.

  13. Melanie Scott 13

    They (the management and board) are such a useless outfit that I think their overseas owners will probably just close it down. I hope karma has something really juicy waiting for Christie, Jennings and that creep who ran the stock exchange.

  14. weka 14

    Just want to point out there is a difference between a TV presenter and a journalist. NZ is a small place, it’s normal for people to be friends. What’s important is how one manages boundaries and conflicts of interest.

  15. Alpha z 15

    A new flag with a message
    https://goo.gl/gjSV3F

  16. rod 16

    Well I Suppose all the Campbell Live fans could boycott all the advertisers that appear on the programme that replaces Campbell Live. Just saying.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 16.1

      What? All ten of them? 😉

    • Chooky 16.2

      @ Rod…can you make a list of the advertisers on the show that replaces ‘Campbell Live’ ….and make it a Post…because a lot of us will be turning off TV3 for the foreseeable future…it would be good to boycott the advertisers as well

  17. Realblue 17

    Indeed Chooky that will bring TV3 to its knees and JC will ride back in on a Unicorn with rainbows coming out his arse. FFS TV3 is a private company that makes commercial decisions, so organised tantrums wont change that.

    • Colonial Rawshark 17.1

      Firstly, corporation have backed down in the face of organised resistance many a time. Time we organise. Secondly, corporations make political decisions all the time. Thirdly, the ridding of John Campbell from one of the highest ratings shows on the network, was almost certainly a political decision.

      • Chooky 17.1.1

        +100 CR…if enough people turn off TV3 ( as well as boycotting advertisers) and go to Maori TV or some other ….any suggestions? ( I would not suggest TVNZ as an alternative with Hoskings drivel)

        …there will be a commercial imperative to make commercial decisions ….and hopefully Mark Weldon will be out on his ear

        • Maui 17.1.1.1

          That would be the real winner if Campbell went somewhere else and most of his viewers followed him.

          Then getting to watch Mediaworks throw good money after bad to get a new show to pull the ratings, would be so good..

  18. Tory 18

    Prime has been running a documentary at 9.45pm on Wednesdays about British adult toy retailer Lovehoney. Put that on at 7pm and watch ratings go through the roof.

  19. Bill 19

    Campbell Live was an okay show, but seriously! If this is/was all that was left of anything pertaining to investigative journalism on NZ TV, then NZ has a BIG problem. The reality is, that this show disappearing should have been nothing more than a ‘humph’ from fans, rather than an ‘end in nigh’ moment.

  20. Chooky 20

    Campbell did the best he could within his parameters of what was possible (lets not criticise him for this):

    ….and ‘Campbell Live’ turned out the best political investigative journalism show on television eg it looked into looked at John Keys timelines and lies:

    http://www.3news.co.nz/politics/gcsb-timeline-of-events-2013082013#axzz3aoSuvQOd

    http://www.3news.co.nz/tvshows/campbelllive/keys-meeting-with-gcsb-boss-revealed-2014052019#axzz3aoSuvQOd

    ….as well ‘Campbell Live’ was a popular humanitarian, investigative and human interest magazine show, for ordinary New Zealanders …heads and tails above any other television show in ratings

    ….still John Key and his mate Mark Weldon decided to axe it for political reasons

    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/05/21/and-then-they-came-for-campbell-live-the-end-of-political-journalism-on-nz-television/

    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/05/22/those-who-took-down-campbell-live-cast-of-dirty-politics-2-time-to-boycott-tv3/

    Now lets look to the future:

    ‘Is it time to boycott TV3 and what is next for public interest broadcasting in NZ now Campbell Live has been killed off?’

    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/05/22/is-it-time-to-boycott-tv3-and-what-is-next-for-public-interest-broadcasting-in-nz-now-campbell-live-has-been-killed-off/

  21. Rodel 21

    Would love to see Campbell replacing the supercilious one on one.

    • Chooky 21.1

      +100….this would be great too….but can you see it with this jonkey Nact fascist government in control?….and would it be severely hamstrung in what it could do?

      …what about an online television option ?…as has been suggested by some

  22. shorts 22

    perhaps some of the woman could explain to me on what planet does a woman at work dare someone to style their hair?

    The TVNZ press release screams of bullshit… unless i am much mistaken about how professional woman conduct themselves when confronted by the prime minister – in a workplace that well known people (minor celebs) are not uncommon – i.e. wow factor low

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