ThreeNews set to debut this weekend
Monday, 1 July 2024
Loyal viewers of Three’s evening news offering will notice a few changes from Saturday, July 6.
For starters, the show has a different name. Newshub Live At 6pm is gone. In its place is ThreeNews.
Stuff is creating the nightly package, which will be available on Three and ThreeNow.
Those joining Stuff from Newshub include Samantha Hayes, Laura Tupou, Ollie Ritchie and Heather Keats.
Hayes will be the news anchor for the hour-long weeknight editions, with Ritchie presenting sport and Keats in charge of weather.
Tupou will be ThreeNews’ 30-minute-long weekend bulletin presenter.
“Stuff has always had a strong focus on delivering for our loyal audiences, who consume media in different ways – and we will always meet them where they are,” says Stuff Digital managing director Nadia Tolich.
“Aotearoa’s new 6pm bulletin will allow us to share with ThreeNews viewers the uniquely Kiwi stories our Stuff journalists across the motu tell.
“While viewers will see some very familiar faces at 6pm each night, ThreeNews will be fresh – with a new set, new look and feel, immersive and innovative visual storytelling and opportunities for our audience to engage and participate.”
Tupou, 34, is one of those familiar faces. Born and raised in Hamilton, the mother-of-two started at Newshub in 2018.
Besides weekend presenting duties, Tupou’s new role at Stuff includes news reporting too.
The media industry is undergoing big changes and Tupou is sensitive to those who have been impacted.
“It’s obviously really horrible what’s happened at Newshub and the fact that a lot of people are losing their jobs, but we did realise that something needed to change and I was really keen to be a part of that,” she says.
Tupou is pleased she already has a working relationship with Claire Watson, who will be ThreeNews’ executive producer.
“I love Claire and I’ve worked with her closely [at Newshub] over the past year-and-a-bit and I completely trust her,” says Tupou.
“She is just someone who brings people together and is keen to do something new, even though she’s been in the business forever.”
“She has all these fresh ideas – and I believe in her.”
Tupou, who is Tongan, mentions the importance of Pasifika representation when it comes to journalism and being seen on television.
“So many people come to me and they’re like, ‘We’re so proud of you for doing this’. Like all my cousins and all my extended family…
“When I go and do stories specifically about Pacific stuff, everyone is so happy for me – and that’s really lovely.”
Meanwhile, Christchurch born-and-raised Ritchie was always seemingly destined for a career in journalism. His mother had a stint at TV3 as a reporter back in the 1990s, while his father was a television news cameraman at TVNZ.
Ritchie, who is married to Sky Sport presenter Kimberlee Downs, has been working in journalism for almost a decade.
He says his new job at Stuff will also include sports reporting.
“I’ll be out in the field collecting stories and telling those stories that I think are really important and that Kiwis care about,” says Ritchie.
“Kiwis have a massive passion for sport right across the board.”
When he learned that Newshub would be closing, Ritchie contemplated his future.
“It gave me a great opportunity to kind of reset,” he says.
“You’re sort of forced to think, ‘Well what is it that I really want to be doing?’ When I sat down and really thought about it, it was clear to me that I still really wanted to be involved in journalism.”
In case you’re wondering, yes his interest in sports does extend beyond the workplace.
“I love my sport,” says Ritchie.
“I played rugby right up until I was at Uni and really only stopped because of this job [at Newshub]. When you work a lot of weekends and you’re doing six o’clock news, you’re not necessarily free to go to 5pm rugby trainings.
“I played rugby my whole life, right up until I was about 21. I’m still really active. I go running a lot, play golf and tennis. I’ve definitely had my head in sport quite a lot.”
Fast facts about ThreeNews:
ThreeNews will broadcast live on Three and ThreeNow from 6pm on July 6.
Bulletins will be one hour on weekdays and 30 minutes on weekends.
Stuff already has a large 24/7 news-gathering operation.
ThreeNews will have a new set and a new, vibrant look and feel.
There will be innovative opportunities for audience engagement and participation.
ThreeNews, from Saturday July 6