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Mark Sainsbury - Source: ONE News
TVNZ is proposing to end weeknight current affairs show Close Up.
If the proposal is confirmed, TVNZ says a new daily current affairs show "with a distinctively different format" will launch in the 7pm slot in the new year.
TVNZ Head of News and Current Affairs Ross Dagan says the proposed closure of the show is a response to feedback that viewers want "something fresh and quite different in early evening current affairs".
"Close Up remains the number one daily current affairs show by a substantial margin, but ratings for us and for our competitors in this important time slot have diminished over time," he said.
TVNZ said it would not be releasing details of the proposed new show at this stage.
Close Up has been running for nearly eight years, and the current host, Mark Sainsbury has held the job since 2006.
Dagan said Sainsbury "has done a fine job and has earned a deserved place in television history".
He also offered praise and thanks to the 16 member Close Up team, saying "this team has set the bar for what's possible".
A period of consultation with affected staff begins today and an outcome is expected by mid-October.