Twenty people will lose their jobs after TV3 axed struggling breakfast news shows Sunrise and ASB Business.

TV3 confirmed in a statement that both shows were being taken off the air from today, but a one-hour special featuring highlights from Sunrise's two-and-a-half years will screen tomorrow from 7am.

Stuff.co.nz understands staff were told the news today at an emotional meeting during which tears were shed. No indication was made by presenters during this morning's show that it was their last, but sources told Stuff.co.nz they had known for some time.

MediaWorks TV Executive Director Ian Audsley blamed the axing on costs being unsustainable in the current economic climate.

"We have not taken this decision lightly, and it has been the subject of a lot of debate and discussion at both a board and management level – ultimately it has been the board's decision," Audsley said in a statement.

"Unfortunately this decision results in at least 20 redundancies across the television business and that is the toughest aspect for all of us at TV3. We are, however, able to offer redeployment in some cases.

"Despite the terrific work of the people involved and the commitment of everyone at TV3, we've not been able to make these programmes work financially.

"Today's announcement is not a reflection on the calibre of the people involved in the production of the programmes. They're as good and capable a team as any I’ve seen anywhere," he said.

Sunrise, hosted by former Nightline presenter Carly Flynn and Oliver Driver, has struggled in the ratings since starting in October, 2007, with TV One's Breakfast charting well ahead of its competitor.

On Tuesday, Breakfast had 169,600 viewers, well up on Sunrise's 21,490.

Dominion Post TV reviewer Jane Bowron said the news wasn't surprising.



The show missed the mark by aiming for younger viewers, and didn't provide enough difference from TVNZ's Breakfast, Bowron said.



"They were trying to mirror Breakfast, but they needed a different format," she said. "There were too many people working on it. I think they should have gone for a more budget feel and the viewers might have liked it.



"Watching Sunrise was like going to a café where there's a whole lot of young people behind the counter having a chat, and nobody serving the customer."



Bowron also believed that the upcoming maternity leave of Flynn may have had something to do with the timing of the announcement.



"People like Carly Flynn, she's got great likeability as an interviewer. Without her they'd be in trouble. Who would they put in her place?"



Paul Henry may also have been a factor in the downfall of Sunrise, said Bowron.



"Whether or not you like the deeply prejudiced Paul Henry, people like to watch him to see what he's going to say next. He has that shock jock mentaility."

The producer of ASB Business, Liz Kirshberg, confirmed she had lost her job in the axing.

She said she was disappointed it "did not hang in for the long haul".

"But it's a commercial decision and nothing to do with the calibre of the people working on the show."

TVNZ news crews reportedly camped outside TV3's offices on Flower Street after the news broke.

TVNZ spokeswoman Megan Richards blamed the recession - and not ratings - for the decision.

"We're sad to see it. We're sympathetic to the situation as all media who have been on the receiving end of the recession would be. Really, this is not about ratings - it's about the recession."

A Facebook campaign has started, asking for TV3 to reinstate the show.

Original host James Coleman was replaced by Driver in September, 2008.

Flynn said Sunrise hosts weren't commenting until Friday during the farewell special.



Further questions were met with a "no comment" before Flynn hung up the phone.

TV3 said replacement shows for Sunrise and ASB Business would be announced shortly.

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