The Project is axed: New Zealand show’s bosses propose cancellation by the end of the year amid challenging media climate

The New Zealand version of The Project has been cancelled after six years on the air.

The nightly current affairs show, based on the Australian series of the same name, first premiered on the Three network in February 2017. 

The news program will wrap up by the end of 2023, production company Warner Bros. Discovery announced on Thursday. 

‘We have commenced consultation to discontinue The Project on Three from the end of the year,’ a spokesperson said.

‘Our primary focus is to support our people as we work through this process.’

The New Zealand version of The Project has been cancelled after six years on the air. (Pictured: hosts Jesse Mulligan, Kanoa Lloyd and Jeremy Corbett)

The move will see about 24 job losses in total from the network’s Three HQ, based in the North Island city of Auckland. 

The Project New Zealand will not air on Thursday to allow staff to digest the news, reports the New Zealand Herald. 

Three pays a hefty licensing fee to use The Project brand created by Roving Enterprises, the production company owned by Rove McManus.

The cancellation will free up funds for a cheaper news show without an expensive, foreign-owned licence. 

‘We have commenced consultation to discontinue The Project on Three from the end of the year,’ a Warner Bros. Discovery spokesperson said. (Pictured: Mulligan and Lloyd)

The Project New Zealand is hosted by Jesse Mulligan and Kanoa Lloyd, along with a rotating panel of guest presenters.

The New Zealand television industry has faced numerous cutbacks this year, as challenging economic conditions hit the media.

The Australian version of The Project has been the subject of cancellation rumours for years due to its declining ratings.

However, at its Upfronts presentation earlier this week, Channel Ten committed to another year of screening the show.

The Australian version of The Project has been the subject of cancellation rumours for years due to its declining ratings. (Pictured are hosts Waleed Aly and Sarah Harris)

While the program is safe – for now – there are still rumours it could be bumped to a later timeslot to make way for a rebooted Deal or No Deal, hosted by Grant Denyer.

Once Ten’s flagship news show, The Project has been on a downward trend for years.

Ratings have steadily fallen from 2022 to 2023, shedding one third of its national audience over the last 18 months.

A year ago, The Project lost most of its star power with the departure of long-serving hosts Carrie Bickmore, Peter Helliar and Lisa Wilkinson.

A year ago, The Project lost most of its star power with the departure of long-serving hosts Carrie Bickmore (left), Peter Helliar (centre right) and Lisa Wilkinson (right)

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