Paul Henry
Controversial broadcaster Paul Henry's breakfast TV show
has been axed by its Australian network bosses after less than
a year on air.
Australian network Ten released a statement saying Breakfast,
which is fronted by Henry and Australian journalist Kathryn
Robinson, will cease production on November 30.
It admitted the show had failed to catch on with viewers.
"Breakfast television still represents an opportunity for Ten
and we will return to the breakfast TV market at some point
next year," the statement said.
Henry and his former New Zealand Breakfast co-presenter Pippa
Wetzell have been tipped to replace presenter Mark Sainsbury
once Close Up is axed later this year.
Breakfast has been a very distant third in the early morning
slot this year.
The Seven Network's Sunrise has averaged about 365,000
viewers each day in 2012 and the Nine Network's Today has
averaged around 330,000.
Meanwhile, Breakfast, which debuted in February, has an
average daily audience of about 40,000.
In October a Ten spokesman said Breakfast would screen in
2013 despite poor ratings.
But on Monday morning the news and breakfast teams were told
that the shows would cease at the end of the month.
Replacement shows for 2013 have not been announced.
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