Yesterday, in a news release that appeared to be exactly timed to coincide with the lifting of the governments' budget embargo, MediaWorks announced Campbell Live would be cancelled, Campbell would soon leave the network, and a replacement current affairs programme in the slot.
Two new co-presenters will take on hosting duties and the show will continue under a new name but only air four nights a week with a new entertainment show to air on Fridays.
At the end of last night's show, Campbell confirmed it was not his last night.
When the show was put under review the ratings numbers increased, he said.
"People started petitions, sent thousands of emails, tweeted, Facebooked and more.
"Seven o'clock is a brutal timeslot - Seven Sharp, Shortland Street, those lovely lunatics on The Crowd Goes Wild is tough competition."
There was also dishes to be done, homework to be supervised and washing to be folded, he said.
"But you make the effort to watch us and in doing so, you made our team feel very grateful and very proud.
"They are a great team. Thank you for watching us, all."
The show finished with clips from earlier episodes.
Mediaworks Group Head of News Mark Jennings said Campbell was asked to co-host the new show but has instead opted to leave the company.
"John has decided it's time for him to take a break," Jennings said in a video message to staff.
He said on TV3 News last night John Campbell hadn't been pushed.
"John Campbell deciding not to do the show has been heart-breaking for me. It's really disappointing."
TV3 New anchor Hilary Barry was unable to continue the bulletin after co-host Mike McRoberts presented the item about the future of Campbell Live.
Prime Minister John Key said he wished Campbell well in his next role, and rejected any suggestion that the two men did not get along.
"Despite what some people might think I don't have an adversarial relationship with John," Mr Key said.
Requests to interview MediaWorks chief executive Mark Weldon or chairman Rod McGeoch were turned down yesterday, with queries instead being directed to a prepared statement on the company's website.
In that statement Weldon said Mediaworks' management were unanimous in wanting a new show in order to maximise relevance for audiences and advertisers.
Weldon said Jennings had initiated the review because a long-term decline in audiences had made the show unsustainable.
Weldon said Campbell had made a "huge contribution to TV3 and MediaWorks over the years, and I was hoping this would continue".
"I respect John's decision not to continue at MediaWorks and wish him well."
The relationship between the company and arguably its highest-profile star had been strained for months, with the parties unable to agree on contract extensions.
Management, representing aggressive new shareholders Oaktree Capital, had formally put the show on review last month and were pushing for revamping including lighter stories and for Campbell to share fronting duties with a co-host.
It is understood in November Campbell was offered a three-year extension of his employment at MediaWorks, but only the first of these years guaranteed him as host of the presently-constituted Campbell Live.
As previously reported by the Herald, MediaWorks management moved in February to extend a normally year-long principal sponsorship arrangement by only three months.
These moves preceded a formal review of the show being announced on April 9, culminating in yesterday's decision.
Sources inside MediaWorks told the Herald the as-yet replacement unnamed program, already being ironically described as "Campbell Light", would focus more heavily on entertainment stories and the 22 staff, including presenters, camera operators and producers, had until Monday to reapply for fewer jobs.
The replacement show was described by Jenning as "bringing the best of Campbell Live over to the new show, but will be looking at a wider mix of stories".
Producer Pip Keane had earlier taken to Twitter to comment on the news. "So proud of my wonderful @CampbellLiveNZ team & marvellous @JohnJCampbell. Still finalising our last night on air together. Thank you all," she wrote.
Most current Campbell Live staff are expected to work on the new show.
Media commentator Bill Ralston, former TVNZ head of current affairs, said the decision was "eminently foreseeable".
"The review had its mind made up from the start," he told the Herald.
"The collective bile of Campbell fans will be rising rapidly. The real challenge for TV3 is developing a new programme that appeals to viewers... we'll have to see what they replace it with and what it looks like in content."
When told the show would be reduced to four days Ralston said: "and then three, and then two and then one - that's the way these things go."
And as for Campbell's future - Ralston said he would make a "fantastic" radio host or presenter on another show.
"What they had was an apples and orange situation there. Campbell was apples and the show was oranges... I wish John well for the future."
Celebs react on Twitter
Paul Ego: @CampbellLiveNZ @JohnJCampbell Wherever you go will become the better for it John. I raise a glass to you sir!
David Cunliffe: Campbell axed in cynical use of Budget media swamp. Democracy under threat by club key. Campell hold his head high
Jason Gunn: @JohnJCampbell thank you for your being so generous and genuine. You got us thru some tough times sir. MUCH respect.
Michele A'Court: Shedding actual tears for news, for broadcasting & most of all for a really great & kind human. @JohnJCampbell
Michelle Pickles: The TV3 family is losing one of its biggest and brightest stars. @JohnJCampbell - you are irreplaceable and we will miss you so, so much x
Te Radar: Really looking forward to TVNZ announcing they've secured the now available people's champion @JohnJCampbell for a new current affairs show
Timeline
1991: John Campbell joins TV3 as a reporter in the Wellington newsroom
1998: John Campbell and Carol Hirschfeld become the 3News 6pm presenters
2005: Campbell Live launches with John as the host.
2014: John Campbell turns down a three-year contract with MediaWorks
2015: MediaWorks begins a review of Campbell Live to improve the performance of the 7pm timeslot.
2015: MediaWorks completes the review, announces new show and departure of John Campbell
- By Matt Nippert of New Zealand Herald; additional reporting Rebecca Quilliam of NZME
