TV3's axed breakfast show Sunrise will return to air tomorrow for a live farewell show.
TV3 owner Mediaworks today announced the morning business and breakfast shows had been canned as of today, with the loss of 20 jobs.
But it later said Sunrise would return for one hour from 7am until 8am tomorrow, to say thank you to viewers for their support over the past two-and-a-half years.
Highlights would include a best of package that looked at some of the standout moments chosen by the team from their time on the show.
Mediaworks TV's executive director Ian Audsley said the decision to dump the shows was not an easy one.
"We have not taken this decision lightly, and it has been the subject of a lot of debate and discussion at both board and management level. Ultimately it has been the board's decision," he said.
He said despite "terrific work of the people involved and the commitment of everyone at TV3, we've not been able to make these programmes work financially."
He said the dumping of the show was not a reflection on the calibre of those involved in the programmes.
"They're as good and capable a team as any I've seen anywhere," he said.
One staff member said the news had rocked many staff, particularly those who worked on the shows or who had had an involvement in them since they began.
TV3 has replaced the two shows with a repeat of the previous night's Campbell Live, Magnum P.I., Frasier and Everybody Loves Raymond.
