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It feels like it's been coming forever, and in an odd way, it just might have been.\xa0

When the news division of Warner Bros. turns out the lights tonight, it\u2019s the end of an era.\xa0

Or, an era. The simple truth is TV3 news never quite cut it and the history of fiscal dysfunction is the major reason why.\xa0

Some of it was their own doing. Some of it was the unluckiness of who owns you, why they own you and whether they are as invested as they might have been in different circumstances.\xa0

TV3 never really got off the ground properly.\xa0

They did a lot of good things. They brought genuine competition to the market, shook up the presentation and reportage of news a bit and discovered some very good personality-based talent. But at no time did they do what really needed to be done.\xa0

Rate.\xa0

They never toppled the main player in TV1. They made a dent or two. When they focused on specific demographics they made some big dents. But it never quite crossed the line in terms of the zeitgeist.\xa0

They never changed the landscape to the point where they were the champions or the kings of the hill.\xa0

They always remained the plucky little competitor, even years after that moniker became absurd, given they\u2019ve been around the place for decades.\xa0

You can only run the "new kid in town" line for so long.\xa0

Of course it\u2019s a credit to TVNZ who held them off. Not that they will be celebrating. The same way Newstalk ZB didn\u2019t celebrate when we saw off a series of radio stations set up and designed to take us down or out.\xa0

Competition is a good thing and as of tonight, although Stuff will to a degree be taking over, it won't be the same. It doesn\u2019t have the resource or the level of televisual expertise.\xa0

We wish them well of course. The landscape, in terms of terrestrial television, is shocking so all are more than welcome to keep the dream alive.\xa0

But media is a brutal business that became even more brutal with the internet and streaming and the world shrinking. You either get an audience and monetise it, or you don't.\xa0

It's sad, but emotion never paid the bills.\xa0

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