Seven Sharp is a half-hour-long New Zealand current affairs programme produced by Television New Zealand. The programme was created after the discontinuation of Close Up. It broadcasts at 7 pm (straight after 1 News at Six) every weekday on TVNZ 1. Seven Sharp typically presents 3 stories within a 30-minute timeslot every weeknight,[2] and is designed to be more integrated with social media and real time opinions than its predecessor.
Ratings fell to just under 401,000 viewers for the second episode on 5 February,[citation needed] and hovered between 300,000 and 400,000 for the next week. On 12 February, Campbell Live beat Seven Sharp in the ratings with Campbell Live gaining 346,850 viewers compared to Seven Sharp only gaining 290,710 viewers. This was the first time Campbell Live had ever gained a higher audience than TV One for the 7 pm–7:30 pm timeslot.[7]
Greg Boyed left the show on 6 September, and returned to hosting Tonight.[8]
Alison Mau left on the final episode of the series, to host a show on Radio Live with Willie Jackson from noon to 3 pm on weekdays.
Series 2 (2014)
The second series of Seven Sharp premiered on 27 January 2014 with Mike Hosking, Toni Street, and Jesse Mulligan at the desk,[9] and has 230 episodes.
On 7 February, there was no episode because the IRB Sevens was aired in the timeslot.
On 8 April, the show gained just over 500,000 viewers – the first time the audience number has gone above that of the debut episode.[citation needed]
Jesse Mulligan left the Seven Sharp panel on 17 April, and TVNZ announced that it wouldn't hire another host. This changed the show from the three-presenter format it had held since its inception to a two-presenter format.
On 18 April there was no episode because it was Good Friday (despite an episode being aired on Good Friday in 2013).
On 28 August, 5 September, and 17 September, Seven Sharp was not aired, instead, the 7 pm timeslot was used to broadcast the One News leaders' debates regarding the 2014 New Zealand general election, moderated by Seven Sharp host Mike Hosking. The first debate was between current Prime MinisterJohn Key and Leader of the OppositionDavid Cunliffe,[10] the second between the leaders of eight minor parties,[11] and the third between Key and Cunliffe.[12]
Series 3 (2015)
The third series of Seven Sharp premiered on 2 February 2015,[13] and has 229 episodes.[14]
On 6 February, there was no episode because the IRB Sevens was aired in the timeslot.
While Street was on maternity leave in mid-2015, her position was filled by Pippa Wetzell on Mondays–Thursdays and Nadine Chalmers-Ross (now Higgins) on Fridays.
Series 4 (2016)
The fourth series of Seven Sharp premiered on 1 February 2016,[15] and has 231 episodes.
On 25 March, there was no episode because it was Good Friday.[citation needed]
Series 5 (2017)
The fifth series of Seven Sharp premiered on 7 February 2017,[16] and has 217 episodes.
No episodes aired on 14 or 17 April due to Easter. There was also no episode on 5 June due to Queen's Birthday.
On 31 August, 8 September, and 20 September, Seven Sharp was not aired, instead, the 7 pm timeslot will be used to broadcast the 1 News leaders' debates regarding the 2017 New Zealand general election, moderated by Seven Sharp host Mike Hosking. The first debate was between current Prime MinisterBill English and Leader of the OppositionJacinda Ardern, the second between the leaders of minor parties, and the third between English and Ardern.[17] Hoskings' appointment as the moderator was controversial; a 76,000 petition to remove him as moderator was signed and delivered to TVNZ's head of news and current affairs John Gillespie.[18] Due to Hosking's illness, Corin Dann moderated the minor party debate.[19]
There was no episode on 23 October for Labour Day.
On 14 December (during the year's penultimate episode), Street and Hosking announced that they would be leaving Seven Sharp at the end of year due to their breakfast radio commitments.[20]
Series 6 (2018)
The sixth series of Seven Sharp premiered on 5 February 2018, with new hosts Hilary Barry and Jeremy Wells,[3] and has 226 episodes. In April 2018, a house was burnt down live on air with the goal of teaching people about fire safety. Lucas de Jong and camera operators remained inside when the fire was lit.[21]
Series 7 (2019)
The seventh series of Seven Sharp premiered on 21 January 2019, and has 197 episodes (as of 30 October 2019[update]).
2023
On the episode of 15 August 2023 in collaboration with Fire and Emergency New Zealand, a controlled house fire was carried with the purpose of teaching viewers about dangers of lithium-ion batteries and how quickly fires spread, it was started from an electric scooter. The house was in Levin, and was designated for demolition before the broadcast.[22][23][24]
Reception
Seven Sharp was criticised around its inception for its new format, with some media commentators saying that "TVNZ [had exchanged Close Up's] current affairs for a mess of pottage".[25]
