US entertainment giant Warner Bros Discovery announced plans to shutter major New Zealand news outlet Newshub Wednesday, in what the deputy prime minister called a “disaster for this country’s democracy”.
Entertainment
Shock As Warner Bros Discovery Shutters Major New Zealand News Outlet
Citing cratering advertising revenues, the US firm said it was closing “all Newshub’s multi-platform news operations” in June, with a reported loss of about 300 jobs.
The announcement effectively spreads the impact of massive recent US media cost-cutting beyond America’s shores.
But Deputy Prime minister Winston Peters told local media the move was an “absolute disaster” for the individuals involved and a “disaster for this country’s democracy”.
Newshub is one of two major players in New Zealand’s free-to-air news television market.
Its demise could leave public broadcaster TVNZ with a virtual monopoly.
“We are acutely aware of our position in the local media landscape and what this means for our people, and for the country as a whole,” Warner Bros Discovery’s Asia Pacific president James Gibbons said in a statement.
“Advertising revenue in New Zealand has disappeared far more quickly than our ability to manage this reduction, and to drive the business to profitability,” Gibbons added.
“Everyone can see that the media sector, here in New Zealand, and around the world is facing some very tough circumstances.”
The announcement comes on the back of a turbulent few years for US news outlets, which have cut tens of thousands of jobs.
In many cases, newspapers and news websites are owned by larger corporations looking to shed loss-making and costly-to-run news operations.
But hollowing out newsrooms that hold the powerful to account has raised concerns that the cuts could weaken democracies.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told local media he had spoken to the company’s chief executive to “understand the rationale for the decision”.
Newshub’s Wellington bureau chief Caitlin Cherry called the news “very sad” and said “there are a lot of pretty devastated staff” in a social media post.
The NZ Herald, a major daily newspaper and website, reported that 300 jobs would be lost, including about 200 journalists — a huge number for a country with a population of five million people.
Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has sparked controversy after declaring herself “a Jesus baby.”
The Crazy Tings crooner made the declaration while responding to a question about her zodiac sign in an interview with The People Gallery at the 2025 Fashion Awards.
“Oh, I’m a Jesus baby. My sign is love, peace and joy,” she said.
This earned Tems backlash after a clip of the interview went viral on social media, with critics chastising her for associating herself with Jesus despite being a secular artist.
Read some of the reactions on X below: xm_muva wrote: “She [Tems] makes worldly music and shakes her fine ass on stage to the entire world. Christians are hypocrites lol. Y’all think your religion is a buffet, bro. Be free, ah?”
Phena95 opined: “Jesus or Christianity is not an aesthetic; it’s not just about love, joy and peace. Repentance as well.”
Chocodilish wrote: “Add some personality to your music, this Jesus baby bllsht is killing your brand abeg.”
max_sticks said: “It’s funny when I see believers attacking her [Tems] for doing too much. Your identity is Christ and not one useless zodiac sign, please.”
Gigialwashere added: “I agree with her [Tems]. Grown past being a Gemini, now I identify as a Jesus baby.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday told a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja that it has no evidence to support the allegation that Jude and Paul Okoye of P-Square fraudulently withdrew $800,000, contrary to claims made by their brother, Peter Okoye.
Peter had in 2024 petitioned the EFCC accusing Jude of diverting the P-Square group funds, operating 47 undeclared bank accounts and manipulating the share structure of Northside Entertainment Ltd, a company jointly owned by them
The EFCC subsequently filed charges against Jude over alleged financial misconduct in the management of the P-Square brand.
During resumed cross-examination, EFCC counsel, M.K. Bashir, told Justice Rahman Oshodi that the commission could not present evidence for the alleged withdrawal.
When asked by the judge to substantiate Peter’s claim, Bashir said: “We do not have it. It is his evidence. Let him prove it. I can’t give what I don’t have.”
Peter had testified on May 23, 2025, that he obtained new evidence showing how Jude and Paul allegedly withdrew and shared more than $800,000 between March 2023 and October 2024.
But when defence counsel, Clement Onwuenwunor, SAN, confronted him with inconsistencies, he shifted his position, stating that the alleged withdrawal actually occurred between 2013 and 2014.
The defence further challenged Peter’s assertion that Jude operated 47 bank accounts.
Peter insisted the EFCC held the evidence, but Bashir denied the claim, saying: “I do not have 47 bank accounts. It is one of the witness’s claims, but I do not have such a copy.”
Onwuenwunor asked the court to order Peter and the EFCC to produce the alleged 47 accounts.
Justice Oshodi however rejected the request and ruled that the defence must apply formally since the documents were neither before the court nor part of the admitted evidence.
The defence also confronted Peter over his claim that Jude owned 80 per cent of Northside Entertainment.
Although Peter maintained he had proof, the defence tendered CAC records contradicting his assertion.
Peter was further questioned on his claim that he was unaware of the existence of Northside Music and that Jude signed artist Cynthia Morgan without his knowledge.
He said he only discovered the company in 2024 when Cynthia Morgan sent him her contract on Northside Entertainment letterhead, adding that while the contract was signed with Northside Music, her albums were credited to Northside Inc.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter to December 12, 2025, for continuation of trial.
Late American singer, Michael Jackson, has been crowned the highest-paid deceased celebrity of 2025.
The ‘King of pop’ topped the list of the highest-paid deceased celebrities of 2025 recently released by Forbes.
According to the magazine, Jackson earned $105 million over the past year, more than any other late icon by a wide margin.
The majority of Jackson’s recent earnings came from the 2024 sale of a 50% stake in his master recordings and publishing catalog to Sony Music for $600 million.
Other musicians on Forbes’ annual list of top-earning deceased celebrities cover ten of the top thirteen spots including Prince, John Lennon, and Bob Marley. Collectively, the group earned $541 million in the past year.
Since Jackson’s death in 2009, his estate has generated a staggering $3.5 billion, making him the most posthumously successful celebrity of all time
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